Australian Veterinary Journal最新文献

This report is the first to document chylothorax after patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation in a dog with a persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC), highlighting potential complications arising from concurrent cardiovascular anomalies. A nine-month-old female desexed Pomeranian was referred for PDA. Echocardiography confirmed a left-to-right shunt with mild left-sided cardiac changes from volume overload. At left fourth intercostal thoracotomy, an aberrant vein (5 mm) coursing over the PDA within the mediastinum was retracted proximally to facilitate PDA ligation. Retraction was released before thoracotomy closure, and the vein remained grossly unaltered. The dog represented 3 days postoperative for dyspnoea and had bilateral chylous pleural effusion. Thoracic computed tomography with intravenous contrast identified a complete PLCVC, which was continuous with the left brachiocephalic vein and inserted into the right atrium without any venous connection to the normal right cranial vena cava. A thoracostomy tube was placed, and the chylothorax resolved spontaneously. Repeat echocardiogram eight weeks postoperative showed normal laminar trans-pulmonic flow and reversal of cardiac changes. It is hypothesised that an acute increase in hydrostatic venous pressure from transient obstruction of the PLCVC during intraoperative retraction impeded thoracic duct emptying into the venous system. This in turn may have caused chyle leakage through afferent lymphatics with chylothorax. It is unlikely PLCVC thrombosis was a cause given chylothorax was transient and the PLCVC was normal on computed tomography (CT); nor iatrogenic thoracic duct damage given the surgical approach was left-sided and the duct courses through the right.

Thong P, Hopper B, Tenni G, Lenard Z. Thoracic radiographic findings of canine spirocercosis in Australia. Aust Vet J. 2025;103(6):354-367. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13447

In the figure legend of Figure 6, the superscript number for the reference for the text “…(H) shows proliferative, curved new bone involving both the vertebral body and endplate with partial bridging; this was described as spondylosis deformans in this study, but spondylitis has been known to mimic this appearance.³⁷” is incorrect.

This should have read: “…(H) shows proliferative, curved new bone involving both the vertebral body and endplate with partial bridging; this was described as spondylosis deformans in this study, but spondylitis has been known to mimic this appearance.²⁶”, where the superscript number “26” references the correct article.

We apologise for this error.

Skin neoplasia in dogs and cats is a common finding in practice and can include sebaceous gland tumours such as adenocarcinoma and adenoma. This report describes a 10-year-old Cocker Spaniel presenting with a sebaceous gland neoplasia in the caudal left lung lobe, with no evidence of a primary tumour. To the authors' knowledge, sebaceous gland neoplasia has never been reported as a primary tumour in the lungs of a dog.

A 5-year-old male neutered miniature dachshund presented with a 24-hour history of nonambulatory pelvic limb paraparesis. The dog was diagnosed with grade III myelopathy, Th3-L3 neurolocalisation. Computed tomography (CT) was consistent with intervertebral disc extrusion between the second and third lumbar vertebrae (L2/3) on the left side. Left-sided hemilaminectomy was performed to remove the compressive intervertebral disc material. Intervertebral disc fenestration was performed at L2/3, prophylactic intervertebral disc fenestration was also performed at L3/4. After surgery, persistent spinal hyperpathia and kyphosis was observed, with worsening of spinal hyperpathia 48 h postoperative. Repeat CT performed 4 days after index surgery revealed laterally extruded intervertebral disc material from the L3/4 fenestration site causing compression of the left L3 nerve root. A second surgery was performed and the extraforaminal extruded intervertebral disc material at L3/4 compressing the L3 nerve root was removed. Resolution of spinal hyperpathia and kyphosis was noted after the second surgery. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of prophylactic disc fenestration causing nerve root compression necessitating repeat surgery.

Neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare in dogs. Gastrinoma has been reported in dogs however not in the stomach. This case report describes the presentation, emergency treatment, diagnostics, pathology, histochemical staining and recovery of a 7-year-old male entire pure-bred Pit bull terrier who had a neuroendocrine tumour resected. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the mass to be a gastrinoma with application of the current WHO criteria for classification of neuroendocrine neoplasms confirming this to be an intermediate grade tumour (NET G2).

Global warming is expected to drive increases in daily temperatures and extreme heatwaves which are in turn expected to lead to increases in heat-related illness (HRI) morbidity and mortality in humans and animals, including dogs. The most severe form of HRI is heat stroke which is potentially fatal in dogs. The temperature range that increases the risk of mortality in dogs, and the impact of heatwaves, is not known. Twenty years of veterinary data from New South Wales (1997–2017) were analysed to explore potential associations between rates of mortality in dogs and both daily ambient maximum temperatures and extreme heat days. Extreme heat days were defined as any day that was over the 95th percentile (32°C) of daily maximum temperature in the study region across the study period. Results show that mortality increased as daily maximum temperature exceeded 25°C. There was a broadly linear increase of 0.6% (95% CI: 0.1% to 1%) in the risk of mortality for each 1°C increase in daily maximum temperature above 25°C. There was a 9.5% increased risk (95% CI: 4.3% to 15%) of mortality on extreme heat days compared with nonextreme heat days. Controlling for the effects of temperature, risk of mortality on public holidays increased 1.5 times (155%, 95% CI: 137% to 173%) compared with nonpublic holidays, and Sundays had nearly double the risk of mortality compared with all other days of the week. New Year's Day had the highest reported rate of mortality, followed by Christmas Day. This information should be used to inform veterinary public health policies in general and to inform key messaging about reducing the risk of death in dogs due to high ambient temperatures.

Since their arrival in the 1700s, horses have played a significant role in shaping the identity of rural and remote communities. However, Indigenous perspectives on the historical role of horses in communities have been largely underrepresented. In remote regions, where access to veterinary and medical services is limited, interactions between people and free-roaming horses present a potential risk for zoonotic disease transmission. This review identifies potential pathways for the transmission of equine zoonoses in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, aiming to inform participatory prevention programs. Despite an expansive review across 20 databases, only six studies discussed the risk factors and transmission pathways for equine zoonoses in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Across these six studies, five equine zoonoses were discussed, including diseases caused by Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Hendra virus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus. These studies cover only a small portion of the equine zoonoses that can potentially impact public health. The review also discusses the role of emerging equine zoonoses, including those caused by Chlamydia psittaci and vector-borne viruses, such as Ross River virus, West Nile virus and Japanese encephalitis virus. Together, these studies emphasise the need for greater focus on One Health in remote Australian communities. Recommendations for participatory approaches to disease prevention and key areas for future research on zoonotic disease transmission in these regions are also provided.