Obstruction of equine small intestine associated with focal idiopathic eosinophilic enteritis: An emerging disease?

Idiopathic focal eosinophilic enteritis (IFEE) is a rare disease in the horse and few cases have been reported in the literature. The objective of this paper was to describe the clinical, surgical, histological features and post-operative progress of 12 horses with IFEE, a disease that had not been identified in the authors' hospital population prior to 2000. Diagnosis of IFEE was made at laparotomy and confirmed by histological examination of resected abnormal small intestine. In all 12 horses colic was associated with jejunal obstruction involving visibly striking and palpably thickened serosal plaques or circumferential constrictions. Surgical resection of affected intestine was performed in 10 horses, of which seven completely recovered. In one horse, on which surgical resection was not performed, ingesta re-obstructed post-operatively at one of the lesions. Histological examination of resected intestines revealed, in all cases, severe transmural enteritis in which eosinophilic leucocytes were the predominant inflammatory cells. No helminths were identified and the cause of this lesion is not known. IFEE is an uncommon but significant cause of small intestinal obstruction for which surgical resection can be curative. The gross lesions may be under-recognised and histology is essential for diagnosis.     

Vertical root distribution in single‐crop and intercropping agricultural systems in Central Kenya

Intercropping is an important and widespread land‐management system in the tropics. At two agricultural sites in Central Kenya differing in elevation and soil type Haplic Nitisols (eutric) and Vitric Gleysols (eutric, epiclayic, endoclayic), we investigated the vertical root distributions using the trench wall profile method in single‐crop systems of maize (Zea mays L.) and in intercropping systems of maize and legumes (common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L.; pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan [L.] Millsp.) to test for possible differences in the use of water and nutrient resources. The physico‐chemical soil properties of the sites were similar and imposed no restrictions to the vertical growth of the roots into soil depths of 1.4 m. The vertical distributions of the fine roots (?? 0.5–2 mm) and very fine roots (?? < 0.5 mm) were quantified by calculating the parameter β which was computed from the cumulative fraction (Y) of the root densities along the depth (d) of the soil profiles (Y = 1 – β^d). We found no consistent differences between the single‐crop and the intercropping systems in the rooting depth down to 1.4 m. However, higher β values for fine roots of the intercropping systems were indicative of a more homogeneous vertical root distribution than in the single‐crop fields. In the intercropping fields, 50% of the total number of fine roots were distributed over the uppermost 36 cm of the soil, whereas in the single‐crop fields, 50% of the fine roots were concentrated in the uppermost 15–21 cm. Medium‐sized roots (?? > 2–5 mm) were detected in the intercropping fields only. The more homogeneous root distribution in the intercropping fields likely indicates a more efficient use of the limited resources nutrients and water.     

Myoclonus and hypercalcemia in a dog with poorly differentiated lymphoproliferative neoplasia

A 1‐year, 8‐month‐old Rhodesian Ridgeback was presented with obtundation, ambulatory tetraparesis, and myoclonus. Initial clinical findings included ionized hypercalcemia with an apparent marked increase in parathyroid hormone, thrombocytopenia, and nonregenerative anemia. Low numbers of circulating atypical cells were noted on blood film evaluation. Brain magnetic resonance imaging identified an extra‐axial contrast enhancing subtentorial lesion, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis documented a marked atypical lymphocytic pleocytosis. Flow cytometry performed on the CSF demonstrated expression of only CD45, CD90, and MHC class II, with Pax5 positivity on subsequent immunohistochemistry. The final diagnosis was of B‐cell lymphoblastic lymphoma or acute leukemia, given the distribution of disease and the presence of significant bone marrow infiltration alongside an aggressive clinical course. The unusual immunophenotype of the neoplastic cells and hypercalcemia presented antemortem diagnostic challenges, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach and caution in the interpretation of clinical abnormalities in cases with multiple comorbidities.     

In vivo estimation of goat carcass composition and body fat partition by real-time ultrasonography

The accuracy of ultrasound measurements to assess goat carcass composition and the partition of body fat depots was evaluated. An ultrasound machine with a 5-MHz probe and image analysis was used to assess in vivo fat thickness and muscle depth in 56 Spanish Celtiberica adult goats, in lumbar and breast body regions. The goats were slaughtered and the weight of body fat depots recorded. Measurements corresponding to the in vivo ultrasound fat thickness and muscle depth were taken on carcasses. The left sides of carcasses were completely dissected into their components. The best relationships (r = 0.94, P < 0.01) between in vivo and carcass measurements of fat thickness were obtained when measurements were taken at the sternum, and the best anatomical point was located between the third and fourth sternebrae. The best correlation coefficients (r = 0.84) for muscle depth were found for measurements taken between the third and the fourth lumbar vertebrae at 2 cm from the middle of the vertebral column. Body weight and ultrasound measurements were used to fit the best multiple regression equations to predict carcass composition and the partition of body fat depots. All equations, with the exception of those for muscle quantity, omental, and total body fat depot amounts, were computed after performing a logarithmic transformation. Body weight in association with the ultrasound measurement taken at largest LM muscle depth, between the first and second lumbar vertebrae accounted for 90% of the muscle weight. Body weight was the first variable admitted into the prediction models of muscle, mesenteric fat, and total body fat and accounted for 82, 67, and 79% of the variation in tissue weights, respectively. The ultrasound measurement of fat thickness taken at the third sternebra was the first variable admitted into the prediction models for intermuscular fat, kidney and pelvic fat, and total carcass fat and accounted for by 73, 75, 71, and 79% of the variation in the weight of these fat depots, respectively. The ultrasound measurements taken in the breast region, particularly at the third and fourth sternebrae, were the most suitable for assessing fat thickness. The results of this experiment suggest that BW associated with some in vivo ultrasonic fat measurements allow the accurate prediction of goat carcass composition and body fat depots.     

Evaluation of a rapid agglutination method for detection of equine red cell surface antigens (Ca and Aa) as part of pretransfusion testing

BACKGROUND: Blood typing before transfusion minimizes the risk of transfusion reactions and prevents immunization of the recipient against incompatible RBC antigens. The major RBC antigens that warrant identification before packed RBC or whole blood transfusions in horses are Ca and Aa. Standard blood-typing protocols are time-consuming (2.5-3.0 hours) and impractical in emergency settings. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether equine RBCs could be typed for Ca and Aa antigens using sera from horses with RBC antibodies in a modified rapid (15 minute) blood-typing protocol. METHODS: Serum was obtained from a horse with anti-Ca antibodies and from another horse with anti-Aa antibodies. The presence of agglutinating antibodies was confirmed with antibody screening. Venous blood samples, collected in citrate-phosphate-dextrose, were obtained from 21 horses of various breeds. Samples were blood typed in the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Hematology Laboratory using standard methodology. Washed RBCs from each of the 21 horses were incubated individually with anti-Ca and anti-Aa sera at dilutions of 1:4, 1:8, and 1:16 for 15 and 30 minutes at room temperature and 37 degrees C. RESULTS: Of the 21 horses, 13 were identified as Aa+/Ca+, four were Aa+/Ca-, two were Aa-/Ca+, and two were Aa-/Ca-. All 17 Aa-positive horses had a positive agglutination reaction at all dilutions of anti-Aa serum, incubation times, and temperatures, while all Aa-negative horses were negative. Each Ca-positive horse had a positive agglutination reaction at all incubation time points and temperatures up to the 1:16 dilution of the anti-Ca serum. All Ca-negative horses were negative at all times, temperatures, and dilutions of anti-Ca serum. Use of the modified protocol on 26 hospitalized horses resulted in accurate typing, based on complete antibody screens. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the hypothesis that equine RBCs can be blood typed using a rapid (15 minute) protocol, at room temperature, for the presence of Ca and Aa antigens using equine-derived antisera. This technique may be beneficial for pretransfusion testing of equine patients in an emergency setting.     

Histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and cytologic analysis of feline myeloma-related disorders: further evidence for primary extramedullary development in the cat

Feline myeloma-related disorders (MRD) are rare neoplasms of plasma cells. The multistep transformation model of myeloma in humans is based on the premise that plasma cells undergo neoplastic transformation primarily within the intramedullary compartment and that over time they become poorly differentiated and metastasize to extramedullary locations. Historically, diagnostic criteria used for human multiple myeloma have been applied to the cat, with the assumption that feline MRD commonly arises in the intramedullary compartment. Our objectives were to describe the features of feline MRD confirmed by cytology, histopathology, histochemistry, and immunohistochemistry and to categorize these tumors. A priori hypotheses were 1) tumor category predicts survival and 2) cats with well-differentiated tumors commonly have extramedullary involvement in contrast to human myeloma patients. This multicenter, retrospective study identified 26 MRD cases. There was good agreement between histopathologic and cytologic tumor categorization. Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry were shown to be valuable adjunct tests in the diagnosis of MRD. Cats with well-differentiated tumors had increased median survival relative to those with poorly differentiated tumors (254 versus 14 days). We have reported that marked extramedullary involvement at initial clinical presentation is significantly more common in the cat than in human MRD patients. In this study, we demonstrate that cats with well-differentiated tumors more commonly have extramedullary involvement than human myeloma patients with well-differentiated tumors (90% versus 20%, P < 0.0002). These results contrast strongly with the human myeloma model of primary intramedullary neoplastic transformation and suggest that primary extramedullary neoplastic transformation may be more common in feline MRD.