Hookworm dermatitis due to Uncinaria stenocephala in a dog from Saskatchewan.

Uncinaria stenocephala hookworm dermatitis (uncinariosis) was diagnosed on fecal examination and macerated skin biopsy in a 1.5-year-old greyhound dog from Saskatchewan. This is the first reported case in Canada. Treatment with moxidectin cleared gastrointestinal and dermal infections.

Dermatite de l'ankylostomiase causée parUncinaria stenocephalachez un chien de la Saskatchewan. La dermatite de l'ankylostomiase à Uncinaria stenocephala (uncinariose) a été diagnostiquée à l'examen fécal et lors d'une biopsie de la peau macérée chez un chien Greyhound âgé de 1 an et demi provenant de la Saskatchewan. Il s'agit du premier cas signalé au Canada. Le traitement à la moxidectine a guéri les infections gastro-intestinales et cutanées.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

An exon 53 frameshift mutation in CUBN abrogates cubam function and causes Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome in dogs.

Cobalamin malabsorption accompanied by selective proteinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder known as Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome in humans and was previously described in dogs due to amnionless (AMN) mutations. The resultant vitamin B12 deficiency causes dyshematopoiesis, lethargy, failure to thrive, and life-threatening metabolic disruption in the juvenile period. We studied 3 kindreds of border collies with cobalamin malabsorption and mapped the disease locus in affected dogs to a 2.9Mb region of homozygosity on canine chromosome 2. The region included CUBN, the locus encoding cubilin, a peripheral membrane protein that in concert with AMN forms the functional intrinsic factor-cobalamin receptor expressed in ileum and a multi-ligand receptor in renal proximal tubules. Cobalamin malabsorption and proteinuria comprising CUBN ligands were demonstrated by radiolabeled cobalamin uptake studies and SDS-PAGE, respectively. CUBN mRNA and protein expression were reduced ~10 fold and ~20 fold, respectively, in both ileum and kidney of affected dogs. DNA sequencing demonstrated a single base deletion in exon 53 predicting a translational frameshift and early termination codon likely triggering nonsense mediated mRNA decay. The mutant allele segregated with the disease in the border collie kindred. The border collie disorder indicates that a CUBN mutation far C-terminal from the intrinsic factor-cobalamin binding site can abrogate receptor expression and cause Imerslund-Gräsbeck syndrome.

Serum C-reactive protein concentrations in healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs.

BACKGROUND: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive marker for inflammation in people and dogs. In people, an association between CRP concentration and atherosclerosis has been reported. Atherosclerosis is rare in dogs, but the Miniature Schnauzer breed may be at increased risk for developing this vascular disease. It is not known if CRP concentrations in Miniature Schnauzer dogs differ from those in other dog breeds. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to validate an automated human CRP assay for measuring CRP in dogs and compare CRP concentrations in healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs with those in non-Miniature Schnauzer breeds. METHODS: Sera from 37 non-Miniature Schnauzer dogs with inflammatory disease were pooled and used to validate a human CRP immunoturbidimetric assay for measuring canine CRP. Blood was collected from 20 healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs and 41 healthy dogs of other breeds. Median serum CRP concentration of healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs was compared with that of healthy non-Miniature Schnauzer dogs. RESULTS: The human CRP assay measured CRP reliably with linearity between 0 and 20 mg/L. CRP concentration for healthy Miniature Schnauzer dogs (median 4.0 mg/L, minimum-maximum 0-18.2 mg/L) was significantly higher than for the healthy non-Miniature Schnauzer dogs (median 0.1 mg/L, minimum-maximum 0-10.7 mg/L); 17 of the 20 Miniature Schnauzer dogs had values that overlapped with those of the non-Miniature Schnauzer dogs. CONCLUSIONS: Median CRP concentration of Miniature Schnauzer dogs was slightly higher than that of other breeds of dogs. A relationship between higher CRP concentration in Miniature Schnauzer dogs and idiopathic hyperlipidemia, pancreatitis, and possible increased risk for atherosclerosis remains to be determined.

Safety and palatability of polyethylene glycol 3350 as an oral laxative in cats.

Recurrent constipation is a common problem in cats. Laxatives often are the cornerstone for management of recurrent constipation; however, there is a paucity of published research on laxative use in cats. This study investigated the safety and palatability of polyethylene glycol (PEG3350) in normal cats. All cats consumed the PEG3350 laxative for 4 weeks without changes in weight or food intake. In all cats soft stools were achieved. Effective doses varied widely in experimental cats, so individualized dosing is important. Mild, non-clinical hyperkalemia was noted although the cause is unknown.

Effect of serum storage, anti-inflammatory oral doses of prednisone, and spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism on serum glutamate dehydrogenase activity in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) is a mitochondrial enzyme with highest activity in periacinar hepatocytes. It is reported to be a sensitive indicator of hepatic injury; however, results of studies regarding tissue specificity are contradictory. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study reported here was to examine the effect of 3 factors on serum GLDH activity in dogs: serum storage, anti-inflammatory oral doses of prednisone, and spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism (HAC). METHODS: Stability of enzyme activity was determined by comparing serum samples stored at approximately 20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and 20 degrees C for 4, 24, 48, and 72 hours, 1 week, and 6 months. To determine whether orally administered prednisone affected GLDH activity, the median difference in serum GLDH activity was compared between 5 untreated control dogs and 8 dogs that had received a tapering oral dose of prednisone. Lastly, GLDH enzyme activity was compared between 17 dogs with HAC and 16 age-matched controls. RESULTS: GLDH activity remained stable for 48 hours, 1 week, and 6 months, in serum stored at approximately 20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and 20 degrees C, respectively. The median change in GLDH activity was not significantly different between dogs receiving prednisone and controls; however, dogs with HAC had significantly higher values than those of age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Serum samples should be maintained at 4 degrees C if analysis of GLDH activity will be delayed by >48 hours; serum stored at 20 degrees C yields reliable results for up to 6 months. Serum GLDH activity was not increased in most dogs receiving short-term, anti-inflammatory oral doses of prednisone, in contrast to its increased activity in dogs with HAC.

Mycoplasma haemofelis and Mycoplasma haemominutum detection by polymerase chain reaction in cats from Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Hemobartonellosis is caused by Mycoplasma haemofelis, previously known as Haemobartonella felis. Cats infected with this organism typically develop regenerative anemia. The related species Mycoplasma haemominutum may also cause anemia. The purposes of this study were to use polymerase chain reaction technology to determine if both organisms exist in naturally infected cats from Saskatchewan and Alberta, and to determine if disease manifestation corresponds to mycoplasma species. Thirteen of 18 cats with regenerative anemia were infected, 12 with M. haemofelis and 1 with M. haemominutum. Eight of 22 cats with nonregenerative anemia were infected, 4 with M. haemofelis and 4 with M. haemominutum. Two of 20 cats with normal complete blood (cell) counts were infected with M. haemominutum. Although both mycoplasma species were identified, ill cats were more often infected with M. haemofelis.

Feline mammary adenocarcinoma: tumor size as a prognostic indicator.

Mammary carcinomas and adenocarcinomas (MACs) are relatively common tumors in cats. The postexcisional survival period of affected cats is inversely proportional to tumor size, but the reported median survival periods for different tumor size categories is quite variable. This variability diminishes the prognostic value of reported data. In our study, cats with MACs greater than 3 cm in diameter had a 12-month median survival period, whereas those with MACs less than 3 cm in diameter had a 21-month survival period. Survival periods for cats with MACs smaller than 3 cm ranged from 3 to 54 months; therefore, tumor size alone is of limited prognostic value in cats with MACs smaller than 3 cm in diameter. In cats with MACs larger than 3 cm in diameter, tumor size appears to have much higher prognostic relevance, because this study, as well as others, have indicated that cats with MACs greater than 3 cm in diameter have a poor prognosis, with median survival periods ranging from 4 to 12 months.

Hematology of equine fetuses with comparisons to their dams.

The Hematologic values of 19 equine fetuses between 202 and 238 days gestation were compared with those of their dams. The red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were significantly lower in fetal blood, while the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and red cell distribution width were significantly higher. Mares had a significantly higher nucleated blood cell count than fetuses, and all nucleated cells were leukocytes (WBC). Most WBC in mare blood were segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes. In contrast, over one-half of the nucleated cells in fetal blood were nucleated RBC, and the majority of WBC in fetal blood were lymphocytes. Mares also had significantly higher plasma protein and fibrinogen concentrations than their fetuses. Mild macrocytosis and mild polychromasia were observed in most fetal blood samples, but not in blood samples from mares. All fetal blood contained reticulocytes, and most samples contained Heinz bodies and Howell-Jolly bodies. The results of this study will contribute to the development of hematologic reference values that may be useful in equine fetal research and, possibly, in the diagnosis of equine fetal disease.