CORRELATION OF ULTRASOUND FINDINGS,LIVER AND SPLEEN CYTOLOGY,AND PROGNOSIS IN THE CLINICAL STAGING OF HIGH METASTATIC RISK CANINE MAST CELL TUMORS

Cytologic sampling of the ultrasonographically normal spleen and liver is not implemented routinely in the clinical staging of canine cutaneous mast cell tumors and normal ultrasound findings are often accepted as sufficient evidence for ruling out splenic or liver metastasis. Our objective was to define the specificity and sensitivity of ultrasound findings for diagnosis of mast cell infiltration when verified with cytologic evaluation, and to define the prognostic role of cytologic evaluation of liver and splenic aspirates. Dogs with a diagnosis of clinically aggressive grade II, or grade III mast cell tumor treated with a combination vinblastine/CCNU chemotherapy protocol, were selected retrospectively based on availability of cytologic evaluation of spleen plus or minus liver for staging. Out of 19 dogs, 10 dogs had a grade II tumor and nine a grade III tumor. Seven dogs had mast cell infiltration of the spleen, liver, or both. The sensitivity of ultrasound for detecting mast cell infiltration was 43% for the spleen and 0% for the liver. Dogs with positive cytologic evidence of mast cell infiltration to spleen, liver, or both had significantly shorter survival (100 vs. 291 days) than dogs without evidence of mast cell infiltration (P<0.0001). Routine splenic aspiration should be performed regardless of ultrasonographic appearance in dogs with a clinically aggressive mast cell tumor.     

Diagnosis and management of food allergy and intolerance in dogs and cats

SUMMARY This paper reviews food allergy and intolerance in dogs and cats. Adverse reactions to ingested food components can affect many systems and can produce signs involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and central nervous system, and these clinical signs are reviewed. Most basic food ingredients have the potential to induce an allergic response, although most reactions are caused by proteins. In particular, dogs and cats can become sensitive to cow's milk, beef, fish or cereal. Food allergy and intolerance is rare in dogs and cats, although the incidence in practice is difficult to establish. Clinical signs are quite variable, depending on the individual response, although the major clinical sign is pruritus. Diagnosis can be difficult, as there is no single test available to help the clinician to confirm or refute the presence of food sensitivity. Diagnosis is based on dietary investigation in the form of elimination diets and test meals. Elimination diets for dogs include lamb, chicken, rabbit, horse meat and fish as sources of protein, with rice or potatoes. Successful elimination diets for cats include lamb, chicken, rabbit or venison, with rice. Improvement in clinical signs while on the elimination diet is suggestive of food allergy. The diagnosis should be confirmed by feeding the original diet, with the development of clinical signs within 7 to 14 days of feeding.     

Chlamydia zoonoses

Laboratory reports of psittacosis in man show a definite increase in incidence. Possible explanations for this increase are discussed, and reported avian and mammalian derived zoonoses are reviewed. Control of chlamydia zoonoses is considered.     

Prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci in different cat populations in Britain

The prevalence of Chlamydia psittaci infection in household, feral and farm cats in Britain was investigated. Chlamydia were isolated from 30 per cent of conjunctival swabs collected from 753 household cats with conjunctivitis. The prevalence of active chlamydial infection was highest in cats in the age group five weeks to nine months. Males were more frequently infected than females. Cats with chlamydial conjunctivitis usually had antibody titres greater than 1024 as assessed by indirect immunofluorescence. Chlamydia appeared to be endemic in two out of three feral cat colonies on the basis of serological evidence and occasional isolations. Cats on 10 of 22 sheep farms (45 per cent) had serological evidence of chlamydial infection, and this was confirmed on two farms by isolation of the organism from conjunctival and, or, rectal swabs. This is the first survey of infection with Chlamydia psittaci in cat populations in Britain.     

Effect of Different Flavonoids on Collagen Synthesis in Human Fibroblasts

In this study, we discovered that flavonoids belonging to the subclasses: (flavanone, flavone, and flavonol) display differential effects on the synthesis of collagen in human dermal fibroblasts. At 80 μg/ml flavonoids quercetin-3,3′,4′, 5,7-pentahydroxyflavone, 3-methyl quercetin, and 7-hydroxyflavone significantly decreased the total protein concentration which was a direct consequence of their cytotoxic effect, while naringenin exhibited no effect on total collagen and total protein concentration. Quercetin-3,3′4′,7-tetramethyl ether, 4′-hydroxyflavanone, flavanone, and fisetin significantly decreased collagen concentration while morin, rutin, and chrysin increased collagen concentration without changing the overall protein concentration. The initial screening performed in this study enables the identification of compounds that exert significant effects on fibroblast function and show potential as starting material for pharmaceutical preparations targeted against various disorders centered around disturbed collagen metabolism.     

Weeds resistant to chlorsulfuron and atrazine from the north-east grain region of Australia

The resistance of weeds to triazine and sulfonylurea herbicides has been recorded in several countries. The extent of the problem in the north-east grain region of Australia is uncertain. In an initial study, resistance to chlorsulfuron and atrazine in 15 weed species was investigated. The study showed that at least six of them have evolved resistance to one or other of these herbicides. Two collections of Rapistvum rugosum L., three of Sisymbrium orientale L., five of Sonchus oleraceus L., one of Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Love and one of Sisymbrium rhellungii O. Schultz were resistant to the recommended rate of chlorsulfuron (15 g a.i. ha^-1). Resistance to chlorsulfuron was not discovered in three collections of Sisymbrium L., two of Brassica tournefortii Gouan. three of Emex australis Steinh. and 11 of Phalaris paradoxa L. Two collections of Urochtoa panicoides Beauv. were resistant, and three collections possibly resistant, to the recommended rate of atrazine(1.8 kg a.i. ha^-1). Resistance to atrazine was not found in 12 collections of Hibiscus urionum L., nine of Salvia reflexa L., two of Parthenium hysterophorus L., two of Amaranthus viridis L. and 14 of Echinochloa colona (L) Link. The resistance status of four weeds ( R. rugosum. F. convolvulus, S. thellungii and U. panicoides was confirmed using a multiple dose-response screen and is the first report of resistance for these species. Herbicide usage records show that resistance has developed after 3-10 years of selection with chlorsulfuron and 2-15 years of selection with atrazine, with no correlation between the frequency of use and the degree of resistance for any of the species where eight or more collections were made.