Pemphigus Foliaceus in a Horse

Abstract— A 3-year-old gelding was presented with a generalized chronic dermatitis characterized by erosions, ulcerations, crusting, scaling and widespread alopecia. The diagnosis of pemphigus foliaceus was based on history, clinical signs, histological lesions and immunohistological test results. Typical dermatohistopathological findings comprised intraepidermal acantholysis and cleft formation in both epidermis and hair follicle epithelium. Additionally, blisters and erosive lesions were found in the epithelia of various mucocutaneous junctions, the distal oesophagus and the oesophageal zone of the stomach. In formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues an immunoperoxidase technique was established to demonstrate deposits of the immunoglobulins G and M and the complement component C3 providing the opportunity to compare histological and immunohistological findings. Résumé— Un cheval hongre de 3 ans a été présenté avec une dermite chronique caractérisée par des érosions, des ulcères, des croutes, des squames et une alopécie très étendue. Le diagnostic de pemphigus foliacé reposait sur l'anamnèse, l'examen clinique et les résultats des examens histopathologiques et immunopathologiques. Les lésions histologiques typiques comprenaient des acantholyses intraépldermiques et la formation de fissures tant au niveau de lépiderme que des follicules pileux. En outre, des bulks et des érosions ont été retrouvées au niveau de différentes junctions cutanéomuqueuses et de la partie distalé de l'oesophage. Une technique d'immunopéroxydase sur tissus fixés au formol et en paraffine a été utilisée pour mettre en évidence des dépôts d'immunoglobulines G et M et de C3, permettant de comparer les observations histologiques et immunopathologiques. Zusammenfassung— Ein dreijähriger Wallach wurde mit einer generalisierten chronischen Dermatitis vorgestellt, die durch Erosionen, Ulzerationen, Krusten, Schuppen und ausgedehnte Alopezie gekennzeichnet war. Die Diagnose Pemphigus foliaceus stützte sich auf den Vorbericht, die klinischen Symptome, die histologischen Veränderungen und die Ergebnisse des immunohistologischen Tests. Die typischen histopathologischen Befunde umfaßten intraepidermale Akantholyse und Spaltbildung sowohl in der Epidermis wie im Epithel des Haarfollikels. Zusätzlich wurden Blasen und erosive Veränderungen in den Epithelien verschiedener mukokutaner übergänge, im distalen ösophagus und in der ösophagealen Zone des Magens gefunden. An formalinfixiertem und in Paraffin eingebettetem Gewebe wurde eine Immunoperoxidasetechnik durchgeführt, um die Ablagerungen von Immunglobulinen G und M und der Komplementkomponente C3 zu zeigen, wodurch die Gelegenheit bestand, histologische und immunohistologische Befunde zu vergleichen. Resumen Un caballo de tres anos fue presentado con una dermatitis crónica de tipo generalizado presentando erosiones, ulceraciones, costras y escamas epidérmicas, además de una alopecia generalizada. Una diagnosis de pémfigo foliáceo se basó en la historia y cuadro clínico, lesiones histológicas y resultados de tests inmunohistológicos. Los hallazgos dermato-histopatológicos típicos comprendieron acantolisis intraepidermica y la formación de indentaciones epidérmicas en ambos, epidermis y epitelio del folículo piloso. También se observó la presencia de vesículas y lesiones erosivas en el epitelio de las uniones mucocutaneas, asi como en áreas distales del esófago, y en zonas esofágicas del estómago. Después de la fijación en formol y sumersión en parafina de los tejidos, se utilizo la técnica de inmunoperoxidasa para la demonstratión de depósitos de inmunoglobulinas G y M, y el complemento C3, que proporcionó la oportunidad de comparar los hallazgos inmuno e histológicos.     

Ligamentous injuries to the canine hock

Ligamentous damage to the canine hock is a relatively uncommon orthopaedic injury. Severe trauma seems to be necessary to produce it. Four cases of tarsal ligamentous damage are reported. Their management is described and discussed along with a brief review of the relevant literature.
Résumé. Le jarret canin atteint d'un dommage ligamenteux est un accident orthopédique relal ment rare. De sévères traumas semblent nécessaires pour qu'il se produise. On rapporte quatre de dommage ligamenteux tarsien. On décrit et on discute de la manière dont on les traite avec brève revue des documents courants.
Zusammenfassung. Ligamentöser Schaden an dem Hunde-Fesselgelenk ist eine verhältnismà ungewöhnliche orthopädische Verletzung. Sehr schlimmes Trauma scheint notwendig, um es vorzurufen. Vier Fälle von tarsal-ligamentösem Schaden sind berichtigt. Ihre Behandlung won beschrieben und diskutiert, zusammen mit einem kurzen Überblick von der augenblicklic Literatur hierüber.     

THE IMPORTANCE OF SHELTER TO EARLY TREE GROWTH ON UPLAND MOORS

A comparison of the effects of differing methods of cultivationcarried out on typical Calluna moor in the Cleveland (Yorkshire)massif has revealed that single-furrow deep forestry ploughing,by reason of its pronounced plough-ridges, has advantages overother more shallow and complete deep methods of ploughing ingiving shelter from cold off-shore winds which cause die-back.Orientation of the plough-ridges transverse to the wind directionand the use of leeward ridge slopes as planting positions enhancesthis shelter effect. The paper ends by drawing attention tothe need for forest meteorological reasearch upon the wind-treegrowth relationship.     

Percutaneous Cementoplasty in the Palliative, Multimodal Treatment of Primary Bone Tumors of the Distal Aspect of the Radius in Four Dogs

Objective— To (1) evaluate the analgesic effect of percutaneous cementoplasty (PC) in dogs with primary bone tumor (PBT) of the distal aspect of the radius and (2) evaluate the impact on the course of disease by adding PC to a palliative, multimodal treatment protocol in these dogs.
Study Design— Prospective pilot study.
Animals— Dogs (n=4) with PBT of the distal aspect of the radius.
Methods— Tumor lesions were filled percutaneously with polymethylmethacrylate under fluoroscopic guidance. Pamidronate was administered once in a week before PC. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were initiated 2 and 6 weeks after PC, respectively. Force plate analysis was performed immediately before 2, and 6 weeks after PC. Survival time was defined from PC to euthanasia.
Results— Two dogs had a significant increase in peak vertical force 2 weeks after PC ( P =.043) and remained free of lameness for 18 and 20 weeks, respectively. One dog had an acute relapse after an initially lame-free period of 10 days. The remaining dog failed to improve ( P =.686). Three dogs developed at least 2 complications including transient worsening of the lameness after PC, cement leakage, wound infection and suspected thromboembolism in combination with cough and anemia. Median survival was 4.8 months (range, 1–5.7 months).
Conclusions— PC in combination with pamidronate significantly improved lameness in 2 dogs; however, PC is not risk-free. Deep wound infection, intraarticular cement leakage, and venous thrombosis were the main complications.
Clinical Relevance— PC might be a useful addition to established palliative, multimodal treatment protocols in dogs with PBT; however, because of the complications encountered PC warrants further study before routine use can be considered.     

SONOGRAPHIC ESTIMATION OF PLEURAL FLUID VOLUME IN DOGS

The aim of this study was to find an ultrasonographic method to estimate pleural fluid volume in dogs. Nine canine cadavers of mixed breed were studied. Using a transsternal view, linear measurements from the pleural surface of the midline of the sternebra at the center of the heart to the furthest ventrolateral point of both right and left lung edges were recorded. Isotonic saline was injected using ultrasound guidance into both right and left pleural spaces and the measurements were repeated using standard increments until 1000 ml total volume was reached. No relationship was identified between mean distance and injected volume up to 100 ml. Thereafter, the mean distance increased in an approximately linear relationship with the cube root of fluid volume. There was a high correlation ( r ≥0.899) between the ultrasonographic measurement and fluid volume within individual dogs, but it was not possible to produce a useful equation to calculate absolute pleural fluid volume for new subjects. Nevertheless, ultrasonography may be used to semiquantitatively monitor pleural fluid volume, so that a decrease in the mean linear measurement obtained reflects a decrease in the total fluid volume.     

Phytotoxic sites of action for molecular design of modern herbicides (Part 2): Amino acid, lipid and cell wall biosynthesis, and other targets for future herbicides

A bird's eye review was tried in Part 2 of this series, 'Phytotoxic sites of action for molecular design of modern herbicides', in order to select the best selection of known and some novel plant-specific targets for molecular design of modern herbicides, which affect amino acid, lipid and cell wall biosynthesis. Although amino acid biosynthesis pathways, particularly those for aromatic amino acids, ammonia assimilation and branched amino acids, have been confirmed as reasonable herbicidal target domains, the other targets affecting plant growth more markedly than inhibition of 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, glutamine synthetase and acetolactate synthase are discussed. In three essential enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis in or in the vicinity of chloroplasts, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase), elongase(s) for very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and linolate monogalactosyldiacylglycerol desaturase, ACCase and elongase are more important targets for new herbicides. Although the effect of cellulose biosynthesis inhibitors is restricted to cell wall formation in growing plant cells only, there is a good chance to design the low-use rate herbicides also in this class of inhibitors. Other possible targets for new herbicides are also discussed.     

The North American signal crayfish,Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), established in the wild in Scotland

1. Although the North American signal crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), has been brought into Scotland for aquaculture several times in the past, there appears to be no record of it ever having become established in the wild here. 2. The species is now recorded as being well established at a stream site in south-west Scotland where many specimens were collected in the summer of 1995. Local information indicates that the species has occurred there for several years. 3. The significance of this record is that Scotland is no longer free from this aggressive and invasive species. Fortunately, this locality is far away from the only population of the native white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes (Lereboullet), an introduced stock which has been long established in north-west Scotland.     

Spawning of North Sea fishes linked to hydrographic features

Spawning of fishes takes place across a wide area of the North Sea. However, more intense spawning is seen in restricted areas, indicating that such areas present favorable conditions. To update information on fish spawning in the North Sea and analyze potential linkages to hydrographic characteristics, an internationally coordinated survey was conducted in the winter/spring of 2004. Oblique hauls for fish eggs and larvae and vertical profiles of temperature and salinity were carried out at 393 stations across the entire North Sea. The hydrography was strongly influenced by the interfacing of water masses of different salinity, and frontal zones were seen along all coastal areas and off the Dogger and Fisher Banks. Total abundances of eggs and larvae, including fish species such as cod, haddock, plaice, long rough dab and sandeel, peaked in the vicinity of the frontal areas. Hence our findings indicate that the main spawning locations of fish are linked to recurrent hydrographic features such as salinity fronts. Such a linkage may provide survival advantages, as the fronts present favorable feeding conditions, and the related physical processes may confine egg and larval dispersal and transport them towards suitable nursery habitats.     

Cutaneous Mastocytosis and Mucinosis with Gross Deformity in a Shar pei Dog

Abstract— An 8-year-old Chinese Shar pei dog was examined because of gross deformity of the hind limbs. The deforming soft tissue swellings were associated with mucinosis and mastocytosis.
Résumé— Un Shar Peï de 8 ans a été examiné pour une déformation au niveau des membres postérieurs. Les épaissiessements des déformations des tissus mous étaient associés à une mucinose et une mastocytose.
Zusammenfassung— Ein 8 Jahre alter Chinesischer Shar Pei wurde wegen makroskopischer Verformung der Hintergliedmaßen untersucht. Die deformierenden Weichteilschwellungen standen in Zusammenhang mit einer Muzinose und Mastozytose.
Resumen  Un perro Shar pei de 8 años de edad se examinó, debido a la presencia de vastas deformidades de los cuartos traseros. La deformidad de los tejidos blandos se asoció con mastocitosis y mucinosis.     

CHANGES IN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OF LEFT VENTRICULAR SIZE AND FUNCTION IN A MODEL OF CANINE NORMOVOLEMIC ANEMIA

The objective of this study was to document changes in echocardiographic variables of left ventricular size and function noninvasively during acute normovolemic anemia. This model was developed as a pilot study with the purpose of providing baseline information to investigate the pathophysiology, and more specifically the effect on the heart, of canine babesiosis-induced anemia. The study group comprised of 11 mature healthy Beagle dogs that weighed between 9 and 15 kg. Severe normovolemic anemia was induced over a 3-4-day period by serial bleeding while maintaining normovolemia by autotransfusing plasma and infusing crystalloids. The dogs were then allowed to recover. Preanemic (mean Hct 46.7%, standard deviation [SD] 2.4%) echocardiographic variables of left ventricular performance (Fractional shortening, ejection fraction, end-systolic and end-diastolic ventricular volumes, cardiac index, and heart rate) were compared with those in the severely (mean Hct 15.3%, SD 1.1%), moderately (Hct mean 24.7%, SD 1.5%), and mildly (mean Hct 33.5%, SD 2.5%) anemic states, and between the anemic states. With the exception of end diastolic volume, there was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) increase in all variables in the severely anemic state vs. the preanemic and the mild and moderate anemic states. In concordance with previous invasive models, a hyperdynamic state of the left ventricle develops in response to experimentally induced acute canine normovolemic anemia in the conscious dog. Echocardiography has promise as a noninvasive technique of evaluating the cardiac changes in dogs having canine babesiosis.