Necrotising fasciitis associated with Escherichia coli in a dog

CASE HISTORY: Lameness and limb pain associated with a laceration in the inner thigh of a Border Collie dog progressed over 4 days to extensive necrosis of the full-thickness of skin and subcutaneous (S/C) tissue. A successful outcome was achieved using surgical debridement and intensive supportive care, followed by limited local closure, axial pattern flap development, and free skin grafting.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Clinical findings included severe pain, depression, pyrexia and hypoalbuminaemia, and full-thickness loss of skin from the caudal thigh to the hock. Histopathologically, debrided tissue showed extensive necrosis of the dermis, adipose and muscle tissues, and the presence of numerous Gram-negative rods. Escherichia coli was cultured from deep tissue samples.

DIAGNOSIS: Necrotising fasciitis (NF) associated with E. coli infection.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: NF associated with E. coli has not been previously reported in dogs. The importance of early diagnosis and surgical debridement is noted and the relevant medical literature is reviewed.     

A lymphoproliferative disease in Manx cats with similarities to autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) in people

In 2009–2010, an unusual lymphoproliferative disease was identified in multiple siblings from successive litters of Manx cats, suggesting a genetic predisposition to development of this disease. Presentation of disease in the cats had multiple similarities with the human disease ALPS, a rare inherited disorder that causes persistent lymphoproliferation, together with variable manifestations of autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to neoplasia. The majority of human ALPS patients have inherited Fas gene mutations, causing defective apoptosis of lymphocytes, although for a proportion of ALPS patients the underlying genetic mutations remain unknown. In order to identify the likely mode of inheritance of the disease, further matings of potential carrier cats are in progress. Studies to investigate the potential role of abnormalities in the Fas gene in the development of the disease in cats are also proposed. Identifying and further characterising the nature and mechanism of the disease in cats may allow better understanding of the development, progression, and treatment of ALPS in humans.     

Evaluation of adding diltiazem therapy to standard treatment of acute renal failure caused by leptospirosis: 18 dogs (1998–2001)

Objective: To assess efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) diltiazem as a treatment for acute renal failure (ARF) secondary to leptospirosis in dogs. Design: Retrospective study Animals: Eighteen dogs with ARF caused by Leptospira spp treated during the months of September to December (1998–2001). Procedure: All dogs treated for ARF caused by Leptospira spp were enrolled in the study and were treated with standard care consisting of IV fluids, +/? furosemide, and antibiotics. With owner consent some dogs were treated with diltiazem at 0.1–0.5 mg/kg (0.045–0.22 mg/lb) IV slowly, followed by 1–5 μg/kg/minutes (0.45–2.2 mg/lb/minutes) constant rate infusion. Outcome measures were compared between the 2 groups (diltiazem versus standard). Diltiazem was administered within 60 hours of admission until serum creatinine fell into the normal range or stabilized. The primary outcome measurement of safety was systolic blood pressure (SBP). The primary measurement of efficacy outcome was the rate and magnitude of reduction of serum creatinine Results: Eleven out of 18 dogs received diltiazem. The rate of reduction in creatinine in the diltiazem group was 1.76 times faster than the standard group (P=0.054). Recovery of renal function showed a trend towards significant association with treatment group (exact P=0.08, odds ratio=3.62). This effect may be clinically relevant. Diltiazem had no clinically relevant effect on SBP. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Renal recovery in dogs with acute renal failure secondary to leptospirosis is improved with the administration of diltiazem in addition to ‘standard’ therapy.     

Tradescantia Micronucleus and Vicia Chromosome Anatelophase Assays in Monitoring of Genotoxicity of Urban Soil

Tradescantia micronucleus assay (Trad MCN assay) and Vicia anatelophase chromosome aberration assay (Vicia assay) were used to evaluate genotoxicity of extracts from soil samples. Soil samples from six different sites in area of Bratislava - capital of the Slovak Republic - have been taken. As a negative control soil samples from Botanical garden of medicinal plants, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University were used. Soil samples for Trad MCN assay were extracted with distilled water or 5% dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO). Similarly genotoxicity of sample extracted with distilled water by Vicia assay was evaluated. Two sites were found as most polluted. The results of the study indicate different level of pollution in selected sites.     

Suspected inherited rickets in Corriedale sheep

A suspected inherited form of rickets was diagnosed in Corriedale sheep on a commercial sheep farm in Marlborough. Affected lambs were normal at birth but showed a reduced growth rate and a range of skeletal abnormalities, including both varus and valgus deformities and a characteristic dip in the shoulder region. Up to 20 affected lambs had been born on the property over the last two seasons. Skeletal lesions in affected lambs included swollen costochondral junctions, moderate to marked thickening of physes in long bones, and collapse of weakened subchondral bone, particularly in the proximal humerus. These lesions, together with the microscopic changes, strongly suggested a diagnosis of rickets. Affected lambs were hypocalcaemic and hypophosphataemic, consistent with a deficiency of vitamin D.

Vitamin D assays revealed significantly higher 1,25(OH) vitamin D concentrations in affected lambs than in controls, suggesting a defect in the vitamin D receptor as the likely mechanism. DNA testing revealed that 4/10 Corriedale rams used during the previous season had sired affected lambs. Studies aimed at confirming the genetic nature of the disease and the mechanism are continuing at Massey University.     

Impact of dung from ivermectin-treated sheep on oogenesis and survival of adult Lucilia cuprina

Females of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, exploit sheep dung as a source of protein for egg development. Flies fed on dung collected from sheep 1 to 6 days after being drenched with the broad-spectrum antiparasitic drug ivermectin showed delayed reproductive development and reduced fecundity. Male and female survival was also reduced. Despite these effects, except where the recommended frequency of drenching (1 to 4 times per annum) is greatly exceeded, it is unlikely that ivermectin residues will affect any useful reduction in blowfly populations.     

Identification of calcium-binding proteins in fish seminal plasma

Calcium ions play an important role in the activation of fish sperm movement. The mechanism of their binding in semen is still unknown. The goal of this study was the development of a method for identifying calcium-binding proteins in fish seminal plasma. Two methods of calcium-binding proteins detection were tested with the use of Quin2 and Stains-all dyes. The first method was useful for the identification of calcium-binding proteins of fish seminal plasma. It consisted of proteins separation using SDS–PAGE, transfer on PVDF membrane, incubation with CaCl₂, staining with Quin2 and illumination with UV light to reveal calcium-binding protein bands. Using Quin2 allowed the detection of calcium-binding proteins with low and high molecular weight. Electrophoretic species-specific profiles of calcium-binding proteins were identified in the seminal plasma of carp, whitefish, roach, brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. Staining of calcium-binding proteins with Quin2 is a quick and safe method, allowing the identification of calcium-binding proteins in fish semen.     

Impact of oxidative stress and supplementation with vitamins E and C on testes morphology in rats

The aim of the study was to verify whether an increased supply of vitamins E and C prevents the detrimental effects of ozone on the testes. The experiment was performed on 5-month-old rats exposed to ozone (0.5 ppm) for 50 days (5 h daily). Simultaneously, the animals were injected with the vitamins in 5-day intervals and at different doses (0.5, 1.5, 4.5, 5 and 15 mg of vitamin E; 0.5, 3, 9, and 50 mg of vitamin C; or both vitamins together, respectively). Gonad sections were PAS stained. In the ozonized males, depletion of germ cells occurred. In the vitamin E groups, the testes were comparable to the controls, excluding the 0.5-mg-dose vitamin E group in which perivascular fibrosis and intertubular hyalinization were observed. In the vitamin C groups, intertubular hyalinization, partial arrested spermatogenesis, and desquamation of the seminiferous epithelium appeared proportional to the vitamin dose. Additionally, premature spermiation was found at a vitamin C dose of 50-mg. In the rats injected with both vitamins, hyalinization and fibrosis appeared in addition to partial arrest of spermatogenesis and vacuolar degeneration. In conclusion, vitamin E protects against the detrimental effects of ozone in rat testes irrespective of the dose applied. This was not observed for vitamin C. Moreover, administration of higher doses of vitamin C intensified the damage to the testes caused by ozone.