Parry Bw

Use of Clinical Pathology in Evaluation of Horses with Colic

Clinical pathology is a valuable adjunct to physical examination of cases of colic. The present review considers evaluation of cases of colic for three main purposes: (1) making a prognosis, (2) deciding whether to operate, and (3) making a diagnosis. Blood tests noted to be useful for prognostication were hematocrit, lactate and urea nitrogen concentrations, pH, anion gap, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, antithrombin III activity, prothrombin time, and thrombin time. Horses with a poor prognosis often have relative polycythemia, marked lactic acidosis, high anion gap, azotemia, and coagulation abnormalities evidenced by increased fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products, decreased antithrombin III activity, and prolonged prothrombin and thrombin times. The decision to operate is usually a clinical one, supported by relative polycythemia, hyperglycemia, and, possibly, abnormal peritoneal fluid analysis. Diagnosis of the primary problem (causing the colicky signs) is also often based largely on physical examination. However, peritoneal fluid analysis provides worthwhile data, especially in cases of peritonitis or intestinal ischemia and infarction.

Streptococcal meningoencephalitis in a dog

A 5.5-year-old French bulldog was presented with acute neck pain and a short history of central vestibular syndrome. A marked neutrophilic pleocytosis and numerous gram-positive cocci were evident on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology. Streptococcus pneumoniae, a pathogen of humans, was isolated upon CSF microbiological culture. Treatment consisted of intravenous antibiotics, supportive care, and anticonvulsants for the generalized seizures which developed shortly after admission. The dog responded to therapy and two years later exhibited only a mild, residual head tilt. The pathogenesis and treatment of bacterial meningoencephalitis in dogs are reviewed.

Cytology of the canine reproductive system.

The methods for semen collection, its laboratory examination, and the interpretation of findings are presented in this article. The lack of comprehensive data for normal dogs and the lack of data associating actual percentages of spermatozoa with specific abnormalities with fertility or infertility are highlighted. Consequently, there is a need for standardization and completeness of semen examination procedures, especially in studies destined for publication. Collection and analysis of prostatic samples then is discussed, and the distinguishing cytological features of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatic adenocarcinoma, prostatis (including prostatic abscessation), and prostatic cysts are presented. This is followed by an assessment of the clinical usefulness of vaginal cytology, particularly to assist in the management of normal canine reproduction and in the diagnosis of reproductive disorders. The ways in which vaginal smears can facilitate the diagnosis of the stage of the estrous cycle and the diagnosis of abnormalities of the cycle and other disorders of reproduction are presented. Further consideration is given to its use to estimate the time of ovulation retrospectively and estimate the time of whelping prospectively. Finally, two specific diseases that can affect dogs and bitches are reviewed, namely, canine brucellosis and transmissible venereal tumor.

Detection of canine carriers of haemophilia A using factor VIII activity and von Willebrand factor antigen concentration

Abstract The ability of logistic regression analysis to correctly discriminate between 18 normal German shepherd bitches and 16 German shepherd bitches heterozygous for haemophilia A was assessed. Four equations were calculated using factor VIII activity alone, von Willebrand factor antigen concentration alone, the ratio of these two variables, or the two variables together but not as a ratio. In all models, the misclassification rates were sufficiently high to limit the value of these methods.

In vitro evaluation of canine leukocytes radiolabeled in whole blood with 99mTc stannous colloid

INTRODUCTION Technetium-99m stannous colloid ((99m)TcSnC)-labeled leukocytes are used to investigate a variety of inflammatory diseases in human medicine. The present study investigates the in vitro behavior of canine leukocytes labeled in whole blood with (99m)TcSnC. METHODS Blood samples from 10 healthy dogs were labeled with (99m)TcSnC using a standard procedure. The distribution of radioactivity among blood components (plasma, leukocyte layers and erythrocytes) was measured following separation of the radiolabeled samples across Histopaque density gradients. Phagocytic function of labeled and unlabeled leukocytes was estimated using zymosan particles. Labeling retention by leukocytes was determined at 1, 3, 4 and 7 h postlabeling. RESULTS The mean+/-standard error percentage of radioactivity associated with plasma, erythrocyte and leukocyte fractions was 2.0+/-0.21%, 55.5+/-0.60% and 42.5+/-0.54%, respectively (the last comprising 70.2+/-0.83% in polymorphonuclear leukocytes and 29.8+/-0.83% in mononuclear leukocytes). Labeled canine leukocytes had a phagocytic activity of 91.3+/-0.28% (control, 91.7+/-0.26%). The radiolabeled canine leukocytes retained 94.1+/-0.30% of radioactivity at 7 h postlabeling. CONCLUSIONS Radiolabeling of canine leukocytes in whole blood with (99m)TcSnC has minor adverse effect on their phagocytic function. The radiolabeled canine leukocytes retained a large percentage of radioactivity for at least 7 h postlabeling.

Sodium cloprostenol administered at a continuous low dosage induces polydipsia and suppresses luteal function in early dioestrous bitches.

The aim of this study was to determine whether sodium cloprostenol administered at a continuous low dosage induced luteolysis and polydipsia in early dioestrous bitches. Sodium cloprostenol was administered subcutaneously to greyhounds at doses of 4.04-5.19 microg/kg/day (treated group, n=5) or 0 microg/kg/day (control group, n=5) delivered by mini-osmotic pumps for 7 days. The treated bitches and two of the control bitches were in early dioestrus (Days 5-14, and 6 and 10, respectively) when the mini-osmotic pump was inserted (Day 0). Concentrations of plasmatic progesterone were measured in dioestrous bitches each day from Day -2 to 7, and then weekly until Day 90. Daily intake of water was ascertained in all bitches from Day -2 until Day 10, and their weight was measured on Days -2, 6 and 13. Biochemical analyses on plasma for concentrations of urea and glucose, and urinalyses were performed on all bitches before (Day -1), during (Day 4) and after treatment (Day 10). Concentrations of plasmatic progesterone declined dramatically and rapidly in treated bitches after Day 0 to <2.9 ng/ml but were not similarly affected in the dioestrous control bitches. However, in three of five treated bitches, concentrations of plasmatic progesterone increased to >1 ng/ml in the period from Day 10 to 90 indicating that luteolysis was incomplete. All treated bitches were polydipsic (intake of water >100 ml/kg/day) for 2-6 days during the period of treatment, and for 0-2 days immediately after treatment (Days 7 and 8). One control bitch was polydipsic on Days -2, -1 and 0. The treated bitches were also polyuric since they were hyposthenuric (<1.007, n=4) or isothenuric (1.010, n=1) on Day 4, their weight did not increase and no gastrointestinal or respiratory effects were observed. The control bitches were always hypersthenuric when measured during and after treatment (>1.021). Biochemical analyses of plasma and other data obtained from urinalyses did not reveal any differences between groups. This study indicated that sodium cloprostenol administered at a continuous low dosage induced polydipsia and suppressed luteal function in early dioestrous bitches.

Studies to detect carriers of haemophilia A in Germanshepherd dogs using diagnostic DNA polymorphisms in the human factor VIII gene

The current study investigated whether the DNA polymorphisms in the human FVIII gene, that are used for the diagnosis of carriers of haemophilia A, were diagnostically useful in dogs. Genomic DNA from 20 German Shepherd dogs (13 females, three normal males and four haemophilic males) was tested using five restriction site polymorphisms [HindIII/F8 (exon 17-18), Taq I/ST14.1, BclI/ST14.1, BclI F8 (exon 17-18) and Bgl II/DX13]. The DNA probes (with the exception of DX13) all hybridized to the canine DNA at high stringency, indicating significant homology between the human and canine FVIII gene. A BclI polymorphism (13.5/13.5 + 12.8 kb) was detected with the ST14.1 probe.

Biodistribution of canine leucocytes labelled with technetium-99m stannous fluoride colloid in whole blood and their ability to localise to sites of induced inflammation.

This study assessed the biodistribution of autologous leucocytes radiolabelled with technetium-99m stannous fluoride colloid (99mTcSnC) for detection of foci of induced inflammation in dogs. Venous blood was collected from seven healthy dogs and incubated with 99mTcSnC for 1h at room temperature. Radiolabelled samples were injected intravenously (IV) and the dogs were scanned using a gamma camera. Another seven healthy dogs were injected intradermally with tumour necrosis factor alpha and then IV with 99mTcSnC radiolabelled autologous blood 3h later before being scanned. The radiolabelled leucocytes localised to sites of inflammation by 30 min post-injection. IV injection of autologous leucocytes radiolabelled with 99mTcSnC appears to be a sensitive method for localisation of induced foci of inflammation in dogs.