Castration for treatment of perianal gland neoplasms in the dog

Neoplasms of the perianal gland are common in the dog, particularly the male. Adenomas of the gland develop about 4.5 times more often than do carcinomas of the gland. The adenoma is hormone dependent; thus, castration without excision of the tumor has been successful in promoting regression without recurrence. Microscopic examination of the testes from dogs with perianal gland neoplasms has revealed 1 in 10 with tubular atrophy and 1 in 3 with testicular neoplasia. Interstitial cell tumors have been seen more often than other cell types of testis tumors.     

Investigations into an outbreak of tuberculosis in a flock of sheep in contact with tuberculous cattle

Tuberculosis, associated with Mycobacterium bovis infection, occurs infrequently in sheep. A sheep flock, which was potentially exposed to a high level of infection from in-contact tuberculous cattle, was examined for evidence of infection. Six sheep that had given a positive reaction to the comparative intradermal tuberculin test were examined post mortem. Tuberculous lesions were present in four of these sheep. Lesion morphology and distribution in the sheep was similar to that in cattle. M. bovis was cultured from the lesions and the isolates were strain typed by spoligotyping and variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) typing. Tuberculin-reacting sheep also reacted positively to an assay for in vitro release of interferon-gamma. This paper describes the first report of an outbreak of tuberculosis in sheep in either Britain or Ireland. The report describes immunology and pathology findings and, using molecular typing techniques, suggests that the sheep had been infected from in-contact cattle.     

Vaccinating badgers (Meles meles) against Mycobacterium bovis: the ecological considerations

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a serious zoonotic disease, which despite a largely successful test and slaughter programme has persisted in cattle herds in parts of the UK. The badger (Meles meles) is widely considered to represent a significant wildlife reservoir for the transmission of Mycobacterium bovis to cattle, and has been the subject of a variety of culling strategies since the mid 1970s. Nevertheless, the incidence of herd breakdowns has continued to rise, and the efficacy of culling is currently the subject of a large-scale field trial. One potential alternative tool for the management of disease in wildlife populations is vaccination. However, the successful development of an effective vaccine and a strategy for its delivery will require careful consideration of the practical constraints imposed by ecological factors. In the current paper, we discuss relevant ecological and epidemiological characteristics of badger populations and practical aspects of vaccine delivery in the field.     

Detection, quantification, and pharmacokinetics of furosemide and its effects on urinary specific gravity following IV administration to horses

Furosemide is a potent loop diuretic used for the prevention of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in horses. This drug may interfere with the detection of other substances by reducing urinary concentrations, so its use is strictly regulated. The regulation of furosemide in many racing jurisdictions is based on paired limits of urinary SG (<1.010) and serum furosemide concentrations (>100 ng/ml). To validate this regulatory mechanism, a liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry method employing a solid-phase extraction procedure and furosemide-d5 as an internal standard was developed. The method was used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of furosemide in equine serum samples and its effects on urinary SG after IV administration (250 mg) to 10 horses. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed that serum concentrations of furosemide were well described by a two-compartmental open model. Based on results in this study, it is very unlikely for horses to have serum furosemide concentrations greater than 100 ng/ml or urine SG less than 1.010 at 4 hours after administration (250 mg IV). However, it should be remembered that urine SG is a highly variable measurement in horses, and even without furosemide administration, some horses might naturally have urine SG values less than 1.010.     

Suspected pseudohypoparathyroidism in a domestic ferret

A 1.5-year-old ferret examined because of seizures was found to have low serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, and extremely high serum parathyroid hormone concentrations. Common causes of these abnormalities, including nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, chronic renal secondary hyperparathyroidism, tumor lysis syndrome, and hypomagnesemia, were ruled out, and a tentative diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism was made. Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a hereditary condition in people that, to our knowledge, has not been identified in ferrets previously and is caused by a lack of response to high serum parathyroid hormone concentrations, rather than a deficiency of this hormone. The ferret improved after treatment with dihydrotachysterol (a vitamin D analog) and calcium carbonate. It was still doing well after 3.5 years of continued treatment.     

Intradural vasculitis and hemorrhage in full sibling Welsh springer spaniels

Two, full sibling, Welsh springer spaniel presented at 8 and 18 mo of age with rapidly progressive ataxia, recumbency, and pyrexia. The spinal cord contained extensive subdural hemorrhage and, in 1 dog, suppurative and necrotizing arteritis in the dura. The findings suggest a familial form of canine juvenile polyarteritis syndrome.     

Laparoscopic colopexy in a horse

An 11-year-old Trakehner gelding required 2 ventral midline celiotomies for correction of a large colon volvulus and a large colon displacement, respectively. Laparoscopic colopexy was performed 50 days following the 2nd celiotomy. Delayed laparoscopic colopexy is minimally invasive and does not disrupt the ventral midline incision following abdominal exploration.