Luciano Espino

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM REFERENCE VALUES FOR THE BUZZARD IN SPAIN

Electrocardiographic reference values were established on apparently healthy buzzards (Buteo buteo) in Lugo (Spain) from March 1997 to June 1999. All birds were anesthetized with isofluorane and placed in dorsal recumbence. The standard and augmented unipolar limb leads electrocardiograms were recorded in 65 buzzards. The wave forms were analyzed in lead II at 50 mm/sec and at 1 cm = 1 mV to determine P, PR, QRS, T and QT durations and P, QRS and T amplitudes. The polarity of each wave form was tabulated in all leads. The mean electrical axis (MEA) for the frontal plane was calculated using leads II and III. The mean heart rate was 325.2 ± 52.9 beats/min. In lead II, the P wave was positive, the dominant pattern of QRS complex was QS and the T wave was always positive. The average value of the MEA was −99.2 ± 7.7°. Establishment of normal electrocardiogram (EKG) values will facilitate a better understanding of EKG changes seen in many diseases of these birds.

Localized pleural mesothelioma causing cranial vena cava syndrome in a dog.

A 9-year-old female crossbred dog was presented to the Hospital Universitario Veterinario Rof Codina (Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain) for acute onset of severe, progressive swelling of the head, neck, and cranial trunk. Survey radiographs and ultrasonography revealed a large, heterogeneous mass in the cranial mediastinum, compressing or growing into a large blood vessel within the cranial mediastinum and displacing the heart dorsocaudally. At postmortem examination, the mass was diagnosed as a large, localized mesothelioma. Localized mesotheliomas are rare neoplasms in dogs but should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis for cranial vena cava syndrome. The anatomic distribution and clinical features of mesothelioma in the present report are similar to other cases in humans.

Electrocardiographic parameters of free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).

Abstract Electrocardiographic parameters were measured in 28 free-ranging roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded in base-apex lead, standard bipolar limb leads (I, II, III), and augmented unipolar limb leads (aVR, aVL, aVF). Morphology and amplitude of P waves, QRS complexes, and T waves were analyzed in all seven leads. Cardiac rhythm, heart rate, and durations of P, QRS, and T waves, PR interval, QTc interval, and ST segment were calculated in the base-apex lead. The mean electrical axis for each individual was determined from the net amplitude of the QRS complex in leads I and III. All of the animals had a sinus rhythm. Heart rates ranged from 60–180 beats per minute, with a mean ± SD of 104.8 ± 44.1. The electrical axis was 100°–220°, with a mean ± SD of 169.5° ± 40.8°. The base-apex lead provided the most uniform ECG patterns and higher mean amplitudes than did standard leads.

Importance of house dust and storage mites in canine atopic dermatitis in the geographic region of Galicia, Spain

Sensitisation to mites is frequent in atopic dogs. The main mite genus involved in canine atopic dermatitis is Dermatophagoides. The importance of storage mite allergens in dogs has been controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitisation rates against storage mites (Lepidoglyphus destructor and Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and house dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus) in atopic dogs from Galicia, a highly humid and temperate region of Spain, using a FcepsilonRIalpha-based immunoglobulin E (IgE) in vitro test. The study was performed on 95 dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis and presenting detectable specific serum IgE levels: 91.6% of the dogs tested positive for storage mites, whereas sensitisation to house dust mites was detected in 87.4%. These results indicate the importance of storage mites in this specific geographic area.

ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN DOGS NATURALLY INFECTED WITH BABESIOSIS

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease with a worldwide distribution that can involve multiple organs and result in a wide variety of clinical manifestations. Our goal was to describe the sonographic changes occurring in 72 dogs naturally infected with babesiosis. Seven healthy Beagle dogs were used as a control group. The most common finding in all dogs was splenomegaly with a diffuse heterogenic parenchyma and generally reduced echogenicity. Diffuse hypoechoic hepatomegaly and bilaterally increased cortical echogenicity of the renal parenchyma were found more frequently in severe uncomplicated and complicated babesiosis groups. Mean renal resistive index and pulsatility index (PI) values were 0.66/1.35, 0.73/1.91, and 0.71/1.73 for mild uncomplicated, severe uncomplicated, and complicated babesiosis groups, respectively. A markedly increased PI for complicated and severe uncomplicated groups correlated with anemia and severity of renal damage. Ultrasonography can be an adjunct for diagnosis and monitoring canine babesiosis and its systemic complications. The detection of diffuse heterogeneous splenomegaly can support the diagnosis of Babesia infection, because of the high prevalence of this lesion in these patients.

Intracranial epidural empyema due to Cryptococcus neoformans in a 5-year-old neutered male European short hair cat

A 5-year-old neutered male European short hair cat was examined at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Rof Codina for a one-month history of progressive lethargy and purulent left nasal and ocular discharge that did not show improvement on treatment with antibiotics and glucocorticoids. Moreover, the owner reported that during the last two weeks the cat had shown loss of house training habits and some episodes of aggression. On physical examination, the cat showed unilateral nasal and ocular discharge with blepharospasm on the left side, hypothermia (37.8 C), a fluid containing non-painful subcutaneous mass over the frontal bones, more evident on the left side, and moderate dehydration (Figure 1). The neurological examination revealed depressed mental status, reduced postural reactions in all four limbs with normal spinal reflexes, reduced menace reaction in the left eye with normal pupillary light and palpebral reflexes and left facial hypalgesia. Neurological signs were consistent with a space-occupying lesion in the right supratentorial region or other multifocal or diffuse central nervous system (CNS) disease. The main differential diagnosis was an inflammatory disease, although a focal neoplasia was also considered possible. Results of haematology, biochemistry, urinalysis, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficienciy virus (FIV) testing, thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound were unremarkable. Preand postcontrast cranial computed tomography (CT) showed extensive left frontal sinusitis with severe osteomyelitic destruction of the frontal bone and subcutaneous fluid collection with intracranial extension. The intracranial fluid accumulation was located in the right frontoparietal area and was seen as a well-demarcated lesion with medial rim enhancement and significant mass effect (Figure 2). These findings were interpreted as a frontal sinusitis with secondary intracranial extension and an associated epidural empyema. A right-sided rostrotentorial craniotomy was performed. A small defect in the temporal bone was created and during this approach, a viscous purulent material flowed out of the defect. A large quantity of this material was drained and after saline lavage purulent material was no longer observed in the subdural space. A sample of this material was taken, formalin-fixed and processed for histology by routine methods. Sections were stained by haematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and toluidine blue. Microscopic examination revealed a loosely organized tissue with necrotic debris mixed with a large number of inflammatory cells predominantly macrophages and neutrophils and marked accumulations of structures with morphology highly suggestive of Cryptococcus spp. (Belluco et al. 2008; Magalh~aes et al. 2012). The yeasts were ovoid-spherical in shape, 3 8 mm in diameter and rimmed by a thin cell wall, which was surrounded by a clear mucoid capsule negatively stained (halo) of variable thickness (10 30 mm) (Figure 3). Organisms were intracytoplasmatic within macrophages and extracellular within the necrotic tissue. Gram stain of the empyema showed low numbers of Gram-positive cocci. Bacterial growth was not observed on routine aerobic and anaerobic cultures. Fungal culture produced a heavy, pure growth of Cryptococcus spp. The isolated organism was confirmed to be Cryptococcus neoformans using the selective medium L-canavanine glycine bromothymol blue agar (Klein et al. 2009) and it was susceptible to itraconazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B and flucytosine. Treatment with cephadroxil (22 mg/kg body weight (BW) orally twice daily; Cefa Cure, MSD Animal Health, Salamanca, Spain) and fluconazole (50 mg orally twice daily; Fluconazol, Normon, Madrid, Spain) were instituted and neurological deficits resolved gradually over the next two weeks. On re-evaluation one month after the surgery, the owners reported a significant improvement in the cat’s status. No significant abnormali-

Estudio de la aorta abdominal mediante doppler espectral pulsado en perros

Para poder realizar un diagnostico correcto de la aorta abdominal mediante Doppler duplex vascular es necesario un buen conocimiento del espectro Doppler caracteristico y de los resultados obtenidos respecto de los parametros de flujo. Para ello, se usaron diez perros adultos, cinco machos y cinco hembras, de la raza Beagle, sin someterlos a tranquilizacion previa. Se tomaron cinco medidas de cada parametro en estudio, buscando un angulo inferior a 45° y un espectro obtenido que se ajustara al caracteristico de la aorta a nivel de la bifurcacion de las arteria iliacas. El espectro Doppler obtenido muestra un perfil de velocidad de flujo en tapon, pues la velocidad en la pared y en el lumen del vaso es similar. Por ello, el espectro presenta una delgada linea en sistole que deja una gran ventana espectral o sistolica. Tambien se aprecia un patron de flujo de impedancia elevada, aparecen elevados picos sistolicos y flujo reverso en diastole temprana, que es seguido por otra onda diastolica en el sentido del transductor. Los parametros calculados aportan un valor medio de diametro de 0.88 ± 0.12 cm, area de 0.62 ± 0.19 cm2, perimetro de 2.86 ± 0.43 cm; el rango de velocidades obtenido fue una velocidad maxima de 92.45 ± 17.38 cm/sg., media de 27.13 ± 9.05 cm/sg. Y minima de 8.55 ± 6.82 cm/sg. El IR fue de 0.91 ±: 0.11, el IP de 3.09 ± 0.66 Y el volumen de flujo de 1.06 ± 0.55 L/min.

Utilización de las sales aniónicas en la prevención de la paresia puerperal hipocalcémica

SUMMARY Milk fever is one of the most common metabolic diseases of dairy cattle. Of the various methods used in attempting to control the disease, most progress has been made in terms of dietary management. Many authors have shown that adding anionic salts to a ration has dramatic effects on the incidence of milk fever. Anionic salts are added to the diet of dry cows 2-3 weeks before calving in order to achieve metabolic acidosis. The exact mechanism of how dietary anions work is still unresolved. Previous reports suggested that metabolic acidosis induced by anionic salts increases tissue responsiveness to parathyroid hormone, ameliorates the absorption of calcium in the intestine and enhances calcium resorption from bone. In this work, we review the concept of dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) with special emphasis on the physiologic effects this can have on acid-base status, bone resorption, renal production of 1,25 (OH) 2 D 3 and resorption of calcium, and intestinal absorption of calcium in cows.