COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF INFILTRATIVE LIPOMA IN 22 DOGS

Twenty two dogs with an infiltrative lipoma had computed tomographic (CT) images acquired to evaluate the extent of local disease. Ten dogs had undergone at least one cytoreductive surgical procedure (range = 1-3; median = 2) prior to imaging. Twenty dogs had measurable disease on CT images; 2 dogs had diffuse disease at a previous surgical site that could not be measured. Tumor volume (n = 20) ranged from 20 to 5,632 cm3 (median = 345 cm3; mean = 996 cm3). None of the dogs had evidence of bone involvement on the CT images; 2 of the 22 dogs had tumors that did not come into direct contact with osseous structures. All dogs with measurable disease had evidence of a fat opacity mass with variable degrees of muscle infiltration. Eleven of 22 dogs were given intravenous contrast medium prior to image acquisition and there was not evidence of enhancement of the infiltrative lipoma in any dog. Based on CT images, tumors were classified as well-defined in 9 dogs, moderately well-defined in 4, not well-defined in 3 and a mix of well-defined and not well-defined in 6 dogs. Tumors tended to be less well-defined in regions where the infiltrative lipoma interdigitated with normal body fat. It appears CT imaging allows adequate discrimination of tumor with the caveat that differentiation of normal fat from infiltrative lipoma can be problematic.     

MENSURATION OF THE NORMAL PITUITARY GLAND FROM MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES IN 96 DOGS

The pituitary gland was measured from transverse magnetic resonance T1-weighted images after Gadolinium administration in 96 dogs weighing from 13 to 45 kg. The measurements were done by hand with calipers. The mean (+/- standard deviation) pituitary gland height was 5.1 mm (+/-0.9 mm). The mean width was 6.4 mm (+/- 1.1 mm). The correlation coefficient between pituitary and brain measurements, between pituitary measurement and body weight, and brain measurements and body weight was 0.0 to 0.3. A hyperintense region was present on T1-weighted images in the center of the pituitary gland in 64% of the dogs. At necropsy the pituitary glands were grossly and histologically normal. No pituitary gland measurements were performed at necropsy.     

Puncture Wounds of the Navicular Bursa in 38 Horses A Retrospective Study

The medical records of 38 horses with puncture wounds of the navicular bursa were reviewed. Only 12 horses had a satisfactory outcome (breeding or riding). Of the remaining 26 horses, 19 were euthanized, five were sold due to persistent severe lameness, one died, and one was lost to long-term follow-up. Different combinations of conservative management prior to surgical debridement and drainage of the navicular bursa were unsuccessful in resolving the condition. Horses that were treated surgically within 1 week of the injury and had a hind leg affected had the best chance of a satisfactory outcome. Additional wound debridement was necessary in 15 horses after initial surgical treatment. The most common complications encountered were navicular bone osteomyelitis and sepsis of the deep digital flexor tendon. Thirteen of 14 horses that had rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon and subluxation of the distal interphalangeal joint had an unsatisfactory outcome. One mare subsequently developed ankylosis of the distal interphalangeal joint and was a useful brood mare. Two horses that had biaxial palmar digital neurectomy because of persistent lameness were later euthanized because of navicular bone fracture and rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon. Results from limited numbers of bacterial cultures and antibiotic sensitivities suggest that penicillin and an aminoglycoside antibiotic should be used as initial antibiotic therapy. Immediate surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotic treatment are recommended as the minimum therapy for penetrating wounds of the navicular bursa in horses.     

In vitro nitroimidazole resistance of Trichomonas gallinae and successful therapy with an increased dosage of ronidazole in racing pigeons (Columba livia domestica)

Six out of eight different Trichomonas gallinae strains isolated from racing pigeons proved to be resistant to the nitroimidazole drugs ronidazole, carnidazole and metronidazole. The minimal cytocidal concentration of ronidazole was determined in in vitro experiments. Moreover, a therapeutic dose for ronidazole was determined for the control of trichomoniasis in pigeons from which the resistant T. gallinae strains were isolated. It was a 5-fold increase of the recommended ronidazole dosage which eliminated the infection in affected pigeons.     

Verification by polymerase chain reaction of vertical transmission of Theileria sergenti in cows

To evaluate the transplacental transfer of Theileria sergenti infection in cattle, we used DNA probes to detect T. sergenti in 6 pregnant cows and their calves. All the animals were monitored by parasitologic, serologic, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for a predicted 875-base-pair (bp) DNA product and a 684-bp amplicon detected by nested PCR in the blood and spleens of aborted fetuses. An open reading frame (ORF) starting at nucleotide 170 and terminating at position 1021 was shown to code for a polypeptide of 283 amino acid residues. All 6 dams and 5 calves were positive for T. sergenti in all tests. One calf was positive only with nested PCR. We conclude that transplacental transmission of T. sergenti is a significant problem. The relevance of the data in the programmed introduction of new (especially pregnant) animals into established clean herds needs serious consideration with regard to control of theileriosis and other tickborne diseases.     

Reproductive efficiency and maternal-offspring transfer of gossypol in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed diets containing cottonseed meal.

In a preceding study, complete substitution of fish meal protein with cottonseed meal (CM) protein did not affect the survival or growth rate of adult rainbow trout over a 6-mo period. Gossypol, a naturally occurring compound in cottonseeds, has an antifertility effect in terrestrial animals, but information regarding salmonid fish is lacking. Female rainbow trout in this experiment were fed diets with either 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100% (diets 1 to 5) of the fish meal protein replaced with CM protein until first maturation and spawning to study long-term effects on growth and reproduction. Feeding diets containing CM over a total period of 10 mo did not result in differences in growth and mortality compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Increased CM incorporation levels resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) blood hemoglobin (10.6 +/- 1.3, 8.4 +/- 1.8, 7.3 +/- 1.1, 6.9 +/- 0.8, and 5.6 +/- 1.4 g/dL) and hematocrit (49.6 +/- 3.9, 38.5 +/- 9.3, 34.4 +/- 3.7, 34.8 +/- 4.9 and 28.0 +/- 6.8%) levels in diets 1 to 5, respectively. The CM incorporation level had no effect (P > 0.05) on the number of eggs produced per female but led to a reduction (P < 0.05) in egg weight. Eyed stage survival of embryos was low in all dietary groups and did not show differences (P > 0.05). However, an increasing CM incorporation level led to a linear increase (P < 0.05) in the number of females that produced no viable embryos (23.1, 37.5, 42.9, 60.0, and 71.4%). Gossypol in the diet was absorbed by the female trout and transferred to the eggs (0, 2.2 +/- 0.5, 6.7 +/- 1.6, 10.6 +/- 4.2, and 20.0 +/- 2.6 micrograms/g in diets 1 to 5, respectively). A high concentration of gossypol remained in the juveniles at the swim-up stage (endogenous yolk-absorbed) (0.6 +/- 0.3, 2.4 +/- 0.3, 3.4 +/- 0.0, and 4.7 +/- 1.0 micrograms/g, diets 2 to 5, respectively). The findings suggest that replacement of the dietary fish meal protein with CM protein has no effect on fish growth and mortality but may lead to a reduction in reproductive performance in female rainbow trout.     

Capnographic documentation of nasoesophageal and nasogastric feeding tube placement in dogs

Objective: To evaluate the ability of capnography to document proper placement of nasoesophageal (NE) and nasogastric (NG) feeding tubes. This study was conducted in 3 phases. Phase I of this study was designed in order to test the efficacy of capnography to distinguish placement of a feeding tube in the alimentary tract versus the respiratory tract. Phase II was designed in order to document that carbon dioxide (CO₂) could be measured through a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) feeding tube. Phase III was performed in order to evaluate the technique of continuous monitoring during insertion of the feeding tube into the esophagus and stomach as would be performed during a clinical‐tube placement. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Research laboratory. Animals: 24 adult dogs. Interventions: In Phase I, sedated dogs were instrumented with an intratracheal catheter and an 8 French feeding tube placed nasally into the distal esophagus and later advanced into the stomach. In Phase II, dogs were anesthetized and an 8 French feeding tube was placed down the endotracheal tube, then into the esophagus and later advanced into the stomach. In Phase III, sedated dogs were instrumented with an 8 French feeding tube inserted intranasally and then advanced to the level of the nasopharynx, distal esophagus and, lastly, the stomach. Fluoroscopy was used in order to determine location of the feeding tube. Measurements and main results: Phase I measurements included respiratory rate and CO₂ from the trachea, esophagus, and stomach and pH of gastric fluid sample. Phase II measurements included respiratory rate and CO₂ from the endotracheal tube, feeding tube in the endotracheal tube, feeding tube in the distal esophagus, and feeding tube in the stomach. Phase III data collection included respiratory rate and CO₂ as the tube was passed through the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, esophagus and stomach. Phase I fluid samples were collected from 5 of the 9 dogs and had pH values from 1.68 to 4.20. In both phases, values for the respiratory rate and CO₂ from the esophagus and stomach were 0 ± 0, significantly lower (P < 0.001) than the values from the trachea. In Phase II, there was no significant difference between the respiratory rates (P = 0.886) and CO₂ (P = 0.705) readings obtained from the endotracheal tube compared to readings from the feeding tube in the endotracheal tube. In Phase III, there was a significant difference (P < 0.001) between the respiratory rates and CO₂ readings obtained from the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx when compared to those readings obtained from the esophagus and stomach. Measurement of CO₂ and respiratory rate resulted in a reading of 0 every time the feeding tube was in the esophagus or stomach. Conclusions: Capnography may be used in order to detect airway placement of NE and NG tubes.