Pericardial free patch grafting as a rescue technique in surgical management of right atrial HSA

A 7 yr old, neutered female vizsla underwent an exploratory thoracotomy after diagnosis of recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion and a right auricular mass. Staging tests were negative for metastasis. The patient underwent a right, fourth intercostal thoracotomy, subtotal pericardectomy, right auricular mass excision, and pericardial free patch graft. The patient experienced blood loss during surgery, which required a packed red blood cell transfusion. The patient experienced transient arrhythmias postoperatively, but was discharged from the hospital 48 hr later. Histopathologic diagnosis of the mass was hemangiosarcoma. The patient was treated with carboplatin single-agent chemotherapy and palliative radiation therapy. The patient died at home, presumably from metastatic disease 260 days postoperatively. Surgical mass removal or debulking along with pericardial free patch grafting may be considered as palliative treatment options for dogs diagnosed with right auricular masses. In this case report, other techniques failed to repair the defect in the heart and a free patch graft offered a good rescue procedure with a favorable outcome without the need for inflow and outflow occlusion when used in conjunction with adjunctive therapies.     

Influence of roadways on patterns of mortality and flight behavior of adult dragonflies near wetland areas

The relatively low population size and long adult lifespan of dragonflies (Odonata, Anisoptera) makes them one of the few non-vertebrate groups likely to be impacted by direct roadway mortality. We studied adult dragonfly mortality and behavior associated with roadways for a number of species. Daily mortality rates for dragonflies were estimated from standardized surveys along predetermined lengths of roads. Relative abundance and flight behavior around and across roadways, a potentially important mortality factor, was determined from timed roadside observations. Observed flight behavior provided no evidence that roads act as significant barriers to dispersal for adult dragonflies. Estimated mean number killed ranged from 2 to 35 dragonflies/km/day. Species varied greatly in their susceptibility to motor vehicles. Two species (Plathemis lydia and Libellula luctuosa) made up more than 70% of the dead dragonflies collected, but only represented 14% and 31% of live dragonflies observed, respectively. The relatively low flight heights of these two species over roads (typically under 2 m) may explain their susceptibility; however, another common species (Tramea lacerata) also exhibited low flight height but did not experience high mortality, possibly because of its increased flight agility. Large numbers of adult dragonflies were killed over the entire flight season by motor vehicle collisions, exhibiting the need for assessing the long-term impact of roadway mortality on dragonfly population dynamics.     

Anticoagulant‐dependent in vitro hemagglutination in a cat

Abstract: A 17‐year‐old domestic shorthaired cat was presented to the Cornell University Hospital for Animals for recheck of hyperthyroidism previously treated with radioiodine. Marked agglutination was noted in a blood sample collected into EDTA for a CBC; no other clinical or hematologic evidence of hemolysis was observed and none developed despite persistent agglutination in additional EDTA samples collected over a 2‐month period. Blood drawn into heparin and sodium citrate tubes did not have grossly or microscopically detectable agglutination, unless EDTA was added. Plasma from the cat induced agglutination of washed RBCs from a control cat in the presence of EDTA but not in the presence of heparin. Flow cytometric analysis of samples created by mixing plasma from the patient with washed RBCs from a control cat showed immunoglobulin coating of the control RBCs, predominantly by IgM. These findings suggested an anticoagulant‐dependent antibody‐mediated mechanism for the agglutination. EDTA‐dependent hemagglutination has not been reported previously in cats, although rare cases have been described in humans. The phenomenon needs to be recognized as an in vitro occurrence in order to prevent erroneous diagnosis of immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia.     

Chinese Box turtle (Cuora flavomarginata) with lymphoid leukemia characterized by immunohistochemical and cytochemical phenotyping

Lymphoid leukemia of T‐cell origin was diagnosed in a male Chinese Box turtle, Cuora flavomarginata, of approximately 25 years of age. The turtle presented with a history of anorexia, open‐mouth breathing, and lethargy for one week. The CBC findings included a mildly increased PCV, and severe leukocytosis due to high numbers of atypical cells interpreted to be blasts. The blasts were medium‐sized cells with round to pleomorphic nuclei, slightly clumped chromatin, indistinct nucleoli, and scant moderate‐to‐dark blue cytoplasm with occasional red‐to‐purple cytoplasmic granulation. Cytochemical and immunohistochemical staining indicated that the neoplastic cells were positive for CD3 and α‐naphthyl butyrate esterase (ANBE), leading to the diagnosis of T‐cell lymphoid leukemia. Histology of tissues collected at necropsy showed multifocal infiltrations of neoplastic round cells in the liver, spleen, kidneys, testicles, pancreas, thyroid, duodenum, bone marrow, epicardium, and myocardium. Transmission electron microscopy failed to identify viral particles within the neoplastic cells. This article describes the hematologic, histologic, and ultrastructural abnormalities associated with lymphoid leukemia in this turtle, and advanced diagnostic methods used for phenotyping the T‐cell origin.     

Spatial patterns of sand pine invasion into longleaf pine forests in the Florida Panhandle

Land use practices since European settlement have had profound effects on the composition and structure of certain forested ecosystems in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain. One significant change since the turn of the century has been the invasion of upland pine forests by sand pine in the state of Florida panhandle and peninsula. This study quantified sand pine extent and expansion and examined links between sand pine distribution and environmental factors in the Florida panhandle. Geographic information system analysis using aerial photographs (1949 and 1994) showed sand pine expansion and also increased canopy cover of sand pine over time. There was a high rate of conversion of longleaf pine to sand pine from 1949 to 1994 (44%), and conversion of sparse sand pine stands to dense sand pine stands (69%). Therefore, widespread changes in the Florida landscape were evident during a relatively short time period. Adjacency analyses showed a strong negative association between longleaf pine and dense sand pine and a positive association between riparian vegetation and dense sand pine. Distribution of sand pine across elevation demonstrated that sand pine expanded inland and upland into longleaf-pine forests. In 1949, sand pine was selectively located on sites below 30 m in elevations; by 1994, sparse and moderately dense sand-pine stands were found at all elevations. Thus, any area that may receive an input of sand pine seeds, most notably from riparian areas, is vulnerable to establishment.