Presumptive subcutaneous surgical transplantation of a urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma in a dog

A urinary bladder mass in a 12-year-old spayed female West Highland White Terrier was diagnosed after exploratory surgery and biopsy as a transitional cell carcinoma. Four months later the dog presented with an ulcerated plaque-like cutaneous lesion at the previous surgical incision site; concurrent inguinal lymphadenopathy and recurrence of the urinary bladder mass were identified. Transitional cell carcinoma was diagnosed at all 3 sites. Although a definitive relationship cannot be established between the initial surgery for urinary bladder mass and the resultant subcutaneous lesion, surgical implantation should be considered as a source for the neoplastic cells.     

Survival of Leptosphaeria maculans in soil on residues of Brassica napus in South Australia

The survival of Leptosphaeria maculans , which causes phoma stem canker (blackleg), on oilseed rape residues ( Brassica napus ) in South Australia was investigated. Using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for L. maculans DNA, the pathogen was mainly detected in the upper 5 cm of the soil profile, including residues on the soil surface. As the size of organic matter particles in the soil decreased, so did the quantity of L. maculans detected in them. To obtain representative data for a field, at least 30 subsamples needed to be collected over the 0·81 ha area studied. In a survey of 49 commercial fields in South Australia, most L. maculans was detected in fields 1 year after oilseed rape had been grown, with less detected after 2 years and negligible amounts 3 years or more after cropping. The diagnostic DNA-based assay for L. maculans reduced the time and cost of studying L. maculans survival in soil and increased the sensitivity and accuracy of results compared with estimates of propagule number of colony-forming units on a semiselective medium.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF CEREBRAL CORTICAL NECROSIS (POLIOENCEPHALOMALACIA) IN A DOG

A 3-year-old neutered female mixed breed dog was examined because of severe, generalized seizure activity, tetraparesis, and encephalopathic signs. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evaluation was unremarkable except for a mild increase in protein. Serum and CSF titers for infectious diseases were negative. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examination of the brain was performed and lesions were found within the cerebral gray matter of the temporal and parietal lobes. The lesions had increased signal intensity on T1, T2, and proton density-weighted images. There was mild inhomogeneous enhancement following intravenous contrast medium administration. Neurologic status improved and the seizures were well controlled, but the dog never regained normal mentation and euthanasia was performed 10 weeks after initial evaluation. At necropsy, severe cerebral cortical necrosis was found in the regions corresponding to the lesions seen on MR imaging examination. Large numbers of fat-containing macrophages (gitter cells) were found within these areas, and are thought to be responsible for the characteristic hyperintensity seen on the MR images.     

Monorchidism in the horse

Six horses with monorchidism, identified at surgery for cryptorchidectomy, are reported. All six presented with a single scrotal testis. Following surgical removal of one testis, they were either hormonally, anatomically or behaviourally determined to be geldings. Three other horses reported in the literature are reviewed. Of these nine cases of monorchidism, eight were thought to be caused by testicular degeneration and one by testicular agenesis. The vaginal process was present in all of the former and absent in the latter. The left side was involved in five of these eight horses. In seven, the epididymis was absent and, in the remaining two, only the epididymal tail was present. The condition was thought to be congenital in the six horses in this series. A surgical approach to identify accurately monorchid horses is described.     

Update on antifungal therapy.

Fungal pathogens are becoming increasingly important for human and small animal medicine. This article highlights many standards-of-care and new agents for treatment of these pathogens for small animals and people.     

Effects of Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Intensively Cultured Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: Physiological Responses and Fillet Attributes

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (261.6 × 24.7 g initial weight, mean × SEM) at 13.1 × 0.2 C were exposed for 94 d to one of three CO₂ treatments: control (22.1 × 2.8 mg/L), medium (34.5 × 3.8 mg/L), or high (48.7 × 4.4 mg/L). Trout were checked daily for survival, and fish were sampled at 0, 28, 56, and 84 d for physiological responses, growth, and fillet quality assessments. Trout were also challenged to a 15-min crowding stress at 93 d to assess their ability to initiate a stress response during hypercapnia. Chronically exposed trout showed nearly 100% survival through 84 d exposure (1 of 1,500 fish died). Growth and physiological results showed that increasing elevated CO₂, concentrations result in corresponding decreased growth rates and CO₂specific physiological parameters: The medium and high CO₂ treatments had significantly slower growth and subsequently smaller fish by 84 d. Exposed trout also showed significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased plasma chloride for medium and high CO₂ treatments compared to the control from 28 through 84 d. Decreased growth and smaller fish in the medium and high CO₂ treatments resulted in correspondingly smaller fresh and smoked fillet weights. Chronic CO₂ exposure did not result in notable changes in ultimate muscle pH. Exposure to 15-min crowding stress at 93 d resulted in significant changes in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, glucose, and chloride for all treatment groups. CO₂-specific changes were detected in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, and plasma chloride responses following the 15-min crowding stress.     

The kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for coronavirus antibodies in cats: calibration to the indirect immunofluorescence assay and computerized standardization of results through normalization to control values.

The computer-assisted, kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for coronavirus antibodies in cats was calibrated to the conventional indirect immunofluorescence assay by linear regression analysis and computerized interpolation (generation of "immunofluorescence assay-equivalent" titers). Procedures were developed for normalization and standardization of kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results through incorporation of five different control sera of predetermined ("expected") titer in daily runs. When used with such sera and with computer assistance, the kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay minimized both within-run and between-run variability while allowing also for efficient data reduction and statistical analysis and reporting of results.     

Proposed criteria for classification of acute myeloid leukemia in dogs and cats

Blood and bone marrow smears from 49 dogs and cats, believed to have myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), were examined by a panel of 10 clinical pathologists to develop proposals for classification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in these species. French-American-British (FAB) group and National Cancer Institute (NCI) workshop definitions and criteria developed for classification of AML in humans were adapted. Major modifications entailed revision of definitions of blast cells as applied to the dog and cat, broadening the scope of leukemia classification, and making provisions for differentiating erythremic myelosis and undifferentiated MPD. A consensus cytomorphologic diagnosis was reached in 39 (79.6%) cases comprising 26 of AML, 10 of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and 3 of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Diagnostic concordance for these diseases varied from 60 to 81% (mean 73.3 +/- 7.1%) and interobserver agreement ranged from 51.3 to 84.6% (mean 73.1 +/- 9.3%). Various subtypes of AML identified included Ml, M2, M4, M5a, M5b, and M6. Acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL) was recognized as a specific entity. M3 was not encountered, but this subclass was retained as a diagnostic possibility. The designations M6Er and MDS-Er were introduced where the suffix "Er" indicated preponderance of erythroid component. Chief hematologic abnormalities included circulating blast cells in 98% of the cases, with 36.7% cases having >30% blast cells, and thrombocytopenia and anemia in approximately 86 to 88% of the cases. Bone marrow examination revealed panmyeloid dysplastic changes, particularly variable numbers of megaloblastoid rubriblasts and rubricytes in all AML subtypes and increased numbers of eosinophils in MDS. Cytochemical patterns of neutrophilic markers were evident in most cases of Ml and M2, while monocytic markers were primarily seen in M5a and M5b cases. It is proposed that well-prepared, Romanowsky-stained blood and bone marrow smears should be examined to determine blast cell types and percentages for cytomorphologic diagnosis of AML. Carefully selected areas of stained films presenting adequate cellular details should be used to count a minimum of 200 cells. In cases with borderline diagnosis, at least 500 cells should be counted. The identity of blast cells should be ascertained using appropriate cytochemical markers of neutrophilic, monocytic, and megakaryocytic differentiation. A blast cell count of > 30% in blood and/or bone marrow indicates AML or AUL, while a count of < 30% blasts in bone marrow suggests MDS, chronic myeloid leukemias, or even a leukemoid reaction. Myeloblasts, monoblasts, and megakaryoblasts comprise the blast cell count. The FAB approach with additional criteria should be used to distinguish AUL and various subtypes of AML (Ml to M7 and M6Er) and to differentiate MDS, MDS-ER, chronic myeloid leukemias, and leukemoid reaction. Bone marrow core biopsy and electron microscopy may be required to confirm the specific diagnosis. Immunophenotyping with lineage specific antibodies is in its infancy in veterinary medicine. Development of this technique is encouraged to establish an undisputed identity of blast cells. Validity of the proposed criteria needs to be substantiated in large prospective and retrospective studies. Similarly, clinical relevance of cytomorphologic, cytochemical, and immunophenotypic characterizations of AML in dogs and cats remains to be determined.