Vertebral polyostotic lymphoma in a young dog.

An unusual clinical presentation of lymphoma with vertebral involvement in a dog is reported. A 20-month-old intact female Golden Retriever presented with progressive paraparesis and anorexia. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry profile demonstrated pancytopenia and hypercalcemia. Ventral fusion of the lumbar vertebrae by new bony tissue deposition was evident on X-ray and CT scan. Fine needle aspiration revealed neoplastic lymphoid cells in lymph nodes and bone marrow. Histologically, vertebral bone and osteophytes, liver, bone marrow, kidney, and lymph nodes were diffusely infiltrated by neoplastic, lymphoid cells, with scant cytoplasm and round hyperchromatic nuclei. Polyostotic and medullary T-cell lymphoma with spondylosis was diagnosed. Lymphoma mainly affecting bone is uncommon in the dog. The present case differs from previously described polyostotic lymphomas in clinical signs of the disease, mainly attributable to spondylarthrosis. In addition, lymphomatous proliferation was associated with osteoproductive lesions of the vertebrae.     

Unicentric extranodal lymphoma of the upper eyelid conjunctiva in a dog

A case of conjunctival lymphoma in a 4-year-old Siberian husky is reported. A large red mass protruding from the conjunctiva of the upper eyelid of the right eye was present. Irritation, blepharospasm and epiphora were revealed on initial ophthalmic examination. After anti-inflammatory treatment, surgery was performed. Histologically, the mass consisted of large polygonal cells with a high nucleus to cytoplasm ratio, moderate amounts of slightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, pleomorphic nuclei with vesicular chromatin and prominent multiple nucleoli. Mitotic figures were frequent. Approximately 70% of the neoplastic cells were CD3 positive and CD79alpha negative. On the basis of histologic and immunohistochemical findings, a diagnosis of intermediate-grade, diffuse large-cell lymphoma with T-cell immunophenotype was made. The surgical area healed uneventfully and, although chemotherapy was not received, after 12 months the dog exhibited no recurrence. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of unicentric extranodal conjunctival lymphoma in a dog.     

A simple continuous pattern using absorbable suture for perineal urethrostomy in the cat: 18 cases (2000-2002)

Closure with a simple continuous pattern using absorbable suture was evaluated in 18 cats that underwent perineal urethrostomy from 2000 to 2002. The perineal urethrostomy was performed in a similar manner in all the cats, and either 4-0 or 5-0 polydioxanone was used for closure. Cats were evaluated 2 weeks postoperatively, and long-term follow-up information was reviewed. In all cats, the perineal urethrostomy site was healed within 2 weeks. None of the cats developed a stricture postoperatively. Complications were not significantly different (P>0.50) from those found in a comparison group of 21 cats operated between 1997 and 2002, in which perineal urethrostomies were performed using nonabsorbable sutures that were removed postoperatively.     

First record of metacestodes of Mesocestoides sp. in the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in Europe, with an 18S rDNA characterisation of the isolate

Metacestodes of Mesocestoides sp. were recorded from Sturnus vulgaris (Passeriformes: Stumidae) in the Czech Republic in April 2002. They were found in a cutaneous cyst and in the thoracic region of the body cavity of the bird. This is the first record of metacestodes of Mesocestoides sp. in this host species in Europe as well as the first finding of the formation of a cutaneous cyst provoked by this parasite. Additional specimens from Apodemus agrarius (Mammalia: Rodentia) from Bulgaria and Lacerta agilis (Reptilia: Squamata) from the Czech Republic were compared with that from S. vulgaris. Sequence data from the V4 variable region (18S rDNA) were used to compare genetic variability among these and previously characterized isolates of Mesocestoides spp. A number of distinct clades were recognized, with metacestodes from L. agilis showing the highest degree of relative divergence.     

Mucor Species in Orchard Soil – Population Dynamics and Pathogenicity on Pear Fruit

Strains of Mucor piriformis were isolated from orchard soils and from packinghouse dump-tank waters. Pathogen propagules were not found in fruit sample washings. M. piriformis was the most prevalent of the Mucor isolates, only one of 67 isolates was a different Mucor sp., possibly M. racemosus. The population of the pathogen propagules fluctuated in an annual cyclic pattern, declining in warm months and increasing after harvest. The viability of sporangiospores was markedly affected by rain. There was a good correlation (r=0.88) between the number of recovered propagules in the soil and the amount of rainfall. M. piriformis isolates caused decay on pear at 0°C after 14 days.     

Water-use efficiency in cork oak (Quercus suber) is modified by the interaction of water and light availabilities

We studied the interaction of light and water on water-use efficiency in cork oak (Quercus suber L.) seedlings. One-year-old cork oak seedlings were grown in pots in a factorial experiment with four light treatments (68, 50, 15 and 5% of full sunlight) and two irrigation regimes: well watered (WW) and moderate drought stress (WS). Leaf predawn water potential, which was measured at the end of each of two cycles, did not differ among the light treatments. Water-use efficiency, assessed by carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C), tended to increase with increasing irradiance. The trend was similar in the WW and WS treatments, though with lower delta(13)C in all light treatments in the WW irrigation regime. Specific leaf area increased with decreasing irradiance, and was inversely correlated with delta(13)C. Thus, changes in delta(13)C could be explained in part by light-induced modifications in leaf morphology. The relationship between stomatal conductance to water vapor and net photosynthesis on a leaf area basis confirmed that seedlings in higher irradiances maintained a higher rate of carbon uptake at a particular stomatal conductance, implying that shaded seedlings have a lower water-use efficiency that is unrelated to water availability.