Self-limiting subepidermal bullous disease in a neonatal foal

A 1-day-old Appaloosa colt developed vesicles/bullae involving the skin of the lips and prepuce and multiple mucous membranes. Histopathology revealed subepidermal vesicles/bullae that were clear or contained variable numbers of neutrophils and erythrocytes. The separated epidermis appeared viable. The denuded dermal papillae were often disrupted by microabscesses or coated with fibrinosuppurative debris. Fragmented basement membrane components were attached to exposed dermal papillae. Immunoperoxidase staining of sections for deposition of IgG, IgM, IgA, and C3 were positive for IgG at the basement membrane and intercellular bridges. Complete recovery ensued. The characteristics of the subepidermal bullous lesions and clinical course of lesion resolution in this foal suggested a drug-induced pathogenesis. The only known drug exposure of the foal or mare was topical application of 7% iodine to the umbilicus at the time of foaling. Similar reactions to iodine administration have been reported in humans.     

SONOGRAPHY OF THE NORMAL FELINE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

The normal sonographic appearance of the stomach in various degrees of distension, the duodenum, the small intestine, and the large intestine was determined in awake and sedated cats. The mean stomach rugal fold thickness was 4.38 mm, and the interrugal thickness was 2.03 mm. No significant difference in stomach wall thickness was seen when the stomach was empty, half full, or full. The duodenal wall thickness was significantly greater than other parts of the small intestine, and this difference was accentuated by sedation (awake mean 2.4 mm; sedated mean 2.71 mm). The mean small intestinal wall thickness was 2.1 mm, and the mean colonic wall thickness was 1.67 mm. The five characteristic sonographic layers similar to that seen in the gastrointestinal tract of other species were routinely identified at all regions of the feline gastrointestinal tract.     

Ulcerative facial and nasal dermatitis and stomatitis in cats associated with feline herpesvirus 1

Ulcerative dermatitis of the nasal planum or haired skin of the face, associated with intranuclear inclusion bodies compatible with herpesvirus, was identified in nine cats. Clinically, lesions were ulcerative and crusted, and often persistent. A tenth cat had focal proliferative ulcerative stomatitis, also associated with intranuclear inclusion bodies. Microscopically, there was necrosis and ulceration associated with prominent eosinophilic inflammation. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were noted in all cases, within the surface or adnexal epithelium. Ultrastructural examination of skin from two cats revealed virions morphologically compatible with a herpesvirus. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for feline herpesvirus 1 on DNA extracted from fresh-frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples and/or consensus primer PCR with DNA sequencing performed on DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples from seven cats revealed that the virus was indistinguishable from feline herpesvirus 1. PCR was negative in one of eight cats tested.     

Clinical and histological evaluation of immediate and delayed flea antigen intradermal skin test and flea bite sites in normal and flea-allergic cats

Seven cats diagnosed as flea allergic by specific criteria and seven normal control cats were exposed to flea bites in a controlled manner and were given intradermal injections of 1:1000 w/v flea antigen. Subjective evaluation of gross lesions and documentation of histological changes at flea antigen intradermal skin test (IDST) and flea bite sites were performed at 15 min, 24 h and 48 h after IDST or flea exposure. Control cats did not develop an immediate gross reaction to either flea bites or the intradermal injection of flea antigen. All seven flea-allergic cats had an immediate gross reaction at the site of IDST with flea antigen; five of these cats also developed immediate gross reactions to flea bites. Three of seven flea-allergic cats developed a gross 24 h and/or 48 h delayed reaction at the flea antigen IDST sites. These three and one other cat had both an immediate and delayed gross reaction to flea bites. Histological examination of 15 min skin specimens from IDST and flea bite sites of flea-allergic cats were similar with a mild lymphocytic, histiocytic and mastocytic superficial perivascular dermatitis. Histological examination of 24 h and 48 h skin specimens from IDST and flea bite sites of flea-allergic cats showed that they were often indistinguishable. Histological features of IDST and flea bite sites of flea-allergic cats at 24 h consisted of a perivascular to diffuse predominately eosinophilic dermatitis and mural folliculitis with variable epidermal necrosis and ulceration.     

QUANTITATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE NORMAL FELINE CRANIAL ABDOMEN

Magnetic resonance images of the cranial abdomen were acquired from 15 clinically normal cats. All cats had T1-weighted images, 8 cats had T2-images made and 7 cats had T1-weighted post Gd-DTPA images acquired. Signal intensity measurements for T1, T2, and T1 post contrast sequences were calculated for liver, spleen, gallbladder, renal cortex, renal medulla, pancreas, epaxial muscles, and peritoneal fat. On T1-weighted images the epaxial muscle had the lowest signal intensity, followed by renal medulla, spleen, renal cortex, pancreas, liver and fat, respectively. On T2-weighted images, epaxial muscle had the lowest signal intensity followed by liver, spleen, fat, and gallbladder lumen. Calculations of specific organ percent enhancement following contrast medium administration were made and compared with that reported in humans. A brief review of the potential clinical uses of MR in cats is presented.     

Ex Vivo Comparison of Three Surgical Techniques to Stabilize Canine Cranial Cruciate Ligament Deficient Stifles

Objective— To quantify and compare canine stifle stability after 3 stabilization techniques. Study Design— Randomized controlled study. Sample Population— Adult canine cadaveric pelvic limbs. Methods— Total craniocaudal (CrCa) tibial translation quantified in stifles with the cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) intact, transected, and stabilized with 1 of 3 techniques: (1) hamstring graft (HG); (2) modified retinacular imbrication (MRIT); (3) anatometric fascia lata translocation (AFLT). Tibial translation was quantified from radiographs generated during application of cranial and caudal forces to the tibia. After removal of all soft tissues except periarticular ligaments and fixation, CrCa tibial translation, as before, and medial–lateral rotation, via torsional loading, was quantified with an active motion analysis system. Total tibial translation was evaluated for effect of technique and cruciate status using mixed effect linear model with significance considered at P‐value <.05. Results— CrCa translation was not significantly different across stabilization techniques with CrCLs intact, transected, or after stabilization. Poststabilization translation was significantly less than posttransection for all techniques. Compared with the intact CrCL, CrCa translation poststabilization after HG was significantly greater whereas poststabilization after MRIT and AFLT was not significantly different. Tibial rotation exceeded instrumentation limits in 62.5% HG limbs, 20% MRIT limbs, and 60% AFLT limbs. Conclusions— All 3 stifle stabilization techniques confer comparable CrCa translational stability after CrCL disruption with that provided by the MRIT and AFLT techniques comparable to the intact CrCL. Clinical Relevance— The extra‐ and intracapsular techniques evaluated in this study reduced CrCa tibial translation in CrCL deficient stifles to varying amounts.     

In vitro amino acid absorption using hydrolysed sardine muscle or soybean meal at different intestinal regions of the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)

The amino acid (AA) absorption along the intestinal tract of the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) was evaluated using two hydrolysed protein sources (fresh sardine muscle and soybean meal) with the everted intestine technique. Pork pepsin and pancreatic enzyme extract from the bluefin tuna were used to hydrolyse the protein from fresh sardine (FSH) and soybean meal (SMH) under optimal bluefin tuna fish physiological conditions. Both of the hydrolysate solutions were tested within three intestinal sections from the bluefin tuna. The everted intestinal fractions immersed in the hydrolysate solutions were sampled at different times to analyse for AA and absorption rate calculations. Fresh sardine and SMH contained greater amounts of essential amino acids (EAA) than those of non‐essential amino acids (NEAA); however, the profiles of AA absorbed showed higher absorption of NEAA in both cases. Using a similar concentration solution, the absorption rates within the intestinal fractions showed a preferential absorption in the proximal and distal regions for Arg and His when FSH was used. However, the absorption rates for Lys resulted in a decreasing proximal‐to‐distal gradient between the different intestinal regions for FSH and SMH. The possibility of a catabolic role of certain AAs in the enterocytes being able to explain the differences in absorption is discussed.     

Scintigraphic, sonographic, and histologic evaluation of renal autotransplantation in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine scintigraphic, sonographic, and histologic changes associated with renal autotransplantation in cats. ANIMALS: 7 adult specific-pathogen-free cats: 5 males, 2 females, 1 to 9 years old. PROCEDURE: Renal autotransplantation was performed by moving a kidney (5 left, 2 right) to the left iliac fossa. Before and at multiple times after surgery, for a total of 28 days, cats were evaluated by B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography, scintigraphy, and renal biopsy. RESULTS: By 24 hours after surgery, a significant decrease (42%) in mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and an increase in mean renal size (81% increase in cross-sectional area) were evident in the transplanted kidney, compared with preoperative values. By postsurgery day 28, reduction in GFR was 23%. Significant changes in renal blood flow velocity were identified in both kidneys. Consistent changes in resistive index or pulsatility index for either kidney could not be identified. When all postoperative histologic data were combined, the histologic score, indicating degree and numbers of abnormalities detected, for the transplanted kidney was significantly higher than that for the control kidney. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes in renal function, size, and histologic abnormalities develop secondary to acute tubular necrosis in cats after uncomplicated renal autotransplantation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Evaluation of renal size and function may be of benefit for clinical evaluation of feline renal transplant patients, whereas measurement of the resistive index may be of little clinical value.