SOMA (carisoprodol) toxicity in a dog

Objective: To describe a case of SOMA intoxication in a dog. Case summary: A 13‐year‐old, 25 kg, female spayed Australian shepherd presented to the emergency service after ingestion of ten to fifteen 350 mg tablets of SOMA (carisoprodol), a muscle relaxant used for back pain in humans. Toxic effects of the drug in this dog included mild sinus tachycardia, respiratory depression, seizures, and ataxia. The dog's mentation progressively deteriorated from depressed to comatose within 1 hour after admission. Treatment on initial presentation consisted of induction of emesis while the dog still had a gag reflex, administration of activated charcoal, oxygen therapy, and supportive care. The dog was discharged to the owner prior to full recovery (4 days later). New or unique information provided: This is the first known report of carisoprodol intoxication in the dog.     

Phytophthora kernoviae on ornamentals in the UK1

The newly described Phytophthora kernoviae (previously known as P. taxon C) was first found in the UK in October 2003 and has been subject to emergency European Community phytosanitary legislation since 2004. Since the first finding, P. kernoviae has been found on a limited number of shrub hosts in the UK. The majority of observations have been on Rhododendron ponticum where both leaves and stems may be affected. Symptoms range from slight necrosis of leaf tips through to extensive leaf lesions, stem cankers, defoliation and apparent death of the bush. Diagnosis of P. kernoviae begins in the field with the use of generic lateral flow test kits and is completed in the laboratory using cultural and molecular techniques. To date, the organism has been detected at 29 UK sites, mainly in the South West of England. DNA profiling has shown that isolates are related with no distinct groups or clusters based on host, geographical distribution or place of origin.     

Diagnosis of Phytophthora ramorum– evaluation of testing methods1

Phytophthora ramorum is a recently described pathogen that has resulted in the introduction of emergency European Community phytosanitary legislation in November 2002. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate (PHSI) initiated a survey in England and Wales in autumn 2001 to ascertain whether the organism was present. In April 2002, P. ramorum was found for the first time in the UK and for the first time in Europe since the initial reports in the Netherlands and Germany. Following this finding, P. ramorum has been reported mainly on rhododendrons and viburnums but also on a wide range of other ornamental plants in both the UK and other European countries. Effective disease management and implementation of plant health legislation is reliant upon rapid and accurate disease diagnosis based upon recognition of symptoms in the field and identification of the cause by testing. Other diseases and disorders prevent reliable identification of the problem at the time of inspection with typically only 20–30% of samples submitted testing positive for Phytophthora species. This paper describes the evaluation of a direct real‐time PCR and a rapid serological assay (lateral flow device) developed by CSL for testing for P. ramorum and Phytophthora spp., respectively.     

Chronic idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in five dogs

Five dogs presented with chronic and progressive pulmonary illness characterized by progressive dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and significant inspiratory crackles on auscultation. Radiographically, there was a widespread and diffuse interstitial lung pattern with varying degrees of bronchial involvement. Histopathological changes included thickened alveolar septa, interstitial fibrosis, and pneumocyte hyperplasia. Based on the clinical, radiographic, and histopathological changes, a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium and peripheral airspaces, which has been poorly characterized in the dog.     

Rectal prolapse associated with a healed pelvic fracture in a pregnant free-ranging African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis). Part 2: surgery and necropsy

The oedematous and traumatised protruding section of the rectal tissue of an adult free-ranging female African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) was surgically amputated. Immediately before completion of surgery, the rhinoceros died of anaesthetic-related cardiac arrest. At necropsy a deformed pelvis and sacrum associated with a healed fracture of the left ileal wing were noted. New bone formation in and around the left ventral sacral foramina may have resulted in neuropathy of particularly the 3rd and 4th left ventral sacral nerves, which (in the horse) supply the majority of the nerve fibres innervating the caudal rectum and anus. The cause of the injury is not known, although back injuries, presumably sustained during mating by bulls, have been recorded in white rhinoceros. An encounter with elephants could also have been responsible for the injury in this case.     

Photometry from voyager 2: initial results from the uranian atmosphere, satellites, and rings

The Voyager 2 photopolarimeter successfully completed the Uranus encounter, acquiring new data on the planet's atmosphere, its principal satellites, and its ring system. Spatially resolved photometry of the atmosphere at 0.27 micrometer shows no enhancement in absorption toward the pole, unlike the case for Jupiter and Saturn. Stellar occultation measurements indicate the temperature at the 1-millibar level over the north pole is near 90 kelvins. The geometric albedos of the five large satellites of Uranus were measured at 0.27 and 0.75 micrometer and indicate the presence of low albedo, spetrally flat absorbing material. Titania seems to have a fluffy surface, as indicated by its phase curve. The nine ground-based rings were detected, and their internal structure, optical depths, and positions were determined. The sharp edges of the in ring made it possible to measure its edge thickness (less than 150 meters) and particle sizes (less than 30 meters); little or no dust was detcted. New narrow rings and partial rings (arcs) were measured, and the narrow component of the eta ring was found to be discontinuous.