Changes in the coagulation parameters in dogs with protein-losing enteropathy between before and after treatment

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is known to induce hypercoagulability and resultant thromboembolism in dogs. We hypothesized that hypercoagulability would improve if remission was obtained in dogs with PLE after treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the coagulation parameters after treatment in dogs diagnosed with PLE. As coagulation parameters, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), fibrinogen, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), D-dimer, and antithrombin (AT) were measured. In addition to these parameters, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM), which evaluates the comprehensive coagulation and fibrinolysis reactions of whole blood, was conducted and the data of clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), α angle (α), maximum clot firmness (MCF) and lysis index at 60 min (LI60) were obtained. Eleven of the 14 dogs diagnosed with PLE were classified as responders to the treatment based on the changes in their plasma albumin (ALB) concentration after treatment. Significant increase in CFT and decrease of α and MCF indicating the resolution of hypercoagulability were found after treatment in responder dogs; however, there was no significant change in the coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters other than those measured by ROTEM. This study demonstrated that the hypercoagulability detected by ROTEM was significantly improved after treatment in dogs with PLE.     

Common variable immune deficiency in a Pomeranian with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

A Pomeranian dog, 1 year- and 8 month-old neutered female, was presented with persistent respiratory distress and recurrent generalized demodicosis. Physical examination revealed cyanosis, rough respiratory sounds, multifocal alopecia and dermal erosions on the dorsal side of the forelimbs, perineal area and skin around the eyes. A severe diffuse interstitial lung pattern was observed on thoracic radiographs. The blood examination revealed neutrophilia and hypoglobulinemia. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations of IgG and IgA were low. Histopathological examination revealed severe diffuse interstitial pneumonia with Pneumocystis carinii infection. Severe lymphoid depletion was observed in the spleen and other organs with lymphoid follicles consisted mainly of CD3-positive T cells and few cells of B-cell lineage. B-cell hypoplasia with subsequent antibody deficiency was suspected.     

MR IMAGING OF HISTIOCYTIC SARCOMA OF THE CANINE BRAIN

Histiocytic sarcomas are characterized by proliferation and/or infiltration of neoplastic histiocytes localized to specific organs, unlike malignant histiocytosis which involves many organ systems. Only a few cranial histiocytic sarcomas have been reported. Here we describe four dogs that presented with neurological deficits referable to the forebrain, and were diagnosed histologically as having histiocytic sarcoma. Using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, the tumors were characterized by a T2-hyperintense and T1-isointense mass in one dog, T2- and T1-isointense extraaxial masses in two dogs, and a diffuse T2-hyperintense lesion over the left cerebral cortex in one dog. All tumors had contrast enhancement. MRI features in three of the four dogs were similar to that of meningioma, supported by the observation of a dural tail in two of these three dogs, and a broad base of attachment in the other. In the other dog the imaging findings were similar to those of encephalitis. Intracranial histiocytic sarcoma does not appear to have specific MR imaging features and can be confused with meningioma or encephalitis.     

Use of Linear Spectral Mixture Model to Estimate Rice Planted Area Based on MODIS Data

MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a key instrument aboard the Terra (EOS AM) and Aqua (EOS PM) satellites.Linear spectral mixture models are applied to MOIDS data for the sub-pixel classification of land covers.Shaoxing county of Zhcjiang Province in China was chosen to be the study site and early rice was selected as the study crop.The derived proportions of land covers from MODIS pixel using linear spectral mixture models were compared with unsupervised classification derived from TM data acquired on the same day,which implies that MODIS data could be used as satellite data source for rice cultivation area estimation,possibly rice growth monitoring and yield forecasting on the regional scale.     

Mycotic aneurysm caused by Graphium species in a dog

A 10-year-old castrated male mixed-breed dog exhibited vomiting, lethargy and anorexia. An abdominal ultrasound examination revealed a focal dilation of the abdominal aorta. The dog died 2 days after examination, and necropsy revealed a ruptured aneurysm at the abdominal aorta between the kidneys. Histological examination revealed severe granulomatous and necrotizing pan-arteritis with fungal organisms. Graphium species was identified through DNA sequence analysis of the PCR product from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aortic aneurysm caused by Graphium species in a dog.     

Postdispersal seed predation by Teleogryllus emma (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) reduces the seedling emergence of a non‐native grass weed,Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)

The potential impact of postdispersal seed predation by the field cricket, Teleogryllus emma (Ohmachi et Matsuura), on the seedling emergence of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), a non‐native grass weed in Japan, was determined. The relationship between cricket density and the proportion of seedling emergence was investigated by conducting manipulative experiments in duplicate, using enclosures. One‐thousand seeds of Italian ryegrass were exposed to adult crickets at different densities (zero, one, two, four and eight individuals per 2.25 m² enclosure) for 2 weeks. The proportion of seedling emergence decreased with increasing cricket density. The proportion of seedling emergence in the enclosures without the crickets was 90.9–97.2%, whereas the seedling emergence in the enclosures with eight crickets greatly decreased, to 0.5–2.5%. These results suggest that postdispersal seed predation by T. emma can substantially decrease the abundance of Italian ryegrass at an early life stage and reduce its population in environments with a high density of crickets.