Syncope associated with swallowing in two British Bulldogs with unilateral carotid body tumours

Carotid body tumours were diagnosed in two British Bulldogs that each had a history of syncopal episodes induced by eating, drinking or pulling on the leash. In both dogs, a cervical mass was identified using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging, with carotid body tumour (CBT) being the histopathological diagnosis. A heart base mass was also identified in one dog by both CT and echocardiography. Swallowing syncope has been reported in the human literature in association with cervical mass lesions, but this is the first report in dogs. The present cases emphasise the value of advanced imaging of the head and neck in dogs presenting with clinical signs of syncope associated with swallowing and the importance of careful manipulation of the neck in patients with CBTs.     

Clostridial myonecrosis,haemolytic anaemia,hepatopathy, osteitis and transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after intramuscular injection in a Thoroughbred gelding

A 9‐year‐old Thoroughbred gelding was presented for swelling over the left neck and inappetence. There was recent history of intramuscular administration of flunixin meglumine into the left neck. On examination, there was evidence of focal myositis, anaemia, haemolysis and pigmenturia. Culture of aspirated fluid from the left side of the neck produced a heavy growth of a Clostridium species. Complications of infection included haemolytic anaemia, hepatopathy, osteitis and transient hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Treatment included intravenous fluid therapy, antibiotics, anti‐inflammatory drugs, blood transfusion and surgical debridement. There was complete resolution of clinical, haematological, biochemical and echocardiographic abnormalities, and the horse returned to ridden work. This report highlights the complications that can arise from clostridial myonecrosis, including the effect on the myocardium.     

Congenital nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease) in a red deer (Cervus elaphus) calf

CASE HISTORY A 5-day-old red deer calf was submitted with tachypnoea and dyspnoea, and was reluctant to move.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Muscular damage was established via elevated creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) activities (5,000 U/L), while concentrations of Se in whole blood were low (24.8 nmol/L). The animal died despite treatment with penicillin-streptomycin and 0.1 mg/kg Se/vitamin E administered by S/C injection.

DIAGNOSIS: Necropsy and histological examination of cardiac and skeletal muscle confirmed the presumptive diagnosis of congenital white muscle disease (WMD). Prophylactic administration of a Se/vitamin E commercial preparation (as above) to another calf born in the same herd one month later was associated with good health and apparently normal growth and development.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Congenital WMD due to Se deficiency can be fatal in red deer calves. However, prophylactic administration of Se and vitamin E to neonatal calves may be beneficial for neonatal red deer calves.     

Altered in vitro immune responses in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomatosis.

The immune competence of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) with fibropapillomatosis was assessed using in vitro techniques to measure lymphocyte proliferation in response to mitogens. In comparison with captive, healthy green sea turtles, those afflicted with fibropapillomas demonstrated diminished proliferation with Concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin (T-cell mitogens), and lipopolysaccharide (B-cell mitogen). Also, markedly decreased proliferative responses to the lymphocyte polyclonal stimulator combination of ionomycin and phorbol myristate acetate were observed. Total circulating white blood cell counts were not statistically different between the two groups, although an overall decrease in lymphocyte number was observed in the papilloma group. The albumin/globulin ratio was decreased in the papilloma group because of decreased albumin and increased gamma globulins.     

Cholangiocarcinoma with metastasis in a captive Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae).

A captive male Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), wild caught in 1976, died unexpectedly. Necropsy revealed cholangiocarcinoma with metastases to lung, pancreas, mesentery, and cloaca, the first known case of a penguin hepatic tumor.     

Serologic survey in a colony of captive common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) after infection with herpes simplex type 1-like virus.

An outbreak of herpesvirus caused the death of four of five common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) in a private colony. Gross lesions included acute ulcerative gingivitis, glossitis, and enlarged mandibular lymph nodes. Histologically, all fatal cases showed meningoencephalitis and eosinophilia with intranuclear inclusion bodies in neurons and glial cells. A herpes simplex-like virus was cultured from the brain and was identified as herpes simplex type 1 virus or a closely related virus by immunofluorescence. Serologic testing (complement fixation test) indicated that the surviving adult female was serologically positive for more than 4 yr and that the offspring she produced was seronegative. The most likely source of the outbreak was the owner who mouth fed hand-raised offspring.