A defect in thyroglobulin synthesis in an inherited ovine goitre: possible neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

A ram lamb with congenital goitre showed signs of respiratory distress at birth. All previously affected lambs from this flock bad been born dead or bad died soon after birth. The serum free-thyroxine level at 1 birth was low (9.8 pmol/l) but treatment with oral L-thyroxine resulted in an increase in thyroxine blood levels to above normal and regression of the goitre. Four weeks after withdrawal of thyroid supplementation and when the lamb was eight weeks old, the radio iodide uptake mechanism of the thyroid glands was shown to be intact but the iodide was not organified. Low normal peroxidase activity was demonstrated in fresh thyroid tissue but gel electrophoresis demonstrated an absence of normal thyroglobulin from extracts of the goitrous thyroid. This lamb and the other affected lambs of this flock have an inherited defect in thyroglobulin synthesis and it is likely that the respiratory distress was associated with the low levels of thyroid hormone affecting foetal lung development.     

Intestinal lymphangiectasia in a dog

An eight-month-old female crossbred terrier was presented with a short history of diarrhoea, dyspnoea and abdominal distension. Clinical examination revealed thoracic effusion, ascites, and subcutaneous oedema. Hypoalbuminaemia, hypoglobulinaemia and lymphopaenia were all present. Histological examination of a jejunal biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of intestinal Iymphangiectasia. Full clinical recovery followed treatment by dietary management.     

Feline hyperthyroidism — A review

The efficacy of selenium dioxide (SeO₂) was similar to sodium selenate (Na₂SeO₄.10H₂O), in terms of increasing and maintaining blood Se concentrations. when administered orally twice daily to give 0.64 rng of Se/dav to grazing dairy cows for 56 days.     

Selenium status of cats in four regions of the world and comparison with reported incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats in those regions

OBJECTIVE: To assess selenium (Se) status of cats in 4 regions of the world and to compare results for Se status with reported incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats in those regions. ANIMALS: 50 cats (30 from 2 regions with an allegedly high incidence of hyperthyroidism and 20 from 2 regions in which the disease is less commonly reported). PROCEDURE: Hematologic samples (heparinized whole blood, plasma, and RBC fractions) were obtained from 43 healthy euthyroid cats and 7 hyperthyroid cats. Plasma concentration of Se and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in whole blood and plasma were determined. RESULTS: Plasma concentration of Se and GPX activity in whole blood or plasma did not differ significantly among cats from the 4 regions. However, cats had a plasma concentration of Se that was approximately 5 times the concentration reported in rats and humans. The GPX activity in whole blood or plasma in cats generally was higher than values reported in rats or humans. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cats have higher Se concentrations in plasma, compared with values for other species. However, Se status alone does not appear to affect the incidence of hyperthyroidism in cats. High Se concentrations may have implications for health of cats if such concentrations are influenced by the amount of that micronutrient included in diets.     

Surgical treatment of lumbosacral discospondylitis by a distraction-fusion technique

Lumbosacral discospondylitis was diagnosed in three adult dogs by radiography and the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from the affected intervertebral space. The predominant clinical findings of severe spinal pain and marked hindlimb lameness suggested entrapment of the seventh lumbar spinal nerve roots. In addition, the presence of hindlimb ataxia, proprioceptive deficits, perineal analgesia and paresis of the tail were consistent with compression of the cauda equina. Despite medical therapy with analgesics, antibiotics and strict confinement the clinical and radiographic signs progressed. A lumbosacral distraction-fusion procedure was employed to decompress the spinal nerve roots and cauda equina and to stabilise the affected vertebrae. In all cases there was an immediate marked reduction in spinal pain and a long term resolution of clinical signs. In two cases the affected vertebrae progressively fused within four months. The third case required removal of the implants due to pin migration and breakage.     

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN TRAINING COMPARED WITH NON-TRAINING GREYHOUNDS

Echocardiographic parameters were compared between training and non-training greyhound dogs. When indexed to body weight there was a statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in the interventricular septal thickness (systole) and when indexed to body surface area there were increased interventricular septal (systole) and left ventricular free wall measurements (systole) in training compared with non-training greyhounds. When each gender was analyzed separately and echocardiographic parameters were indexed to body size, both genders had an increase in the interventricular septal thickness (diastolic in the female, systolic in the male) in the training compared with non-training greyhounds. In male training greyhounds there was additionally an increase in the left ventricular internal dimension (systole) and free wall thickness (systole) when echocardiographic parameters were indexed to body surface area compared with non-training greyhounds (p<0.05). The results indicate that certain training greyhound echocardiographic parameters are larger than non-training greyhound echocardiographic parameters. The potential effects of training, body size and gender should be considered when interpreting echocardiographic parameters in populations of greyhounds.