Acute and short-term toxicoses associated with the administration of doxorubicin to dogs with malignant tumors

One hundred eighty-five dogs with histologically confirmed, measurable malignant tumors were used in a study to determine the toxicity of the anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, doxorubicin, which was administered once or twice (at a 21-day interval) at the rate of 30 mg/m2 of body surface area, iv. During this study, 7 dogs died as a direct result of doxorubicin-induced toxicosis and 16 died as a direct result of the malignant neoplastic disease. Each dog was evaluated for signs of toxicosis for 3 weeks after the last dose was administered (15 dogs received 1 dose, 170 dogs received 2 doses) or until the dog died, whichever came first. The most common signs of toxicosis were vomiting, diarrhea, colitis, anorexia, and pruritus. The probability of doxorubicin-induced toxicosis decreased significantly (P less than 0.0001) in inverse relationship to body weight. Dogs with signs of toxicosis during the 21-day interval from administration of the first dose of doxorubicin were 17.2 times (P less than 0.01; 95% confidence interval; 5.5, 54.2) more likely to develop signs of toxicosis during the 21-day interval from the second dose of doxorubicin. The performance status of each dog was evaluated using a modified Karnofsky performance scheme; the only time the performance status was adversely affected to a significant extent by doxorubicin-induced toxicosis was during the 21-day period, starting with the second dose (P less than 0.0001).     

Clinicopathological findings associated with feline infectious peritonitis in Sydney, Australia: 42 cases (1990-2002)

Objectives To review the clinicopathological findings in naturally-occurring, histopathologically confirmed cases of feline infectious peritonitis in client-owned cats in Sydney, Australia, with the purpose of identifying factors assisting in the diagnosis of this complex disease syndrome and to characterise the disease as it occurs in this region.
Design Retrospective clinical study: the clinical records of all cats with histopathologically confirmed feline infectious peritonitis at the University Veterinary Centre Sydney and a private cat hospital in Sydney between 1990 and 2002 were reviewed for signalment, history, physical findings, diagnostic test results and the distribution of histological lesions throughout the body at necropsy.
Results Forty-two cats met the inclusion criteria. Significant features of this study that unique to the contemporary literature are i) the over-representation of certain breeds (Burmese, Australian Mist, British Shorthaired, and Cornish Rex) and the under-representation of other breeds (Domestic Shorthaired, Persian); ii) the overrepresentation of males; iii) the tendency for effusive disease in Australian Mist cats and non-effusive disease in Burmese; iv) the even age distribution of disease seen in cats older than 2 years-of-age; and v) the presence of fulminant immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in two cats in this study.
Conclusion The study highlights the diverse range of clinical manifestations and the complexities experienced by clinicians in diagnosing this fatal disease. Some aspects of the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of feline infectious peritonitis appear different to the disease encountered in Europe and North America, most notably the over-representation of specific breeds and the presence of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia.     

Interstitial lung disease in West Highland White Terriers

Progressive respiratory failure and pulmonary fibrosis in West Highland White Terriers (WHWT) is an apparently genetic disorder of unknown pathogenesis. This study characterizes the light microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of affected WHWT in comparison with lesions in usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) of humans. Lesions in WHWT were confined to the expansion of the interstitial space of alveolar septa by extracellular matrix (ECM) determined to be mixtures of type-I and -III collagens. Features of UIP such as intra-alveolar fibroblastic foci, subpleural distribution, and honeycombing were not observed in six WHWT. Comparison with normal dogs showed no apparent increase in septal myofibroblasts. Ultrastructually, the ECM in alveolar septa consisted of large aggregates of periodic collagen filaments underlying alveolar capillaries that were surrounded by thick bands of amorphous to fine fibrillar matrix. This study suggests that chronic pulmonary disease of WHWT is a result of aberrant collagen regulation.     

Pancreatolithiasis and pancreatic pseudobladder associated with pancreatitis in a cat

Pancreatolithiasis has been documented to occur naturally in humans and cattle. It has been associated with chronic pancreatitis in humans, and, when found, it may signify the presence of chronic pancreatic disease. This is the first report of a case involving a cat that had both an apparent obstruction with pancreatolithiasis as well as concurrent evidence of chronic pancreatic changes on histopathological evaluation. Additionally, this case documents the presence of a suspected congenital abnormality of a feline exocrine pancreas.     

Relationships between Longevity and Linear Type Traits in Holstein Cattle Population of Southern Africa

Relationships between longevity and linear type traits were estimated using data on 34,201 cows with lifetime information and linear type scores. The longevity trait considered was the number of lactations initiated and the linear type traits were rump height, body depth, angularity, rear udder height, fore udder attachment, udder depth, fore teat placement and fore teat length. Fixed effects included in the models were herd year, season of calving and herd-date of classification-classifier and days in milk. Age at first calving and age at classification were included as linear and quadratic covariates. Heritability estimates were low for longevity and moderate for most type traits except rump height and fore teat length. All the phenotypic correlations between longevity and the linear type traits were slightly positive (0.01 to 0.09) except the relationships with rump height and fore teat length which were -0.01 and -0.02, respectively. Genetic correlations between longevity and udder traits as well as angularity were moderate to high and positive (0.22 to 0.48). The only notable negative genetic correlations were longevity with body depth and fore teat length (-0.15 and -0.07, respectively). The genetic correlations suggest that selection for udder traits and angularity should improve longevity in the Holstein cattle population.     

Genetic parameter estimates for body weight in local Venda chickens

Genetic parameters were estimated for Venda chicken body weights at hatching, and at 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks of age. A single-trait animal model with restricted maximum-likelihood procedures was used. Random effects were additive direct and maternal genetic, common environmental and error. The heritability estimates for direct effects were 0.36, 0.25, 0.41 and 0.22 for hatch, 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks, respectively. The maternal effects were estimated at hatch and 4 weeks of age and were not present at later ages. Common environmental effects disappeared with increasing age. There was an antagonistic relationship between direct and maternal effects. The results show potential for genetic improvement of indigenous Venda chickens through selection. Maternal effects should be considered if selection is carried out at early ages.