Retrospective evaluation of urinary tract infection in 42 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus or both.

A retrospective study was performed to determine the proportion of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus or both that had urinary tract infection (UTI) and to describe clinical and laboratory findings. Dogs with these endocrine disorders were included if results of quantitative urine culture were available and dogs were not receiving antimicrobials. Dogs with positive urine cultures were considered to have UTI and dogs with negative urine cultures were used as controls. Information including history, clinical signs, physical examination findings, and results of laboratory tests and urine culture was extracted from all records. Findings in dogs with UTI were compared with control dogs. There were 101 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus or both that met inclusion criteria; 42 (41.6%) had UTI and 59 (58.4%) did not. UTI was present in 46% of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, 37% of dogs with diabetes mellitus, and 50% of dogs with both endocrine disorders. There was no association between endocrine group and occurrence of UTI. Escherichia coli was the most common bacteria isolated, and cultures from 29 dogs (69%) showed growth of this organism. Of dogs with UTI, <5% had stranguria, pollakiuria, or discolored urine, whereas 60% had pyuria and 69% had bacteriuria. We conclude that UTIs are common in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, or both diseases. Clinical signs of UTI, however, are uncommon and results of urinalysis may be normal. Therefore, it is appropriate to recommend urine culture as part of the evaluation of dogs with these endocrine disorders.

Endoscopic aspiration of intestinal contents in dogs and cats: 394 cases.

Medical records from 394 dogs and cats that had endoscopic aspiration of intestinal contents for identification of Giardia sp. trophozoites were retrospectively reviewed. The most common indications for endoscopy were chronic vomiting (152), chronic diarrhea (108), chronic vomiting and diarrhea (58), and acute vomiting (33). Metronidazole had been previously administered to 111 animals (28.2%), and to 58.6% of those with chronic diarrhea. Six aspirate samples (1.5%) were positive for Giardia sp. In 3 of these cases a single fecal flotation identified Giardia cysts before endoscopy. The authors conclude that intestinal aspiration in animals from a primarily referral population undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy rarely identifies Giardia and should not be routinely performed. However, animals in which zinc sulfate flotation was not performed or those that did not previously receive metronidazole might benefit from intestinal aspiration.

Volumetric multiplexed transmission holography of the heart with echocardiographic data.

Three-dimensional imaging enhances delineation of cardiac anatomy and function. Currently, three-dimensional echocardiography involves complex rendering techniques to imply depth in a given image. Also, display of the final images on a video monitor neutralizes the volume information of the object. A hologram is a true, three-dimensional replica of the original object and does not entail complex data processing. Holography has not been used previously in cardiovascular imaging. In this experiment, 11 excised mammalian whole hearts and five isolated left ventricles were imaged in a water bath. Parallel, tomographic, echocardiographic images comprised the data source from which holograms were obtained by the technique of multiplexed holography. Holograms were mounted on a holographic film and viewed in a special viewing box. High-quality holograms were obtained from every data set. Excellent gray-scale discrimination allowed crisp visualization of cardiac structures and simulated diseases. Electronic sectioning and various projections optimized viewing of the three-dimensional anatomy in surgical orientations. Thus holograms can be produced from tomographic cardiac ultrasound data and could open a new avenue in three-dimensional echocardiography.