Sensitivity of Serologic Testing for Dogs Diagnosed with Coccidioidomycosis on Histology: 52 Cases (2012-2013).

Coccidioidomycosis, or Valley Fever, is a fungal infection caused by Coccidioides spp., soil-living fungi endemic to the southwest region of the United States. The infection can cause various diseases including respiratory, neurologic, cardiac, dermatologic, and ocular disease as well as osteomyelitis in dogs and many other mammals. Obtaining a definitive diagnosis can be challenging. Serology is commonly used as a screening diagnostic test for disease, but both false-negative and false-positive results have been reported. Fifty-two cases of coccidioidomycosis diagnosed via histopathology were retrospectively evaluated. The sensitivity of serology in the study population was determined to be 87% for immunoglobulin G and 46% for immunoglobulin M. The cases were evaluated for an association between negative serology results and anatomic location of disease, but these variables were found to be independent. This study reports the sensitivity of serology for canine coccidioidomycosis and highlights the importance of using multiple diagnostic tests for definitive diagnosis of infection.

Description and outcome of prosthetic ligament placement for stabilization of medial or dorsomedial tarsometatarsal joint luxation in dogs and cats: 16 cases (2004-2017).

OBJECTIVE: To describe prosthetic ligament placement for reduction and stabilization of medial or dorsomedial tarsometatarsal joint luxation in dogs and cats and to report complications and postoperative outcomes for patients that underwent that procedure. ANIMALS: 14 dogs and 2 cats with medial or dorsomedial tarsometatarsal joint luxation. PROCEDURES: The electronic database of a referral surgery practice was searched to identify records of dogs and cats with tarsometatarsal joint luxation that underwent prosthetic ligament placement between January 2004 and March 2017. For each study subject, information extracted from the medical record included signalment, a description of the tarsometatarsal joint injury, durations of anesthesia and surgery, and intraoperative and postoperative care and complications. Radiographic images were also reviewed. The long-term outcome for study subjects was assessed by administration of a standardized questionnaire to owners. RESULTS: Prosthetic ligament placement successfully stabilized the luxated tarsometatarsal joint in all 16 patients. Six patients developed minor postoperative complications, which included bandage-associated dermatitis or ulceration (n = 5) and orthopedic wire failure (1). No major or catastrophic complications were reported. All 13 owners who completed the questionnaire perceived that the described technique resulted in satisfactory long-term function for their pets. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that prosthetic ligament placement was a technically simple procedure that achieved satisfactory long-term stabilization of the tarsometatarsal joint in small animal patients with medial or dorsomedial luxation of the joint. Prosthetic ligament placement may be an alternative to arthrodesis for tarsometatarsal joint stabilization in appropriate patients.