2015 ACVIM Small Animal Consensus Statement on Seizure Management in Dogs

This report represents a scientific and working clinical consensus statement on seizure management in dogs based on current literature and clinical expertise. The goal was to establish guidelines for a predetermined, concise, and logical sequential approach to chronic seizure management starting with seizure identification and diagnosis (not included in this report), reviewing decision‐making, treatment strategies, focusing on issues related to chronic antiepileptic drug treatment response and monitoring, and guidelines to enhance patient response and quality of life. Ultimately, we hope to provide a foundation for ongoing and future clinical epilepsy research in veterinary medicine.     

The biological selenium status of livestock in Britain as indicated by sheep erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity.

The reliability of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity as an indicator of selenium status in livestock is discussed. Based on this measurement, a survey is described of the biological selenium status of sheep on each of 329 farms in Britain. Results showed that 47 per cent of these farms were probably unable to provide grazing livestock with sufficient selenium to maintain blood levels greater than 0.075 microgram per ml. Increased selenium deficiency from the increasing use of home grown feeds as a major constituent of livestock rations may be causally related to the increase of white muscle disease and other selenium responsive diseases in Britain.     

Developmental temperature stress and parental identity shape offspring burst swimming performance in sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Abstract – The persistent effects of embryonic temperature stress and individual parentage on fry swimming performance were examined in a cross‐fertilisation experiment using sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka). A fixed‐velocity test of burst swimming was used to assess the endurance capacity and behavioural performance of individual fry from 10 offspring families incubated at 12, 14 or 16 °C to hatch and then reared through yolk absorption and exogenous feeding stages in a common posthatch environment (average 6.9 °C). Fry burst swim time (BST) was influenced by an interaction between incubation temperature and family identity. Average BST was longer for fry from the 12 °C prehatch treatment compared to 14 and 16 °C, although differences were largely attributable to temperature effects on average fry size. Behavioural observations revealed that fish incubated at 16 °C performed more poorly, having a larger proportion of individuals that required stimulation to swim, fatigued more frequently or were classified as ‘nonswimmers’. Within all three incubation temperature treatments, mean BST varied significantly among offspring families, independent of fry mass and length. An interesting relationship was observed within the 16 °C treatment, whereby families with higher survivorship were characterised with lower mean BSTs. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that exposure to high temperatures in early sockeye salmon development can result in persistent, parentally mediated effects on fry performance. As such, these results provide important insight into how elevated temperature events during egg incubation may affect early life history selection processes and survival in stages beyond when the stressor is experienced.     

Mucopolysaccharidosis in a domestic short-haired cat--a disease distinct from that seen in the Siamese cat.

A 10-month-old male domestic short-haired cat was examined because of progressive lameness, a broad face with depressed nasal bridge, small ears, corneal clouding, and multiple bone dysplasia. The cat excreted excessive amounts of glycosaminoglycan (a component of connective tissue) in its urine and had evidence of lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans in fibroblasts and neurons. Activity of alpha-L-iduronidase, a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycosaminoglycan degradation, was deficient in cultured fibroblasts and leukocytes. The mucopolysaccharidosis was distinct from that seen in Siamese cats in terms of the pathologic changes and the specific enzyme deficiency.     

Long-term successful outcome of a Streptococcus equi subspecies equi brain abscess

We previously described successful treatment, including surgical drainage, of a Streptococcus equi subspecies equi brain abscess that caused severe neurological deficits in a 7-year-old Quarter Horse mare. This report details the long-term successful outcome of the case, findings of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study performed 14 years after surgery and necropsy findings 18 years after initial treatment. Despite persistent cerebral and midbrain lesions detected by MRI and at necropsy, the mare returned to serviceable function within a year of initial treatment and had a successful performance career for over 10 years until carpal arthritis prompted retirement. This case demonstrates that brain abscess in horses can be successfully managed by combined medical and surgical treatment.     

Presence and impact of the exercise-induced collapse associated DNM1 mutation in Labrador retrievers and other breeds

The impact of the mutation causing dynamin 1 (DNM1)-associated exercise-induced collapse (d-EIC) was determined in a retrospective genetic survey. The frequency of DNM1 mutant allele carriers in Labrador retrievers from conformation show, field trial/hunt test, pet or service lines ranged from 17.9% to 38.0% and the frequency of homozygous mutant (EE genotype) individuals ranged from 1.8% to 13.6%; 83.6% of these EE Labradors were reported to have collapsed by 4 years of age. DNM1 mutation carriers and EE dogs with a collapse phenotype were also detected in Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Curly-coated retrievers, Boykin spaniels, Pembroke Welsh corgis and mixed breed dogs thought to be Labrador retriever crosses. The DNM1 mutation was not identified in Golden, Flat-coated, or Nova Scotia duck tolling retrievers, or 15 other non-retrieving breeds. Veterinarians and breeders should be aware that the DNM1 EE genotype is not completely penetrant and that d-EIC is a widespread health concern in several very popular breeds, as well as breeds whose genetic similarity to retrievers is not obvious.     

Identification of immunoglobulins associated with complement fixation, agglutination, and low pH buffered antigen tests for brucellosis.

Serums from infected cattle, cattle with persistent postvaccinal antibody, and serologically "positive" noninfected cattle were fractionated into major immunoglobulin classes by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-cellulose chromatography and by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Each fraction was assayed for anti-Brucella activity by standard tube-agglutination test (STT), buffered tube-agglutination test (BTT), and complement-fixation test (CF). In the serums from experimentally infected cattle, anti-Brucella antibody could be found by all tests in 6 DEAE fractions and in slow, fast, and sediment regions of the density gradient. Serums from cattle with persistent postvaccinal titers had STT activity in all 6 DEAE fractions, BTT activity in 5 fractions, and CF activity in only 1 fraction. The STT and BTT activities were found in the slow and the sediment regions of the gradient, whereas the CF activity was found only in the slow region. Serums from a chronically infected animal had STT and BTT activities in 2 DEAE fractions and CF activity in only 1. The STT, BTT, and CF activities were found in the slow and the sediment regions of the gradient. The principal antibody in serums from noninfected cattle was immunoglobulin M, which had all of the CF activity and most of the STT and BTT activities. Low levels of STT and BTT activities were found in 3 other DEAE fractions. Only STT and BTT activities were found in the fast and the sediment regions of the gradient.