Development of multiple cutaneous and follicular neoplasms associated with canine papillomavirus type 3 in a dog

A 12‐year‐old spayed English pointer dog developed multiple skin lesions including pigmented viral plaques, basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and trichoblastomas. Canine papillomavirus type 3 was detected in multiple lesions suggesting common aetiology.

     

Meningoencephalitis in an adult cow due to Mortierella woifli.

A 7-year-old dairy cow presented with clinical signs of neurologic disease. Despite treatment with penicillin, the cow died 36 hours after initial presentation. Necropsy examination revealed multiple foci of hemorrhage within the cerebrum and thickened meninges. Additionally, endometritis and consolidation of approximately 30% of both lungs was observed. Histology revealed necrotizing vasculitis, infarction, and hemorrhage within sections of the brain, uterus, and lung. Large numbers of intralesional fungal hyphae were visible. Because only formalin-fixed tissue was available, polymerase chain reaction was used to make an etiologic diagnosis of Mortierella wolfii.     

A possible predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy in Huntaway dogs

AIM: To compare the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in New Zealand Huntaway dogs with the prevalence of DCM in other breeds of dog.

METHODS: The necropsy database at Massey University was used to identify cases of DCM diagnosed between January 1999 and March 2006. Dogs were considered to have DCM if echocardiographic, gross necropsy, or histological findings were consistent with this diagnosis. The prevalence in Huntaways was then compared with the prevalence observed in all breeds of dog, as well as the prevalence observed in large breeds of dog.

RESULTS: Twelve dogs were identified with DCM. One was diagnosed using echocardiography, while the other 11 were diagnosed by gross necropsy examination. The gross diagnosis of DCM was confirmed histologically in 6/11 dogs. The prevalence of DCM in Huntaways was significantly higher than the prevalence seen in all breeds of dog (p=0.008), and the prevalence in large breeds of dog (p=0.025). All four Huntaways diagnosed with DCM were male, and had an average age of 4 years. Three dogs presented with symptoms attributable to impaired heart function while one presented with symptoms of chronic renal failure. The duration of clinical symptoms prior to presentation ranged between 1 day and 3 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Huntaways may be predisposed to the development of DCM. Although the increased prevalence in this breed was significant, only small numbers of affected Huntaways were identified, and additional cases are required to confirm these preliminary findings.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Huntaways are the most common working dog in New Zealand. The premature loss of a working dog is expected to have a significant economic impact on farmers. Further investigation of DCM in Huntaways may allow measures to reduce the prevalence in this breed.     

A possible predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy in Huntaway dogs

AIM: To compare the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in New Zealand Huntaway dogs with the prevalence of DCM in other breeds of dog. METHODS: The necropsy database at Massey University was used to identify cases of DCM diagnosed between January 1999 and March 2006. Dogs were considered to have DCM if echocardiographic, gross necropsy, or histological findings were consistent with this diagnosis. The prevalence in Huntaways was then compared with the prevalence observed in all breeds of dog, as well as the prevalence observed in large breeds of dog. RESULTS: Twelve dogs were identified with DCM. One was diagnosed using echocardiography, while the other 11 were diagnosed by gross necropsy examination. The gross diagnosis of DCM was confirmed histologically in 6/11 dogs. The prevalence of DCM in Huntaways was significantly higher than the prevalence seen in all breeds of dog (p=0.008), and the prevalence in large breeds of dog (p=0.025). All four Huntaways diagnosed with DCM were male, and had an average age of 4 years. Three dogs presented with symptoms attributable to impaired heart function while one presented with symptoms of chronic renal failure. The duration of clinical symptoms prior to presentation ranged between 1 day and 3 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that Huntaways may be predisposed to the development of DCM. Although the increased prevalence in this breed was significant, only small numbers of affected Huntaways were identified, and additional cases are required to confirm these preliminary findings. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Huntaways are the most common working dog in New Zealand. The premature loss of a working dog is expected to have a significant economic impact on farmers. Further investigation of DCM in Huntaways may allow measures to reduce the prevalence in this breed.     

An explorative study comparing skin surface lipids in the West Highland white terrier dog with and without atopic dermatitis

BackgroundThe skin barrier is important in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and stratum corneum lipids have a critical role. Skin surface lipids have been largely overlooked but also contribute to barrier function. An untargeted approach was used to compare the skin surface lipids from atopic and non-atopic West Highland White terrier dogs (WHWT).ObjectivesThe primary hypothesis was that a difference in the lipidome would exist. The secondary hypothesis was that affected and unaffected skin lipids would differ.Animals and methodsThis prospective, cross-sectional, case-controlled study included thirty-nine privately owned WHWTs. Dogs were assigned to one of four disease status groups based on strict criteria. Samples for lipid analysis were collected from the skin surface of unaffected and affected sites. Lipid analysis was by untargeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and utilised lipid identification software packages. Principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) statistical methods analysed the association between the relative lipid abundance and disease status and affected and unaffected skin.ResultsSamples for lipid analysis found 421 lipid soluble features of which ten lipids were positively identified. Statistical analysis could not distinguish between non-atopic and atopic dogs but did reveal a statistically significant difference in the lipid profiles from affected and non-affected skin irrespective of disease status.ConclusionsA large array of unidentified lipids from the skin surface were found with a difference between affected and unaffected skin unrelated to disease status. Investigation into the lipidome of the skin surface is an emerging area of research with clinical and therapeutic applications.     

Poisoning with 3-nitropropionic acid in possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)

AIMS: To evaluate the toxicity, animal behavioural effects and animal welfare implications of 3-nitropropionic acid administration in possums. METHODS: The behavioural effects following 3-nitropropionic acid administration were recorded in 26 possums. RESULTS: The oral LD50 was between 110 and 170 mg/kg. Time to death averaged 9.5+/-1.9 h (mean+/-s.e.m.). Adverse signs from an animal welfare perspective were retching and restless behaviour that occurred in episodes during a period that averaged 1 h 51 min. Retching occurred in possums that were injected intraperitoneally or dosed orally with the 3-nitropropionic acid, suggesting that this effect was not necessarily initiated by gastric irritation. CONCLUSION: The potency of 3-nitropropionic acid as a toxin was low compared to other toxins that are used in possums, but it is relatively quick acting. It may cause some discomfort (retching and restlessness) prior to death.     

Method Dependency in the Measurement of BTEX Levels in Contaminated Soil

Environmental consultants and analytical laboratories are increasingly realizing the importance of analytical method selection and validation for the reliable measurement of soil contamination. Aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX) is one class of environmentally significant soil contamination for which testing is required by regulatory authorities in most industrialized countries. Unfortunately, in most guidelines there is a lack of direction for the selection of a testing method for BTEX and, in practice, any one of a variety of methods may be employed. The fact that these may not all yield comparable results is a source of much frustration in the industry and there is a paucity of published research into this problem. In a number of carefully controlled experiments, the method dependency of measured BTEX levels in contaminated soil samples has been investigated. Three commonly employed methods, namely, (methanol extraction) purge-and-trap/gas chromatography with mass selective detection (P&T/GCMSD), headspace/GCMSD and dichloromethane (DCM) extraction/gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GCFID) have been compared in the analysis of 109 gasoline-contaminated soil samples collected from station sites in Melbourne, Australia. Measurable BTEX concentrations were recorded in 92% of the samples using P&T/GCMSD, 59% using DCM/GCFID, and 40% using headspace/GCMSD. Correspondingly, the magnitudes of the recovered concentrations were significantly higher by P&T/GCMSD than by DCM/GCFID, which in turn were significantly higher than the magnitudes determined by headspace/GCMSD. These trends are evident for both clay and sandy soils. These studies clearly demonstrate that, for the three commonly employed methods described, measured BTEX levels are extraction and analytical method dependent in at least two different soil types.     

Sarcoptic mange in a wild swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

A wild adult male swamp wallaby from Victoria was found to be infested with Sarcoptes scabiei. Hyperkeratotic skin lesions were confined predominantly to the head and shoulders. This is the first report of sarcoptic mange in a swamp wallaby.     

Cutaneous sarcoids in captive African lions associated with feline sarcoid-associated papillomavirus infection

Solitary and multiple cutaneous and mucocutaneous masses were identified in 5 of 24 captive African lions (Panthera leo) over a 6-month-period. All masses were surgically excised, and all were histologically similar to equine and feline sarcoids. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA sequences that had been previously detected in feline sarcoids and clinically normal bovine skin. All lions had been fed a diet that included bovine carcasses that had not been skinned. Since the cessation of feeding bovine carcasses with cutaneous lesions, no additional skin lesions have been observed within any of the lions. Herein is described the clinical, gross, and histopathological findings of sarcoids in 5 captive lions. As the causative papillomavirus most likely has a bovine definitive host, it is hypothesized that the lions were exposed to the virus by feeding on bovine carcasses with skin still attached.