Diffuse annular fusiform adenocarcinoma in a dog

Canine colonic intestinal adenocarcinoma typically presents as rectal polypoid or annular stenotic masses causing clinical signs consistent with large bowel disease. This report discusses an unusual case of intestinal adenocarcinoma in an 11-year-old, neutered male German shepherd dog presented for evaluation of anorexia, profuse watery diarrhea, and weight loss. In this dog, colonic adenocarcinoma diffusely infiltrated the entire large bowel and caused an annular fusiform lesion, as confirmed by endoscopic biopsies and postmortem examination. Other unique features included a paucity of desmoplasia associated with the neoplastic lesion and widespread metastasis to regional lymph nodes, lung, and prostate.     

Suppurative colitis in a cat

A young cat with chronic large bowel diarrhea was found to have suppurative colitis. Treatment with sulfasalazine resulted in prompt clinical improvement, although histologic abnormalities persisted. Three months later, the cat was euthanatized because of effusive feline infectious peritonitis. Histologic examination revealed a normal colon.     

Part III: a case study at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine

This article presents a history of curriculum revision. Internal and external factors prompting the initial curriculum review included the Pew Report, a vision in the college for reform, and faculty retreats focusing on curriculum. The reformed curriculum was designed around a "core plus elective" strategy and was implemented following development by faculty representatives and approval by college and university levels of review. The curriculum was reviewed after being revised and after new courses were first offered, with further review of a few courses with specific challenges. Outcomes assessment was performed and curricular adjustments made. Challenges that arose during the process included organizing and documenting content as well as communicating the content and philosophy of the new curriculum to the various affected constituencies. A summary of factors considered essential to the successful design, implementation, and review of the new curriculum is presented; the majority of these factors would be applicable to reforms at other institutions.     

The legacy of Columbus in American horse populations assessed by microsatellite markers

Criollo horse populations descend from horses brought from the Iberian Peninsula over the period of colonization (15th to 17th century). They are spread throughout the Americas and have potentially undergone genetic hybridization with other breeds in the recent past. In this study, 25 autosomal microsatellites were genotyped in 50 horse breeds representing Criollo populations from 12 American countries (27 breeds), breeds from the Iberian Peninsula (19), one breed each from France and Morocco and two cosmopolitan horse breeds (Thoroughbred and Arabian). The genetic relationships among breeds identified five clusters: Celtic; Iberian; North American with Thoroughbred influence; most Colombian breeds; and nearly all other Criollo breeds. The group of “all other Criollo breeds” had the closest genetic relationship with breeds originating from the Iberian Peninsula, specifically with the Celtic group. For the whole set of Criollo breeds analysed, the estimated genetic contribution from other breeds was approximately 50%, 30% and 20% for the Celtic, Iberian and Arab-Thoroughbred groups, respectively. The spatial distribution of genetic diversity indicates that hotspots of genetic diversity are observed in populations from Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay and western United States, possibly indicating points of arrival and dispersion of Criollo horses in the American continent. These results indicate that Criollo breeds share a common ancestry, but that each breed has its own identity.     

Mycoplasma haemolamae infection in a 4-day-old cria: support for in utero transmission by use of a polymerase chain reaction assay

Blood smear examination in a 4-day-old alpaca revealed massive erythrocyte parasitism by Mycoplasma haemolamae. Blood collected from both the nonparasitemic dam and the cria were positive for M. haemolamae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. These findings suggest in utero transmission of M. haemolamae in camelids, even when the dam is not parasitemic.     

Pheochromocytomas and ultimobranchial (C-cell) neoplasms in the bull: evidence of autosomal dominant inheritance in the Guernsey breed

Pheochromocytomas and ultimobranchial (C-cell) neoplasms were diagnosed at a high frequency in a family of Guernsey bulls. The incidence supported the hypothesis of autosomal dominant inheritance of the neoplasms. These two neoplasms also occur in man as multiple endocrine adenomatosis type 2, which has autosomal dominant inheritance.     

Bronchiolar adenocarcinoma in a cow

An aged beef cow had a primary lung tumor that was diagnosed postmortem. Clinical signs included inappetence, weight loss, coughing, dyspnea, and reduced lung sounds. Antibiotic treatment was ineffective. The cow was euthanatized. Postmortem examination revealed numerous, firm nodules throughout both lungs. Microscopically, the pulmonary nodules contained neoplastic cells and the diagnosis was bronchiolar adenocarcinoma. A diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasia, although rare, should be considered in an aged cow with similar historical and clinical findings.     

Use of computed tomographic densitometry to quantify contrast enhancement of compressive soft tissues in the canine lumbosacral vertebral canal

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate computed tomography (CT) densitometry as a technique for quantifying contrast enhancement of compressive soft tissues in the canine lumbosacral vertebral canal and to determine whether the degree of contrast enhancement can be used to help predict tissue type or histopathologic characteristics. ANIMALS: 29 large breed dogs with lumbosacral stenosis. PROCEDURE: Contrast-enhanced CT of L5-S3 was performed by use of a previously described protocol. At each disk level, CT densities of a water-filled syringe, epaxial muscles, and 4 vertebral canal locations were measured. Mean tissue enhancement was calculated by vertebral canal location, using water-filled syringe enhancement as a correction factor. Corrected CT enhancement was compared with tissue type, degree of tissue inflammation, and degree of tissue activity. RESULTS: Intravenous contrast administration of contrast medium significantly increased CT densities of water-filled syringes and epaxial muscles. Corrected CT enhancement of vertebral canal soft tissues at stenotic sites was greater than at nonstenotic sites. There was no association between enhancement and tissue type for any vertebral canal location. There was no correlation between enhancement and degree of tissue inflammation. There was a correlation between enhancement and tissue activity in the dorsal vertebral canal only. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A water-filled syringe is a useful calibration tool for CT density measurements. The degree of tissue contrast enhancement, measured by CT densitometry, can be helpful for predicting the location of compressive soft tissues in dogs with lumbosacral stenosis. However, it is of limited value for predicting compressive soft-tissue types or histopathologic characteristics.