Canadian Veterinary Journal-revue Veterinaire Canadienne最新文献

Objective: Neonatal skeletal articulations for research and display purposes are uncommon due to issues surrounding incomplete bone maturation and reduced structural integrity that affect the bone preparation and articulation procedures. The present project was designed to add to the veterinary literature on neonatal moose (Alces alces) osteological specimens, document the procedures of preparing and articulating a delicate specimen, and construct a 3-dimensional (3D) scan of the articulated skeleton that could be used for scientific and veterinary research and study worldwide.

Animal: A neonatal moose that had succumbed to capture myopathy resulting from entanglement in a barbed wire fence was the sole subject of this project.

Procedure: The neonatal moose carcass was degloved, the bones processed and cleaned, the skeleton articulated, and the articulated skeleton rendered into a 3D model using photogrammetry.

Results: The result was an articulated neonatal moose skeleton. The articulation is on display at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC); the 3D model is available on UNBC's website.

Conclusion and clinical relevance: This project adds to the literature and makes available tools to study neonatal ungulate (A. alces) allometry, morphometry, osteology, and skeletal articulation. The documented processes and 3D model can be used as references in veterinary and biological research, study, and instruction. In addition, the 3D model is available to download (open source) for future projects from UNBC (www.unbc.ca/roy-rea/moose-calf-articulation).

Objective: To determine the prevalence of fecal microorganisms and parasites in a population of sheltered cats, and to identify specific animal factors associated with infection.

Animals: A total of 79 sheltered cats and kittens in Guelph, Ontario.

Procedure: A fecal sample was collected from each animal upon shelter entry. A second sample was collected following deworming treatment. Microorganism and parasite prevalence was assessed by PCR assays. A linear mixed model was used to determine the relationships between animal factors (intake source, age, sex, body condition score, time between deworming and sample collection, and fecal consistency) and fecal microorganisms and parasites, as well as to compare samples taken before and after deworming.

Results: Clostridium perfringens alpha toxin gene and feline coronavirus (FCoV) DNA were the most common abnormalities identified. Giardia spp., C. perfringens enterotoxin, and Campylobacter jejuni were rare. Clostridium perfringens prevalence was negatively associated with increasing age (P = 0.04) and FCoV prevalence was positively associated with softer stool (P = 0.02). Hookworms, roundworms, and tapeworms were uncommon, and prevalence was not affected by any animal factor. Parasite prevalence decreased after deworming (P = 0.04).

Conclusion and clinical relevance: There do not appear to be durable relationships between C. perfringens and FCoV prevalence and animal factors in cats. A larger population of cats is required to identify potential relationships between microorganism and parasite prevalence and animal-specific demographic factors.

A 9-year-old neutered male cairn terrier dog was initially presented because of inappetence, increased respiratory effort, and occasional coughing. A cavitary lung mass was diagnosed using CT and removed with lung lobectomy. Histopathology of the mass revealed necrosuppurative inflammation with acid-fast rod bacteria in macrophages, with Mycobacterium spp. a possible cause. Routine bacterial culture of a lung-lesion swab was negative for growth. The dog improved and did not show any clinical signs for 9 mo after the surgery, at which time a second recheck CT scan and bloodwork revealed diffuse hepatopathy and peritoneal effusion. The dog was hospitalized 3 d after this recheck because of signs of acute abdomen with vomiting, melena, polyuria, and polydipsia. Cytology of liver fine-needle aspirates revealed marked pyogranulomatous inflammation with acid-fast rod bacteria in histiocytes; phylogenetic analysis of hsp65 PCR amplicons from that tissue identified sequences identical to Mycobacterium heckeshornense. No other bacteria were isolated on a routine bacterial culture of a liver swab. Hepatic mycobacteriosis was treated with long-term enrofloxacin, clarithromycin, and doxycycline. The dog improved slowly, and the liver enzymes returned to normal after 4 mo of treatment. This is the first reported case of M. heckeshornense infection in a dog. Diseases caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria such as M. heckeshornense are generally not reportable due to low risk of transmission between and to humans, but the zoonotic potential warrants further research in the future. Key clinical message: Dogs without overt immunodeficiency can be at risk of M. heckeshornense infection and can develop life-threatening pathology affecting multiple organs. However, clinical resolution can be achieved even in a severely affected dog. If Mycobacterium is suspected, it is important to consult with diagnostic laboratories to ensure correct samples are obtained and correct analytical procedures are used.

A 4-year-old neutered female domestic shorthair indoor cat was presented with sudden onset of abnormal and painful tail-carriage. The tail was held horizontally for the first centimeters from the base and a flaccid paralysis was evident more distally. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbosacral spine and tail revealed a lesion located in the right sacrocaudalis dorsalis lateralis and medialis muscles along the 1st coccygeal vertebrae. The lesion was poorly defined, T2-weighted hyperintense, and T1-weighted isointense compared to surrounding and contralateral muscles and had a strong homogeneous contrast enhancement. The cat began receiving prednisolone and clinical signs progressively improved and disappeared within 2 wk. Clinical presentation and MRI findings were comparable to those previously described in dogs with limber tail syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, limber tail syndrome has not been reported in cats. However, based on this case, we inferred that limber tail syndrome may occur in cats. Key clinical message: Limber tail syndrome could be considered among the differential diagnoses in both dogs and cats presented with acute and flaccid tail paralysis. Limber tail syndrome is essentially a clinical diagnosis. An animal with suspected limber tail syndrome should initially be treated conservatively and, if no improvement or further deterioration are observed, MRI could be considered to refine the diagnosis, as it allows identification of tail muscles and can detect lesions affecting these structures.

This case report describes metacarpophalangeal (MCP)- and metatarsophalangeal (MTP)-level amputation and reconstruction of all 4 paws of a young female domestic shorthair cat. All 4 paws, the ears, and the distal portion of the tail underwent severe frostbite injury resulting in tissue death. Following MCP and MTP amputation, weight-bearing surface reconstruction was achieved using metacarpal and metatarsal paw-pad advancement flaps. Remaining open wounds on non-weight-bearing surfaces were reconstructed using full-thickness skin grafts. All limbs healed uneventfully, allowing return to weight-bearing function. Key clinical message: Good postoperative function can be achieved with the use of metacarpal and metatarsal paw-pad advancement flaps for reconstruction of multiple-limb MCP- and MTP-level amputations.

A 6-year-old Labrador retriever dog with a history of pneumonia was presented because of an acute onset of dull mentation and coughing. Diagnostic imaging and cytology revealed a pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and pleural effusion, consistent with pyothorax. The dog underwent exploratory sternotomy for lung lobectomy of the right cranial and middle lung lobes. Persistent pneumothorax and pleural effusion were present after surgery, and the sternotomy site dehisced 6 d postoperatively. A second CT scan revealed persistent consolidation of the left cranial lung lobe and continued pneumothorax and pleural effusion. A left cranial lung lobectomy was done on the 8th day following initial surgery. An incisional infection was determined to be associated with multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infection. Due to persistent pleural and incisional drainage, a third exploratory sternotomy was required, which revealed dehiscence of the surgical site and an unstable sternal repair with fractured sternebrae. The sternotomy site was left partially closed and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was applied. No complications with NPWT were encountered, and the incision healed appropriately. Key clinical message: This is the first documented description of the use of NPWT in a dog to successfully manage a partially closed sternotomy and resolve a multidrug-resistant infection of the sternotomy site.

Canine systemic protothecosis is an uncommon disease caused by Prototheca spp., which are saprophytic algae occurring ubiquitously in nature. Infection occurs most commonly in immunocompromised animals. Most infected dogs have chronic large-bowel diarrhea, ocular lesions, neurologic deficits, or a combination thereof, but various tissues can be affected. This case highlights a unique presentation of protothecosis in a dog, in which lameness resulting from osteomyelitis was the predominant clinical sign. Key clinical message: Although osteomyelitis is an atypical manifestation, protothecosis can be a differential diagnosis for an aggressive bony lesion and is particularly worthy of consideration in immunocompromised dogs.