I. van der Gaag

Investigation of mortality and pathological changes in a 14.month birth cohort of boxer puppies

This paper presents puppy mortality and postmortem findings for a birth cohort of boxer puppies born in the Netherlands between January 1994 and March 1995. In all, 457 litters were registered, of which 414 (90.6 per cent) were involved in the study. The 414 litters contained 2629 puppies, a mean litter size of 6.4 puppies. Of the 2629 puppies 571 (21.7 per cent) died or were euthanased before they were weaned at 50 days of age; there were 147 (25.7 per cent) stillbirths; 102 (17.9 per cent) were euthanased because they were white; 269 (47.1 per cent) of the puppies died during the first 21 days of life and 53 (9.3 per cent) puppies died between days 22 and 50. The cause of death or the reason for euthanasia was assessed by either the breeder or the veterinarian in 176 of these 269 puppies but was not determined in the other 93 puppies. Three hundred and two puppies were examined postmortem; the most important causes of death or reasons for euthanasia were inflammatory disorders (102; 33.8 per cent), non-inflammatory disorders such as asphyxia and malnutrition (66; 21.9 per cent), euthanasia because they were white (51; 16.9 per cent), and congenital abnormalities (45; 14.9 per cent). No cause of death or reason for euthanasia could be found for 38 puppies (12.6 per cent).

Familial stomatocytosis--hypertrophic gastritis (FSHG), a newly recognised disease in the dog (Drentse patrijshond).

A newly recognised disease, which we have given the provisional name of familial stomatocytosis-hypertrophic gastritis (FSHG), is described in two families of dogs of the Drentse partrijshond breed. The affected dogs consisted of 3 females and 5 males, 3 to 19 (mean 9.5) months of age at admission. The main clinical problems were diarrhoea, icterus, and ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs. Laboratory evaluation revealed abnormal red cell shape (stomatocytosis), increased osmotic fragility, haemolytic anaemia, and increased liver enzymes and serum bilirubin. Gastroscopic and histopathologic examination of the gastric mucosa revealed hypertrophic gastritis resembling Ménétriers disease in man. Histologic findings in the liver were suggestive of progressive liver disease. Cysts were found in the kidneys of the five oldest patients. Electroneurography in 2 dogs revealed polyneuropathy. In the parents of 2 patients (sister and brother), there were no clinical or laboratory abnormalities. An autosomal recessive hereditary defect of lipid metabolism is suspected.

Helicobacter acinonychis eradication leading to the resolution of gastric lesions in tigers

THE realisation that Helicobacter pylori infection in human beings is a predominant cause of gastric ulcers has led to a renewed interest in gastric disease in animals. Ulcers and erosions of the gastric epithelium, marked thickening of the gastric rugae and lymphoplasmacytic gastritis have been reported in the cheetah (Acinonyxjubatus) (Eaton and others 1993b), cougar (Felis concolor) (Hill and others 1997) and tiger (Panthera tigris) (Schroder and others 1998), although not always accompanied by clinical symptoms. Helicobacter acinonychis (formerly Helicobacter acinonyx) (Truper and De Clari 1997) is a gastric microorganism isolated from the stomachs of cheetahs (Eaton and others 1993a) and tigers (Schr6der and others 1998). Association of the above-mentioned gastric disorders with H acinonychis infection has been suggested, but this is not supported by experimental evidence (Eaton and others 1993b, Schroder and others 1998). In this study on Helicobacter infection in captive exotic carnivores, gastric lesions were detected endoscopically in two Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae); a 14-year-old male tiger (tiger 1), and an 11-year-old female tiger (tiger 2). The gastric lesions consisted ofan ulcer and several erosions in the pyloric antrum of tiger 1 and a large ulcer in the pyloric antrum of tiger 2. Physical examination of these animals did not reveal any abnormalities, nor was there a known history of related clinical symptoms. A biopsy sample was collected from the antrum and the fundus ofboth tigers and fixed in 10 per cent formalin for histological examination. A second sample from the same gastric locations was streaked on 5 per cent lysed horse blood Columbia agar plates with H pylori selective supplement (Dent supplement; Oxoid). Plates were incubated at 370C in microaerobic jars (BBL Campypak System; Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems). The remaining biopsy samples were stored at -20°C in a mixture of 200 [Il 10mM Tris-HCl (pH 8 0), 50mM ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid and 0 5 per cent (v/v) Tween 20 for PCR. PCR reactions were performed as described by Norris and others (1999), with a primer set that amplified a 300 bp Helicobacter species-specific 16S rDNA fragment. Positive PCR signals were detected in the samples from both animals indicating a Helicobacter species infection. Bacteriological cultures confirmed the PCR findings: several small pinpoint colonies of Gram-negative, curved to spiral bacteria were observed on plates after four days of incubation. The isolates were identified as H acinonychis by oxidase, catalase and urease tests, protein profile and 16S rDNA sequencing, as described by Cattoli and others (1999). Histological examination of the antrum samples revealed enlarged lymphoid nodules in tiger 1 and moderate mononuclear cell infiltration in both animals indicative ofchronic gas-

Surgery: Comparison of three closure methods and two absorbable suture materials for closure of jejunal enterotomy incisions in healthy dogs

Summary The macroscopic and histological appearance of jejunal antimesenteric incisions approximated with two different absorbable suture materials (monofilament versus multifilament) and three closure techniques (appositional single layer, crushing single layer, and double layer) were compared in healthy dogs at 14 or 28 days, postoperatively. No significant differences between the two suture materials were observed for most of the macroscopic or histological variables. However, the monofilament suture material caused significantly more fibrous tissue reaction in the muscular layer of the jejunum than did the multifilament suture material. Of the three enterotomy closure techniques used in this study, the appositional single‐layer method proved to be the best. The double‐layer closure method caused a significant decrease in the incisional circumference, the relative circumference, and volume of the jejunum, and a significant increase in jejunal wall thickness. Our findings suggest that canine jejunal enterotomy incisions can be closed using an appositional suture pattern with relatively rapidly absorbable monofilament suture material. The use of double‐layer suture patterns for closure of jejunal enterotomy incisions should be avoided because the size of the intestinal lumen may be reduced.

Regional eosinophilic coloproctitis, typhlitis and ileitis in a dog

A 3-year-old female Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen is presented with tenesmus alvi caused by a 15 cm long chronic regional cicatrising eosinophilic coloproctitis with bacterial masses surrounded by clubs, resembling actinomycosis. Similar changes were found in the caecum, next to a nodular eosinophilic inflammation in the ileal mucosa.

Congenital duodenal stenotic diaphragm in a foal

A two-month-old female foal with duodenal stenosis is described. The foal was in poor condition and showed an abnormal stable behaviour. She stood preferably with her head stretched out and reposing on the mares back or on the stable ridge. Salivation was an important symptom. Clinical and radiological examination of the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus showed no abnormalities, except for the antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus. Because of her bad condition the filly was euthanized. At post mortem examination, apart from leukoplakia, an erosive ulcerative inflammation was found in the oesophagus and the oesophageal part of the stomach. The stomach was severely dilated, as was the proximal part of the duodenum. A diaphragm in the duodenum with a small perforation was found nine cm distally from the pyloric canal.