Diagnostic features, confirmation and disease progression in 28 cases of lethal acrodermatitis of bull terriers

Lethal acrodermatitis (LAD) is a genetically determined metabolic disease of bull terriers first described in the USA in the 1980s. In this study, the largest so far reported, 28 bull terriers born in the UK were diagnosed as suffering from LAD, and the clinical findings and the progression of the disease with time are described. The main characteristics of LAD are stunting, splayed digits, eating difficulties, skin disease of the face and feet, and increased susceptibility to microbial infections. In older dogs, paronychia, nail disease and hyperkeratosis of the footpads develops, becoming severe in dogs over six months of age. A diagnosis of LAD can be strongly suspected in any bull terrier showing a combination of the aforementioned signs from an early age. Dermatohistopathological demonstration of marked parakeratotic hyperkeratosis is strongly supportive of the diagnosis of LAD and, in association with the typical clinical findings, is sufficient to confirm a diagnosis. Although many of the clinical signs and the pathology of this condition suggest zinc deficiency, the measurement of blood zinc levels as a diagnostic aid is of limited value.     

Concurrent torsion of the right cranial and right middle lung lobes in a whippet

A four-year-old, entire male whippet was presented with a three-day history of lethargy, inappetence, occasional retching, a soft cough and intermittent episodes of haemoptysis. Clinical and laboratory findings, and thoracic radiographic and ultrasonographic studies suggested a diagnosis of lung lobe torsion. A concurrent lung lobe torsion of the right cranial and right middle lung lobes was confirmed at exploratory thoracotomy. Management included resection of both the affected lung lobes. No obvious underlying aetiology for the condition was apparent. The dog made a full recovery from the procedure and at the time of writing (11 months postoperatively) was reported to be well, exercising normally and showing no breathing abnormalities.     

Adherence by Staphylococcus intermedius to canine keratinocytes in atopic dermatitis

The adherence of Staphylococcus intermedius to canine keratinocytes in normal dogs was compared to that in dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis, primary seborrhoea and bacterial pyoderma. Statistically significant greater adherence by S. intermedius to keratinocytes occurred in atopic dogs and dogs suffering from pyoderma when compared with the normal group (P < 0.01) and dogs suffering from primary seborrhoea (P < 0.05). This is similar to the results of a study of human atopic dermatitis by Cole and Silverberg (1986) who demonstrated increased adherence by S. aureus to keratinocytes from atopic dermatitis patients when compared with adherence to keratinocytes in a variety of non-atopic dermatoses. This increased adherence by pathogenic staphylococci to keratinocytes may in part explain the high incidence of staphylococcal pyoderma seen in both canine and human patients suffering from atopic dermatitis.     

Surgical treatment of coenurosis (gid) in sheep

During the past six years 623 cases of coenurosis (gid) in sheep have been treated surgically. Cysts were removed successfully from 573 of them (92 per cent) and 517 (83 per cent) were able to return to their flocks, although 36 showed no clinical improvement In 37 cases, the cyst could not be localised, and postmortem examinations showed that in nine cases the cyst was in the brainstem, and in 28 cases it was in the cerebellum. Fifty-six cases deteriorated gradually after surgery and in these cases more than one cyst was found postmortem. Thirteen cases died during surgery.