[Intraocular hemorrhage in a goat with thrombocytopenia and metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the iris]. / Intraokuläre Blutung bei einer Ziege mit Thrombozytopenie und Karzinommetastase in der Iris.

This case report describes the findings in a 10-year-old goat with metastasis of an adenocarcinoma in the iris. Two weeks before admission, the owner had noticed blepharospasm of the left eye. Clinical examination by the referring veterinarian revealed unilateral intraocular hemorrhage. The goat was referred to our clinic for further work-up. The rectal temperature was 40 degrees C. The most important haematological result was severe thrombocytopenia. There was mild corneal oedema of the left eye. Approximately 75 per cent of the anterior chamber was filled with non-coagulated blood. The fluid in the anterior chamber dorsal to the blood was cloudy, and the corpora nigra could not be seen clearly. All other internal parts of the eye could not be seen. Ultrasonography of the left eye confirmed cloudiness of the anterior chamber and revealed moderate thickening of the iris. The right prescapular lymph node was markedly enlarged. Cytological examination of a fine needle aspirate of the lymph node showed a mixed population of neoplastic cells. Based on immunohistochemical evaluation of the cells metastasis of a carcinoma was diagnosed. The goat was subjected to euthanasia, and a postmortem examination was carried out. The anterior chamber of the left eye contained blood, and the iris was thicker than normal and adhered to the posterior surface of the cornea. There were neoplastic alterations in the iris, the oesophagus, the lung lobes, the liver, the kidney and in the prescapular, retropharyngeal, mediastinal and hepatic lymph nodes. Histologically, a diagnosis of carcinoma was confirmed, but the origin of the tumour could not be determined.

The effect of intravenous magnesium hypophosphite in calcium borogluconate solution on the serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus in healthy cows.

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of intravenous (IV) administration of phosphite on the serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus in cows. Twelve clinically healthy cows were divided into four groups of three. All cows received 600 mL of a 40% calcium borogluconate solution; three cows each received this as a rapid (20 min) IV infusion with and without 6% magnesium hypophosphite, and three other cows each received this as a slow IV infusion (8 h) with and without 6% magnesium hypophosphite. Samples of blood were collected for the determination of serum concentrations of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium before and 10, 20, 40, 60 and 90 min and 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h after the start of treatment. The concentration of calcium increased after treatment in all cows but the increase was most rapid in cows that received the rapid infusion. In cows that received the rapid IV infusion containing magnesium hypophosphite, the mean concentration of inorganic phosphorus decreased significantly 3-4 h after treatment compared with initial serum levels. The serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus did not change significantly in cows that received the rapid IV solution without magnesium hypophosphite or the slow IV infusion with or without magnesium hypophosphite. The serum concentration of magnesium increased after treatment in all cows receiving magnesium hypophosphite but remained unchanged in the others. The rapid infusion of calcium borogluconate without magnesium hypophosphite made all three cows anorexic and hypercalcaemic and the slow infusion made 1/3 anorexic. It is concluded that the IV administration of a calcium solution containing magnesium hypophosphite does not increase the serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus.

[Treatment of parturient paresis with high-dose calcium]. / Behandlung der Gebärparese mit hochdosiertem Kalzium.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate a calcium dose that was higher than the conventional dose for treatment of parturient paresis in cows. Thirty cows with parturient paresis received 1000 ml of 40 per cent calcium borogluconate solution supplemented with 6 per cent magnesium hypophosphite. Cows in group A received 200 ml of the solution intravenously over a 10-minute period, and the remaining 800 ml via a slow intravenous drip over a six-hour period. Cows in group B received 500 ml of the solution intravenously over a 20-minute period, and the remaining 500 ml via a slow intravenous drip over a six-hour period. Afterwards, the cows were monitored continuously and examined every hour for eight hours. Samples of blood were collected from all the cows before treatment and at 10, 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420 and 480 minutes and 24, 48 and 72 hours after treatment. The concentrations of total calcium, ionised calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium were determined. Cows that did not stand within 12 hours of treatment received one or more additional treatments. There was no significant difference in the recovery rate between the two groups. Of the 30 cows, 14 (47 per cent) rised after one treatment and 15 others (50 per cent) were cured after two or more treatments. One cow did not respond to repeated treatments and was euthanased four days after the start of treatment. The results of electrolyte analyses before treatment did not differ significantly between the two groups. In 27 (90 per cent) cows, the concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus were lower than normal and in 3 (10 per cent) cows, only the concentration of inorganic phosphorus was lower than normal. The concentration of total calcium increased markedly ten minutes after the start of treatment in both groups, and at eight hours, the mean concentration of calcium was within the normal range. At 24 and 48 hours, the mean concentration of calcium was below normal, but at 72 hours it was again within the normal range. The concentration of inorganic phosphorus increased slowly in both groups, although it was not within the normal range at eight hours. In both groups, it achieved normal values at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The mean electrolyte concentrations did not differ significantly at any measuring point between cows that stood within eight hours of treatment and those that did not. Our results indicate that increasing the dose of calcium administered does not improve the recovery rate of cows with parturient paresis.

[Case report: tenesmus in a cow with a liver abscess and nephritis]. / Fallbericht. Tenesmus bei einer Kuh mit Leberabszess und Nephritis.

A two-year-old Swiss Braunvieh cow was referred to our clinic because of tenesmus and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed a moderately abnormal general behaviour and condition, thin body condition and a rectal temperature of 40.1 degrees C. Tenesmus was evident, and rumen and intestinal motility were markedly reduced. All tests for a reticular foreign body were positive. On rectal examination, a round, smooth, firm, non-painful mass with a diameter of approximately 15 cm was palpated far cranially on the right side. Abnormal haematological and biochemical findings included marked anaemia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, markedly elevated concentration of fibrinogen and mildly elevated gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity. The clotting time of the glutaraldehyde test was one minute. Ultrasonographic examination revealed abscesses involving the liver and extending caudally into the right flank region. The liver parenchyma had diffuse changes. Because of a grave prognosis, the cow was euthanized. Postmortem findings substantiated ultrasonographic results; there were abscesses, caused by Fasciola hepatica infestation, originating in the liver and extending into the right flank. As well, there was severe, bilateral, multifocal, suppurative nephritis due to thromboembolism. Based on all the findings, a diagnosis of liver abscess caused by fascioliasis and bilateral suppurative nephritis was made.