Clinical Evaluation of Three Surgical Methods for Treatment of Caudal Cervical Spondylomyelopathy of Dogs

Sixty-four dogs with caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (CCSM) caused by chronic degenerative disc disease were treated with ventral decompression (n = 20), linear traction and interbody screw stabilization (n = 7), or linear traction and plastic plate stabilization (n = 37). Interbody screw stabilization was ineffective in treating CCSM because of an unacceptably high rate of implant failures. Ventral decompression or linear traction and plastic plate stabilization were effective in the treatment of most patients with mild to moderate neurologic deficits (neck pain, paraparesis, or ambulatory tetraparesis). Although these techniques were also used successfully in some patients with severe neurologic deficits (weakly ambulatory tetraparesis or nonambulatory tetraparesis), variable success rates and prolonged postoperative recovery periods were noted.     

Extramedullary plasmacytoma and immunoglobulin-associated amyloidosis in a cat

Extramedullary plasmacytoma with immunoglobulin-associated amyloidosis was diagnosed in a 10-year-old cat. The primary tumor was a large, circumferential mass of the right tarsal region. Metastasis developed in the regional lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Permanganate-resistant amyloid deposits were associated with plasma cells in the primary and metastatic tumors. Treatment with prednisone and melphalan had little effect on the progression of the disease, and the cat died four weeks later.     

Anthelmhntic effects of injectable and oral paste formulations of ivermectin against 28-day infections of parascaris equorum

Efficacy of ivermectin treatment (0.2 mg/kg) against 28-day experimental infections of Parascaris equorum was determined in 18 pony foals6–17.5 weeks old. There were 6 foals in each group: nontreated control, ivermectin injectable or oral paste. In comparison with larvae found in the nontreated controls, ivermectin injectable or paste was 96.0% and 99.9% efficacious. There was a distinct difference in drug effect against the larger (ca 26mm.) vs the smaller (13–19mm) larvae by the 2 formulations of ivermectin. There were no adverse signs related to treatment of the young foals.     

Infectious diseases of New-World camelids (NWC)

Although there are notable infectious conditions that are capable of producing clinical disease in the NWC, overall, these species are quite healthy. Of the bacterial diseases, enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens types C and D would be deemed the most significant in North America, while type A also would be regarded as important in South America. Other important bacterial infections of potential concern are tuberculosis, Johne's disease, anthrax, malignant edema, actinomycosis, tetanus, and the South American condition referred to as alpaca fever, which, to date, has not been observed in North America. Fungal infections include classical ringworm, principally caused by Trichophyton spp., and the cases of coccidioidomycosis that are associated with the arid desert lands of the southwestern United States. Most notable of naturally occurring viral infections in the NWC would be rabies, ecthyma, and a recently described blindness neuropathy that has been associated with the equine herpesvirus I. NWC can be infected experimentally with agents causing hoof-and-mouth disease and vesicular stomatitis, but naturally occurring cases do not seem to occur. Serological evidence of exposure to many viral agents, including blue tongue, parainfluenza 3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, bovine herpesvirus I, bovine viral diarrhea, influenza A, and rotavirus, has been demonstrated; however, no clinical disease associated with these agents, as yet, is apparent.     

Monorchidism in the horse

Six horses with monorchidism, identified at surgery for cryptorchidectomy, are reported. All six presented with a single scrotal testis. Following surgical removal of one testis, they were either hormonally, anatomically or behaviourally determined to be geldings. Three other horses reported in the literature are reviewed. Of these nine cases of monorchidism, eight were thought to be caused by testicular degeneration and one by testicular agenesis. The vaginal process was present in all of the former and absent in the latter. The left side was involved in five of these eight horses. In seven, the epididymis was absent and, in the remaining two, only the epididymal tail was present. The condition was thought to be congenital in the six horses in this series. A surgical approach to identify accurately monorchid horses is described.     

Characteristics of Salmonella isolated from an outbreak of equine salmonellosis in a veterinary teaching hospital

During an outbreak of equine salmonellosis in a veterinary teaching hospital 20 Salmonella isolates were cultured from sick horses (13 isolates) or from the hospital environment (7 isolates). Three serotypes were isolated from the environment including: S. give, S. newportand S. agona. The serotypes isolated from horses included: S. give, S. newport and S. anatum. Examination of antibiotic profiles, presence of plasmids, production of bacteriocins and hemagglutination of erythrocytes implied a common origin for the equine and environmental isolates.     

IOHEXOL AND IOPAMIDOL MYELOGRAPHY IN THE DOG: A CLINICAL TRIAL COMPARING ADVERSE EFFECTS AND MYELOGRAPHIC QUALITY

In a blind clinical trial, adverse effects after iohexol and iopamidol myelography were evaluated in 151 dogs. Eighty-one dogs were given iohexol (240 mgI/ml) and 70 dogs were given iopamidol (200 mgI/ml) by pre-determined assignment. Each dog was evaluated postmyelographically for seizures, hyperthermia, prolonged recovery from anesthesia and intensification of pre-existing neural signs. Myelographic quality was evaluated with a subjective scoring method. In comparing iohexol and iopamidol groups, there was not a statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects or in myelographic quality. Iopamidol and iohexol appeared to be equally efficacious for routine canine myelography.     

Clinical reference values for serum protein electrophoresis for the llama (Lama glama)

Serum protein electrophoresis was performed on 71 clinically healthy juvenile and adult llamas (6 juvenile males, 7 juvenile females, 25 adult males, 13 adult females, and 20 pregnant females) to determine normal serum protein concentrations. Values were reported for each of the 5 groups because the groups were not homogeneous in all 8 peaks. Although the values reported here may serve as reference values for adults, they represent only a guideline for the juveniles because of the limited number of animals in each of these groups.     

Llama reproduction

The reproductive anatomy, physiology, and breeding behavior of the llama is unique enough to make familiarity with it imperative. Female puberty averages 12 months, while many males are not reproductively functional until after 3 years. Proper management of a breeding pair or herd is necessary to maintain maximum reproductive performance. Proof of pregnancy is suggested by rejection of the male and may/should be confirmed by progesterone assay, rectal palpation, or ultrasound techniques. The postpartum female is notable for breeding back rapidly, with high pregnancy rates resulting. Both male and female factors enter into llama infertility, with each gender having significant incidence of reproductive anatomical abnormalities. Management as well as acquired infertility problems (heat factors, trauma, infection, neoplasia, and hormonal imbalances) contribute to the bulk of infertility cases investigated. Techniques used to diagnose infertility in llamas are quite comparable to the equine species; however, female body size and semen analysis in the male present significant challenges. The approach to therapy has been quite empirical to date, owing to lack of consistent problems and numbers to afford conclusive trials. Alterations of pregnancy include resorption, abortions, and stillbirths. Resorption between 30 to 60 days of gestation is reported regularly. Abortions caused by stress occur regularly. Infection abortions caused by leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and chlamydiosis are to be expected. Ponderosa pine-related abortions are suspected. In summary, I find use for a broad background in large animal theriogenology to apply to llama infertility. There no doubt are additional diagnostic techniques and therapeutic regimens that have application, and it is up to us all to keep good records and share the information.