Chronic spinal epidural abscess in a cat: a case report with an unusual imaging finding

A 1-year-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for a chronic history of back pain, dysuria, and paraplegia. Radiographic and computed tomographic examinations showed circumferential widening of the vertebral canal at T13 and T14. A spinal epidural abscess (SEA) compressing the spinal cord from the level of T11 to L1 was suspected following intravenous contrast administration, and was confirmed by surgical exploration and histopathological analysis. The cat recovered its motor and bladder functions following surgical decompression and antibiotic therapy. SEA is a neurological emergency requiring prompt treatment. However, the present case had a prolonged disease course and pressure atrophy of the vertebrae was strongly suspected. To our knowledge, this imaging finding has not been reported in dogs or cats with SEA.     

Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of an African lion (Panthera leo) and a clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

The Carnivora include the superfamilies Canoidea and Feloidea. In species of Canoidea other than the domestic dog, Canis lupus, the milk contains only traces of lactose and much larger concentrations of oligosaccharides. In this study, lactose was found to be the dominant saccharide in the milk or colostrum of two species of Feloidea, namely the African lion (Panthera leo) and the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). In addition to lactose, the following oligosaccharides were characterized in the milk of a lion; Neu5Gc(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (3′‐NGc‐SL), Fuc(α1‐2)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (2′‐fucosyllactose) and GalNAc(α1‐3)[Fuc(α1‐2)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc (A‐tetrasaccharide). The colostrum of a clouded leopard contained 3′‐NGc‐SL, Gal(α1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (isoglobotriose) and A‐tetrasaccharide. These oligosaccharides differ in some respects from those previously identified in another species of Feloidea, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). These milks contained 3′‐NGc‐SL and A‐tetrasaccharide, while spotted hyena colostrum did not; however, it contained Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (3′‐NAc‐SL) and Gal(α1‐3)[Fuc(α1‐2)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc (B‐tetrasaccharide).     

Characteristics of carotenoid distribution in various tissues from red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

Abstract. Carotenoid distribution was examined in muscle, ovary, integument and serum from red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), along with their muscle proximate compositions. There were no significant differences in muscle compositions of moisture, protein and lipid except for the carotenoid levels between red- and white-fleshed salmon. Similar carotenoid levels of ovaries were found between red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon, although the muscle carotenoid level of white-fleshed salmon was apparently low compared to red-fleshed salmon. This suggests that white-fleshed chinook salmon have the ability to accumulate the carotenoids in their ovaries but not muscle. The white-fleshed chinook salmon may be devoid of carotenoid receptors in their muscle and this seems to be the reason for the failure to accumulate the carotenoids in their muscle.