Sinusoidal endothelial cell and hepatic stellate cell phenotype correlates with stage of fibrosis in chronic liver disease in dogs.

We evaluated the extent of hepatic fibrosis in chronic liver disease of dogs using a modification of Ishak's staging criteria for human chronic liver disease, and examined the association of stage of fibrosis with immunophenotypic markers of transdifferentiation of hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic stellate cells. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, hematoxylin and eosin-stained liver biopsy specimens from 45 case dogs with chronic liver disease and 55 healthy control dogs were scored for the presence and extent of fibrosis. This stage score for fibrosis strongly correlated with upregulated von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression in lobular sinusoidal endothelial cells (Spearman correlation coefficient [SCC] = 0.57, p < 0.05). Immunoreactivity for vWF factor was identified in 68.9% of case biopsies, varying in distribution from periportal to diffuse, whereas vWF immunoreactivity was identified in only 14.5% of control specimens, and was restricted to the immediate periportal sinusoids. The majority of both case and control biopsies exhibited similar prominent lobular perisinusoidal expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). A minority of specimens (17.8% of case biopsies, 1.8% of control biopsies) exhibited low perisinoidal α-SMA expression, and there was a weak negative correlation between α-SMA expression and stage of fibrosis (SCC = -0.29, p = 0.0037). These results document a method for staging the severity of fibrosis in canine liver biopsies, and show a strong association between fibrosis and increased expression of vWF in hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells.

Fatal extraintestinal toxoplasmosis in a young male cat with enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes.

A 22-month-old indoor/outdoor neutered male domestic short-haired cat had a history of progressive lethargy, vomiting, and decreased appetite. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an irregular hyperechoic mass in the mid-abdomen. He was unresponsive to symptomatic medical management and was euthanized after 3 days of hospitalization. A diagnosis of disseminated extraintestinal toxoplasmosis was made based on the finding of intracytoplasmic protozoan parasites on histopathological examination of mesenteric lymph nodes, hepatic and intestinal samples, and on immunohistochemistry.

Toxoplasmose extra-intestinale mortelle chez un jeune chat mâle présentant des ganglions lymphatiques mésentériques enflés. Un chat domestique mâle stérilisé, d'intérieur et d'extérieur, âgé de 22 mois a été présenté avec une anamnèse d'abattement progressif et des vomissements ainsi qu'un appétit diminué. Une échographie abdominale a révélé une masse hyperéchogène irrégulière dans le milieu de l'abdomen. Il n'a pas répondu à une gestion médicale des symptômes et a été euthanasié après 3 jours d'hospitalisation. Un diagnostic de toxoplasmose extra-intestinale disséminée a été posé en se basant sur la découverte de parasites protozoaires intracytoplasmiques à l'examen histopathologique des ganglions lymphatiques mésentériques et des échantillons hépatiques et intestinaux ainsi qu'à l'immunohistochimie.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Protothecosis in a dog.

A case of a disseminated algal infection is reported in a young rough-coated collie dog with progressive neurologic deficits, blindness, and hemorrhagic diarrhea. Prototheca zopfii organisms were cultured from feces, urine, and blood. At necropsy, granulomas containing typical organisms were identified within the proximal colon, heart, kidneys, and eyes.

Protothécose chez un chien. Un cas d'infection algoïde est signalé chez un jeune chien Collie à poil court avec des troubles neurologiques progressifs, de la cécité et de la diarrhée hémorragique. Des organismes de type Prototheca zopfii ont été cultivés à partir des fèces, de l'urine et du sang. À la nécropsie, des granulomes contenant des organismes typiques ont été identifiés dans le côlon proximal, le cœur, les reins et les yeux.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Subclinical cecal impaction in a dog.

A 7-year-old, bichon frise dog was incidentally diagnosed with cecal impaction. Typhlectomy was performed as cecal rupture and resultant septic peritonitis appeared to be imminent. Histopathological evaluation did not identify an underlying cause for impaction and cecal dysmotility was suspected. Subclinical cecal impaction has not previously been reported in dogs.

Impaction cæcale subclinique chez un chien. Un diagnostic fortuit d'impaction cæcale a été posé chez un chien Bichon frisé âgé de 7 ans. Une typhlectomie a été réalisée, car une rupture cæcale et une péritonite septique résultante semblaient imminentes. L'évaluation histopathologique n'a pas identifié une cause sous-jacente pour l'impaction et la dysmotilité était soupçonnée. L'impaction cæcale subclinique n'a pas été précédemment signalée chez les chiens.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

The successful experimental induction of necrotic enteritis in chickens by Clostridium perfringens: a critical review.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most important enteric diseases in poultry and is a high cost to the industry worldwide. It is caused by avian-specific, Necrotic Enteritis Beta toxin (NetB)-producing, strains of Clostridium perfringens that also possess in common other virulence-associated genes. In Europe the disease incidence has increased since the ban on in-feed "growth promoting" antibiotics. Because of this, many recent studies of NE have focused on finding different ways to control the disease, and on understanding its pathogenesis. Frustratingly, reproduction of the disease has proven impossible for some researchers. This review describes and discusses factors known to be important in reproducing the disease experimentally, as well as other considerations in reproducing the disease. The critical bacterial factor is the use of virulent, netB-positive, strains; virulence can be enhanced by using tpeL- positive strains and by the use of young rather than old broth cultures to increase toxin expression. Intestinal damaging factors, notably the use of concurrent or preceding coccidial infection, or administration of coccidial vaccines, combined with netB-positive C. perfringens administration, can also be used to induce NE. Nutritional factors, particularly feeding high percentage of cereals containing non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) (wheat, rye, and barley) enhance disease by increasing digesta viscosity, mucus production and bacterial growth. Animal proteins, especially fish meal, enhance C. perfringens proliferation and toxin production. Other factors are discussed that may affect outcome but for which evidence of their importance is lacking. The review compares the different challenge approaches; depending on the aim of particular studies, the different critical factors can be adjusted to affect the severity of the lesions induced. A standardized scoring system is proposed for international adoption based on gross rather than histopathological lesions; if universally adopted this will allow better comparison between studies done by different researchers. Also a scoring system is provided to assist decisions on humane euthanasia of sick birds.

Oral thermal injury associated with puncture of a salbutamol metered-dose inhaler in a dog.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, diagnostic work-up, treatment, and outcome of a dog with oral thermal injury secondary to chewing on a salbutamol metered-dose inhaler (MDI). CASE SUMMARY: A Boxer dog was presented after chewing on a salbutamol MDI. The dog was anxious, tachycardic and had moderate hypokalemia. The dog was treated with potassium supplementation and discharged after 24-hour hospitalization. Five hours after the discharge, the dog represented for dysphagia, anorexia, cervical pain, and a left-sided head tilt. Oral examination revealed edematous and erythematous swelling of the soft palate causing airway compromise; histopathology demonstrated vascular necrosis and infarction. The dog was treated with supportive care including the placement of a tracheostomy tube. The dog recovered fully and was discharged 8 days after initial presentation. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Salbutamol toxicity has been documented previously in dogs but oral thermal injury associated with a salbutamol MDI has not been reported in dogs. Although a rare complication, dogs who have been exposed to MDIs should have a thorough oral exam and be monitored closely for signs of respiratory compromise.

Multilobular osteochondrosarcoma of the os penis in a dog.

Multilobular osteochondrosarcoma (MLO) of the os penis was diagnosed in a dysuric dog. Recurrence was confirmed or suspected twice over a 22-month period. This is the first reported case of MLO occurring in the os penis, and the 5th reported case of neoplasia of the os penis in the dog.