Effects of heartworm and intestinal parasitic infections on hematology and peripheral lymph node cytology in louisiana dogs

Hookworm infected dogs had higher blood basophil counts than hookworm negative dogs. Dogs with occult heartworm infection (i.e., without microfilaremia) had higher blood neutrophil counts than heartworm negative dogs. The percentage of eosinophils in peripheral lymph nodes was higher in heartworm infected, microfilaremic dogs than in both occult infected dogs and heartworm negative dogs. Heartworm or intestinal parasitic infection had no other significant effects on hematologic parameters or peripheral lymph node cytology.     

Finasteride-induced prostatic involution by apoptosis in dogs with benign prostatic hypertrophy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of finasteride on programmed cell death (apoptosis) of prostatic cells during prostatic involution in dogs with benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). ANIMALS: 9 dogs with BPH. PROCEDURE: Dogs were randomly assigned to treatment or control groups. Treatment dogs (n = 5) were administered finasteride (0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h) for 16 weeks, whereas the 4 control dogs were administered an inert compound. Prostatic cells from the prostatic fluid portion of the ejaculate of treatment and control dogs were obtained before and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 weeks after initiation of treatment. Cells were concentrated by use of centrifugation. Prostatic cells were examined for indications of apoptosis by use of a terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuracil triphosphate nick-end labeling technique. After receiving the inert compound for 16 weeks, the 4 control dogs were administered finasteride for 16 weeks, and evaluations were repeated. RESULTS: Percentage of apoptotic prostatic cells in ejaculated prostatic fluid of treatment dogs increased significantly (from 9% before treatment to 33, 31, 26, and 27% after 1, 2, 3, and 8 weeks of treatment, respectively). There was no significant change in percentage of apoptotic prostatic cells in the ejaculated prostatic fluid of control dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Finasteride-induced prostatic involution appears to be via apoptosis in dogs with BPH. Finasteride treatment of dogs with BPH causes prostatic involution by apoptosis rather than necrosis.     

ECTRODACTYLY (SPLIT-HAND DEFORMITY) IN THE DOG

Radiographs of 14 dogs with ectrodactyly of the forelimb were evaluated and the defect classified according to the site of division of the longitudinal axis of the paw. The majority of separations occurred between metacarpal bones one and two, although separations were also noted between metacarpal bones two and three, two and four, and three and four. Other lesions noted in affected limbs included digit contracture, digit aplasia, metacarpal hypoplasia and metacarpal fusions. Bilateral involvement was noted in only one of 14 cases. No breed or sex predisposition was found and there was equal involvement of the left and right limbs.     

Clinical evaluation of American river otters in a reintroduction study

Ten American river otters (Lutra canadensis) were evaluated clinically before release into Oklahoma waterways. Otters were immobilized for physical, radiographic, and electrocardiographic examinations and for collection of blood samples. Hematologic and serum biochemical analyses, urinalyses, parasitologic examinations, surgical omental biopsies, and necropsy findings were included. Respiratory tract disease, bacterial and parasitic infections, and starvation apparently were contributing causes of postrelease mortality in 4 of the otters.     

Multi‐seasonal field release and spermatization trials of transgenic hypovirulent strains of Cryphonectria parasitica containing cDNA copies of hypovirus CHV1‐EP713

Three indigenous field strains of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica collected in 1996 from a test site in the Meshomasic State Forest, Connecticut, USA, were engineered to contain a chromosomally integrated full‐length infectious cDNA copy of the severe, virulence‐attenuating hypovirus CHV1‐EP713. These transgenic hypovirulent strains were introduced into the test site after it had been clear‐cut, as sprayed conidia in multiple applications over 4 years, beginning in 1997. Evidence was obtained for cytoplasmic transmission of cDNA‐derived hypovirus RNA and for recovery of transgenic strains from canker tissue of the spray‐treated trees. However, there was no indication of spread of transgenic strains or cDNA‐derived viral RNA to the control plot or outside the treatment plot. A single transgenic C. parasitica isolate was identified from a total of 156 isolates recovered from 1330 insects representing five insect orders. Only 2.6% of the 1082 C. parasitica bark isolates recovered during the course of this study were vegetatively compatible with the untransformed input strains. Transgenic ascospore progeny were produced by 40% of the perithecia collected in 1999 and by only 7.3% of the perithecia collected in 2000. A concurrent field release study performed in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia in 1998 and 1999 with transgenic hypovirulent strains constructed with the same CHV1‐EP713 cDNA‐containing plasmid identified seasonal application dates and delivery methods that resulted in very high levels of transgenic ascospore production. Results of the combined field release studies are discussed in terms of requirements for improved formulations and delivery methods and the importance of balancing ecological fitness and virulence attenuation.