Use of a telovelar approach for complete resection of a choroid plexus tumor in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a telovelar approach to the fourth ventricle for excision of a choroid plexus tumor within the ventricle. ANIMAL: A 3-year-old entire male Chihuahua. STUDY DESIGN: Case report METHODS: A 3-year-old dog with two-month history of progressive vestibular signs and subdued mentation was diagnosed with a fourth ventricle tumor. Gross total resection of the tumor was achieved through a telovelar approach to the fourth ventricle. RESULTS: Complete removal of the tumor was confirmed on immediate postoperative MRI. The dog recovered from the surgical procedure without complications, displaying some neurological deficits as preoperatively. His neurological examination was normal 2 weeks after surgery and remained so until the time of writing this case report (28 months) without additional treatment. CONCLUSION: The telovelar approach allowed complete excision of a choroid plexus tumor located in the fourth ventricle of the dog reported here.

Clinical signs, MRI findings and outcome in dogs with peripheral vestibular disease: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Vestibular dysfunction is relatively common in dogs, with a prevalence of 0.08% reported in primary veterinary care in the UK. There are several studies investigating how to differentiate between peripheral and central vestibular disease but only limited information regarding the possible underlying causes for peripheral vestibular dysfunction in dogs. This study therefore aimed to describe the clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging findings (MRI), underlying causes and outcome in a large population of dogs diagnosed with peripheral vestibular disease. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-eight patients were included in the study with a median age of 6.9 years (range 3 months to 14.6 years). Neurological abnormalities included head tilt (n = 185), ataxia (n = 123), facial paralysis (n = 103), nystagmus (n = 97), positional strabismus (n = 93) and Horner syndrome (n = 7). The most prevalent diagnosis was idiopathic vestibular disease (n = 128), followed by otitis media and/or interna (n = 49), hypothyroidism (n = 7), suspected congenital vestibular disease (n = 2), neoplasia (n = 1) and cholesteatoma (n = 1). Long-term follow-up revealed persistence of head tilt (n = 50), facial paresis (n = 41) and ataxia (n = 6) in some cases. Recurrence of clinical signs was observed in 26 dogs. Increasing age was associated with a mild increased chance of diagnosis of idiopathic vestibular syndrome rather than otitis media and/or interna (P = 0.022, OR = 0.866; CI 0.765-0.980). History of previous vestibular episodes (P = 0.017, OR = 3.533; CI 1.251-9.981) was associated with an increased likelihood of resolution of the clinical signs whilst contrast enhancement of cranial nerves VII and/or VIII on MRI (P = 0.018, OR = 0.432; CI 0.251-0.868) was associated with a decreased chance of resolution of the clinical signs. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic vestibular disease is the most common cause of peripheral vestibular dysfunction in dogs and it is associated with advanced age. Incomplete recovery from peripheral vestibular disease is common, especially in dogs presenting with cranial nerve enhancement on MRI but less so if there is previous history of vestibular episodes.

Evaluation of concurrent analysis of cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from the cerebellomedullary cistern and lumbar subarachnoid space for the diagnosis of steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether concurrent analysis of CSF samples from 2 collection sites (cerebellomedullary cistern [CMC] and lumbar subarachnoid space [LSS]) versus only 1 site could improve the diagnostic sensitivity of CSF analysis for dogs with suspected steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA). ANIMALS: 111 client-owned dogs with SRMA diagnosed at 3 veterinary referral hospitals between 2011 and 2017. PROCEDURES: Only dogs with CSF collected from both sites (CMC and LSS) and with no previous history of corticosteroid administration were included. Medical record data and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with having a total nucleated cell concentration (TNCC) within the reference interval in a CSF sample from 1 collection site. RESULTS: The TNCC was within the reference interval (TNCC < 5 cells/µL) in the CSF sample from 1 collection site for 8 of 111 (7%) dogs and was only slightly high (TNCC, 5 to 9 cells/µL) in the sample from 1 or both sites for 10 (11%) other dogs. For each of these 18 dogs, results for samples from 1 site were consistent with SRMA. The proportion of CSF samples that had a TNCC within the reference interval was comparable between sites. As age increased, so did the risk of having an unremarkable TNCC in the CSF sample from 1 site, albeit only slightly (OR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 1.16). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CSF samples from both the CMC and LSS should be analyzed when evaluating dogs with suspected SRMA to improve the chance of detecting a high TNCC.

Thoracic vertebral canal stenosis due to articular process hypertrophy in two cats treated by hemilaminectomy with partial osteotomy of the spinous process.

CASE SUMMARY: A 9-year-old neutered female British Shorthair cat (case 1) and a 13-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat (case 2) showed signs of chronic T3-L3 myelopathy, which progressed over 6 and 12 months, respectively. On presentation, case 1 had moderate pelvic limb proprioceptive ataxia and ambulatory paraparesis, and case 2 was non-ambulatory paraparetic and had urinary incontinence. Bilateral enlargement of the articular process joints at T11-T12 in case 1 and T3-T4 in case 2 causing dorsolateral extradural spinal cord compression was shown on MRI. Surgical decompression by a unilateral approach through hemilaminectomy with partial osteotomy of the spinous process was performed in both cases. The side of the approach was chosen based on the severity of the cord compression. Surgery resulted in a satisfactory outcome with short hospitalisation times. On discharge, case 1 showed mild postural reaction deficits on both pelvic limbs. Case 2 had regained urinary continence and could ambulate unassisted, although it remained severely ataxic. The 6 month follow-up showed very mild paraparesis and proprioceptive ataxia in both cats. No chronic medical treatment was required. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: This is the first report to describe clinical presentation, imaging features, surgical treatment and outcomes of thoracic vertebral canal stenosis owing to bilateral articular process hypertrophy in cats with no adjacent spinal diseases. Thoracic articular process hypertrophy should be included in the differential diagnosis of adult cats with chronic progressive myelopathy. Hemilaminectomy with partial osteotomy of the spinous process might be an appropriate surgical technique in these cases.

Anesthetic effects of isoflurane and propofol on cerebrospinal fluid biochemical markers in healthy dogs.

BACKGROUND: The study of brain energy metabolism (BEM) markers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a potential diagnostic and prognostic tool for many central nervous system (CNS) diseases. To date, in veterinary medicine, few studies are reporting physiologic ranges for some BEM markers. Recently, the influence of anesthetic drugs on BEM markers has been described in mice; subsequently, the study of CSF-BEM markers has gained increasing attention. OBJECTIVES: The effects of anesthetic agents on BEM are poorly understood in dogs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of propofol, isoflurane, and the duration of anesthesia on CSF-BEM markers in dogs. METHODS: Nine dogs were anesthetized at two different periods, one month apart. In the first period, the dogs were intravenously anesthetized with propofol (PRO-group), and in the second period, the dogs received inhalant anesthesia with isoflurane (ISO-group). In both cases, CSF and blood were collected 15 minutes (T0) and 3 hours after induction (T3) and analyzed for lactate, pyruvate, glucose, creatine kinase, glutamate, and electrolyte concentrations. RESULTS: CSF lactate (CSF-L) showed variation depending on the anesthetic agent and time, being significantly lower after 3 hours of anesthesia in the PRO-group and showing a trend to increase over time in the ISO-group. No changes were detected over time or between groups in CSF glutamate, glucose, or electrolytes. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support that the anesthetic drug choice and length of the general anesthesia should be considered when CSF-L analyses are interpreted in dogs.

Occurrence of Panagrellus (Rhabditida: Panagrolaimidae) Nematodes in a Morphologically Aberrant Adult Specimen of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae).

An aberrant specimen of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) also known as red palm weevil (RPW), the most economically important insect pest of palms in the world, was found among a batch of conspecifics reared for research purposes. A morphological analysis of this weevil revealed the presence of nematodes associated with a structured cuticle defect of the thorax. These nematodes were not able to be cultured, but were characterized by molecular analysis using 28S and 18S ribosomal DNA and shown to belong to the family Panagrolaimidae (Rhabditida), within a clade of Panagrellus. While most nematodes in the insect were juveniles, a single male adult was partially characterized by light microscopy. Morphometrics showed similarities to a species described from Germany. Excluding the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), only five other genera of entomophilic or saprophytic rhabditid nematodes are associated with this weevil. This is the first report of panagrolaimid nematodes associated with this invasive pest. Possible mechanisms of nematode-insect association are discussed.

Oscheius onirici sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae): a new entomopathogenic nematode from an Italian cave.

Oscheius onirici sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) was isolated from a karst cave soil of Central Italy. Molecular and morphological analyses were performed. Total DNA was extracted from individual nematodes and the mitochondrial COI, the ITS containing region, the D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA gene and the 18S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced. BLAST search at NCBI by using all molecular markers revealed that this taxon is similar to Oscheius species. Phylogenetic trees of ITS, 28S and 18S rDNA revealed that O. onirici sp. n. belongs to Dolichura-group. Oscheius onirici sp. n. is characterized by small body size and stoma rhabditoid type. Female reproductive system is amphidelphic. Males are rare with peloderan bursa, spicules slender and small, nine pairs of papillae of different lengths, arranged in a 1+1+1/3+3 pattern. Entomopathogenicity bioassay revealed that this nematode is capable of infecting larvae of Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor.

Uncommon acute neurologic presentation of canine distemper in 4 adult dogs.

Four uncommon cases of canine distemper (CD) were diagnosed in vaccinated adult dogs. All dogs had acute onset of neurologic signs, including seizures, abnormal mentation, ataxia, and proprioceptive deficits. Polymerase chain reaction for CD virus was positive on cerebrospinal fluid in 2 cases. Due to rapid deterioration the dogs were euthanized and CD was confirmed by postmortem examination.

Rare présentation neurologique aiguë de la maladie de Carré chez 4 chiens adultes. Quatre cas peu communs de maladie de Carré chez des chiens adultes vaccinés. Tous les cas ont présenté un début aigu ou suraigu des signes neurologiques, comportant principalement des crises épileptiques, altération de l'état mental, ataxie, et déficits proprioceptifs. Dans deux cas, la PCR a été positive à la maladie de Carré dans le liquide céphalorachidien. En raison de la progression rapide des signes, les chiens ont été euthanasiés et la maladie de Carré confirmée par la nécropsie.(Traduit par Ana Roman).

Rapid-cooling and storage of plant nematodes at -140 degrees C.

Low temperatures can assure the long-term or even indefinite preservation of important biological specimens. Nematode cryopreservation allows for the availability of large numbers of living nematodes at any one time, especially for experimental purposes. New isolates of Bursaphelenchus have recently been collected, including Bursaphelenchus eremus (Rühm) Goodey. This species was identified in north-central Italy on dying oak trees and from the bark beetle Scolytus intricatus Ratzeburg as dauer larvae. We therefore, sought to develop a cryopreservation technique for the long-term storage of all available Bursaphelenchus spp. The technique consists of a rapid-cooling protocol involving immersion in a liquid nitrogen bath before storage of the frozen samples in a mechanical freezer at -140 degrees C. The survival of nematodes subjected to this rapid-cooling protocol was higher than previously reported using slow-cooling methods and is suitable for several species of Bursaphelenchus and other phytoparasitic nematodes.