A series of heterogeneous lymphoproliferative diseases with CD3 and MUM1 co-expressed in cats and dogs.

Lymphoma diagnosis in dogs and cats is continually evolving as new subtypes and human correlates are being recognized. In humans, T-cell lymphomas with MUM1 expressed and plasma cell neoplasia or B-cell lymphomas with CD3 expressed aberrantly are reported only rarely. We report here a case series of tumors in dogs and cats with CD3 and MUM1 co-expressed as determined by immunocytochemistry or immunohistochemistry. Lineage was assigned for these tumors by 3 board-certified pathologists and a veterinary immunologist based on review of clinical and cellular features and the results of ancillary testing including PCR for antigen receptor rearrangements, flow cytometry, and serum protein electrophoresis with immunofixation. In cats, 7 of 7 tumors, and in dogs, 3 of 6 tumors with CD3 and MUM1 co-expressed had clonal rearrangement of the immunoglobulin gene or serum monoclonal immunoglobulin, consistent with a diagnosis of a plasma cell neoplasia or myeloma-related disorder with CD3 expressed aberrantly. Disease was often disseminated; notably, 3 of 7 feline cases had cutaneous and/or subcutaneous involvement in the tarsal area. In dogs, 3 of 6 cases had a clonal T-cell receptor gamma result and no clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement and were diagnosed as a T-cell tumor with MUM1 expressed. The use of multiple testing modalities in our series of tumors with plasma-cell and T-cell antigens in dogs and cats aided in the comprehensive identification of the lymphoproliferative disease subtype.

Vaccination of Elk (Cervus canadensis) with Brucella abortus Strain RB51 Overexpressing Superoxide Dismutase and Glycosyltransferase Genes Does Not Induce Adequate Protection against Experimental Brucella abortus Challenge.

In recent years, elk (Cervus canadensis) have been implicated as the source of Brucella abortus infection for numerous cattle herds in the Greater Yellowstone Area. In the face of environmental and ecological changes on the landscape, the range of infected elk is expanding. Consequently, the development of effective disease management strategies for wild elk herds is of utmost importance, not only for the prevention of reintroduction of brucellosis to cattle, but also for the overall health of the Greater Yellowstone Area elk populations. In two studies, we evaluated the efficacy of B. abortus strain RB51 over-expressing superoxide dismutase and glycosyltransferase for protecting elk from infection and disease caused by B. abortus after experimental infection with a virulent B. abortus strain. Our data indicate that the recombinant vaccine does not protect elk against brucellosis. Further, work is needed for development of an effective brucellosis vaccine for use in elk.

Effects of opioids and anesthetic drugs on body temperature in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine which class of opioid alone or in conjunction with other anesthetic drugs causes post-anesthetic hyperthermia in cats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. ANIMALS: Eight adult, healthy, cats (four spayed females and four castrated males weighing 3.8 +/- 0.6 kg). METHODS: Each cat was instrumented with a wireless thermistor in the abdominal cavity. Temperature in all phases was recorded every 5 minutes for 5 hours. Population body temperature (PBT) was recorded for approximately 8 days. Baseline body temperature is the final 24 hours of the PBT. All injectable drugs were given intramuscularly. The cats were administered drugs in four phases: 1) hydromorphone (H) 0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 mg kg(-1); 2) morphine (M) (0.5 mg kg(-1)), buprenorphine (BUP) (0.02 mg kg(-1)), or butorphanol (BUT) (0.2 mg kg(-1)); 3) ketamine (K) (5 mg kg(-1)) or ketamine (5 mg kg(-1)) plus hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg(-1)) (KH); 4) isoflurane in oxygen for 1 hour. Fifteen minutes prior to inhalant anesthetic, cats received either no premed (I), hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg(-1)) (IH), or hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg(-1)) plus ketamine (5 mg kg(-1)) (IHK). RESULTS: Mean PBT for all unmedicated cats was 38.9 +/- 0.6 degrees C (102.0 +/- 1 degrees F). The temperature of cats administered all doses of hydromorphone increased from baseline (p < 0.03) All four opioids (H, M, BUP and BUT) studied increased body temperature compared with baseline (p < 0.005). A significant difference was observed between baseline temperature values and those in treatment KH (p < 0.03). Following recovery from anesthesia, temperature in treatments IH and IHK was different from baseline (p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: All of the opioids tested, alone or in combination with ketamine or isoflurane, caused an increase in body temperature. The increase seen was mild to moderate (<40.1 degrees C (104.2 degrees F) and self limiting.