Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital Research Articles

Applying Sequential Pattern Mining to Investigate the Temporal Relationships between Commonly Occurring Internal Medicine Diseases and Intervals for the Risk of Concurrent Disease in Canine Patients.

Sequential pattern mining (SPM) is a data mining technique used for identifying common association rules in multiple sequential datasets and patterns in ordered events. In this study, we aimed to identify the relationships between commonly occurring internal medicine diseases in canine patients. We obtained medical records of dogs referred to the Konkuk University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. The data used for SPM included comorbidities and intervals between the diagnoses of internal medicine diseases. Additionally, we estimated the 3-year risk of developing an additional disease after the initial diagnosis of a commonly occurring veterinary internal medicine disease using logistic regression. We identified 547 canine patients diagnosed with ≥ 1 internal medicine disease. The SPM-based analysis assessed comorbidities and intervals for each of the five most common internal medical diseases, including hyperadrenocorticism, myxomatous mitral valve disease, canine atopic dermatitis, chronic kidney disease, and chronic pancreatitis. The highest values of the association rule were 3.01%, 6.02%, 3.9%, 4.1%, and 4.84%, and the shortest intervals were 1.64, 13.14, 5.37, 17.02, and 1.7 days, respectively. This study proposes that SPM is an effective technique for identifying common associations and temporal relationships between internal medicine diseases, and can be used to assess the probability of additional admission due to the development of the subsequent disease that may be diagnosed in canine patients. The results of this study will help veterinarians suggest appropriate preventive measures or other medical treatments for canine patients with medical conditions that have not yet been diagnosed, but are likely to develop in the short term.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of cellular activities in canine osteoblastic osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most frequently occurring malignant bone tumor in animals and humans. A better understanding of the etiopathogenetic mechanisms of osteosarcoma, especially biomolecular ones, is fundamental to improving diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. Autophagy is a self-degrative process that removes dysfunctional cellular components, eliminates intracellular pathogens, and promotes cellular senescence. In neoplastic cells, autophagy suppresses tumorigenesis by inhibiting cancer cell survival mechanisms and promoting cell death. The aim of this study was to use immunohistochemistry to identify alterations in the expression of several apoptotic and proliferative biomarkers in multiple cases of canine osteosarcoma. Bcl-2, an intracellular membrane protein, inhibits cell death by blocking the p53-mediated pathway of apoptosis. While Bcl-2 overexpression has been described in many different premalignant and malignant lesions, it has yet to be analyzed in canine osteosarcoma. Our group investigated 10 primary canine osteoblastic osteosarcoma cases from the University of Perugia Department of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. Immunohistochemical analyses of proteins Bcl-2, Ki-67, and p53 have revealed interesting results as described in this paper. Expression of Bcl-2 was increased in all cases investigated while expression of p53 and Ki-67 was variable and no statistical association was observed between the expression patterns of p53, Bcl-2 and Ki-67.

An automated deep learning method and novel cardiac index to detect canine cardiomegaly from simple radiography

Since most of degenerative canine heart diseases accompany cardiomegaly, early detection of cardiac enlargement is main priority healthcare issue for dogs. In this study, we developed a new deep learning-based radiographic index quantifying canine heart size using retrospective data. The proposed “adjusted heart volume index” (aHVI) was calculated as the total area of the heart multiplied by the heart’s height and divided by the fourth thoracic vertebral body (T4) length from simple lateral X-rays. The algorithms consist of segmentation and measurements. For semantic segmentation, we used 1000 dogs’ radiographic images taken between Jan 2018 and Aug 2020 at Seoul National University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital. The tversky loss functions with multiple hyperparameters were used to capture the size-unbalanced regions of heart and T4. The aHVI outperformed the current clinical standard in predicting cardiac enlargement, a common but often fatal health condition for small old dogs.

Black Fungi in Arabian Horses: Scanning Electron Microscopy Study of Cutaneous Equine Mucormycosis Caused by Mucor indicus for the First Time in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

Four Arabian mares and two Arabian stallions had been admitted to a University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital because of a mass in its right nasal cavity. Horses numbered from 1 to 6. All infections in horses occur in the area of the nostrils. Horse 1 was an Arabian mare of 5-year-old 390kg and had a mass (3.5x3.5 cm in diameter) in its right nasal cavity. Horse 2 was an Arabian mare of 7-year-old 370.0kg and had a mass (4.0x5.5 cm in diameter) in its right nasal cavity. Horse 3 was an Arabian mare of 6.3-year-old 379kg and has a mass (9.0x4.0 cm in diameter) in its right nasal cavity. Horse 4 was an Arabian mare of 5.8-year-old 395.3kg and had a mass (5.0x5.5 cm in diameter) in its right nasal cavity. Horse 5 was an Arabian stallion of 8.2-year-old 421kg and had a mass (4.0x5.5 cm in diameter) in its right nasal cavity. Horse 6 was an Arabian stallion of 7-year-old 471kg and had a mass (4.0x5.5 cm in diameter) in its right nasal cavity. Endoscopic examination of upper respiratory tract revealed a mass that blocked most of the right nasal passage. The mass covered by a bulky pile of ulcerated granulation tissue exuding thick serosanguinous fluid. A specimen of mucor indicus was isolated from a polypes sample and its identity confirmed through LSU rRNA sequence analysis. Microbiological examination showed abundant fungal growth and the strain corresponded to mucor indicus. On histological examination, the dermis and subcutaneous tissue showed the presence of mucor indicus. Mucor indicus confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Clinical recovery occurred 3 weeks after administration of amphotericin B (40.0 mg/kg body weight/day). The current study concluded that mucor indicus was verified in eastern province of Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Efficacy and safety of allogenic canine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in four dogs: A pilot study

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess regenerative and immunomodulatory properties and can control the immune dysregulation that leads to β-cell destruction. Stem-cell transplantation could thus manage insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in dogs. In this pilot study, we aimed to assess canine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (cAT-MSCs) transplantation as a treatment for canine diabetes mellitus. This study included four dogs with over a year of insulin treatment for IDDM, following diagnosis at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University. Allogenic cAT-MSCs were infused intravenously three or five times monthly to dogs with IDDM. Blood and urine samples were obtained monthly. General clinical symptoms, including changes in body weight, vitality, appetite, and water intake were assessed. Three of the four owners observed improvement of vitality after stem cell treatment. Two of the four dogs showed improvement in appetite and body weight, polyuria, and polydipsia. C-peptide has increased by about 5–15% in three of the cases, and fructosamine and HbA1c levels have improved in two of the cases. Hyperlipidemia was resolved in two of the dogs, and there was no concurrent bacterial cystitis in any of the dogs. C-peptide secretion and lipid metabolism are associated with diabetic complications. Improvement in these parameters following the treatment suggests that cAT-MSC transplantation in dogs with IDDM might help to improve their insulin secretory capacity and prevent diabetic complications.

Hernioplasty with Laparoscopy Mesh Application in Equine with Incisional Hernia

Background: Incisional hernia in the midline can be a consequence of abdominal surgeries, which incidence is around 5.7-18%. Surgical indication occurs in cases of large hernias, and the most common techniques used involve the closing of the musculature in a primary way, with sutures, and the implantation of a mesh on the abdominal wall. Laparoscopic hernioplasty emerged as a less invasive option, showing superiority when compared with open surgical techniques in human medicine, however there are few reports describing this technique in equines. So, the aim of this paper is to report a case of hernioplasty, using laparoscopic mesh, in a horse with midline incisional hernia.Case: A 13-year-old castrated male Brasileiro de Hipismo horse, weighing 415 kg, practitioner of classic equestrian, presented an incisional hernia after 14 days from an exploratory laparotomy surgery realized to treat colic syndrome. After 6 months, the patient was referred to a Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital for the correction of the defect in the abdominal wall. During palpation, the animal did not present local pain or other sign of inflammation, and the hernia measured approximately 20 cm in diameter. The animal was submitted to general anesthesia and placed in dorsal decubitus for the hernioplasty surgical procedure. An incision was made in cranial region of the midline, close to the xiphoid to introduce a single port; the abdomen was inflated with CO2 gas (12 mmHg) and the operating table was tilted in order to displace the organs cranially, facilitating the laparoscopic procedure. The abdomen was inspected and the presence of a single adherence could be observed, which was disrupted with endoscopic forceps. The mesh was introduced through the single port incision and anchored to the musculature, using polypropylene 2 following the marking points previously performed on the implant, covering the defect in the abdominal musculature. In the postoperative period, analgesia was instituted with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotic therapy with intravenous benzylpenicillin potassium+gentamicin sulfate, and daily dressings. The animal showed pain responsive to the instituted analgesia in the first 24-72 h after surgery. The discharge was established after 18 days of hospitalization with the recommendation of daily dressings and use of compressive bandage until the complete healing of the wound. Postoperative complications resulting from the laparoscopic hernioplasty technique was not observed in this case.The hernia reduction was satisfactory, with a good aesthetic result after five months, when the animal resumed its athletic activities.Discussion: Laparoscopy hernioplasty is poorly described in equine medicine, and there are no reports of this procedure performed in Brazil, however, it is widely used in human medicine with results superior to open hernioplasty techniques. In the present case and in others reported in the literature, the laparoscopic technique proved to be effective in reducing incisional hernias in horses. The animals had good regression of the hernia sac and the aesthetic result was satisfactory, with few post-surgical complications. In studies in which the open hernioplasty technique was used, there was a higher occurrence of complications, in addition to more intense pain resulting from the procedure and later return to athletic activity, demonstrating that the minimally invasive technique by video surgery can be advantageous.

Risk factors for, frequency, and type of complications after temporary tube cystostomy in goats, sheep, and pigs.

To describe risk factors for as well as type and frequency of complications, time to occurrence of complications, and mortality after temporary tube cystostomy alone or in combination with other surgical procedures, in goats, sheep, and pigs. Retrospective case series. One hundred thirteen goats, eight sheep, and six pigs. Medical records of goats, sheep, and pigs that underwent temporary tube cystostomy alone or in combination with urethrotomy at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018 were reviewed. Signalment, presurgical and surgical procedures, urolith type and location, and postoperative complications and mortality were analyzed. In goats, logistic regression analysis was performed to determine association between the presence of complications or mortality as well as candidate predictor variables. Postoperative complications were reported in 54.9% (62/113) of goats, 37.5% (3/8) of sheep, and 50% (3/6) of pigs. The most frequent type of complication was reobstruction. Median (range) time to first complication was 171 days (1-2247) for goats. In sheep and pigs, the range for time to re-presentation for complications was 11 to 37 and 17 to 1182 days, respectively. Proportions of nonsurvivors after tube cystostomy were 48.4% (30/62) goats, 1/8 sheep and 2/6 pigs. No association between examined predictor variables and the occurrence of complications or mortality was detected. The risk of complications and mortality after temporary tube cystostomy was high, especially in goats. Owners should be made aware of the high complication rate after temporary tube cystostomy alone or in combination with other procedures. Investigation of alternative approaches to manage obstructive urolithiasis in goats, sheep, and pigs should be considered.

Ultrasonography is insensitive but specific for detecting aortic wall abnormalities in dogs infected with Spirocerca lupi

BackgroundSpirocercosis is caused by the nematode Spirocerca lupi (S lupi). The disease mainly affects dogs and is typically diagnosed by oesophagoscopy or faecal examination; however, these diagnostic tests may deliver...

Evaluation of Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure and the Use of Three Cuff Inflation Syringe Devices in Dogs.

Over-inflation of an endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff may lead to tracheal mucosal irritation, tracheal wall ischemia or necrosis, whereas under-inflation increases the risk of pulmonary aspiration as well as leaking anesthetic gas and polluting the environment. The objectives of this two-phase study were to (1) identify the incidence of improper ETT cuff inflation (both over- and under-inflation) using the minimum occlusive volume (MOV) technique coupled with a regular injectable syringe in the anesthetized dogs, and (2) evaluate the performance of two commercially available inflation syringe devices (Tru-Cuff and AG Cuffill®) with the regular injectable syringe in inflating the ETT cuff to a recommended safe cuff pressure range (20–30 cmH2O). Dogs undergoing general anesthesia at Purdue Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital were included. The ETT cuff pressure was assessed with an aneroid manometer after the syringe inflation. The results of the first objective showed that a total of 80 dogs enrolled and that 50 of these 80 dogs required ETT cuff inflation. Among the 50 dogs, only 14% had proper ETT cuff inflation; 76% of the ETT cuffs were over-inflated and 10% were under-inflated. Ninety dogs were enrolled for the second objective study and they were randomly and equally assigned to the three syringe device treatment groups. The results showed that 80% of the ETT cuffs were over-inflated in the regular injectable syringe treatment group, whereas only 6.7% and 3.3% ETT cuffs were over-inflated in the Tru-Cuff and AG Cuffill® syringe treatment groups, respectively. The AG Cuffill® syringe treatment group had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher percentage of properly inflated ETT cuffs (86.7%) compared to the other two groups (regular injectable syringe [3.3%]; Tru-Cuff syringe [50%]. We concluded that there was a high incidence of improper ETT cuff inflation when using MOV technique coupled with a regular injectable syringe. The use of an AG Cuffill® syringe significantly reduced improper ETT cuff inflation.

Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Therapy for Aortic Thromboembolism in Four Dogs

Four dogs were brought to the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital of Seoul National University (VMTH SNU) with a history of hind limb ataxia, three with pain, one without pain. Three of the four showed weak to absent femoral pulses and cold extremities. Thromboembolism was identified by ultrasonography in the external and/or internal iliac arteries. A thrombolytic agent, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA), was administered (0.5-1 mg/kg, every 60-120 min, 3-5 doses). Two dogs (Cases 2 and 3), which were instantly provided rt-PA treatment, survived 6 and 17 months, respectively, although hematemesis and hematochezia were observed during treatment. In the other two dogs (Cases 1 and 4), rt-PA was administered 4 and 28 days after the appearance of pelvic limb symptoms, which may have limited the benefits of the treatment. When rt-PA treatment is instituted instantly and the side effects are monitored thoroughly during treatment, a good prognosis might be expected in canine aortic thromboembolism. For this reason, we suggest that rt-PA treatment should be initiated immediately if thromboembolism is identified.

Clinical prevalence of aural plaque in horses admitted at Centro Universitário de Itajubá’s Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital, Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Clinical prevalence of aural plaque in horses admitted at Centro Universitário de Itajubá’s Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital, Itajubá, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Evaluation of rational use of veterinary drugs especially antimicrobials and anthelmintics in Bishoftu, Central Ethiopia.

BackgroundRational use of drugs in veterinary medicine has numerous benefits, such as increasing efficacy, decreasing the potential adverse effects, reducing risk of drug residue and combating development of microorganism’s drug resistance.MethodsA retrospective study with the aim of evaluating the current rational use of veterinary drugs was conducted at college of veterinary medicine and agriculture veterinary teaching hospital and Ada district veterinary clinic, central Ethiopia. One thousand eight hundred and nineteen animal patients’ encounters were randomly selected for the study from prescription papers and prescription registration books retrospectively.ResultsThe average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 1.23 with maximum of five. The percentage of encounters in which antimicrobials and anthelmintics was prescribed were 54.4 % (1216/2235) and 38.9 % (869/2235), respectively. The percentages of drugs prescribed by generic name and from essential veterinary drug list were 90.1 % (2014/2235) and 99.7 % (2229/2235), respectively. The most commonly prescribed antimicrobials and anthelmintics were oxytetracycline 1016 (45.5 %), penicillin and streptomycin combination 168 (7.5 %), sulfa drugs 23 (1.0 %), and albendazole 732 (32.8 %) and ivermectin 137 (6.1 %). Among the 1819 animal-patient encounters, only 57 % (n = 1037) of the prescriptions were written adequately, 43 % (n = 782) incorrectly prescribed and 1179 cases of the adequately specified prescription were tentatively diagnosed. For 656 (53.9 %) and 233 (26.8 %) inadequately specified cases antimicrobials and anthelmintics were prescribed, respectively. Antibiotics were prescribed irrationally for cases which were tentatively diagnosed as parasitic 21.6 % (n = 262) and viral to prevent secondary bacterial complications 6.0 % (n = 73). Among all patients that were admitted to veterinary clinics, 96.6 % (1757) were treated empirically without getting correct laboratory-supported diagnosis. Chi Square test for trend analysis showed a statistically significant association between irrational drug usage and year (p = 0.000).ConclusionsThe findings had shown problems in generic prescribing, incorrect diagnosis, and non-availability of standard veterinary treatment guideline and drug formulary in the study area. Therefore, veterinary drugs, specially, antimicrobial agents should be judiciously used; and a wide scale study to safeguard the public from drug residual effects and antimicrobial resistance development is recommended.

Multiple subluxations and comminuted fracture of the cervical spine in a sheep

A 5-month-old, 13.5 kg, female Corriedale sheep was referred to the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, with a history of traumatic injury of the cervical spine followed by non-ambulatoric tetraparesis that occurred 2 weeks before being admitted to the hospital. At admission, malalignment of the cervical spine with the cranial part of the neck deviating to the right was noted. Neurological examinations identified the absence of postural reactions in both forelimbs, mildly decreased spinal reflexes, and normal reaction to pain perception tests. Radiography revealed malalignment of the cervical vertebrae with subluxations at C1-C2 and C2-C3, and a comminuted fracture of the caudal aspect of C2. The sheep was euthanized due to a presumed poor prognosis. Necropsy and histopathological findings confirmed injuries of the cervical spine from C1 to C3, which were consistent with the clinical finding of tetraparesis in this case. This paper presents a rare case of multiple subluxations of the cervical spine caused by blunt force trauma in a young sheep. These results highlight the importance of an astute clinical diagnosis for such an acute cervical spine trauma and the need for prompt surgical correction for similar cases in the future.

Occurrence of jejunojejunal and ileocecal intussusceptions in a thoroughbred stallion

A 4-year-old, 600.4 kg stallion horse of German thoroughbred breed was presented at the Tehran University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, Iran, with a history of weakness of 2-3 days duration. The stallion died of unknown cause on the previous day. Abnormal findings during physical examination included an estimated dehydration of 3% to 5%, dark red oral mucous membranes, elevated heart and respiratory rates, stiffened feces, and absence of intestinal motility on auscultation. Postmortem examination indicated the presence of a jejunojejunal and ileocecal intussusceptions, 46 cm in length; a torsion of jejunum proximal to the intussusceptions was also noted. An ulcerative lesion, 6 cm in diameter, was found on the mucosa of duodenum. Large amounts of sand, coat hair, and hay mantling in bloody discharge were observed in a colonic impaction. It was an acute case that was evident by the involvement of intussusception and ulceration, indicating desquamation of the necrotic epithelial cells with edema and distinct infiltration of neutrophils. Histopathological examination confirmed that the ileum was the intussiscipiens to the jejunum that subsequently passed through into the caecum, and the mesentery probably tore as a result of the intussusception.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains with identical random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns in chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) and broilers: a case report

We used the random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) technique to discriminate the major emerging poultry pathogen, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), in broiler and chukar partridge cases referred to the veterinary medicine teaching hospital. Amazingly, the chickens and partridges random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns were similar. This suggests the risk of a common source for the strains isolated from the different animals and illustrates the necessity of novel and improved control programs to prevent and restrict this significant disease which is prevalent among poultry species. &amp;nbsp;

A New Species ofCaryospora(Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Sharp-Shinned Hawk,Accipiter striatus(Aves: Accipitriformes)

An injured juvenile sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus Vieillot, 1807 (Aves: Accipitriformes), housed and treated at the College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA, was found to be passing oocysts of an undescribed species of Caryospora in its feces. Sporulated oocysts of Caryospora petersoni n. sp. were subspherical, with a bilayered wall, and they measured 43.1 × 39.8 μm; micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granule were absent. Sporocysts were subspherical to spherical, 23.4 × 23.3 μm; Stieda, substieda, and parastieda bodies were absent, but a spherical sporocyst residuum was present as a compact mass, ~15.1 μm wide, composed of many homogeneous globules. The new species represents the first caryosporan documented from this species of hawk.

Feline Histoplasmosis: A Retrospective Study of 22 Cases (1986–2009)

Twenty-two cases of feline histoplasmosis seen at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital between 1986 and 2009 were reviewed. The median age of affected cats was 9 yr (mean, 8.8 yr). Female domestic shorthairs were more commonly affected. The clinical presentation of most cases was nonspecific. The most common presenting complaints included weakness, lymphadenopathy, weight loss, and anorexia. Less frequent clinical signs included vomiting, diarrhea, blindness, and lameness. Less than half of the cats had clinical evidence of pulmonary disease on admission. Anemia and hypoalbuminemia were common laboratory abnormalities. An interstitial pattern was the most common radiographic pattern observed with pulmonary disease. Diagnosis was based on identification of the organism on cytology or histopathology. Fifteen of the 22 cats were treated, and itraconazole was the most common antifungal agent prescribed. Median duration of the antifungal treatment was 5 mo for cats that survived to discharge. Overall survival at time of discharge for cats in this study was 55%.

Criterion-Referenced Evaluation of Day One Clinical Competencies of Veterinary Students: VOLES–the VMTH (Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital) Online Evaluation System

This article describes an extensive online criterion-referenced evaluation system for the assessment of veterinary students' achievement during their final year's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (or equivalent) clinical education. Data are reported for the 2001 to 2009 University of California at Davis veterinary graduates, for a total of more than 1,100 students. These criterion-referenced evaluations extensively document the level of clinical skills attained and demonstrated during the individual clinical rotations that comprise the fourth-year curriculum. On average, in each of the 17,500 clinical rotations undertaken during this time period, student performance was assessed in at least 11 separate areas of skills, knowledge, and professional attributes. This provided more than 200,000 criterion-referenced judgments of the individual clinical attributes of graduates over nine years. The system is based on a previously detailed and validated definition of the skills, knowledge, and professional attributes that students should have demonstrated before graduation. The extensive database that this system has provided has established that this system, termed VOLES (VMTH [Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital] On-Line Evaluation System), is an effective tool to assess the clinical capabilities of veterinary students and their achievement of the "Day One" skills required for entering clinical practice. These expected proficiencies are balanced according to the differing expectations that each area of veterinary clinical practice demands.

Prevalence of IgG antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Toxoplasma gondii in cats with and without chronic kidney disease from Virginia

Kidney disease is a common and serious condition in domestic cats. There are numerous causes of kidney disease including parasitic infection. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian parasite that develops in the kidneys of rabbits and causes chronic renal disease. Little has been reported concerning E. cuniculi in cats and no serological studies on this parasite in cats have been conducted in the United States to date. The present study explored the possibility that E. cuniculi is an unrecognized contributor to the high prevalence of kidney disease observed in cats. A serological survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies to spores of E. cuniculi in cats with and without a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) staging system. Likewise, samples were examined for IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, a common well studied protozoan of cats. Plasma and sera were obtained from 232 feline patients at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine teaching hospital. With the investigators blinded to the renal status of test subjects, samples were screened via indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay (IFA). Thirty-six of the 232 cats met the IRIS staging system criteria for CKD. Antibodies to E. cuniculi were found in 15 of the 232 samples, which included 4 of the 36 cats with CKD. Sera from cats serologically positive to E. cuniculi did not react to spores of E. intestinalis or E. hellem when examined in the IFA. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 63 of the 232 samples, which included 10 of the 36 cats with CKD. The prevalence of antibodies in cats with CKD to either protozoan was not significantly different ( P > 0.05) from the cats without CKD in the study. Collectively the results do not support the hypothesis that either E. cuniculi or T. gondii play a significant etiologic role in the occurrence or progression of CKD in cats.

Jejunojejunal Intussusception and Colonic Impaction in a 12-Day-Old Orphan Foal

A 12-day-old, 14.4-kg, female foal of Australian Miniature Pony breed was presented at the National Chung Hsing University Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, Taiwan, with a history of weakness of 2 days’ duration. The mare died of unknown cause on the previous day. Abnormal findings during physical examination included an estimated dehydration of 3 to 5%, dark red oral mucous membranes, elevated heart and respiratory rates, stiffened feces, and absence of intestinal motility on auscultation. Continual nursing care was followed by intravenous fluid therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and antibiotic treatment. The foal's condition deteriorated rapidly, and feeding was refused. Subsequently, she developed signs of pyrexia and panting. In spite of oxygen supplement, she died 18 hours after admission. Postmortem examination revealed the presence of a jejunojejunal intussusception, 20 cm in length; a torsion of jejunum proximal to the intussusception also was noted. An ulcerative lesion, 3 cm in diameter, was found on the mucosa of duodenum. Large amounts of sand, coat hair, and hay mantling in bloody discharge were observed in a colonic impaction. That it was an acute case was evident by the involvement of intussusception and ulceration, indicating desquamation of the necrotic epithelial cells with edema and distinct infiltration of neutrophils. These results suggested that a practical management strategy for nursing an orphan foal should be performed to avoid a similar case in the future.