Unusual metastatic behavior and clinicopathologic findings in eight cats with cutaneous or visceral hemangiosarcoma

Eight cats with visceral or cutaneous hemangiosarcoma were evaluated, and unusual metastatic and clinicopathologic behavior was evident in each. Cutaneous hemangiosarcoma is generally believed to be locally aggressive and slow to metastasize. These 8 cats with cutaneous hemangiosarcoma, however, developed metastatic disease after initial surgical resection; only 1 had local regrowth of the tumor. All cats with visceral hemangiosarcoma had metastasis at the time of diagnosis, which is consistent with cats of other reports. Three of 8 cats had evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation, including increased prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, decreased number of platelets, and anemia. These potential complications need to be considered when planning diagnostic and treatment protocols.     

Rhinitis/Bronchopneumonia syndrome in Irish Wolfhounds

This study describes the clinical, immunologic, genetic, and pathologic features of Irish Wolfhounds with rhinitis/bronchopneumonia syndrome. The dogs examined were from Belgium, The Netherlands, UK, Canada, Germany, and Switzerland. Signs included transient to persistent mucoid or mucopurulent rhinorrhea, cough, and respiratory dyspnea. Radiographic, rhinoscopic, and bronchoscopic findings were variable. Analysis of ciliary ultrastructure was performed in 5 affected dogs, but no characteristic primary ciliary defects (primary ciliary dyskinesia) were detected. Serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) concentrations of IgA, IgG, and IgM were determined in some affected dogs and clinically normal Irish Wolfhounds. Serum IgA concentration was below the reference range in 5 of 8 affected dogs tested, whereas BALF IgA concentration was above the normal range in 2 affected adult dogs. The CD4 to CD8 lymphocyte subset ratio (CD4:CD8) in peripheral blood was tested in 3 affected dogs and was within the normal range. BALF CD4:CD8 was tested in 1 affected dog and was higher than the normal range. Decreased neutrophil phagocytosis was observed in 1 of the 4 dogs tested. Analysis of pedigrees of the Belgian, Canadian, German, and Swiss dogs revealed common ancestry, suggesting a heritable syndrome.     

Nonresponsive generalized bacterial infection associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Beauceron.

A case of concurrent canine systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and generalized bacterial infection in a six-year-old female Beauceron is reported. The dog presented with purulent nasal and ocular discharges, skin lesions (including seborrhea, hyperkeratotic areas, and papules as well as ecchymoses around the eyes, on both sides of the pinnae, and on the vulva), generalized lymph node enlargement, a mitral murmur, and lameness. Later, facial swelling, a retrobulbar abscess, and a cough also developed. Occurrence of a generalized bacterial infection was established by culture of group-C, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus from the throat, the mouth, a biopsy site (popliteal lymph node area), the retrobulbar abscess, and the lung. The diagnosis of SLE was based on the clinical signs and particularly on the occurrence of antinuclear antibody (ANA) and antidoublestranded-desoxyribonucleic acid (ds-DNA) antibody. Interestingly, the latter type of antibodies were also detected in two young female puppies whelped by this dog. Salient histological findings included an extreme cell depletion of the lymph nodes and spleen and severe pneumonitis and peribronchiolitis. The results of this case indicate that a definite diagnosis of canine SLE can, at times, be made on the basis of the presence of serum ANA and ds-DNA antibodies.     

RADIATION INDUCED VERTEBRAL OSTEOSARCOMA FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF AN INTRADURAL EXTRAMEDULLARY SPINAL CORD TUMOR IN A DOG

A 2-year-old neutered female Rottweiler diagnosed with an intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumor at T12-T13 was successfully treated with cytoreductive surgery followed by Cobalt 60 teletherapy. The dog was euthanised 5-and-a-half years later following diagnosis of an osteosarcoma involving the L1 and L2 vertebrae. Evidence of the initial tumor was not present at necropsy. The vertebral neoplasm fulfilled all of the accepted criteria for a radiation induced tumor. It was concluded that adjunctive irradiation should be considered for treatment of intradural extramedullary tumors of young dogs when total surgical resection is not possible. Although tumor induction is a rare late effect of radiation therapy, the risk of this occurrence should be considered when irradiating young animals. Radiation induced tumors in dogs have been associated with coarse fractionation schemes, or when large intraoperative doses have been administered. A lower dose per fraction, e.g., 3 Gy/fraction or less, is advisable when irradiating young dogs or any dog in which the life expectancy is 3-5 or more years after irradiation.     

Pathogenetic studies of infection of the bovine fetus with bovine viral diarrhea virus. II. Ocular lesions.

Twenty-three susceptible pregnant heifers were inoculated with bovine viral diarrhea virus at 150 +/- 1 days of gestation. Seven additional heifers were inoculated between 65 and 115 days of gestation. Acute ocular lesions were seen in fetuses taken 17-21 days after inoculation of the dams at 150 days. By the fourth week, the acute lesions were beginning to resolve, and in newborn animals focal to total retinal atrophy was seen. The acute lesions were characterized by a mild to moderate retinitis that resulted in various degrees of destruction of the different layers, mononuclear cuffing of inner retinal vessels, proliferation of pigment epithelium, and choroiditis. Residually there was an absence of cellular elements in the atrophied areas of the retina, frequently a loss of layering and various numbers of pigment-containing cells. Moderately severe acute inflammation was seen in the retina of the fetus taken at 22 days after inoculation of its dam at 95 days. Ocular lesions did not occur in the other fetuses taken from heifers inoculated at earlier stages of gestation.     

Cestrum diurnum poisoning in Florida cattle.

Cestrum diurnum poisoning was described in a Florida bull. Clinical signs included chronic wasting and progressive lameness. Plasma clacium was elevated for long periods of time but decreased toward low normal values. There was pronouced C-cell hyperplasia. Osteopetrosis was very severe and reflected retarded osteocytic osteolysis and chondrolysis. Further negative effects on the osteocytes eventually lead to osteonecrosis. Soft tissue calcinosis involved tendons and ligaments, major arteries and veins but kidneys and lungs were spared. Whereas the osteopetrosis could be explained by hypercalcitoninism, the osteonecrosis was believed to result from direct action by the Cestrum diurnum factor, previously shown to have an action similar to that of 1,25-dihydroxy-cholecalciferol, which is the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D3.