David J. Gould

Feline Herpesvirus-1 Ocular Manifestations, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Practical relevance Feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) is a major cause of feline morbidity. Following exposure to the virus, virtually all cats become persistently infected and many of these will develop recrudescent disease on one or more occasions during their lifetime. Acute ocular herpetic disease manifests as conjunctivitis, corneal ulceration and keratitis, and can be severe and painful. Repeated bouts of recrudescent ocular disease can lead to progressive corneal pathology that can be ultimately blinding in affected cats. Global importance FHV-1 has a worldwide distribution, with reported exposure rates in some cat populations of up to 97%. As such it is a significant cause of clinical disease in the global cat population. Patient group Young and adolescent cats are most at risk of acute primary disease, and the vast majority of these will become persistently infected. Around half of all persistently infected cats will shed virus at some stage in their life and these may develop recrudescent ocular disease. Clinical challenges Treatment of FHV-1 ocular disease is challenging. Antiviral medications may be expensive, and require good owner and patient compliance. Clinical responses in patients can be variable. Selecting the appropriate therapeutic approach requires good clinical judgement, with assessment of factors such as severity and stage of clinical disease, patient and owner compliance, and financial considerations. Evidence base Although a wide range of antiviral treatments is available, few have been tested in controlled clinical trials. Therapeutic decisions are, therefore, often based on results of in vitro studies, case-based reports and anecdote. Large, masked, controlled clinical trials are required in order to determine the efficacy of the antiviral drugs currently available to treat FHV-1.

ADAMTS17 mutation associated with primary lens luxation is widespread among breeds

Primary lens luxation (PLL) is a well-recognized, painful and potentially blinding inherited ocular condition in dogs. We screened PLL-affected dogs of 30 different breeds, to identify those which carried a previously described c.1473+1 G>A mutation in ADAMTS17 that is associated with PLL in Miniature Bull terriers, Lancashire Heelers, and Jack Russell terriers. This ADAMTS17 mutation was identified in PLL-affected dogs from 14 additional breeds. PLL-affected dogs from some breeds (most notably the Shar pei and the Brittany spaniel) did not carry the G1473+1A ADAMTS17 mutation, indicating they must suffer from a genetically distinct form of the condition. We also estimated the frequency of this ADAMTS17 mutation in some of the breeds. Our findings indicate the mutation segregates in a large number of different breeds of dog, many of which are terriers or breeds with terrier co-ancestry, but some of which have more diverse origins. Our results also indicate that the mutation is present at high frequency within most of the breeds in which it segregates. In the miniature bull terrier breed estimates of mutation frequency ranged from 0.27 to 0.39, corresponding to 7.3-15.2% PLL-affected dogs in this breed. We also identified an increased risk of PLL associated with heterozygosity at ADAMTS17, suggesting that carriers carry a low risk of developing PLL.

A comparison of anesthetic complications between diabetic and nondiabetic dogs undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE To compare the incidence of anesthetic complications in diabetic and nondiabetic dogs undergoing general anesthesia and phacoemulsification cataract surgery. PROCEDURE The medical and anesthetic records of all dogs undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery at Davies Veterinary Specialists between 2005 and 2008 were reviewed. Anesthetic records were evaluated by an ECVAA Diplomate. Dogs for which records were incomplete were excluded. The anesthetic technique, including all drugs administered in the perioperative period, was recorded. The anesthetic complications investigated included hypotension (MAP (mmHg): >or=55 none/mild; <or=54 moderate/severe), bradycardia (<60 bpm associated with hypotension) and hypothermia (esophageal temperature <36.7 degrees C). Where hypotension was present, the method of and response to treatment was recorded. The incidence of severe hyperglycemia (blood glucose >13.75 mmol/L (250 mg/dL)) in the diabetic group was also assessed. RESULTS 66 diabetic and 64 nondiabetic dogs were included in the study. Diabetic dogs were more likely to develop moderate and severe intraoperative hypotension than nondiabetic dogs. Forty-four percent of diabetic dogs had at least one episode of severe hyperglycemia whilst anesthetized. CONCLUSIONS Diabetic dogs undergoing phacoemulsification are more likely to suffer the anesthetic complications of moderate and severe hypotension than nondiabetic dogs. The increased incidence and severity of hypotension in diabetic dogs may be explained by hypovolemia secondary to hyperglycemia and resultant osmotic diuresis.

Central nervous system infection with Staphylococcus intermedius secondary to retrobulbar abscessation in a dog

In this report, we describe a case of retrobulbar abscessation in a dog that was initially diagnosed as masticatory myositis and treated with immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids. Secondary bacterial infection of the central nervous system (CNS) occurred and was definitively diagnosed by the analysis and culture of the cerebrospinal fluid. This is the first time that retrobulbar infection has been definitively shown to result in secondary bacterial infection of the CNS in the dog and highlights the importance of ruling out infectious causes of retrobulbar disease before assuming and treating for an immune-mediated etiology.

Validity of aqueocentesis as a component of anterior uveitis investigation in dogs and cats.

Abstract Objective To describe aqueocentesis cytopathology results from dogs and cats presenting for uveitis investigation and to determine whether this is a useful and safe procedure. Animal Studied Dogs and cats presenting for investigation of anterior uveitis (April 2008–December 2013). Procedures Aqueous was collected via limbal entry under sedation/general anesthesia, for cytopathology and occasionally bacterial culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Further workup included blood testing (hematology, biochemistry, and serology), diagnostic imaging, nonocular cytopathology, and available histopathology. Results Fifty‐six dogs and 39 cats were included in the study. An aqueous cytopathologic diagnosis of lymphoma (or discrete cell neoplasia) was made in six dogs and seven cats, and a diagnosis of large cell carcinoma made in one dog. This diagnosis of lymphoma was confirmed by ocular histopathology in two dogs and one cat; nonocular cytopathology corroborated lymphoma in another three dogs and five cats. Lymphoma was not evident on aqueous cytopathology but confirmed on nonocular histopathology in two dogs and by cytopathology in one cat. Additionally, aqueous cytopathology in three cats suggested, but was not considered diagnostic of, lymphoma; one of these cats had a confirmatory diagnosis of lymphoma on subsequent clinical investigation. Aqueous humor cytopathology alone was not diagnostic in non‐neoplastic anterior uveitis cases, but supplemented the clinical picture with other systemic diagnostic tests. No clinically important complications were reported in association with aqueocentesis. Conclusions Aqueocentesis is performed readily with minimal risk. The results were primarily useful in aiding a diagnosis of lymphoma in both dogs and cats.