Monika Joechler

Surgical therapy in chronic feline gingivostomatitis (FCGS)

Surgical therapy in chronic feline gingivostomatitis (FCGS) E. Bellei & F. Dalla & L. Masetti & L. Pisoni & M. Joechler Published online: 7 August 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008

Looking the Cow in the Eye: Deletion in the NID1 Gene Is Associated with Recessive Inherited Cataract in Romagnola Cattle

Cataract is a known condition leading to opacification of the eye lens causing partial or total blindness. Mutations are known to cause autosomal dominant or recessive inherited forms of cataracts in humans, mice, rats, guinea pigs and dogs. The use of large-sized animal models instead of those using mice for the study of this condition has been discussed due to the small size of rodent lenses. Four juvenile-onset cases of bilateral incomplete immature nuclear cataract were recently observed in Romagnola cattle. Pedigree analysis suggested a monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance. In addition to the cataract, one of the cases displayed abnormal head movements. Genome-wide association and homozygosity mapping and subsequent whole genome sequencing of a single case identified two perfectly associated sequence variants in a critical interval of 7.2 Mb on cattle chromosome 28: a missense point mutation located in an uncharacterized locus and an 855 bp deletion across the exon 19/intron 19 border of the bovine nidogen 1 (NID1) gene (c.3579_3604+829del). RT-PCR showed that NID1 is expressed in bovine lenses while the transcript of the second locus was absent. The NID1 deletion leads to the skipping of exon 19 during transcription and is therefore predicted to cause a frameshift and premature stop codon (p.1164fs27X). The truncated protein lacks a C-terminal domain essential for binding with matrix assembly complexes. Nidogen 1 deficient mice show neurological abnormalities and highly irregular crystal lens alterations. This study adds NID1 to the list of candidate genes for inherited cataract in humans and is the first report of a naturally occurring mutation leading to non-syndromic catarct in cattle provides a potential large animal model for human cataract.

Bilateral radial hemimelia and multiple malformations in a kitten.

Hemimelia is a congenital disease of complete or partial absence of one or more bones. The most important hypothesis is that radial agenesis is a consequence of neural crest injury. Treatment selection depends on the degree of the deformity and the reduction of limb function. This report describes a case of bilateral radial hemimelia and multiple malformations in a kitten aged 2 months treated conservatively with splint bandage, until bone maturity. The re-evaluation was performed 4 years later.

Early healing events around titanium implant devices with different surface microtopography: a pilot study in an in vivo rabbit model.

In the present pilot study, the authors morphologically investigated sandblasted, acid-etched surfaces (SLA) at very early experimental times. The tested devices were titanium plate-like implants with flattened wide lateral sides and jagged narrow sides. Because of these implant shape and placement site, the device gained a firm mechanical stability but the largest portion of the implant surface lacked direct contact with host bone and faced a wide peri-implant space rich in marrow tissue, intentionally created in order to study the interfacial interaction between metal surface and biological microenvironment. The insertion of titanium devices into the proximal tibia elicited a sequence of healing events. Newly formed bone proceeded through an early distance osteogenesis, common to both surfaces, and a delayed contact osteogenesis which seemed to follow different patterns at the two surfaces. In fact, SLA devices showed a more osteoconductive behavior retaining a less dense blood clot, which might be earlier and more easily replaced, and leading to a surface-conditioning layer which promotes osteogenic cell differentiation and appositional new bone deposition at the titanium surface. This model system is expected to provide a starting point for further investigations which clarify the early cellular and biomolecular events occurring at the metal surface.

Surgical induction of metacarpal synostosis for treatment of ectrodactyly in a dog

Ectrodactyly is a rare developmental anomaly of the distal part of the forelimb. It is characterized by the presence of an abnormal longitudinal soft tissue and osseous separation or cleft between the digits and the metacarpal bones. It can be associated with hypoplasia, aplasia and malformation of one or more bones of the antebrachium, carpus, metacarpus and digits. Unilateral ectrodactyly and moderate lameness were diagnosed in a young female dog. The dog was treated surgically with reconstruction of soft tissues and stabilization of the metacarpal bones by two nylon cerclage sutures. After three years a mild residual lameness was present. Radiographic signs of synostosis between the metacarpal bones II, III and IV with presence of a cleft between carpal bones II and III were observed.

Bulbo-Pons-Mesencephalic Projections to the Lumbo-Sacral Spinal Cord in Healthy and Spastic Paresis-Affected Cattle: A Comparative Investigation

R. Chiocchetti1,∗, A. Grandis1, C. Bombardi1, M. Joechler2, L. Pisoni2 and A. Gentile2 1Department of Veterinary Morphophysiology and Animal Productions, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO), Italy; 2Veterinary Clinical Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra, 50, 40064, Ozzano dell’Emilia (BO), Italy ∗Correspondence: E-mail: chiocchetti@vet.unibo.it

An Unusual Case of a Nasal Foreign Body in a Cat with Chronic Nasal Discharge.

This report describes a cat infected with the feline infectious virus and a 1 yr history of unilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Intraoral radiography and endoscopic examination revealed the presence of a large fragment of tooth root in the right nasal cavity. The cat had previously undergone maxillary canine tooth (104) extraction. The root was successfully removed by an endoscopic-assisted procedure, and follow-up examination 1 yr later documented complete disappearance of the respiratory signs.