Amebic meningoencephalitis in a sheep.

A 1.5-year-old Suffolk ewe with acute onset of incoordination and blindness unresponsive to antibiotic treatment was examined at necropsy. The meninges were congested, opaque, and thick. Microscopically, focal areas of hypercellularity in the left cortical gray matter and the meninges were observed. The inflammatory response consisted of gliosis and perivascular cuffing (lymphocytes, plasma cells, and variable numbers of eosinophils). An amebic organism in 2 life stages was found in the cerebral parenchyma. Numerous large (15 to 35 microns in diameter) organisms, interpreted as trophozoites, were characterized by vacuolated cytoplasm and small nuclei with a prominent eosinophilic nucleolus (karyosome). The smaller (10 to 17 microns in diameter) encysted stage was surrounded by a capsule-like membrane, and contained a large central body sometimes surrounded by a clear halo. Immunofluorescence studies for amebic antigens were strongly positive for an ameba recently isolated in human beings and baboons (Leptomyxid sp).     

Rectal hemorrhage associated with vascular ectasia in a young dog.

Rectal bleeding in a 7-month-old 13-kg sexually intact female mixed-breed dog was determined to be associated with vascular ectasia of the small intestine, descending colon, rectum, and anus. Microscopically, the telangiectasia was associated with lymphangiectasia and focal ulceration. Surgical intervention resulted in incomplete resection of the lesion and only temporary amelioration of clinical signs. The dog's age was compatible with a congenital origin for the defect, but an acquired cause could not be excluded.     

Equine adenovirus 1 isolated from cauda equina neuritis

Equine adenovirus 1 was recovered after four to six passages from two out of three cases of cauda equina neuritis (CEN) using kidney monolayers. Similar treatment of lumbo-sacral spinal cord from six normal horses did not yield adenovirus. All three cases of CEN had antibodies to the neuritogenic myelin protein P2 while immunofluorescence demonstrated that autologous IgG bound to the myelin of affected nerves. Adenovirus was not detected in neural tissue by immunofluorescence.     

Veterinary school admission interviews, part 3: strategies for increasing interview validity

The veterinary school admission interview is a widely used selection tool, yet concerns persist about its reliability, validity, and cost. Relative to medicine, optometry, and dentistry schools, veterinary schools have been more likely to conduct panel interviews and to fix the interview's weight in selection decisions, strategies that increase interview validity. This article provides strategies for further increasing the veterinary school interview's validity. Interview reliability and validity studies point to key strategies the veterinary school admissions committee can implement before the interview: (1) establishing the interview's purpose(s); (2) conducting a "job" analysis to identify desirable candidate skills, knowledge, and attributes; (3) developing a structured and panel interview where interviewers, if possible, are blind to other admission data; (4) training interviewers; (5) setting a reasonable interview schedule; and (6) determining methods for analyzing applicant data. During the interview, interviewers should proceed through a structured series of steps: (1) open the interview with a specified agenda; (2) probe for information using structured questions and anchored rating scales; (3) close the interview to allow for candidate questions; and (4) evaluate the interview data. After the interview, the admissions committee should (1) analyze the interview data within and across interviewers and (2) analyze the data across all selection tools in order to assign relative weights to the selection tools.     

Association between cribbing and entrapment of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen in horses: 68 cases (1991-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there was an association between a history of cribbing and epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE) of the small intestine in horses. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 68 horses examined at the University of Illinois or the University of Liverpool veterinary teaching hospitals. PROCEDURE: For horses examined at the University of Illinois that underwent surgery because of strangulating small intestine lesions, information about cribbing was obtained through telephone calls with owners. For horses examined at the University of Liverpool that underwent surgery for colic for any reason, information about cribbing was obtained through a preoperative questionnaire. RESULTS: 13 of 19 (68%) horses with EFE examined at the University of Illinois had a history of cribbing, compared with only 2 of 34 (6%) horses with other strangulating small intestine lesions (odds ratio, 34.7; 95% confidence interval, 6.2 to 194.6). Similarly, 24 of 49 (49%) horses with EFE examined at the University of Liverpool had a history of cribbing, compared with 72 of 687 (10.5%) horses with colic caused by other lesions (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 4.5 to 15.1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that there may be an association between cribbing and EFE in horses, with horses with a history of cribbing more likely to have EFE than horses without such a history.     

Effect of focused and radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy on equine bone microdamage

OBJECTIVES : To determine whether bone microcracks are altered after application of focused and radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) to the equine distal limb. STUDY DESIGN : An ex vivo experimental model. SAMPLE POPULATION : A contralateral limb specimen was obtained from 11 Thoroughbred racehorses with a unilateral catastrophic injury. Distal limb specimens were also obtained from 5 non-racing horses. METHODS : Three separate skin-covered bone segments were obtained from the mid-diaphysis of the metacarpus (MC3) or metatarsus (MT3). Focused (9,000 shockwaves, 0.15 mJ/mm2, 4 Hz) and radial (9,000 shockwaves, 0.175 mJ/mm2, 4 Hz) ESWT treatments were randomized to the proximal and distal segments and the middle segment was used as a treatment control for pre-existing microcracks. After treatment, bone specimens were bulk-stained with basic fuchsin and microcracks were quantified in transverse calcified bone sections. RESULTS : ESWT had small but significant effects on microcracks. Microcrack density (Cr.Dn) and microcrack surface density (Cr.S.Dn) were increased after focused ESWT, whereas Cr.Le was increased after radial ESWT. In racing Thoroughbreds, Cr.Le increased with increased number of races undertaken. Cr.Dn and Cr.S.Dn were not significantly influenced by the number of races undertaken. CONCLUSION : ESWT has small but significant effects on bone microcracking ex vivo. CLINICAL RELEVANCE : These preliminary data suggest that ESWT has the potential to increase bone microcracking in equine distal limb bone in vivo. Such effects may be more pronounced in Thoroughbreds that are actively being raced, because in vivo microcracking increases with increased number of races undertaken.     

Pulmonic stenosis in dogs: balloon dilation improves clinical outcome

Medical records of 81 dogs with severe pulmonic stenosis from 2 referral centers were examined retrospectively. Forty dogs underwent balloon valvuloplasty (BV), which was performed by 1 operator, whereas 41 did not. The mean age at latest follow-up was 41.5 months. A statistical comparison of the clinical outcome and survival was performed. Dogs revealing clinical signs at presentation showed a 16-fold increase in risk of death compared with asymptomatic dogs (P < .001). Statistical analyses demonstrated that an increase of 1 mm Hg in transstenotic pressure gradient (PG) at presentation was associated with a 3% increase in hazard rate (P < .001). Thirty-seven dogs survived BV with a median reduction in PG of 46%. The median preoperative PG was 120 mm Hg, and median PG 24 hours postoperatively was 55 mm Hg with a median of 55 mm Hg 6 months post-BV. Twenty (49%) of the non-BV (NBV) dogs remained asymptomatic at last follow-up. Fourteen (34%) of the NBV dogs died or were euthanized because of heart disease related to pulmonic stenosis. Twelve of these dogs died suddenly, whereas only 1 of the BV dogs died suddenly. After adjusting for PG, clinical signs at presentation, and age, BV or dilation was associated with a 53% reduction in hazard rate (P = .005). This study indicates that BV, when performed by an experienced operator, appears to be successful both in alleviating clinical signs and in prolonging survival in dogs with severe pulmonic stenosis.