Ataxia and paralysis in cats in Australia associated with exposure to an imported gamma-irradiated commercial dry pet food

Between June 2008 and March 2009, 87 cats in Australia developed symmetrical hindlimb ataxia, paraparesis, tetraparesis, paraplegia or tetraplegia in association with eating an imported, irradiated dry pet food. This communication reports the clinical signs and outcomes of those cats.     

INTERNAL FIXATION OF FRACTURES OF THE ULNA IN THE HORSE

SUMMARY Surgical repair of ulnar fracture was attempted in 7 horses. Of 6 animals in which tension band plates were used, 4 recovered, one was killed after implant failure and one died of respiratory failure during post-operative recovery. The treatment of one horse with a Steinman Pin and figure-8 tension band wire was unsuccessful. One horse with bilateral ulnar fractures was given only stall rest and it recovered.     

Venous aneurysm in a horse.

Venous aneurysm was diagnosed in a 3-year-old horse, using contrast radiography and acid-base analysis of blood samples taken simultaneously from the right jugular vein and a swelling in the right mandibular angle. Attempted surgical correction was followed by rupture of the right maxillary vein. Hemorrhagic shock developed, and the horse died.     

A tumour of vascular origin in a horse

Tumours of vascular origin are uncommon in horses. This report describes the surgical treatment of a large subcutaneous tumour in a Quarter Horse colt. The histopathological appearance of the mass was most consistent with a haemangioma. While these neoplasms of vascular origin are often difficult to characterise, it has been suggested that there is a continuum of types with some cases falling between the categories. Further classification of vascular tumours requires special stains and immunohistochemical techniques.     

Successful treatment of two horses after perforation of the small intestine by fine wire

This paper describes the successful surgical management of two horses with fine wire penetration of the small intestine. Exploratory laparotomy in Case 1 revealed an adhesion between adjacent loops of jejunum. Dissection of the adhesion revealed a small length of fine wire. In Case 2, exploratory laparotomy revealed a dense adhesion between the jejunum and the ventral abdominal wall. Dissection of the adhesion also revealed fine wire extending from the jejunum. Neither case required intestinal resection, and both horses made uncomplicated recoveries from the surgical procedures and were discharged 5 days after surgery.     

Epidemiological enquiries in two Q fever outbreaks in a community of Baden-Württemberg during 2008 and 2009

In 2008 and 2009, two consecutive outbreaks of Q fever in humans were recorded in the district of Freudenstadt, northern Black Forrest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In 2008, a total of 41 persons from a single local community fell ill and were found infected with Coxiella burnetii. Although comprehensive diagnostic and epidemiological outbreak investigations were conducted and control measures taken which included vaccination of ruminants at risk in three parts of the affected community, re-occurrence of the disease in 2009 with further 29 confirmed human Q fever cases could not be prevented. While the origin of infection of the first outbreak was probably a flock of 550 sheep moved in the surrounding of the affected villages, the source of infection for the consecutive outbreak in 2009 could not be identified. It seems possible that meadows contaminated with infectious placenta or birth fluids represented the sources of infection.