Congenital aganglionosis in a 3-day-old Holstein calf

Necropsy of a 3-day-old Holstein heifer revealed proximal megacolon and distal colorectal hypoplasia. Histologically, the hypoplastic distal colon and rectum lacked submucosal and myenteric ganglia. Clinical history, physical examination, and pathologic findings were consistent with intestinal aganglionosis, a congenital anomaly well documented in humans and foals but not previously reported in cattle.     

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus isolates from equine infectious endometritis belong to a distinct genetic group

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus is the pathogen most commonly isolated from the uterus of mares. S. zooepidemicus is an opportunistic pathogen and part of the resident flora in the caudal reproductive tract. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a genotypically distinct subpopulation of S. zooepidemicus is associated with endometritis in the mare, by genotyping and comparing uterine S. zooepidemicus strains with isolates from the vagina and clitoral fossa. Mares with (n = 18) or without (n = 11) clinical symptoms of endometritis were included. Uterine samples were obtained using a guarded endometrial biopsy punch, whereas a swab was used to recover samples from the cranial vagina and the clitoral fossa. If S. zooepidemicus was present, up to three colonies were selected from each anatomical location (max. 9 isolates per mare). Bacterial isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). S. zooepidemicus was isolated from the endometrium of 12 mares. A total of 88 isolates were analyzed by PFGE: 31 from the endometrium, 26 from the cranial vagina and 31 isolates from the clitoral fossa. For MLST 21 isolates were chosen. Results demonstrated a higher genetic similarity of the isolates obtained from infectious endometritis compared to isolates obtained from the caudal reproductive tract. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that a genetically distinct group of S. zooepidemicus is associated with infectious endometritis in the mare.     

Complex cardiac congenital defects in an adult dog: An ultrasonographic and magnetic resonance imaging study

This article describes a complex and not previously reported combination of congenital cardiac defects. Echocardiography showed dilation of right and left chambers, accompanied with patent ductus arteriosus, persistence of the left cranial vena cava, atrial septal defect (ASD), subaortic stenosis, and tricuspid dysplasia. The interatrial wall was examined and the diameter of the ASD was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).     

CNS and lung metastasis of sebaceous epithelioma in a dog

Sebaceous epithelioma is a common canine cutaneous neoplasm characterized by a preponderance of basaloid cells with few well-differentiated sebocytes. It is considered a low-grade malignancy, as it may occasionally recur at the excision site; the possibility of lymph node metastasis is anecdotally reported, and distant metastases have never been observed. This case report presents the clinical and pathological features of a sebaceous epithelioma of the upper lip with a highly aggressive behaviour. The patient was a 9-year-old female dachshund that developed local recurrence 11 months after the excision of the primary sebaceous epithelioma and multiple lung and central nervous system metastases 5 months later. The designation epitheliomatous sebaceous carcinoma has been suggested for aggressive sebaceous epitheliomas, although differential criteria are still to be determined.     

Effects of the opioid remifentanil on the arrhythmogenicity of epinephrine in halothane-anesthetized dogs

Opioids may exert a protective effect against ventricular arrhythmias via a vagally mediated mechanism. This study evaluated the effects of the opioid remifentanil on arrhythmogenicity of epinephrine during halothane anesthesia. Eight dogs were assigned to 2 treatments in a randomized crossover design, with 1-week intervals between treatments. Anesthesia was maintained with 1.3% end-tidal halothane in oxygen and mechanical ventilation to maintain eucapnia. A constant rate infusion of remifentanil (0.72 microg/kg/min) was administered throughout the study in the experimental treatment, while control animals received physiologic saline as placebo. The arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE), defined as 4 premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) within 15 s, was determined by administering progressively increasing infusion rates of epinephrine (2.5, 5.0, and 10 microg/kg/min), allowing 20 min intervals between each infusion rate. In both treatments, epinephrine infusions induced bradyarrhythmias and atrioventricular conduction disturbances, which were followed by escape beats and PVCs. In the remifentanil treatment, mean +/- s ADE values (11.3 +/- 4.9 microg/kg) did not differ from values observed in control animals (9.9 +/- 6.1 microg/kg). On the basis of the ADE model for assessing the arrhythmogenity of drugs during halothane anesthesia, the present study did not demonstrate a protective effect of remifentanil (0.72 microg/kg/min) against ventricular arrhythmias in dogs.     

Atresia ani in the dog: a retrospective study

Congenital anomalies of the rectum and anus are rare in dogs. The most frequently reported anomaly is atresia ani. Four types of atresia ani have been reported, including congenital anal stenosis (Type I); imperforate anus alone (Type II) or combined with more cranial termination of the rectum as a blind pouch (Type III); and discontinuity of the proximal rectum with normal anal and terminal rectal development (Type IV). An increased incidence was found in females and in several breeds, including miniature or toy poodles and Boston terriers. Surgical repair is the treatment of choice, but postoperative complications can occur, including fecal incontinence and colonic atony secondary to prolonged preoperative distension.     

Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in young bulls using reticulo-rumen temperature boluses

The use of reticulo-rumen temperature boluses to detect bovine respiratory disease (BRD) was investigated in young bulls following their entry into a fattening unit. Twenty-four bulls received a bolus at entry and were observed for 40 days. As soon as a reticulo-rumen hyperthermia (RH) episode was detected using the bolus, clinical examination was performed by a veterinarian and then repeated every 12-24h until the end of RH episode. Fifty-two RH episodes were detected in 22 animals. High rectal temperatures (40.1±0.6°C) were observed during these episodes. BRD was diagnosed on the basis of clinical examination during 38/52 RH episodes in 21 animals (positive predictive value 73%). The onset of BRD signs always occurred after the onset of RH episodes, with a time-lag from 12 to 136 h, depending on BRD signs. Monitoring reticulo-rumen temperature permits early detection of BRD; however, clinical examination is required to confirm BRD.     

Detection of Trichinella murrelli in coyotes (Canis latrans) from Oklahoma and North Texas

We determined the prevalence and mean intensity of Trichinella sp. infection in coyotes from six counties in Oklahoma and one in northern Texas. Tongues from 77 coyotes were examined using histology and artificial tissue digestion. Histological examination showed a prevalence of 3.9% (3 of 77) whereas the prevalence was 6.5% (5 of 77) based on artificial digestion of 5.0 g of muscle from coyote tongues. One sample was positive for Trichinella sp. on histology but negative by artificial digestion. Combining data from both diagnostic techniques showed that six of 77 (7.8%) coyotes were infected with Trichinella spp. The mean intensity of Trichinella sp. larvae ranged from 0.2 to 66.2 with an average of 16.0 larvae per gram (LPG) of tongue. Genotyping results demonstrated that the coyotes were infected with Trichinella murrelli. This is the first report of T. murrelli infection in coyotes in Oklahoma. T. murrelli had previously been isolated from coyotes in Texas.