Equine congenital heart disease and respiratory disease interactions

The interactions between the respiratory and cardiovascular system in neonates with severe illness are relevant to the equine clinician. There is little information available regarding the treatment of congenital heart disease or pulmonary hypertension in foals, thus a team approach with experts in these fields may help our equine cases.     

Canine urolithiasis: epidemiology and analysis of urinary calculi

The incidence of canine urolithiasis was found to lie between 0–5 to 1 per cent of the canine population. Epidemiological and analytical data were collected for 1731 urinary stones, and causal relationships investigated. Calculi were found in 72 breeds. While they were relatively common among dachshunds, dalmatians, cocker spaniels, Pekingese, bassets, poodles, schnauzers and small terrier breeds, urinary stones were relatively rare among German shepherd dogs, boxers, collies, chow chows, old English sheepdogs, spitz and rottweiler breeds. Struvite, which was found in 55-6 per cent of all calculi, proved to be the most common constituent, followed by cystine (22-5 per cent) and ammonium urate (6-6 per cent). Xanthine calculi were rare (six cases), while silicium dioxide calculi were present in only one case. The likelihood of calculi in male animals was twice that of bitches, although the latter were found to be more prone to infection of the urinary tract. Adiposity was present in 29 per cent of all dogs with calculi. The average age of the animals was seven years. In 98-7 per cent of all cases the calculi were found in the lower urinary tract, and surgical removal of the stones was required in 87-5 per cent of cases. The main types of calculi appear among specific breeds, which indicates that a careful breeding programme may help to reduce the frequency of urinary calculi.     

Canine echinococcosis: an alternative for surveillance epidemiology

The essential activities for programmes of cystic echinococcosis control are the census of all dogs from the program and identification of parasitised animals. Currently, in South America evaluations and epidemiological surveillance are based on the administration of arecoline hydrobromide. This method has the disadvantage of increasing environmental pollution and risk for operators and owners of treated dogs. A genus-specific ELISA capture method has been employed for recently issued faeces and the confirmation of positive examination was performed by dog autopsies. Our work presents an alternative method based on collection of dry field-dispersed faeces, followed by serological diagnosis by Copro-ELISA and confirmation by Copro-Western blot. If Copro-ELISA were used to define positive samples of dry faeces, the Copro-Western blot assay would provide 70% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Global efficiency of the system using dry faeces would reach 76%, allowing epidemiological surveillance to be oriented to analysis of surface units instead of dog as measurement unit.     

Canine congenital portosystemic encephalopathy

The case records of 21 dogs with congenital portosystemic encephalopathy are reviewed. The disorder was most common in Australian cattledogs (blue heelers; 8 cases), Old English sheepdogs (3 cases) and Maltese terriers (3 cases). Extra-hepatic shunts occurred in small breeds, with the exception of 1 cattledog, while intra-hepatic shunts occurred in the medium to large breeds. The most common clinical pathology abnormalities were abnormal ammonia tolerance, mild to moderate increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase or alkaline phosphatase concentrations, decreased total serum protein concentrations, increased fasting ammonia concentrations and ammonium biurate crystalluria. Radiological examination revealed that all the dogs had a small liver. The kidneys were enlarged in 5 of 10 dogs in which kidney size could be estimated. Surgical ligation of an extra-hepatic shunt was successful in 2 of 4 dogs in which it was attempted. Medical management resulted in alleviation of clinical signs in 5 of 8 dogs. The period of successful treatment ranged from a few months to over a year.     

Canine isosporosis - epidemiology of field and experimental infections

Isospora spp. are the causative agents of canine isosporosis. Of the 3590 diagnostic samples from Austrian dogs (< or = 2 years old), 8.7% contained Isospora oocysts, 78% of which from dogs up to 4 months of age. Non-haemorrhagic and haemorrhagic diarrhoea were significantly more prevalent in Isospora-infected animals than in coccidia-negative ones. Twelve of 15 litters from a large commercial dog breeding unit (examined from the third to the 10th week of life) also excreted Isospora (average prevalence: 36.4%) in intensities from 333 to 35,000 oocysts per gram of faeces (opg). In experimental trials 26 3-week-old Beagle puppies were infected with low (600-6000), medium (10,000) or high (20,000) dose of Isospora ohioensis-group or Isospora canis field isolates. Additionally 21 puppies were infected as above and treated with a symmetrical triazintrione. Parasitological and clinical parameters were examined. The two Isospora species differed significantly concerning intensity and duration of excretion. The pre-patent period was 6-7 days for I. ohioensis and 10-12 days for I. canis. The latter species showed significantly longer excretion and higher opg. This was not influenced by simultaneous infections with both species. Individual patterns of faecal consistency were very variable, irrespective of the infection dose. Treatment significantly reduced both the intensity and the duration of oocysts excretion as well as diarrhoea in comparison with the infected, untreated group and thus proved to be effective against coccidiosis in experimental infections.     

Canine urolithiasis in Sweden and Norway: Retrospective survey of prevalence and epidemiology

It was estimated that 23 to 24 dogs per 10,000 in Sweden were operated on for urolithiasis between 1956 and 1982. During this period urinary calculi were confirmed in 2898 dogs of 95 breeds, chiefly in chondrodystrophic and well proportioned (not short legged) miniature breeds. The distribution between the sexes in the period 1956 to 1970 was estimated at 57 per cent male and 43 per cent female in the chondrodystrophic breeds, 74 per cent male and 26 per cent female in the well proportioned miniatures, and 83 per cent and 17 per cent female in the large breeds; in the dalmatian (1956 to 1982) 94 per cent were male and 6 per cent female. Urinary calculi were found at a younger age in the chondrodystrophic breeds (1956 to 1970) than in the well proportioned miniature dogs and in large dogs (P<0–001). It was estimated that five dogs per 10,000 in Norway were operated on for urolithiasis between 1956 and 1970. During this period urinary calculi were diagnosed in 71 dogs of 28 breeds. Seventy-nine per cent were male and 21 per cent were female. Urolithiasis in dogs appears to be chiefly constitutionally dependent. Chondrodystrophic breeds and small breeds are particularly susceptible.     

Retrospective review of congenital heart disease in 976 dogs

Background: Knowledge of epidemiology is important for recognition of cardiovascular malformations. Objective: Review the incidence of congenital heart defects in dogs in Italy and assess breed and sex predispositions. Animals: Nine hundred and seventy‐six dogs diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) of 4,480 dogs presented to Clinica Veterinaria Gran Sasso for cardiovascular examination from 1997 to 2010. Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records regarding signalment, history, clinical examination, radiography, electrocardiography, echocardiography, angiography, and postmortem examination was performed. Breed and sex predisposition were assessed with the odds ratio test. Results: CHD was observed in 21.7% of cases. A total of 1,132 defects were observed with single defects in 832 cases (85%), 2 concurrent defects in 132 cases (14%), and 3 concurrent defects in 12 cases (1%). The most common defects were pulmonic stenosis (PS; 32.1%), subaortic stenosis (SAS; 21.3%), and patent ductus arteriosus (20.9%), followed by ventricular septal defect (VSD; 7.5%), valvular aortic stenosis (AS; 5.7%), and tricuspid dysplasia (3.1%). SAS, PS, and VSD frequently were associated with other defects. Several breed and sex predispositions were identified. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: The results of this study are in accordance with previous studies, with slight differences. The breed and sex predilections identified may be of value for the diagnosis and screening of CHD in dogs. Additionally, the relatively high percentage of concurrent heart defects emphasizes the importance of accurate and complete examinations for identification. Because these data are from a cardiology referral center, a bias may exist.     

Canine congenital aortic stenosis: A review of the literature and commentary

Congenital aortic stenosis usually affects the subvalvular region, and occurs mainly in Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and Boxer dogs. The disorder is inherited as a dominant trait with variable penetrance in Newfoundland dogs.

The prevalence of subaortic stenosis-like heart murmurs in Golden Retriever dogs appears to be very much greater than previously suspected.

Most cases of aortic stenosis represent mild lesions, are detected as incidental findings, and result in no loss of longevity or quality of life. Moderate or severe stenosis may result in exertional weakness, syncope, or sudden death. Signs of congestive heart failure are rare unless mitral valve insufficiency is present.

Generally, electrocardiography and radiography are unrevealing in this disorder. Doppler echocardiography may be the best diagnostic tool to detect even mild cases of aortic stenosis.

At present, therapy is limited due to the technical expertise and expense required. The prognosis depends on the severity of the lesion.

     

Canine pododermatitis and idiopathic disease

Pododermatitis is a common inflammatory skin disease of dogs. As pedal lesions are reported in many canine dermatoses, a methodical series of diagnostic tests is required to establish the underlying aetiology. However, laboratory/ancillary investigations may prove unrewarding, prompting a diagnosis of idiopathic disease. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis of idiopathic pododermatitis including pedal conformation, trauma, immunosuppression, bacterial infection, furunculosis and dermal granuloma formation. Idiopathic pododermatitis accounts for 0.5% of all dermatology referrals to the authors' clinic. A sub-group within this population is characterised histopathologically by epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, spongiosis, dermal oedema and perivascular aggregates of lymphocytes and plasma cells. The term lymphocytic-plasmacytic pododermatitis (LPP) has previously been proposed to reflect the histological appearance of such lesions. Affected dogs, although systemically well, characteristically have pruritus, erythema, swelling, pain and alopecia of the feet. Although non-responsive to antimicrobial therapy, antiparasitic agents and elimination diets, these dogs typically respond well to immunomodulatory therapy.