BRONCHOCUTANEOUS FISTULA IN A DOG

A dog with a bronchocutaneous fistula is described. Contrast enhanced computed tomography was useful for diagnosis and treatment of the fistula in this dog.     

The relationship between the size of caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte of the canine femoral neck and the radiographic view

Caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte (CCO), an osteophyte at the site of joint capsule attachment on the caudal aspect of the femoral neck, has been advocated as a radiographic criterion for coxofemoral subluxation. The correlation between the presence of CCO on radiographs (radiographic-CCO), the size of the CCO (CCO index) on three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) images, and hip evaluation using transverse CT images was assessed in 22 Border Collies. CCOs were detected on the radiographs and CT images of 32% and 100% femurs, respectively. The CCO index correlated significantly with radiographic-CCO, but a large CCO index did not necessarily imply that the CCO was visible on radiographs. Hence, radiographic-CCO findings should be used cautiously in hip evaluation of Border Collies.     

Circadian variations in salivary chromogranin a concentrations during a 24-hour period in dogs

The purpose of this study was to determine if salivary chromogranin a secretion in dogs exhibits a circadian rhythm. Saliva sampling was performed during three different sessions occurring in three nonconsecutive 24-h periods. Sixteen healthy adult beagle dogs (8 males and 8 females) were moved to a sampling room and housed individually in cages. Saliva samples were obtained every 4 h from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. the following day. In the interest of habituation, saliva was obtained hourly from each dog 3 h before the experiment was started. Salivary chromogranin A concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No circadian rhythm was detected for salivary chromogranin A secretion, and no differences in salivary chromogranin A concentrations measured every 4 h were demonstrated during the 24-h cycle in dogs.     

Peripartum back fat thickness of multiparous Holstein-Friesian cows with displacement of the abomasum or ketosis

To establish a method to predict postpartum diseases using prepartum back fat thickness (BFT), the peripartum BFTs of 54 healthy multiparous cows before calving, which were diagnosed with postpartum displacement of the abomasum (DA), clinical ketosis or subclinical ketosis were compared with those of healthy cows from 8 weeks before the expected calving date to 8 weeks after calving. The peripartum BFTs of the cows with DA or clinical ketosis were significantly higher than those of healthy cows. The peripartum BFTs of the cows with subclinical ketosis were not significantly higher than those of the healthy cows.     

Myocardial injury-related changes in plasma NT-proBNP and ANP concentrations in a canine model of ischemic myocardial injury

Serial changes in plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations are unknown in dogs with myocardial injury. The time-course secretory responses between NT-proBNP and ANP or cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) related to myocardial infarction (MI) were investigated in this study. Six dogs were anaesthetised and the left anterior descending artery was ligated. A transient decrease in cardiac function was detected 1h after MI but returned to baseline levels within 7 days and remained so for 6 months. Echocardiographic examination revealed focal ventricular dyskinesis throughout the study. Six months following MI, the left atrium to aorta ratio increased significantly although the relative wall thickness decreased significantly from baseline. Significantly elevated plasma NT-proBNP and cTnT concentrations were detected 1 day after MI and these gradually decreased over 28 days to baseline levels without left ventricular pressure elevation. Plasma ANP was elevated significantly 6 months after MI. The NT-proBNP assay is a helpful diagnostic indicator for identifying asymptomatic acute and subacute myocardial injury whereas plasma ANP concentration mainly reflects atrial dilation.     

Characterization of Aerococcus viridans isolated from milk samples from cows with mastitis and manure samples

Thirty-eight Aerococcus viridans isolates were obtained from milk from 478 cows with clinical mastitis in a farm during the periods between November 2011 and February 2012, and between December 2012 and March 2013. Additional isolates were obtained from processed manure (a mixture of composted manure, straw and hydrated lime) and bedding materials. The processed manure was later used to cover the floor of the stalls in barns as bedding materials. The temperatures recorded in the composted and processed manure were not as high as those generally observed during satisfactory composting. To reveal the association of A. viridans in manure-related products with intramammary infection in cows, isolates were characterized by their DNA fragment patterns as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Isolates obtained from milk, processed manure and bedding materials had identical DNA fragment patterns. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined for 29 isolates from milk, processed manure and bedding materials. Of these, 26 (89.7%) were resistant to clindamycin, whereas virtually all the isolates were susceptible to 12 other antimicrobials including cefalosporins that have been used to treat bovine mastitis in Japan. In vitro, three A. viridans isolates from milk and an isolate from processed manure survived for 3 hr in Good’s buffer (pH 9) at high temperature (50°C). The results suggest that the processed manure and bedding materials in this farm were possible sources of A. viridans that caused infection in the cows with mastitis.     

Virtopsy in a red kangaroo with oral osteomyelitis

This report describes the use of computed tomography (CT) in a nondomestic species. Postmortem CT was performed on a red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) and a diagnosis of oral osteomyelitis was made. CT examination revealed bony remodeling of the right mandible, an intraosseous lesion of the right temporal bone, muscle necrosis around the right mandible, and the absence of the right, first, upper molar tooth. Cardiac and intrahepatic gas and a distended intestine due to postmortem gas accumulation were also seen. All the lesions identified with CT were also identified by conventional necropsy, except the cardiac and intrahepatic gases. Virtopsy may be a useful procedure for the noninvasive identification of cause of death and as a guide for necropsy in animals.     

Purulent Necrotic Dislocation of the Hip Joint Associated with Umbilical Infection in a Foal

A 42-day-old heavy draft horse fell into sudden astasia. Significant swelling and heat sensation of the left femoral region were observed. Because of a friction sound in the left hip, we supposed that the hip joint was dislocated or the hip bone was fractured. Computed Tomography (CT) examination showed that the left hip joint was dislocated and the left femoral head was disjunct. We carried out a pathological autopsy, and made a diagnosis of the foal as fracture of the hip bone and femoral head with suppurative umbilical arteritis. Pathologic changes in the umbilical artery and hind leg were completely unilateral, suggesting that left umbilical arteritis spread to the blood circulation, causing arthritis and dislocation of the hip bone.