P. R. Wotton

Canine angiostrongylosis: an emerging disease in Europe

OBJECTIVE The aim of this article is to review Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in dogs, including the life cycle, signalment, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment. Apparent changes in the epidemiology of this unique parasite are considered, alongside information available regarding its recent geographic spread. ETIOLOGY A. vasorum is a metastrongyloid parasite capable of causing an array of clinical problems in dogs, including cardiorespiratory, coagulopathic, and neurologic signs. Currently, the parasite has a worldwide distribution; however, it usually arises in small pockets of enzootic foci. Recent reports suggest a changing distribution of this parasite, which has renewed interest in its epidemiology and in the risk of expansion to new areas including mainland North America. DIAGNOSIS A definitive diagnosis of angiostrongylosis is usually made using the modified Baermann technique either using feces or tracheobronchial secretions; however, this review also discusses novel methods such as serologic and molecular techniques. THERAPY Once a diagnosis of angiostrongylosis is made, prompt treatment should follow with anthelmintic drugs (such as moxidectin/imidacloprid, milbemycin oxime, or fenbendazole) and supportive care dependent upon the patients clinical signs. Currently, there is no proven prophylactic regime. PROGNOSIS The prognosis appears to be very dependent upon the severity of clinical signs at presentation. A. vasorum can be fatal and death may be sudden. However, if a prompt diagnosis is made and appropriate treatment is administered complete clinical resolution is possible.

Comparison of the effects of thiopentone and propofol on the electrocardiogram of dogs

Sixty-four dogs were randomly assigned to receive either thiopentone or propofol and their electrocardiograms were recorded immediately before and shortly after they were anaesthetised. Thiopentone caused a marked increase in qt and jt intervals, a flattening of the T-wave and an increase in precordial qt dispersion. Propofol induced a less marked increase in qt and jt intervals, corrected for heart rate. Both agents induced an increase in heart rate and a decrease in heart rate variability, consistent with reduced vagal tone. Shortly after anaesthesia was induced, thiopentone affected ventricular repolarisation to a far greater extent than propofol, changes which suggest that it may be more likely to induce re-entrant ventricular arrhythmogenesis and could be associated with an increase in sympathetic tone. Propofol may therefore be more suitable than thiopentone for dogs with a susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias or a long qt interval.

Primary cardiac chondrosarcoma in a paced dog

PRIMARY cardiac tumours are rare in human and veterinary medicine. The most commonly reported cardiac tumours in dogs are haemangiosarcomas, followed by chemodectomas, ectopic thyroid carcinoma and cardiac lymphoma ([Ware and Hopper 1999][1]). Primary cardiac chondrosarcomas (pcc) are very rare in

A pedigree-based genetic appraisal of Boxer ARVC and the role of the Striatin mutation

The objective of this paper was to investigate by pedigree-based genetic means the origins and inheritance of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in UK Boxers and assess the role of the proposed causal mutation in the gene, Striatin (STRN). All ARVC cases traced back to a small number of imported American dogs deriving from the group of Boxers studied by Harpster (1983) to define the disease, strongly suggesting that the disease is the same in the two countries. Dogs with and without the STRN mutation were found in both ARVC affected and normal Boxers showing that the mutation is not responsible for the disease. Evidence was found that the STRN mutation is, however, genetically linked with the gene responsible on the same chromosome. The linkage implies that the two genes can separate by meiotic recombination such that both ARVC-affected and ARVC-unaffected lines of dogs may carry either the STRN mutation or its wild-type allele. These have been found. Homozygotes for the STRN mutation tended to be severely affected at early ages, suggesting that there is an interaction between the known effects of the STRN mutation on the cardiomyocyte and ARVC.

Steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis with spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and elevated cardiac troponin I in a dog

STEROID-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA) is a common disorder in canine medicine that normally affects young animals, with a breed predisposition reported for beagles, boxers and Weimaraners among others (Bathen-Noethen and others 2008, Lowrie and others 2009a, Tipold and others 2010). The aetiology of the disease is presumed to be immune-mediated, and this is supported by clinicopathological evidence and the response to immunosuppressive treatment (Lowrie and others 2009a, b, Tipold and Schatzberg 2010). The systemic consequences of SRMA are not always recognised, and this short communication is novel in describing the occurrence of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC) with SRMA and the normalisation of a previously elevated serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) after treatment of SRMA. An 18-month-old female entire Whippet was presented with a five-day history of reluctance to exercise, anorexia, lethargy and fever. On examination, the dog was quiet but alert and responsive with a rectal temperature of 39.9°C. The findings of the physical and orthopaedic examinations were otherwise unremarkable. The finding of a neurological examination was also unremarkable apart from resentment of neck flexion to the left. Haematology showed an inflammatory picture with mild mature neutrophilia and monocytosis (Table 1). Biochemistry revealed a mild hypoalbuminemia and hypocalcaemia. Acute phase protein assessment showed marked elevation in haptoglobin and C-reactive protein (CRP) (Table 1). cTnI was increased, which is consistent with myocardial damage (Table 1). Urinalysis showed a normal protein:creatinine ratio (0.4; reference range, <0.5). View this table: Table 1 Haematology, biochemistry, acute-phase protein and cardiac troponin I results Cervical radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography showed no abnormalities; thoracic radiographs showed generalised cardiomegaly (vertebral heart score; 12.75) without evidence of specific chamber enlargement, consistent with a pericardial effusion. Echocardiography showed no left ventricular enlargement (left ventricular internal diameter in diastole, 39 mm; reference range (mean±2sd) for an 11 kg Whippet, 29.4 to …

The cardiovascular system

The heart and blood vessels are responsible for the circulation of the blood and may be regarded as a pump and a closed series of elastic, muscular tubes which branch and come together again so that the blood is returned to the heart. The heart is a muscular structure consisting of four chambers. It is cone-shaped with an apex below and to the left and a base above and to the right. It lies in the lower half of the thorax behind the sternum on the central tendon of the diaphragm.

Tachyarrhythmia in a St Bernard dog

SUMMARY A young St Bernard dog was referred on three separate occasions for investigation of dyspnea and exercise intolerance. Electrocardiography was performed on each occasion and showed various forms of supraventricular tachycardia with aberrant conduction. Echocardiography showed a progressive decrease in systolic function and thoracic radiographs showed progressive cardiomegaly. The arrhythmia responded rapidly to treatment with propanolol.