Australian Veterinary Journal最新文献

Lymphoma was diagnosed in two wild tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides) presented to the Australian Wildlife Health Centre, Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria. The first case presented with extensive feather loss refractory to treatment. Bacterial and fungal folliculitis and beak and feather disease virus were excluded as primary causes, and the bird was euthanised due to poor response to treatment. Histopathological examination of the skin showed an extensive infiltrate of pleomorphic mononuclear leucocytes, suggestive of cutaneous lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed >95% of these cells were CD3 positive, consistent with T cell lymphoma. The second case presented debilitated and in poor body condition and was euthanised due to poor prognosis. Histopathological examination revealed extensive infiltrates of pleomorphic mononuclear leucocytes in multiple tissues, suggestive of disseminated lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed 70%–80% of these leucocytes were Pax5 positive, consistent with a B cell lymphoma. To the authors' knowledge these cases constitute the first report of malignant neoplasms in members of the Order Caprimulgiformes. Cutaneous lymphoma should be considered as a potential differential diagnosis for severe feather loss in tawny frogmouths and other avian species, when other more common causes have been ruled out. Similarly, disseminated lymphoma is a differential diagnosis worthy of consideration in cases of systemic debilitation in tawny frogmouths.

This case report describes the diagnosis, management and the short- and long-term outcomes of a dog with paraprostatic cysts and associated perineal herniation. A 9-year-old male entire Bearded Collie was referred for a caudal abdominal mass and right perineal hernia noted on routine examination. Computed Tomography (CT) imaging of the abdomen demonstrated a large bilobed fluid filled structure adjacent to the prostate, extending into the peritoneal cavity and the right perineal space, causing perineal herniation and partial obstruction of the right ureter. Surgical excision of the mass was performed and ureteroneocystostomy was required due to involvement of the right ureter. Excisional biopsy, omentalisation of the prostate and right-sided herniorrhaphy utilising an internal obturator muscle flap was performed. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of paraprostatic cyst with extensive osseous metaplasia and multifocal chronic-active interstitial prostatitis. The dog re-presented 16 months later with a left-sided perineal hernia and a left-sided herniorrhaphy was performed. Twenty-nine months after the initial surgery the dog presented with stranguria associated with recurrent bilateral perineal herniation and a retroflexed urinary bladder. Cystopexy and colopexy were performed. No sign of recurrence of the paraprostatic cysts was noted intraoperatively. This is the first reported case of surgical excision of paraprostatic cysts with concurrent ureteroneocystostomy. To the authors knowledge, this is also the longest reported case follow up (>4 years) of a dog following complete excision of paraprostatic cysts.

Sporotrichosis is caused by species of the fungus Sporothrix that affect human and several animal species. The transmission of sporotrichosis is classically from an environmental source following penetrating injury. The alternative zoonotic route has gained attention due to the rapid and significant spread of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis in South America and Malaysia, resulting in several thousand human and feline cases in recent decades, especially in Brazil. In Australia, sporotrichosis is sporadic and mainly related to environmental sources. Although feline sporotrichosis is rare in Australia, zoonotic transmission occurred in two of five reported cases, including a recent case cluster, which is reported in this article. The investigation of such cases in Australia is important, as cats not only represent a source of infection living in close proximity with humans, but also, they may represent sentinels for the environmental presence of the fungus. To encourage the investigation and reporting of new veterinary cases, we have reviewed Australian sporotrichosis cases in humans and cats and report a new case cluster of feline sporotrichosis in Perth, WA, Australia, with zoonotic transmission. The index case was a kitten who developed severe facial sporotrichosis with prominent involvement of the nasal planum. Two human cases – one suspected and one confirmed – are also described in the owner, who was a veterinary nurse, and the attending veterinarian, respectively, probably from handling the kitten while not wearing gloves. Later, another mature cat in the same household also became infected. The affected cats were successfully treated using combination of itraconazole and terbinafine. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the second case of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis reported from Australia.

The causative agent of canine heartworm disease, Dirofilaria immitis, requires specific temperature conditions to mature within its mosquito vector, and therefore (re-)infect a canid host. Suitable temperature conditions are not continuously met for locations where most (>97%) Australians and their pet dogs live. The length of the disruption in the transmissibility of D. immitis varies greatly across Australia, and to some degree, between years. We developed an online dashboard ‘Transmission Tracker – Dirofilaria’ that processes near real-time temperature records across Australia and allows users to enquire about historical and current weather suitability for canine heartworm transmission at any Australian postcode of their interest. This information allows veterinarians to access when, and for how long, heartworm may be transmitted at a specific location, assess the associated risk of infection and advise on a patient-dependent dirofilariosis prevention plan for their canine patients and guardians. Our dashboard is publicly accessible at: https://heartworm-mapping.adelaide.edu.au/shiny/.

Nocardia infections in cats most commonly present as subcutaneous wounds, or less commonly, as pneumonia, purulent pleurisy and disseminated disease. Abdominal involvement is rarely reported, and to date, localised retroperitoneal infection has only been reported in people. This report describes a five-year-old domestic shorthair cat living in Canberra, Australia, that presented with a two-month history of pyrexia and inappetence progressing to anorexia. Ultrasonography showed a large retroperitoneal mass incorporating both ureters. Euthanasia was elected because of the guarded prognosis. Necropsy examination revealed the mass to be comprised of extensive pyogranulomatous inflammation with fibrosis, Splendore–Hoeppli phenomenon and filamentous Gram-positive bacteria. Culture and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry identified the causative agent as Nocardia brasiliensis. N. brasiliensis is commonly diagnosed as a cause of cutaneous nocardiosis in Australian human patients, but to date has only been reported in one cat from the United States and one dog from Australia. A treatment approach that might have been used in such a case is provided even though the cat's owners elected not to proceed with surgical intervention.

Variations in canine breeds presenting with steroid responsive meningitis-arteritis (SRMA) have been observed across different geographical regions internationally. However, there are no published studies describing affected dogs in an Australian population to date. This descriptive study aimed to characterise the signalment, as well as the clinical characteristics and outcomes in an Australian population of client-owned dogs with SRMA. Medical records from five veterinary referral hospitals in the state of New South Wales between 2013 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred and twenty four dogs were included in the study. The breeds which presented with SRMA most commonly included Golden Retriever (19/124, 15.3%), Italian Greyhound (11/124, 8.8%), Boxer (8/124, 6.5%), “Cavoodle” (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Poodle) (8/124, 6.5%), Corgi (7/124, 5.6%), Border Collie (6/124, 4.8%) and Australian Kelpie (5/124, 4.0%). The disease was observed more commonly in males, representing 79/124 (63.7%) of dogs. Presenting concerns, examination findings and laboratory abnormalities were otherwise consistent with international studies. The frequency of ≥1 relapse for dogs with a ≥6-month follow-up period was 32/85 (37.6%). A higher frequency of ≥1 relapse was seen in female dogs and in Corgi and Italian Greyhound breeds. All Corgis who relapsed demonstrated multiple relapses. In conclusion, this study observed a variation in breeds presenting with SRMA compared to international publications, which may reflect both differences in breed popularity, as well as varying interbreed susceptibility dependent on geographical location.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) remains endemic in many areas of continental Southeast Asia (SEA). It is responsible for substantial economic losses in the smallholder sector and threatens livelihoods. In recent years, novel diagnostic tests have been developed which reportedly detect FMD virus more effectively and efficiently. This critically appraised topic (CAT) aimed to evaluate the feasibility of these diagnostic tests for FMD in SEA compared to conventional tests. Relevant studies that evaluate diagnostic tests are identified and critically assessed, and recommendations are made on suitable potential diagnostic tests for use in the smallholder sector in SEA. A systematic search of electronic databases (CABI: CAB Abstracts, Web of Science Core Collections) was carried out to identify relevant studies that compared novel and conventional diagnostic tests. The search strategy initially identified 12 papers, of which six fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and were selected for this review. Most of the selected studies had limitations in design and comparability, making it difficult to validly compare the effectiveness and efficiency of the relevant diagnostic tests. These limitations include variation in sample characteristics, methodology, measurable outcomes and the different aspects of the diagnostic tests that each study focused on. Most studies concluded that novel diagnostic tests were more effective and efficient than conventional tests: had greater analytical sensitivity and specificity, were more robust, had a wider range of processable sample types and serotypes, could detect various diseases, had faster testing speeds and provided greater value for money. However, strong recommendations on which specific diagnostic test to rely on could not be made, since there was conflicting evidence and multiple confounding factors. Overall, the evidence found did not entirely apply to the target scenario, being SEA smallholder farms. Recommendations for the target scenario were also made based on the study findings.

A 2-year-old cat was referred for suspected generalised seizure activity and reclusive behaviour, with a history of non-resolving facial abscess. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a contrast enhancing lesion occupying the left calvarium and adjacent peripheral tissues. The intracranial lesion was causing significant mass effect, with oedema and transtentorial herniation. Nocardia nova was isolated from the lesion and identified by DNA sequencing. Treatment consisted of debridement via craniotomy and ventral bulla osteotomy, and combination antibiotic therapy with clarithromycin, amoxycillin and trimethoprim-sulfonamide (sulfadoxine parenterally, then sulfadiazine orally). After several weeks of antibiotic therapy, the cat developed weakness, bicavitary effusion, myxoedema, non-regenerative anaemia and azotaemia. Total thyroxine (TT4) was below the detectable limit and canine thyroid stimulating hormone (cTSH) assay was markedly elevated at 7.53 ng/mL (reference interval 0.15–0.3 ng/mL). Discontinuation of sulfonamides and administration of levothyroxine resulted in resolution of clinical signs. The cat was subsequently able to discontinue levothyroxine, with recovery of euthyroid state. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of clinical hypothyroidism in a cat treated with sulfonamide antibiotics and may influence antimicrobial selection and monitoring during therapy. This report also described the management of an atypical presentation of nocardiosis with intracranial extension.