Septicemia in a young dog following treatment of patent ductus arteriosus via coil occlusion

CASE DESCRIPTION-A 12-week-old female English Springer Spaniel was evaluated for lethargy, vomiting, and pyrexia 1 week after treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) via coil occlusion. CLINICAL FINDINGS-Test results were consistent with septicemia, and the assumption was made that the PDA occlusion coils were infected. Radiography revealed partial migration of the coil mass into the pulmonary artery and signs of congestive heart failure. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME-After successful treatment of the septicemia and heart failure, surgical removal of the coils and resection of the PDA were undertaken. Although the coil that embolized to the pulmonary vasculature was left in place, the dog's clinical signs resolved. CLINICAL RELEVANCE-This case highlights the fact that as PDA coil occlusion devices become more widely used in dogs, practitioners must be prepared to treat implant infections aggressively, with both medical and surgical interventions if necessary.     

The risk of death: the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities

Objective To estimate the risks of anaesthetic and sedation‐related mortality in companion animals in the UK. (The Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Small Animal Fatalities, CEPSAF). Study design A prospective cohort study with nested case–control study. Animal population All small animals anaesthetized and sedated at participating centres between June 2002 and June 2004. Methods Patient outcomes at 48 hours (alive, dead and killed) were recorded. Anaesthetic and sedation‐related death was defined as death where surgical or pre‐existing medical causes did not solely cause death. Species‐specific risks of anaesthetic‐related death and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Risks were also estimated in the sub‐sets of dogs, cats and rabbits that were either healthy or sick (ASA 1–2 and 3–5, respectively). Results One hundred and seventeen veterinary practices participated in the study and 98 036 dogs, 79 178 cats and 8209 rabbits were anaesthetized and sedated. Overall risks of anaesthetic and sedation‐related death in dogs were 0.17% (1 in 601, 95% CI 0.14–0.19%), in cats 0.24% (1 in 419, 95% CI 0.20–0.27%) and in rabbits 1.39% (1 in 72, 95% CI 1.14–1.64%) within 48 hours of the procedure. In healthy dogs, cats and rabbits, the risks were estimated to be 0.05% (1 in 1849, 95% CI 0.04–0.07%), 0.11%, (1 in 895, 95% CI 0.09–0.14%) and 0.73% (1 in 137, 95% CI 0.54–0.93%), respectively. In sick dogs, cats and rabbits, the risks were 1.33%, (1 in 75, 95% CI 1.07–1.60%), 1.40% (1 in 71, 95% CI 1.12–1.68%) and 7.37% (1 in 14, 95% CI 5.20–9.54%), respectively. Postoperative deaths accounted for 47% of deaths in dogs, 61% in cats and 64% in rabbits. Most other small animal species had higher mortality risks. Conclusions and clinical relevance Small animal anaesthesia appears to be increasingly safe. Greater patient care in the postoperative period could reduce fatalities.     

Validation of a von Willebrand factor antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and newly developed collagen-binding assay

No single test is comprehensive enough to detect all of the variants of von Willebrand Disease (VWD), making determination of both concentration and function of von Willebrand Factor (VWF) important for an accurate diagnosis. The objective of the study was to validate a newly developed VWF collagen binding assay (VWF:CB) and VWF antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC VWF:Ag). Linearity, sensitivity, and coefficients of variation were determined. The Asserachrom VWF:Ag ELISA was used as the reference assay for this study. Concordance correlation and Bland-Altman plots were used to evaluate agreement between both VWF:Ag assays. The VWF:CB accuracy was assessed by degree of association with the VWF:Ag assays, and the VWF:Ag to VWF:CB ratio. All assays were assessed for their ability to distinguish between VWD negative and VWD positive patients. Linearity, intra-assay coefficients of variation, and inter-assay coefficients of variation were acceptable for both the newly developed VWF:CB (R² = 0.97, average CV = 4.4, and 15, respectively) and OVC VWF:Ag assays (R² = 0.96, average CV = 7.9, and 5.9, respectively). Agreement between the OVC VWF:Ag assay and reference assay was excellent (ρ_c = 0.89), and although differences between assay results precluded interchangeable use of the assays, both successfully distinguished VWD positive and VWD negative dogs (P < 0.0001). The VWF:CB showed a strong association with both VWF:Ag assays (R² = 0.86, 0.82) and VWF:Ag to VWF:CB ratios (≤ 1) were as expected. The excellent performance of both assays in this validation study confirm their reliability and potential for clinical application.     

Use of inactivated oil emulsion infectious bursal disease vaccines in breeder chickens to prevent immunosuppression in progeny chicks

Two chicken flocks, vaccinated with different inactivated infectious bursal disease vaccines, and one unvaccinated flock provided chicks with high and low levels of and no maternally derived immunity. Following challenge at three ages with a subclinical strain of infectious bursal disease virus the chicks were assessed for bursal damage and suppression of the immune response to Newcastle disease virus. Both high and low levels of maternally derived antibody prevented immunosuppression but the lower level provided only partial protection against bursal damage.     

Describing the growth and molt of modern domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) primary wing feathers

The use of feathers as noninvasive physiological measurements of biomarkers in poultry research is expanding. Feather molting patterns and growth rates, however, are not well described in domestic poultry. These parameters could influence the measurement of these biomarkers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the juvenile primary feather molting patterns and feather growth rates for domestic turkeys. The 10 primary wing feathers of 48 female turkeys were measured weekly from week 1 (0 d of age) to week 20. Feathers were manually measured, and the presence or absence of each primary feather was recorded weekly. Generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate if feather growth differed between the primary feathers. The molting of the juvenile primary feathers followed a typical descending pattern starting with P1 (5 wk of age), while P9 and P10 had not molted by the end of the study (20 wk of age). The average feather growth rate was 2.4 cm/wk, although there was a significant difference between the 10 primary feathers (P < 0.0001, 2.1 to 2.8 cm/wk). Over time, feather growth followed a pattern where the growth rate reaches a peak and then declines until the feather is molted. The results of this study provide a critical update of patterns of molting and feather growth in primary wing feathers of modern turkeys. This can have implications for the interpretation of physiological biomarkers, such as the longitudinal deposition of corticosterone, in the feathers of domestic turkeys.     

Endoscopic-assisted lumbosacral foraminotomy in the dog

OBJECTIVE: To determine if endoscopic-assisted foraminotomy significantly increased the area of the L7-S1 intervertebral foramen and if, over 12 weeks, stenosis would occur. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, experimental study. ANIMAL POPULATION: Six clinically normal, 22-29 kg, adult dogs. METHODS: Using endoscopic assistance, unilateral L7-S1 foraminotomy was performed. Computed tomography of L7-S1 was performed preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and at 12 weeks. Parasagittal foramen area (PFA) measurements were obtained at the entry, middle, and exit zones of the treated and control foramen for each period. Objective and subjective data were compared among dogs by time period and treatment status. RESULTS: Endoscopic-assisted foraminotomy resulted in a significant increase in the mean PFA of the entry and middle zones immediately postoperatively. The exit zone was not significantly larger at any time. The foramen remained significantly larger at 12 weeks only in the middle zone; however, some decrease in the surgically created foramen enlargement occurred at all 3 levels. The procedure was well tolerated but dogs did have transient, mild delay of functional return postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic-assisted foraminotomy in dogs can be performed for certain foraminal regions, allowing enhanced visibility of the spinal canal. The foramen can be surgically enlarged at the entry and middle zones using this technique; however, some reduction of the foraminal enlargement occurs by 12 weeks. The clinical implications of this reduction cannot be determined from this study. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Endoscopic-assisted foraminotomy could be used to improve intraoperative visualization in dogs with foraminal stenosis as a component of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis.