American journal of veterinary research最新文献

Objective: To describe the treatment, response, and outcome for the use of accelerated fractionated radiotherapy with twice-daily treatment in dogs with locally advanced gingival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Animals: 14 client-owned dogs with locally advanced gingival SCC but no evidence of metastasis treated with accelerated fractionated radiotherapy at the Animal Medical Center of Gifu University from November 2017 through August 2023.

Clinical presentation: The dogs had a median age of 12 years (range, 8 to 16 years) and a median body weight of 6.3 kg (range, 2.0 to 13.8 kg). Tumors were located in the maxilla (n = 12) or mandible (2) and were staged as T1 (1), T2 (9), or T3 (4) based on WHO criteria.

Results: All dogs underwent twice-daily accelerated fractionated radiotherapy using 3-D conformal planning, totaling 42 to 49 Gy in 10 to 14 fractions. Complete response was seen in 7 dogs, partial response in 6, and stable disease in 1, for an overall response rate of 93%. The most notable acute adverse effect was oronasal fistula (grade 4 toxicity per Veterinary Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria). Mild to moderate acute toxicities in oral cavity, skin, and eye (grade 1 to 3) were transient and manageable. Median progression-free survival was 222 days; median overall survival was 322 days.

Clinical relevance: The findings suggested that accelerated fractionated radiotherapy with twice-daily treatment may serve as a practical treatment option for dogs with locally advanced gingival SCC. Additional studies are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy and safety.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of sedated respiratory-gated (RG) CT as a minimally invasive surrogate for anesthetized, ventilator-assisted inspiratory-expiratory breath-hold (I:E-BH) CT scans by being able to identify CT lung patterns and subpatterns, abnormal and normal lung attenuation scores, and bronchomalacia (BM) in dogs with respiratory disease.

Methods: Sedated RG CT and anesthetized I:E-BH CT images were sequentially acquired in 50 client-owned dogs with respiratory clinical signs. Computed tomography lung patterns and subpatterns, 2 CT severity scores, and the presence of BM were assessed. Agreement was estimated using unweighted and weighted Cohen κ coefficients and Bland-Altman plots. McNemar tests and mixed-effects logistic or ordinal logistic regressions were utilized to evaluate discordant pairs between CT techniques.

Results: Both scan types had minimal motion artifact. Nodular pattern and airspace nodules and reticular and subpleural interstitial thickening subpatterns were significantly underestimated in RG CT compared to I:E-BH CT. A fair agreement was estimated between the 2 methods for normal lung scores but not for abnormal lung scores, and for BM. There was a significant difference between the two techniques in diagnosing clinical BM. Inspiratory-expiratory breath-hold CT yielded more BM diagnoses, especially in younger dogs with milder BM scores.

Conclusions: In dogs with respiratory disease, RG CT had good concordance with I:E-BH CT on most major lung patterns but not some nodular and linear subpatterns, underdetecting subtle but clinically relevant lesions. The probability of diagnosing clinical BM is higher with I:E-BH CT, particularly in milder cases.

Clinical relevance: Compared to RG CT, anesthetized I:E-BH CT provides superior technique and detail that allows for characterization of some subpatterns, which could have diagnostic implications.

Objective: To determine the width and location of the tibial tuberosity (TT) relative to the proximal tibial width (TW) on the transverse plane in normal dogs using CT with multiplanar reconstruction.

Methods: This study included cadaveric hind limbs from 11 adult dogs (22 tibiae) with no history or CT signs of orthopedic disease. Disarticulated pelvic limbs were scanned using a multidetector CT unit. Transverse images were reconstructed at the level of the TT. Three observers independently measured TW, TT width, and TT location (TTL) on the transverse plane, where TTL was defined as the distance from the medial tibial cortex to the center of the TT, expressed as a percentage of TW. Inter- and intraobserver variability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients.

Results: The TT was located slightly medially, with a mean TTL of 48% (± 4%) relative to TW. The mean TT width was 30% (± 2%) of TW. All measurements demonstrated high inter- and intraobserver agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9 for most parameters).

Conclusions: CT-based assessment of TT position is reliable and reproducible.

Clinical relevance: These anatomical references may assist preoperative planning for TT transposition procedures in dogs.

Human and veterinary healthcare systems face many parallel challenges, yet opportunities for cross-sectoral learning remain underexplored. This scoping review aimed to compare healthcare delivery in both domains, highlighting operational inefficiencies, shared challenges, and innovative strategies that may enhance outcomes in both sectors. A search and review of 43,987 articles was conducted across multiple databases. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria and conducting quality assessments, 100 studies were selected for detailed analysis. The review focused on operational elements such as patient scheduling, staffing, electronic health records, patient flow, satisfaction, wait times, length of stay, facility layout, and resource allocation. The review identified recurring inefficiencies in both sectors, notably in scheduling and resource planning. Common operational challenges in healthcare include poor electronic health records integration, suboptimal facility layout, and understaffing. Innovative solutions like improved protocols, Lean Six Sigma, smart scheduling, artificial intelligence, and ergonomics can improve efficiency and patient outcomes. The review findings underscored the potential for shared solutions between human and veterinary healthcare systems. Recognizing and applying successful strategies across both fields could improve operational efficiency, patient satisfaction, and overall quality of care. Veterinary healthcare lags in adopting industrial engineering solutions to solve operational challenges. This review provided invaluable information from the literature and could serve as a blueprint in multiple areas to expedite improvements in veterinary care. Human healthcare systems are much more standardized than veterinary systems and provide multiple potential solutions to improve veterinary care delivery.

Objective: To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) differentially expressed in the serum of dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma between preoperative and postoperative samples.

Methods: RNA was extracted from serum collected from dogs with hemangiosarcoma preoperatively, 24 to 48 hours postoperatively, and 10 to 30 days postoperatively. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR was performed with differential expression analysis between sample time points for miRNA (miR)-126-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-214-3p, miR-452-5p, miR-494-3p, miR-497-5p, and miR-543 using miR-16-5p and miR-93-5p as controls.

Results: Serum from 17 dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma (13 with stage II disease, 4 with stage I disease) was collected preoperatively (n = 17), 24 to 48 hours postoperatively (17), and 10 to 30 days postoperatively (5). MicroRNA-126-5p expression decreased at both postoperative time points compared to the preoperative time point. MicroRNA-150-5p and miR-214-3p expression decreased between the preoperative and 24- to 48-hour postoperative time point, although neither had a significant change in expression between the preoperative and the 10- to 30-day postoperative time point. MicroRNA-452-5p had decreased expression at the 10- to 30-day postoperative time point compared to the preoperative time point. There was no change in expression of miR-203a-3p, miR-494-3p, miR-497-5p, or miR-543 between any time points.

Conclusions: MiR-126-5p, miR-150-5p, miR-214-3p, and miR-452-5p all showed a decrease in expression at at least one timepoint following splenectomy.

Clinical relevance: These miRNAs have been previously shown to have roles in angiogenesis and pathways known to be involved in the pathogenesis of hemangiosarcoma and may be prospective targets for a minimally invasive diagnostic panel for the presence of splenic hemangiosarcoma.

Objective: To describe the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of pimobendan (Vetmedin) in healthy adult horses and provide preliminary evidence of the absorption of 2 compounded pimobendan formulations.

Methods: From August 2022 through November 2022, 6 healthy adult horses were administered a single dose of 0.5 mg/kg pimobendan orally. A subset of 2 horses was also administered pimobendan, compounded as an oil-based suspension and a capsule formulation. Plasma was collected at times 0, 15, 30, and 45 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after administration. The plasma concentrations of pimobendan and its active metabolite, O-desmethyl-pimobendan, were determined by UPLC-MS-MS. Data were analyzed using noncompartmental pharmacokinetics.

Results: Pimobendan reached a mean maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of 4.96 ± 2.13 ng/mL at time 2.17 ± 0.98 hours, with an area under the concentration-versus-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC0-∞) of 22.1 ± 8.8 h·ng/mL. The compounded formulations in the 2 horses receiving them resulted in a Cmax ranging from 2.66 to 4.58 ng/mL and an AUC0-∞ ranging from 11.78 to 16.82 h·ng/mL. O-desmethyl-pimobendan was not detected in any sample.

Conclusions: The mean Cmax and AUC0-∞ of pimobendan in the plasma of these horses after administration of Vetmedin and compounded formulations was considerably lower than the Cmax reported in dogs administered the same dose.

Clinical relevance: Low plasma concentrations of pimobendan in horses were measured regardless of formulation. Further investigations of other doses and routes are recommended prior to clinical use.

Objective: To compare the investigation, management, and outcome, including medication adverse effects, of nonassociative immune-mediated polyarthritis cases when referred to different specialist disciplines.

Methods: A retrospective observational review of medical records from 4 United Kingdom referral centers (2018 through 2022) was conducted. Dogs were included if they had nondegenerative neutrophilic inflammation in synovial fluid from > 2 joints and associated disease was not evident. Data on clinical signs, diagnostic tests, treatment, and adverse effects were collected. Remission at 12 months and relapse were recorded.

Results: 83 dogs met the inclusion data. Cases referred to internal medicine underwent more diagnostic procedures, received lower initial prednisolone doses, and were more commonly prescribed adjunctive immunosuppressives compared to neurology (effect size, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.1 to 0.57:OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 0.6 to 216) and orthopedics (effect size, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.53:OR, 4.0; 95% CI, 0.5 to 185). There was no significant difference in the frequency of adverse effects with prednisolone dose, referral service, or adjunct immunosuppressant use. Remission at 12 months was not significantly associated with referral service, corticosteroid dose, or adjunctive immunosuppressant use.

Conclusions: The management of nonassociative immune-mediated polyarthritis varies significantly across specialist disciplines. Despite differences in treatment strategies, adverse effects were common and not significantly associated with corticosteroid dose or adjunct use.

Clinical relevance: Further controlled prospective studies should focus on optimizing treatment protocols to improve outcomes and minimize complications in this challenging disease.

Obectives: The present study aimed to assess the antitrematodal activity of Citrus aurantium seed and peel ethanolic extracts and limonene in vitro and in vivo against the dog trematode (Mesostephanus spp).

Methods: In the in vitro study, Adult Mesostephanus spp were exposed to varying concentrations of C aurantium fruit peel and seed ethanolic extract, as well as limonene concentrations, the immobility index was measured, and the morphological changes were studied. In the in vivo study, 30 domestic dogs were divided into 6 groups, with 5 dogs in each group. The infected group was treated with C aurantium peel extract at 150 and 300 mg/kg, and the efficacy was assessed by calculating the percentage of the efficacy reduction in fecal egg count. The study was conducted from January 1 to April 1, 2023.

Results: Histological analysis and scanning electron microscope observations revealed distinct surface architecture deformities in treated parasites, including shrinkage, vacuolization, blebbing, and peeling of the tegument of worms. In the in vivo study, C aurantium peels at doses of 150 and 300 mg/kg dose dependently showed efficacy rates, reaching 80.92% and 98.56%, respectively. These outcomes were comparable to those obtained with the standard anthelmintic drug praziquantel, which exhibited 100% efficacy by day 28 of the experiment.

Conclusions: The present study provides strong evidence that C aurantium peel extract and its principal component, limonene, exhibit significant anthelmintic efficacy against Mesostephanus spp in dogs. These findings highlight their potential as promising natural alternatives to conventional chemotherapeutics.

Clinical relevance: The study presents a natural and cost-effective alternative to conventional anthelmintics. However, since safety and toxicity were not evaluated in this study, the conclusions regarding the therapeutic applicability should be considered preliminary.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of robenacoxib after a single IM dose (2 mg/kg) in Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber).

Methods: In the spring of 2025, following a pilot study to determine appropriate dosage, clinically healthy Caribbean flamingos under human care at a zoological institution received a single IM dose of robenacoxib (2 mg/kg) in the left pectoral muscle. Blood samples were collected under manual restraint using a sparse-sampling protocol, where each individual was sampled twice. Samples were collected from the right jugular vein at 15 and 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours after drug administration. Plasma concentrations were determined using HPLC-MS. A naïve pooled approach was used for pharmacokinetic analysis.

Results: 12 flamingos were included in this study. A maximal plasma concentration of 3.51 µg/mL (range, 0.083 to 4.83 µg/mL) was observed at 15 minutes after robenacoxib administration. The plasma terminal half-life was 1.10 hours.

Conclusions: IM administration of robenacoxib (2 mg/kg) in Caribbean flamingos results in rapid absorption, with high plasma concentrations reached at 15 minutes, and has a short plasma terminal half-life.

Clinical relevance: A 2-mg/kg IM dose of robenacoxib in Caribbean flamingos results in maximum plasma concentrations above those considered therapeutic in domestic species with no adverse effects of administration.

Objective: To describe the clinical effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy using a dual-wavelength near-infrared laser (Multiwave Locked System; Asa Srl) as adjunctive treatment in dogs with calcinosis cutis (CC).

Animals: 3 client-owned dogs presented to 2 referral veterinary hospitals from 2022 through 2023 were included. Cases were identified retrospectively via medical record review. Inclusion criteria were clinical and cytological features consistent with CC and histopathological examination when available, diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) based on clinical signs and diagnostic workup, availability of sufficient clinical records and photographic documentation, and owner consent for PBM therapy. Photobiomodulation was applied following a standardized protocol in scanning mode with a 2-cm collimated handpiece (approx 3-cm2 spot): 3 sessions during week 1, every 72 hours in week 2, and then weekly with 4 J/cm2 at the first session and 2.03 J/cm2 thereafter.

Clinical presentation: Included dogs were a 5-year-old male Labrador Retriever and an 8-year-old male English Bulldog with naturally occurring HAC and a 3-year-old female German Shepherd with iatrogenic HAC. All presented with dermatologic lesions compatible with CC (erythematous-crusted plaques, erosive-ulcerative lesions, and/or papules).

Results: 2 dogs achieved complete lesion resolution with hair regrowth within 7 to 12 weeks; the third showed partial improvement. No adverse events occurred.

Clinical relevance: Findings, although based on a limited number of cases, suggest a potential supportive role for PBM in the management of CC. Controlled studies are warranted to establish standardized treatment parameters and clarify its role in CC.