Spontaneous pneumothorax associated with Aspergillus bronchopneumonia in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of pulmonary aspergillosis in a previously healthy dog that manifested as a spontaneous pneumothorax. CASE SUMMARY: A 3-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog was presented with inappetence and respiratory distress. Thoracic radiography revealed a right-sided pneumothorax. Following stabilization, thoracic computed tomography found 1 large and many small pulmonary blebs in the right caudal lung lobe. The dog underwent a right lateral thoracotomy, identifying numerous emphysematous regions in the right middle lung lobe, and a right middle lung lobectomy was performed. Histopathologic examination of the resected lung lobe revealed severe, diffuse bronchopneumonia with necrotizing pleuritis and the presence of fungal organisms strongly suggestive of Aspergillus sp. Surgical removal of the affected lung lobe and continued medical treatment with itraconazole resolved the dog's clinical signs. NEW INFORMATION PROVIDED: This report describes the successful surgical and medical management of Aspergillus bronchopneumonia in a dog presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax.

Retrospective evaluation of presenting temperature of urethral obstructed male cats and the association with severity of azotemia and length of hospitalization: 243 cats (2006-2009).

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the presenting rectal temperature and level of azotemia predicts the length of hospitalization (LOH) in a population of obstructed male cats. To describe the relationships between physical examination parameters, blood electrolytes, and azotemia in a clinical population of obstructed male cats. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SETTING: Emergency and referral specialty hospitals. ANIMALS: Two hundred and forty-three male cats that presented with urethral obstruction between 2006 and 2009. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No significant association between the hours of hospitalization and rectal temperature was detected (P = 0.39). Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) concentrations were positively correlated with LOH (P < 0.01). BUN and CREA were significantly higher (P < 0.01) for the hypothermic group compared to the normothermic group. Potassium was negatively correlated to heart rate and rectal temperature but positively correlated to BUN and CREA. CONCLUSION: No association with regard to rectal temperature and LOH could be demonstrated in this population of cats. However, the presence of azotemia in obstructed male cats appears to provide the clinician with additional information regarding the necessary LOH and eventual cost to the client.

Therapy and outcome of suspected alpha lipoic acid toxicity in two dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To report a suspected toxicity in 2 dogs; to discuss therapy and prognosis. SERIES SUMMARY: Suspected alpha lipoic acid (ALA) toxicity was diagnosed based on clinical history and compatible laboratory findings in 2 dogs. Case 1 was presented within 10 hours of ALA ingestion, with initial behavioral changes likely due to hypoglycemia. During the course of hospitalization, hypoglycemia persisted and evidence of acute hepatic insult developed. With aggressive supportive care (including IV fluids with dextrose supplementation, hepatoprotective medications, and a plasma transfusion), he made a full recovery. Case 2 was presented approximately 60 hours after ALA ingestion, and was found to be in oliguric renal failure. She was treated with IV fluids, gastroprotective medications, and furosemide, but her condition deteriorated and she was ultimately euthanized within 16 hours of admission to the hospital. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: ALA is an uncommon but serious toxin that should be considered in cases presenting with hypoglycemia, acute renal failure, or acute hepatic insult.

Myoplasmic calcium regulation in myotubes from horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether alterations in myoplasmic calcium regulation can be identified in muscle cell cultures (myotubes) and intact muscle fiber bundles derived from Thoroughbreds affected with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER). ANIMALS: 6 related Thoroughbreds with RER and 8 clinically normal (control) Thoroughbred or crossbred horses. PROCEDURES: Myotube cell cultures were grown from satellite cells obtained from muscle biopsy specimens of RER-affected and control horses. Fura-2 fluorescence was used to measure resting myoplasmic calcium concentration as well as caffeine- and 4-chloro-m-cresol (4-CMC)-induced increases in myoplasmic calcium. In addition, intact intercostal muscle fiber bundles were prepared from both types of horses, and their sensitivities to caffeine- and 4-CMC-induced contractures were determined. RESULTS: Myotubes of RER-affected and control horses had identical resting myoplasmic calcium concentrations. Myotubes from RER-affected horses had significantly higher myoplasmic calcium concentrations than myotubes from control horses following the addition of > or = 2mM caffeine; however, there was no difference in their response to 4-CMC (> or = 1 mM). Caffeine contracture thresholds for RER and control intact muscle cell bundles (2 vs 10mM, respectively) were significantly different, but 4-CMC contracture thresholds of muscle bundles from RER-affected and control horses (500 microM) did not differ. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An increase in caffeine sensitivity of muscle cells derived from a family of related RER-affected horses was detected in vitro by use of cell culture with calcium imaging and by use of fiber bundle contractility techniques. An alteration in muscle cell calcium regulation is a primary factor in the cause of this heritable myopathy.