Management of hemodynamic changes associated with removal of a large abdominal myofibroblastic tumor in a pony

A 22-year-old female Welsh-cross pony was evaluated because of intermittent colic, signs of depression, pyrexia, anorexia, muscle wasting with abdominal distention, and weight gain over the preceding 12 months. A large abdominal mass was detected and surgically removed; the hemodynamic alterations and complications caused by the dramatic fluid losses and shifts that can occur in association with removal of a large abdominal mass required extensive postoperative management. Monitoring of clinical and hematologic variables such as attitude, heart rate, mucous membrane color, mean arterial blood pressure, PCV, and plasma total protein concentration provided useful information for successful management of the patient after surgery. On removal, the tumor weighed 19% of the pony's body weight and was characterized as a myofibroblastic tumor. Myofibroblastic tumors should be considered as a differential for large internal abdominal masses in horses, and surgical removal may be feasible and life extending with appropriate postoperative care.     

Surgical management of adrenal gland tumors with and without associated tumor thrombi in dogs: 40 cases (1994-2001)

OBJECTIVE: To compare pathologic findings and results of adrenalectomy for adrenal gland tumors in dogs with and without vena caval tumor thrombi. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 40 dogs with adrenal gland tumors. PROCEDURE: Medical records were examined. An exact logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between tumor type or right-sided versus left-sided tumor involvement and development of caval tumor thrombi and associations between tumor thrombi, tumor type, or right- versus left-sided location and perioperative complications and mortality rate. Survival was compared between dogs with and without tumor thrombi. RESULTS: Caval thrombi were detected in 25% of dogs, including 3 of 28 (11%) dogs with an adrenocortical tumor and 6 of 11 dogs with a pheochromocytoma. A caval tumor thrombus was detected in 6 of 17 right-sided and 4 of 20 left-sided tumors. Sensitivity and specificity of abdominal ultrasonography for detection of caval thrombi were 80 and 90%, respectively. Intraoperative and postoperative complications developed in 15 and 51% of dogs, respectively. The mortality rate was 22%. There were no significant differences in perioperative morbidity and mortality rates between dogs with and without tumor thrombi. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Caval thrombi associated with adrenal gland tumors are amenable to adrenalectomy and thrombectomy without significantly increased perioperative morbidity and mortality rates, assuming the surgeon is experienced in appropriate techniques.     

Wild boar rooting in a northern coniferous forest – minor silviculture impact

European wild boar (Sus scrofa) is expanding northwards beyond its preferred habitat of broadleaved forests. We studied wild boar habitat use in a northern coniferous forest, and noted whether their rooting damaged roots, thereby influencing timber quality and forest regeneration (n = 562 rootings). Overall, the animals selected older spruce (Picea abies L.) forest of higher soil fertility with sparse field vegetation for rooting. During winter, they rooted more in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest on lower soil fertility, possibly because the lichen cover can easily be removed even on frozen ground. Average size and depth of rootings were 6 ± 0.6 m² and 10 ± 0.2 cm, respectively. Rooting occurred on <1% of the area and caused negligible damage to roots of trees with commercial value. Because the wild boar mainly rooted in older forest, rootings will do little to improve germination of seeds by scarification of the top soil layer.     

Inverse association between endotoxin exposure and canine atopic dermatitis

The development of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) may be related to exposure to mite allergens, bacterial endotoxin and/or fungal glucans. In this study, indoor exposure levels of house dust mite allergens, endotoxins and fungal glucans were measured to determine their possible association with CAD. A case-control study including adult Labrador retrievers with (n=28) and without (controls; n=65) CAD was conducted. Dust samples were collected from the living room floor and the bedding and coat of the dog and these were analyzed for house dust mite allergens Der p1 and Der f1, endotoxin and (1→3)-β-d-glucan levels. Dog owners were also required to return a questionnaire regarding their home characteristics. The endotoxin exposure level in the coats of dogs was significantly inversely associated with CAD (odds ratio 0.38; 95% confidence interval 0.15-0.97; P<0.05). No significant difference was found in exposure levels to house dust mite allergens and fungal glucans. The results indicated that endotoxin exposure is inversely associated with CAD, suggesting a protective effect of high indoor endotoxin exposure towards the development of the condition.     

Combining ability analysis of Fusarium head blight resistance in western European wheat lines

The inheritance of Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance was investigated in eight western European wheat lines using a half-diallel of F₁ crosses. The parents and F₁ crosses were point-inoculated, with a highly aggressive isolate of Fusarium graminearum, in replicated field and glasshouse trials. Type II resistance was assessed by measuring the % FHB spread and % wilted tips. There was a good correlation between the two disease parameters, % FHB spread area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) and % wilted tips AUDPC (r = 0.86, P < 0.01). Correlation coefficients between the field and glasshouse environments were r = 0.46 (P < 0.01) for % FHB spread AUDPC and r = 0.40 (P < 0.05) for % wilted tips AUDPC. Both general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects influenced the inheritance of FHB resistance, suggesting that in this set of parents both additive and non-additive (dominance or epistatic) effects influence the inheritance of type II FHB resistance. Highly significant GCA-by-environment (P < 0.0001) and SCA-by-environment (P < 0.005) interactions were also observed. Specific combinations of western European wheat varieties were identified with type II FHB resistance at a level equal to or more resistant than the winter wheat variety ‘Arina’.     

Correlation of rhinoscopic signs of inflammation with histologic findings in nasal biopsy specimens of cats with or without upper respiratory tract disease

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation of cumulative rhinoscopic findings of hyperemia, mucus accumulation, and turbinate destruction with the type and severity of inflammatory infiltrates in nasal biopsy specimens of cats with or without upper respiratory tract disease. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: Cats with (n = 11) and without (6) upper respiratory tract disease and cats with unknown medical histories (27). PROCEDURES; Lesions of hyperemia, mucus accumulation, and turbinate destruction detected rhinoscopically were each scored (scale, 0 [absent] to 3 [severe]), and a cumulative rhinoscopic score for each nasal cavity was calculated. Fifty biopsy specimens were examined histologically, and inflammatory infiltrates (lymphoplasmacytic or neutrophilic) were graded as absent, mild, moderate, or severe. Cumulative rhinoscopic scores and inflammation grades were compared for each specimen-cavity combination. RESULTS: In cats of known disease status, there was a positive but weak correlation between cumulative rhinoscopic scores and inflammation grades in biopsy specimens. In cats of unknown disease status, there was no similar correlation. Biopsy specimens with minimal inflammation were commonly obtained from nasal cavities with low rhinoscopic scores; specimens with moderate or severe inflammatory changes were frequently obtained from cavities that appeared normal rhinoscopically. Type of inflammatory infiltrates was not correlated with rhinoscopic signs of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The correlation of rhinoscopic findings with inflammation severity in nasal biopsy specimens (determined histologically) was weak or lacking in cats of known and unknown disease status, respectively. Results indicated that rhinoscopy with biopsy provides more complete evaluation of nasal disease than rhinoscopy alone in cats.     

Effects of Dietary Mineral Supplementation on Quality of Fresh and Salt‐Cured Fillets from Farmed Atlantic Cod,Gadus morhua

The aims of this study were to investigate effects of dietary mineral supplementation on chemical and sensory quality parameters of fresh farmed cod fillets and on the quality of salt‐cured farmed cod. Farmed cod were fed three experimental diets with different levels of mineral supplements (no supplementation, supplementation without zinc and copper, full supplementation) for approximately 2 yr. After slaughter, one‐third of the experimental fish were subjected to chemical and physical analysis, another third were used for sensory analysis and the remaining fish were salt cured. Potassium, copper, and muscle protein were higher in muscle tissue of cod fed full supplementation than cod fed without supplementation. Instrumental color analysis showed that the cut side of fresh fillets of cod fed full supplementation were slightly more green and yellow than fillets of cod fed without extra supplements. A sensory panel could, however, not detect any differences between heated fresh cod given feed with or without mineral supplements. However, the quality of salt ripened cod which had received a complete mineral supplement in the diet was reduced because of increased yellowness, probably caused by the increased level of copper in the muscle.     

Both ApxI and ApxII of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 are necessary for full virulence

Most serotypes of A. pleuropneumoniae produce more than one toxin in vivo. To determine the value of the production of more than one toxin in the development of disease, we tested the pathogenicity of isogenic strains of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 that are mutated in the toxin genes apxIA and/or apxIIA or in the transport genes apxIBD. Bacteria mutated in both apxIA and apxIIA, or in apxIBD, were unable to induce pathological lesions, thereby confirming the conclusion that ApxI and ApxII are essential for the pathogenesis of pleuropneumonia. Infection with isogenic strains lacking either ApxI or ApxII did not consistently lead to pleuropneumonia unlike the parent strain S4074. ApxII seemed at least as important as ApxI for the development of clinical and pathological symptoms. Only one of the four pigs inoculated with a mutant strain unable to produce ApxII developed mild pneumonia whereas two out of the three pigs inoculated with a mutant strain unable to produce ApxI developed more severe lesions. The results indicate that both ApxI and ApxII of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 are necessary for full virulence.