Journal of Small Animal Practice最新文献

Objectives: To describe the MRI findings in a UK referral population of dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis and to determine if they were associated with any specific clinical features or outcomes.

Materials and methods: We performed a multi-centre retrospective case series of dogs diagnosed with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in the UK that underwent MRI. Blinded consensus review of the MRI studies was performed and the findings described. The presence or absence of specific MRI abnormalities were analysed for significant associations with presenting signs, results of investigations or case outcomes.

Results: Fifty-three dogs were included. The most common MRI findings were paravertebral muscle changes (30/53; 56.6%), meningeal contrast enhancement (13/41; 31.7%) and spinal cord parenchymal T2-W hyperintensity (15/53; 28.3%). Haemorrhage was observed in five of 53 (9.4%) cases - three intradural-extramedullary, one intramedullary and one extradural. Following binary logistic regressions, T2-W spinal cord parenchymal hyperintensity had a significant positive association with paresis/paralysis (odds ratio 14.86, 95% confidence interval 1.42 to 154.99) as did haemorrhage (odds ratio 16.12, confidence interval 2.05 to 126.73). Fifty-two (98.1%) dogs survived to discharge. Relapse occurred in nine of 29 (31.0%) dogs with sufficient follow-up, and no MRI finding had a significant relationship with its occurrence.

Clinical significance: Magnetic resonance imaging findings for steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis can be severe and extensive, as can the clinical presentation. The presence of paresis/paralysis should raise concern for haemorrhage, though most dogs still have a good prognosis.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of respiratory signs in a referral population of dogs with chronic gastroenteropathy in the United Kingdom, and to describe the epidemiology and clinical presentation of the affected dogs.

Materials and methods: Retrospective review of canine patients diagnosed with chronic gastroenteropathy in a referral centre in the United Kingdom. Data included signalment, gastrointestinal and respiratory signs, blood analysis results and, where present, diagnostic imaging techniques, endoscopy, videofluoroscopic swallow study, bronchoalveolar lavage results and treatment response. To be included, a follow-up of a minimum of 3 months was required. Cases were excluded if there was no minimum diagnostic dataset, the aetiology of the respiratory signs was other than gastrointestinal disease or a non-gastrointestinal systemic disease was the cause of the gastrointestinal signs.

Results: One hundred and forty-eight dogs were included and 42 (28.4%) had concurrent respiratory signs. Gagging (69%) and vomiting (52.4%) were the most common gastrointestinal signs, while coughing (50%), tachypnoea (33.3%) and reverse sneezing (30.9%) were the most common respiratory signs. Abdominal ultrasound was performed in 31 (73.8%) while CT scan was the most common modality for thoracic (62.5%) and head (21.9%) imaging. Endoscopic procedures included gastrointestinal (54.8%), bronchoscopy (19%) and rhinoscopy (23.8%). Dietary modification was the most common treatment (66.67%). Eleven dogs (26.2%) had a relapse of the respiratory signs during the follow-up period, of which, nine (81.8%) had a concurrent relapse of the gastrointestinal signs.

Clinical significance: Concurrent respiratory signs in dogs with chronic gastroenteropathy are frequent. A clinical improvement of these respiratory signs might be achieved during the therapeutic management of gastrointestinal disorders.

Objectives: To determine the presence and categorise the severity of enteritis in dogs with gallbladder mucoceles, and evaluate for any associations with enteritis. This study also aimed to report clinical outcome following cholecystectomy and evaluate for associations with survival.

Materials and methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed (2014 to 2021) for dogs undergoing cholecystectomy and duodenal biopsy procedures for gallbladder mucocele. Signalment, bloodwork, abdominal ultrasound findings, surgical details, histology results and outcomes were reported. Surgeries were considered elective or emergent based on each dog's clinical presentation. Enteritis was categorised based on cell type and severity. Inflammation and clinical outcome were statistically evaluated.

Results: Seventy-one dogs met the study criteria. Enteritis was present in 85.9% (61/71) of cases with the majority being lymphoplasmacytic (53.5%). Twelve dogs (16.9%) underwent gastrointestinal biopsies from multiple sites, which revealed the same enteritis type at each location. A total of 87.3% (n = 62) dogs survived, including 90.4% elective and 86% emergent cases. No significant differences in enteritis severity or patient survival were found between elective and emergent cases. Septic peritonitis was diagnosed in two dogs (2.82%). Mortality was significantly associated with leukocytosis, with nonsurviving dogs having a mean WBC count of 27.6 G/L (95% confidence interval: 10.6 to 21.5).

Clinical significance: Enteritis is present in a majority of dogs with gallbladder mucocele, especially mild to moderate with lymphoplasmacytic cell type. Obtaining a duodenal biopsy had minimal impact on patient outcome. Compared to previous studies, improved survival in emergent cases was noted. Further studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine if enteropathy-related signs persist after cholecystectomy.

Objectives: To develop and determine the accuracy of a rapid manual technique for the detection of pre-treatment neutropenia (<1.50 × 10⁹/L) in dogs receiving chemotherapy.

Materials and methods: Twenty canine blood smears with known neutrophil counts between 1.00 × 10⁹/L and 3.00 × 10⁹/L were reviewed by two internal medicine clinicians and linear regressions performed to determine a cut-off value for a manual neutrophil count equating to >1.50 × 10⁹/L. Consecutive blood samples from dogs undergoing chemotherapy were processed through an automated haematology analyser (VetScan HM5, Abaxis), and prospective blinded manual review by the same two observers assessed whether the manual technique could accurately detect dogs with neutropenia.

Results: Linear regression analysis found a cut-off of >26 neutrophils per 10 low power fields at the monolayer to be equivalent to a neutrophil count of >1.5 × 10⁹/L. A total of 183 blood samples from 43 dogs were reviewed. Automated techniques detected neutropenia in 16 of 183 (9%) blood samples. Using the manual cut-off technique, 13 of 16 (81%) and 11 of 16 (69%) of neutropenic samples were correctly identified by observer 1 and observer 2, respectively. Twenty-three of 167 non-neutropenic dogs (14%) were incorrectly classified as neutropenic by observer 1, and 27 (16%) by observer 2. Inter-observer agreement was 92%. Sensitivity was 81% (95% confidence interval 54% to 96%) for observer 1 and 69% (95% confidence interval 41% to 89%) for observer 2. Specificity was 86% (95% confidence interval 80% to 91%) for observer 1 and 84% (95% confidence interval 77% to 89%) for observer 2.

Clinical significance: Manual estimation resulted in up to five of 16 (31%) neutropenic samples being incorrectly classified. A full automated differential cell count remains preferable.

An 11-month-old female, neutered domestic short-haired cat was presented for non-pruritic alopecia of the dorso-lumbar area which had appeared 1 month after a road accident. After the trauma, a fracture of the left hind limb was demonstrated without dermatological lesions on the dorso-lumbar area. One month later, hair loss was observed in this area. Four months later, clinical examination revealed dorso-lumbar alopecia. Histopathological findings included an absence of all adnexae, a mild fibroplasia and fibrosis without oriented collagen deposition, individual to coalescing pyogranulomas at the dermo-hypodermal junction and a moderately stenotic hypodermal artery. Clinical history, physical examination and histopathological findings were compatible with post-traumatic dorso-lumbar alopecia. Special features of this case include the location of the fracture and the more developed histopathological lesions with pyogranulomas at the dermo-hypodermal junction, the absence of hair follicles and a stenosing arteriopathy.