Prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in 73 brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal tract lesions in brachycephalic dogs with upper respiratory tract disease. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 73 brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory signs were evaluated. Clinical signs and endoscopic and histological anomalies of the upper digestive tract were analysed. RESULTS: A very high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic dogs presented with upper respiratory problems was observed clinically, endoscopically and histologically. Endoscopic anomalies of the upper digestive tract were present even in dogs without digestive clinical signs. Furthermore, histological evaluation of the digestive tract sometimes showed inflammatory lesions not macroscopically visible at endoscopy. Statistical analysis showed a relationship between the severity of the respiratory and digestive signs. This was significant in French bulldogs, males and heavy brachycephalic dogs. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These observations show a correlation between upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract problems in brachycephalic breeds with upper respiratory disease. Surgical treatment of respiratory disease could improve the digestive clinical signs, and/or gastro-oesophageal medical treatment could improve the outcome for surgically treated brachycephalic dogs.     

Cytologic evaluation of the respiratory tract.

Evaluation of respiratory tract disease is a challenge for several reasons: no serum biochemical or hematologic tests that localize injury to the respiratory system are available, imaging techniques do not usually lead to etiologic diagnoses, and excisional biopsies are often very difficult to obtain from respiratory lesions. For these reasons, specific diagnosis of respiratory tract disease often resides in cytologic evaluation. This article reviews the various cytologic collection techniques that yield high-quality specimens from the upper and lower respiratory tract. Cytologic features of the normal respiratory tract as well as common respiratory disorders are described and illustrated.     

Detection of respiratory pathogens in air samples from acutely infected pigs

Pathogens causing significant respiratory disease in growing pigs include Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Porcine circovirus 2, swine influenza virus, porcine respiratory coronavirus, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. The objective of this research was to characterize the respiratory excretion of these pathogens by acutely infected pigs. Pigs were inoculated under experimental conditions with 1 pathogen. Samples were collected from the upper respiratory tract and exhaled air. All pathogens were detected in swabs of the upper respiratory tract, but only M. hyopneumoniae and B. bronchiseptica were detected in expired air from individually sampled, acutely infected pigs. These findings suggest either that the acutely infected pigs did not aerosolize the viruses or that the quantity of virus excreted was below the detection threshold of current sampling or assay systems, or both, at the individual-pig level.     

Diagnosis of upper respiratory tract diseases in the performance horse.

Wastage of performance horses because of respiratory dysfunction is common. Appropriate identification of the disease is paramount for treatment recommendations. Diagnostic modalities for upper respiratory tract dysfunction include a thorough physical examination, radiographic evaluation when appropriate, and upper respiratory tract endoscopy. Anatomical deviations or structural are easily identified during resting evaluation, while exercise testing is often necessary to assess thedynamic properties of the upper airway. Utilizing the many diagnostic tools available allows the clinician to make an accurate diagnosis and recommend appropriate treatment.     

Use of successive dynamic videoendoscopic evaluations to identify progression of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in three horses

CASE DESCRIPTION: 3 racehorses were evaluated because of poor performance or abnormal noise originating from the upper portion of the respiratory tract. CLINICAL FINDINGS: During maximal exercise, initial dynamic videoendoscopy of the upper respiratory tract revealed complete arytenoid cartilage abduction in 2 horses and incomplete but adequate abduction of the left arytenoid cartilage in 1 horse. Subsequent exercising endoscopic evaluation revealed severe dynamic collapse of the left arytenoid cartilage and vocal fold in all 3 horses. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: 2 horses were treated with prosthetic left laryngoplasty and raced successfully. One horse was retired from racing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Idiopathic laryngeal hemiplegia can be a progressive disease. Successive dynamic videoendoscopic upper airway evaluations were used to confirm progression of left laryngeal hemiplegia in these 3 horses. Videoendoscopy of the upper respiratory tract during exercise should be considered as part of the clinical evaluation of horses with signs of upper respiratory tract dysfunction.     

ECHOLARYNGOGRAPHY IN CATS

Twenty-five cats with clinical signs of upper respiratory tract disease and five cats without upper respiratory signs underwent echolaryngography. Direct inspection of the larynx under general anesthesia was undertaken in all cats and used as the 'gold standard' for the diagnosis of laryngeal diseases. The aims were to: (a) establish which anatomic structures of the larynx are visible ultrasonographically in cats without upper respiratory tract disease, (b) establish which laryngeal abnormalities can be detected and accurately localised using ultrasonography and (c) evaluate in which conditions the technique may provide complementary information or an alternative method of investigation. The ultrasound investigation accurately indicated the presence and location of cysts and masses. Abnormal laryngeal movements were also detected, although it was difficult to confirm whether these were unilateral or bilateral. Vocal cord thickening was seen but the underlying cause could not be established with this technique.     

羊常见呼吸器官疾病的防控及治疗验方

在养羊生产实践中,呼吸器官疾病是一种（类）常见多发病,在全球范围内均广泛存在,可导致严重的经济损失。呼吸器官是机体与外界进行气体交换的组织器官,包括呼吸道（鼻、副鼻窦、咽、喉、气管、支气管）和肺两部分。呼吸器官是机体的开放门户,环境中的寒冷刺激、病原微生物、有害气体、化学刺激、粉尘等易随空气进入呼吸道和肺部,引起呼吸器官发病。羊常见的呼吸器官疾病主要有上呼吸道感染（包括感冒、流行性感冒、鼻炎和鼻窦炎）、支气管炎、肺炎等。本文重点介绍羊常见呼吸器官疾病的防控措施及治疗验方。     

西宁地区犬呼吸道菌群分析及药敏试验

犬类呼吸道疾病是宠物犬常见病,严重者导致犬只死亡.但是,目前在临床上该病用药缺乏科学指导.本实验采集了西宁地区5家宠物医院共63例健康犬及92例呼吸道患病犬的标本,进行呼吸道多菌群的分离培养、染色镜检和全自动微生物分析仪鉴定,并对检出菌进行了Kirby- Bauer纸片扩散法药敏试验.结果发现,犬呼吸道正常菌群有缓慢葡...     

Staphylectomy for treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in two foals

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate associated with dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed in 2 young foals. The displacement appeared to be congenital. Clinical signs associated with the condition were resolved after staphylectomy. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate is usually recognized in adult animals as an upper respiratory tract disease, but may be a contributing factor to dysphagia and lower respiratory tract disease in young animals.     

Nasopharyngeal stenosis in four cats

Nasopharyngeal stenosis secondary to chronic upper respiratory tract infection is described in four cats. The stenosis is caused by a thin but tough inflammatory membrane which develops across the proximal nasopharynx, partly or completely occluding it. Diagnosis is aided by use of a dental mirror for caudal rhinoscopy, together with test passage of a fine catheter through the ventral nasal meatus. All four cases were treated successfully by surgical resection of the membrane through an incision in the soft palate. Nasopharyngeal stenosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all chronic upper respiratory disease in cats.     

Development of an ex vivo model to study adherence of Mannheimia haemolytica serovar 1 to mucosal tissues of the respiratory tract of cattle

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an ex vivo model for study of adherence of Mannheimia haemolytica (formerly Pasteurella haemolytica) to respiratory tract mucosa of cattle and to use this model to confirm adherence of M haemolytica serovar 1 (Mh1) to several relevant respiratory mucosal surfaces. SAMPLE POPULATION: Excised nasal, nasopharyngeal, turbinate, and tonsillar mucosal tissue from the bovine upper respiratory tract. PROCEDURE: Mh1 was radiolabeled by use of tritiated leucine. Various concentrations of labeled bacteria were incubated with bovine upper respiratory tract tissues for various times. Tissue was washed to remove nonadherent bacteria, and percentage of bacteria adhered (percentage of adherence) was estimated using radioactivity. Using an optimal inoculum concentration and incubation time, percentage of Mh1 adherence was compared on nasal, nasopharyngeal, turbinate, and tonsillar mucosal tissue, and adherence to nasopharyngeal tissue was confirmed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS: The optimal Mh1 inoculum concentration was 1 X 10(7) colony forming units/ml and incubation time was 3 hours. Percentage of adherence of Mh1 to nasopharyngeal tissue was greater than adherence to other tissue types. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The ex vivo model maintained the functional and structural integrity of bovine upper respiratory tract mucosa, as confirmed by light and electron microscopy. Electron microscopy revealed participation of epithelial cell cilia and surface mucus in adherence of Mh1 to nasopharyngeal tissue. Adherence of Mh1 was confirmed in repeated assays, indicating that this organism adheres to upper respiratory tract mucosa of cattle.     

Diseases of the respiratory tract of chelonians.

Diseases of the respiratory tract commonly occur in captive chelonians, and several diseases also have occurred in wild chelonians. Infectious causes include viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Herpesviruses have surfaced as important pathogens of the oral cavity and respiratory tract in Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanii), spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca), and other tortoises in Europe and the United States. Herpesvirus-associated respiratory diseases also have been reported in the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, in mariculture in the Cayman Islands. Of diseases caused by bacteria, an upper respiratory tract disease caused by Mycoplasma sp has been reported in free-hanging and captive gopher tortoises in the southeastern United States and in desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert of the southwestern United States. Mycotic pulmonary disease is commonly reported in captive chelonians, especially in those maintained at suboptimal temperatures. An intranuclear coccidia has been seen in several species of captive tortoises in the United States, and, in one case, a severe proliferative pneumonia was associated with organisms in the lung. The most common noninfectious cause of respiratory disease in chelonians results from trauma to the carapace. Although pulmonary fibromas commonly occur in green turtles with fibropapillomatosis, for the most part, tumors of the respiratory tract are uncommon in chelonians.     

An investigation of the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in random populations of Swiss horses

The incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Switzerland was determined in three groups of horses selected at random. Group A (97 horses) and Group B (93 horses) had no history of respiratory disease, but Group C (113 horses) had a history of lower respiratory tract disease. All horses were examined by auscultation of the respiratory tract under forced breathing, endoscopic examination of the upper and lower respiratory tract, arterial blood gas analysis at rest and cytological examination of respiratory secretions (RS). Fifty-four per cent of the horses in Group A and 54.8 per cent of Group B were diagnosed as suffering clinical COPD and only 12.4 per cent of horses in Group A and 8.6 per cent in Group B had no detectable abnormalities in their lower respiratory tracts. In Group B, 19.4 per cent were considered to be suffering from parasitic pulmonary disease indicated by elevated numbers of eosinophils in their RS. Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia was exhibited in 70.1 per cent of Group A and 74.2 per cent of Group B. Cytological examination of RS was useful to determine if the secretions found in the trachea originated from the upper or lower respiratory tract. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed no significant differences between healthy horses and those with subclinical or mild COPD.     

Long-term results of upper respiratory syndrome surgery and gastrointestinal tract medical treatment in 51 brachycephalic dogs

OBJECTIVES: After a first clinical study showing a high prevalence of gastrointestinal tract diseases in brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome, a prospective study was performed to determine the influence of medical treatment for gastrointestinal tract disorders associated with upper respiratory syndrome surgery. METHODS: The gastrointestinal tract and respiratory disorders of 61 brachycephalic dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome were evaluated. Together with surgery of the upper respiratory tract, a specific gastrointestinal medical treatment was administered. A minimal follow-up of six months was required for inclusion. RESULTS: Palatoplasty with rhinoplasty was the most common surgical correction (88.5 per cent). The mortality rate in the perioperative period was 3.3 per cent. Minor complications accounted for 26.2 per cent of cases. No aspiration pneumonia was encountered. A sufficient follow-up was obtained in 51 dogs. The improvement was judged by the owners as excellent or good in 88.3 per cent of the respiratory disorders and in 91.4 per cent of the gastrointestinal disorders. Clinically, a statistically significant improvement was obtained for both respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In comparison with other studies, digestive tract medical treatment combined with upper respiratory surgery seems to decrease the complication rate and improve the prognosis of dogs presented for upper respiratory syndrome.     

Epidemiology of equine upper respiratory tract disease on standardbred racetracks.

The outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infections in horses at Standardbred racetracks were investigated over a three year period. The most serious epidemics of respiratory disease occurred in the winter and spring seasons. Both influenza viruses and equine herpesvirus 1 were shown to be present in the horse population. The herpesvirus was associated with respiratory disease particularly in the winter but the equine influenza viruses apparently were responsible for the major epidemics of respiratory disease at these tracks. Younger horses, two or three years of age, were particularly susceptible to upper respiratory disease and showed the greatest rate of seroconversion to influenza viruses. Major outbreaks of respiratory disease occurred when the proportion of young horses which had not previously been exposed to epidemics of respiratory disease reached 30 to 40% of the population at the track. Most horses over four years of age appeared to develop resistance to the infections.     

黑猩猩低血钾症的治疗

黑猩猩，雌性，15岁。因患上呼吸道感染，发展为饮食欲废绝，全身无力，站立困难。根据临床症状结合实验室检查结果，诊断为上呼吸道感染继发消化机能紊乱伴严重低血钾症，确定治疗原则为：纠正低血钾；维持机体水与电解质平衡；控制感染；保护心、肝、肾功能。经一周治疗后，该黑猩猩痊愈。     

Pneumonia in weanlings.

Lower respiratory tract infection is common in weanling- and suckling-aged animals. Increased susceptibility to disease in this age group can result from a delay in the establishment of a competent immune system and environmental factors, such as overcrowding, shipping, and sales. S zooepidemicus and R equi are the two most common bacterial isolates. S equi is primarily a disease of the lymph nodes and upper respiratory tract. Viral agents can compromise the natural defense mechanisms of the respiratory tract, resulting in secondary bacterial infections. The acute respiratory distress syndrome is one of unknown etiology and high mortality.     

Isolation of calicivirus from the joint of a kitten with arthritis.

Calicivirus was isolated from the joint of a kitten that had pyrexia, upper respiratory tract disease, and severe shifting-limb lameness. Marked mononuclear inflammation was found in the synovial fluid. Calicivirus infection or live-virus vaccination previously had been associated with arthropathy, but virus had not been recovered from affected joints. Calicivirus infection should be considered as a diagnosis in kittens with fever and arthralgia, especially if there is a history of recent vaccination or upper respiratory tract disease. Lameness associated with calicivirus infection may be severe, but appears to be self-limiting and is associated with an excellent prognosis for recovery.