The role of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis lung lesions in the transmission of this bacterium to other sheep

SUMMARY: :Five groups of 5 shorn and 5 unshorn caseous lymphadenitis (CLA)-free Merino wether weaners were each placed in feedlot pens with 6 Merino ewes, 2 or more of which had CLA lung lesions but no discharging superficial lesions. The sheep were kept together for 5 months.
Twenty-eight per cent of the shorn weaners and 20% of the unshorn weaners developed antibodies to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. At slaughter, 8% of the shorn weaners and 12% of the unshorn weaners had CLA lesions in either lungs, lymph nodes or both. In the absence of contact with CLA-infected ewes, a control group of 5 shorn and 5 unshorn weaners failed to develop antibodies to C. pseudotuberculosis or CLA lesions in the same period. This showed that sheep with CLA abscesses in the lungs but no discharging superficial abscesses were a source of C. pseudotuberculosis infection to other sheep. Aust Vet J. 64: 261–263     

Feline cryptococcosis: a review and seven case reports

Systemic infection of the cat with the yeast-like fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans , is reviewed. Seven cases of the disease are reported, two of which were treated unsuccessfully with the anti-fungal agent, amphotericin B.     

Cutaneous granulomas associated with Mycobacterium fortuitum infection in a cat

Feline mycobacterial skin infections are reviewed briefly. A case of skin granulomas in a cat associated with the presence of the fast–growing acid–fast bacillus, Mycobacterium fortuitum , is reported. Surgical excision was followed by recurrence, but resolution of the lesions was obtained by tetracycline therapy for 12 weeks interspersed with a 14–day course of choloramphenicol. An attempt at experimental transmission to a kitten was unsuccessful. The characteristics of the fast–growing mycobacteria and the possible sources of infection are discussed.     

Aspergillus spp infection associated with orbital cellulitis and sinusitis in a cat

Bilateral proptosis of the eyeballs and prolapse of the membrana nictitans together with frontal sinusitis in a cat were found to be due to infection with the fungus, Aspergillus. No predisposing cause for the infection was detected. This is the first report of this particular manifestation of aspergillosis in the cat.     

Dyspnoea in the Cat—I Aetiology

Abstract— The aetiological factors involved in the production of dyspnoea in the cat are classified and discussed. Résumé— L'article présente une classification et une discussion des facteurs étiologiques responsables de la production de la dyspnée chez le chat. Zusammenfassung— Die ätiologischen Faktoren, die bei Katzen zu Atemnot führen, werden systematisch eingeordnet und besprochen.     

Multiple dermatophyte infections in a dog

A case of multiple infections of the skin of a dog with Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Candida albicans is reported and described. As immunodepression was suspected, an immunostimulatory course of levamisole, together with the antifungal agent, griseofulvin, was prescribed. Bone marrow depression was countered with anabolic steroids and a vitamin-iron compound. A 10% w/v solution of etisazole (Ectimar, Bayer) was applied topically to the lesions. Complete resolution of the infection was obtained after 5 months therapy.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ARTHROGRAPHY OF THE STIFLE FOR DETECTION OF CRANIAL AND CAUDAL CRUCIATE LIGAMENT AND MENISCAL TEARS IN DOGS

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of single-detector computed tomographic arthrography (CT arthrography) for the diagnosis of cranial and caudal cruciate ligament and meniscal lesions in the dog stifle. Four normal and 25 abnormal stifle joints, determined to have lesions related to intra-articular ligamentous insufficiency based on clinical history, orthopedic examination, and survey orthogonal radiographs, were imaged using a previously developed CT arthrography protocol. Surgery was performed immediately following the CT procedure. Three board-certified radiologists inexperienced at interpreting CT stifle arthrograms reviewed all CT studies independently, and then as a group, without knowledge of surgical or necropsy findings. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for determination of cranial and caudal cruciate and meniscal tears were calculated for each individual reviewer and based on group consensus. All reviewers identified the normal canine stifle joints imaged correctly. Reviewers did well in discriminating normal from torn cranial cruciate ligaments, with sensitivities of 96–100% and specificities of 75–100%. No reviewer correctly identified the solitary caudal cruciate ligament tear and specificity ranged from 89.3% to 100%. Reviewers were less adept at discriminating normal from torn meniscal fibrocartilage, with sensitivities of 13.3–73.3% and specificities of 57.1–100%. Interpretive accuracy improved slightly when consensus scores were compared with surgical findings. Single-detector CT arthrography may be useful for identifying pathology of the canine cruciate ligaments but is of limited value for assessing the menisci.     

INVERTED CONTRAST MEDIUM-URINE LAYERING IN THE CANINE URINARY BLADDER ON COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Contrast medium-urine layering is routinely identified on transverse computed tomography (CT) images in the urinary bladder following intravesicular or intravenous administration of iodinated contrast medium. The contrast opacified urine typically occupies the dependent portion of the urinary bladder whereas the nonopacified urine layers above it. In this retrospective study, three patients with inverted contrast medium layering following intravenous contrast medium administration are described. A review of this phenomenon in humans is presented and an explanation for similar imaging findings in the dog proposed.