Computed tomography of testicular torsion in a juvenile dog with unilateral cryptorchidism

A 14-week-old male unilaterally cryptorchid Clumber spaniel was presented for acute lethargy. Physical examination revealed abdominal pain, and a single testis was palpated in the scrotum. Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) revealed a poorly vascularized, ovoid structure immediately caudal to the left kidney with scant regional peritoneal effusion. Left intra-abdominal testicular torsion was confirmed at surgery, and routine cryptorchidectomy was performed. The patient recovered uneventfully from anesthesia and surgery.Key clinical message:The most common CT characteristics of testicular torsion were present in this case and correlated well with sonographic findings to allow for rapid, accurate diagnosis and surgical planning of unilateral, non-neoplastic, intra-abdominal cryptorchid testicular torsion in a juvenile dog. Contrast enhanced CT facilitated accurate localization of the undescended testis and evaluation of testicular perfusion and may be a useful alternative to ultrasound for diagnosing testicular torsion, especially in indeterminate cases.     

Seasonal speedup along the western flank of the Greenland Ice Sheet

It has been widely hypothesized that a warmer climate in Greenland would increase the volume of lubricating surface meltwater reaching the ice-bedrock interface, accelerating ice flow and increasing mass loss. We have assembled a data set that provides a synoptic-scale view, spanning ice-sheet to outlet-glacier flow, with which to evaluate this hypothesis. On the ice sheet, these data reveal summer speedups (50 to 100%) consistent with, but somewhat larger than, earlier observations. The relative speedup of outlet glaciers, however, is far smaller (<15%). Furthermore, the dominant seasonal influence on Jakobshavn Isbrae's flow is the calving front's annual advance and retreat. With other effects producing outlet-glacier speedups an order of magnitude larger, seasonal melt's influence on ice flow is likely confined to those regions dominated by ice-sheet flow.     

Diagnosis of trichomoniasis in 'virgin' bulls by culture and polymerase chain reaction

The diagnostic test for Tritrichomonas foetus in bulls is microscopic examination of cultured preputial samples. Trichomonads other than T. foetus can be present in a preputial sample. Both a staining technique and a polymerase chain reaction assay were useful in differentiating between T. foetus and another trichomonad observed in samples from virgin bulls.     

Vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease: the implications for Canada

Vaccination of susceptible animals against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a well established strategy for helping to combat the disease. Traditionally, FMD vaccine has been used to control a disease incursion in countries where the disease has been endemic rather than in countries considered free of the disease. In 2001, the use of vaccine was considered but not implemented in the United Kingdom (1), whereas vaccine was used to help to control FMD in The Netherlands (2,3). Canadian contingency plans provide for the use of vaccine; Canada is a member of the North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, which could supply vaccine if needed. This article explains why Canada might use FMD vaccine to combat an outbreak and the factors that are relevant to the disposal of vaccinated animals and their products. It concludes that vaccination is an important mechanism in Canada's preparedness for an outbreak of FMD and that products from vaccinated animals are safe for human consumption.     

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a dog

A 9-year-old mixed-breed dog was evaluated for chronic intermittent vomiting, hematemesis, and melena lasting several months. Biopsy specimens obtained during exploratory laparotomy revealed eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Treatment included drug therapy to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation and dietary management to limit antigenic exposure.     

The Occurrence of dsRNA Species in Apparently Healthy and Virus-infected Ribes Cultivars, and Evidence That One Such Species Originates from a Member of the Virus Family Totiviridae

Analysis was made of dsRNA in 37 cultivars and species of Ribes, that were healthy, naturally affected with the virus-like diseases, blackcurrant yellows, blackcurrant infectious variegation, gooseberry veinbanding or blackcurrant reversion, or graft-inoculated with scions from such diseased plants. Various dsRNA species, differing in size (from ca. 2 to 11kbp), number and staining intensity in gels, were detected in some or all assays of all plants, including those held as virus-tested stock. In different plant tissues from individual plants, the dsRNA species were usually similar in size and number but, in some sources, the dsRNA profile from flowers and/or bark differed greatly from the profiles of dsRNA obtained from leaves. No dsRNA species were associated consistently with any of these diseases. A 499kbp cDNA probe was obtained that in Northern blot analysis was specific to a ca. 5kbp dsRNA species present in the blackcurrant cv. Baldwin. It also detected a similarly sized dsRNA species in plants of many other blackcurrant cultivars, but it did not react with a similarly sized dsRNA species in redcurrant and gooseberry tissues. The 156 amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA was very similar to sequences in the RNA-directed RNA polymerases of virus species in the family Totiviridae, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae viruses L-1 and L-A. The significance of these findings and the possible origin of these dsRNA species are discussed.     

Searching for veterinary evidence: strategies and resources for locating clinical research.

This article offers information regarding selected veterinary information resources, along with basic search strategies for locating clinical evidence within these resources. No one database provides adequate indexing and abstracting to all literature relevant to the veterinary clinical question. An understanding of a database's syntax and field structure is necessary to formulate a functional search strategy and evaluate the outcome of search results. Flexibility when identifying, selecting, and combining search terms is also required to avoid overlimiting a search.