Evaluation of a radiographic caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte on the femoral neck and its relationship to degenerative joint disease and distraction index in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of a radiographic caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte (CCO) on the femoral neck in various breeds and age groups of dogs and to evaluate its contemporaneous relationship with degenerative joint disease (DJD) and distraction index (DI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional prevalence study. ANIMALS: 25,968 dogs, including 3,729 German Shepherd Dogs, 4,545 Golden Retrievers, 6,277 Labrador Retrievers, and 1,191 Rottweilers. PROCEDURE: Data from the University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program database were analyzed, including ventrodorsal hip-extended, compression, and distraction radiographs. The CCO and radiographic signs of DJD were considered independent events and were interpreted as either present or absent. Statistical methods were used to evaluate the CCO as a possible risk factor for DJD and assess its association with DI, as measured by use of distraction radiography. RESULTS: When all breeds were pooled, DJD was detected in 8.6% of dogs, and the CCO was detected in 21.6% of dogs. Among dogs with a CCO, 25.1% had radiographic evidence of DJD. Among dogs without a CCO, only 4% had DJD. Dogs with a CCO were 7.9 times as likely to have DJD as were those without a CCO. Additionally, DI, weight, and age were significant risk factors for the CCO. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results confirm the contemporaneous association between the CCO and DJD and that passive hip laxity, as measured by use of the DI, is associated with both the CCO and DJD.     

Blood values of juvenile northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) obtained using a portable clinical analyzer

Background — Sick, injured, or orphaned juvenile northern elephant seals ( Mirounga angustisrostris ) treated at rehabilitation centers frequently present with abnormalities in blood sodium, potassium, chloride, BUN, and glucose concentrations, and HCT. These abnormalities could be detected rapidly using a portable blood analyzer, but the results with this analysis method do not necessarily equate with those obtained using other techniques.
Objective — The objective of this study was to better assess the clinical relevance of blood values obtained from a portable analyzer and to compare the results with values obtained using more common methods of analysis.
Methods — Heparinized whole blood samples were collected from 20 rehabilitated juvenile northern elephant seals. A portable clinical analyzer (i-STAT, i-STAT Corp, East Windsor, NJ, USA) was used to establish baseline values. Serum biochemical values were obtained using an automated chemistry analyzer (Olympus AU5200, Olympus America, Melville, NY, USA). HCT was determined using EDTA whole blood and a cell counter.
Results — Using the portable analyzer, mean (minimum-maximum) values were obtained for sodium, 143 (132–146) mmol/L; potassium, 4.4 (3.9–5.8) mmol/L; chloride, 106 (101–109) mmol/L; BUN, 1.8 (1.1–2.4) mmol/L; glucose, 7.55 (5.99–8.49) mmol/L; and HCT, 0.55 (0.52–0.61) L/L. Average differences between methods were small for potassium (-0.45 mmol/L), BUN (0.1 mmol/L), and HCT (0.037 L/L) but were large for sodium (-6.8 mmol/L), chloride (-6.4 mmol/L), and glucose (-0.56 mmol/L).
Conclusions — These results suggest that the i-STAT portable analyzer could be useful for clinically assessing juvenile elephant seals. However, when making medical decisions, the clinician should be aware of differences associated with various analyzers and sample types.     

Treatment and long-term follow-up of extrahepatic biliary obstruction with bilirubin cholelithiasis in a Somali cat with pyruvate kinase deficiency

A 2-year-old female neutered Somali cat was presented with vomiting and acute onset jaundice 1 year after diagnosis of pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency. Diagnostic investigations revealed a moderate regenerative haemolytic anaemia, severe hyperbilirubinaemia and elevated liver enzymes. Ultrasonography revealed marked distension of the gall bladder and common bile duct (CBD), consistent with extrahepatic biliary obstruction (EHBO). At cholecystotomy, the gall bladder contained purulent material, and two obstructive choleliths were removed from the CBD by choledochotomy. The cat recovered from surgery uneventfully, and serum liver enzymes and bilirubin normalised within 10 days. Postoperative treatment consisted of cephalexin, metronidazole and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Bacterial culture of the gall bladder contents yielded a pure growth of an Actinomyces species. Cholelith analysis revealed that they consisted of 100% bilirubin. Antibiotic treatment was stopped 4 weeks after surgery but UDCA was continued indefinitely. The cat remains clinically well with no recurrence of cholelithiasis 20 months after initial presentation. This is the first report of successful treatment and long-term follow-up of a cat with EHBO due to bilirubin cholelithiasis in association with PK deficiency-induced chronic haemolysis.     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora infestans</Emphasis> Isolates from Jersey,Channel Islands

Potato production on the island of Jersey, in the English Channel, is dominated by Jersey Royal, a selection of the early cultivar International Kidney. Jersey Royal is very susceptible to Phytophthora infestans, the cause of potato late blight, and Jersey’s climate is frequently conducive to infection. During 2004–2006, isolates of P. infestans were obtained from Jersey Royal plant samples from 41 different sites (24 crops, one infected tuber, 16 volunteers) and from five outdoor tomato crops and characterised by mating type, mtDNA haplotype, Gpi and Pep allozyme genotype, metalaxyl resistance and RG57 fingerprint. A subset of 17 isolates was additionally characterised by simple sequence repeat (SSR). All but one isolate from potato belonged to a single A1 multilocus genotype or a variant. The five isolates from tomato represented three distinct genotypes, none of which was found on potato and included one which was A2 mating type. The populations of P. infestans on potato and tomato in Jersey appear distinct, with that on potato being highly clonal.     

Application of Six Detection Methods for Analysis of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Shellfish from Four Regions within Latin America

With the move away from use of mouse bioassay (MBA) to test bivalve mollusc shellfish for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins, countries around the world are having to adopt non-animal-based alternatives that fulfil ethical and legal requirements. Various assays have been developed which have been subjected to single-laboratory and multi-laboratory validation studies, gaining acceptance as official methods of analysis and approval for use in some countries as official control testing methods. The majority of validation studies conducted to date do not, however, incorporate shellfish species sourced from Latin America. Consequently, this study sought to investigate the performance of five alternative PSP testing methods together with the MBA, comparing the PSP toxin data generated both qualitatively and quantitatively. The methods included a receptor binding assay (RBA), two liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD) methods including both pre-column and post-column oxidation, liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a commercial lateral flow assay (LFA) from Scotia. A total of three hundred and forty-nine shellfish samples from Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay were assessed. For the majority of samples, qualitative results compared well between methods. Good statistical correlations were demonstrated between the majority of quantitative results, with a notably excellent correlation between the current EU reference method using pre-column oxidation LC-FLD and LC-MS/MS. The LFA showed great potential for qualitative determination of PSP toxins, although the findings of high numbers of false-positive results and two false negatives highlighted that some caution is still needed when interpreting results. This study demonstrated that effective replacement methods are available for countries that no longer wish to use the MBA, but highlighted the importance of comparing toxin data from the replacement method using local shellfish species of concern before implementing new methods in official control testing programs.