ABSTRACT
The most common form of muscular dystrophy in dogs and humans is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. The dystrophin gene is located on the X chromosome, and, therefore, disease-causing mutations in dystrophin occur most often in males. Therefore, females with dystrophin deficiency or other forms of muscular dystrophy may be undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze dystrophin and a number of other muscle proteins associated with muscular dystrophy in humans, including sarcoglycans and laminin alpha2, in muscle biopsy specimens from 5 female dogs with pathologic changes consistent with muscular dystrophy. The female dogs were presented with a variety of clinical signs including generalized weakness, muscle wasting, tremors, exercise intolerance, gait abnormalities, and limb deformity. Serum creatine kinase activity was variably high. One dog had no detectable dystrophin in the muscle; another was mosaic, with some fibers normal and others partly dystrophin-deficient. A 3rd dog had normal dystrophin but no detectable laminin alpha2. Two dogs could not be classified. This study demonstrates the occurrence of dystrophin- and laminin alpha2-associated muscular dystrophy and the difficulty in clinical diagnosis of these disorders in female dogs.
Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/diagnosis , Dystrophin/analysis , Laminin/analysis , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/diagnosis , Animals , Breeding , Creatine Kinase/blood , Dog Diseases/genetics , Dog Diseases/pathology , Dogs , Dystrophin/deficiency , Female , Immunohistochemistry , Laminin/deficiency , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/genetics , Muscular Dystrophy, Animal/pathologyABSTRACT
The diagnosis and management of seizures in the cat require an understanding of the more common diseases that predispose to feline epilepsy. Feline seizures may occur secondary to intracranial or extracranial disease. Intracranial causes include inflammatory, neoplastic, vascular, and traumatic disorders. Extracranial causes include various metabolic and toxic insults. Previous brain insults that are no longer active may leave "seizure foci." Idiopathic epilepsy is uncommon in the cat relative to the dog but should be considered if no cause can be found. Regardless of the etiology, ictal events in cats can manifest themselves in multiple forms and levels of severity. Therapy should be directed at controlling seizure frequency and treating the underlying cause. An aggressive diagnostic and therapeutic approach to feline epilepsy may improve prognosis and lead to a favorable outcome.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/etiology , Epilepsy/veterinary , Seizures/veterinary , Animals , Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Cat Diseases/therapy , Cats , Craniocerebral Trauma/complications , Craniocerebral Trauma/veterinary , Epilepsy/etiology , Epilepsy/therapy , Female , Inflammation/complications , Inflammation/veterinary , Male , Metabolic Diseases/complications , Metabolic Diseases/veterinary , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/veterinary , Poisoning/complications , Poisoning/veterinary , Seizures/diagnosis , Seizures/etiology , Vascular Diseases/complications , Vascular Diseases/veterinaryABSTRACT
Unlike the incidence of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), which appears to be increasing, headshaking is an uncommon problem for horses in Missouri and the adjacent states. Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis was incriminated in three horses examined for the treatment of headshaking on the basis of a neurological examination, an analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and their response to treatment. The headshaking and stereotypical behaviour associated with EPM was successfully treated with potentiated sulphonamides and pyrimethamine.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Encephalomyelitis/veterinary , Horse Diseases/drug therapy , Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use , Sarcocystis/isolation & purification , Sarcocystosis/veterinary , Stereotyped Behavior/drug effects , Sulfonamides/therapeutic use , Animals , Encephalomyelitis/drug therapy , Female , Head Movements , Horses , Male , Sarcocystosis/drug therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous closed drainage systems and prophylactic antibiotics on the wound breakdown rate in obese patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study was performed on 197 obese patients who were randomly selected to have a subcutaneous drain. Incision closure technique was standardized. Antibiotic usage was not randomized. Demographic data, perioperative data, and postoperative complications were noted and analyzed by X2 test and 2 x 2 contingency tables. RESULTS: The overall complication rate was 25%, with 20% (22/109) among the group receiving a drain versus 31% (27/88) without a drain. Seventeen patients (8.6%) had wound breakdowns: 7 of 109 (6.4%) with drains and 10 of 88 (11.4%) without drains. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to 46% (50/109) in the drain group and 51% (45/88) without a drain. Fewer patients (2%) with a drain receiving antibiotics had wound breakdowns. The group with the most breakdowns had neither a drain nor antibiotics (14%). CONCLUSION: We suggest the use of subcutaneous drains plus prophylactic antibiotics may decrease morbidity when operating on obese gynecologic patients.
