Retrospective study of clinical complications occurring after arterial punctures in 111 dogs.

The clinical complications occurring after 111 dogs had undergone arterial punctures were reviewed in relation to the dogs' breed, bodyweight, age, sex and underlying diseases. Seven of the dogs had moderate to extensive ecchymoses, which were significantly more common in dogs under 3.5 kg in bodyweight and in dogs with disorders of the cardiovascular system.

Acute fulminant sarcocystosis in a captive-born rhesus macaque.

A captive-born juvenile female rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) was acquired from a commercial breeder and placed in quarantine. Within 8 days of arrival, the animal became anorexic, inactive, and dehydrated. Subsequently, generalized edema and facial ecchymoses developed, and despite supportive therapy, the animal became moribund and was euthanatized. Macroscopic examination showed diffuse stippling and streaking of the myocardium. Histopathologic examination revealed multifocal to coalescing myocardial edema, necrosis, lymphohistiocytic inflammation, and generalized endothelial infection with Sarcocystis sp. Immature and mature schizonts within endothelial cells were most prevalent in the heart. Fewer schizonts were present in the vasculature of other tissues, including skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, adipose tissue, brain, and retina. Mature tissue cysts within muscle fibers were not found in the myocardium but were occasionally seen in skeletal muscle. Analysis of polymerase-chain-reaction-amplified 18s ribosomal RNA gene sequences revealed 96% identity to published sequences of S. hirsuta, S. hominis, and S. fusiformis and 95% identity to S. cruzi and S. tenella. However, sequences did not show complete identity with any organism in the GenBank database. Sequence homology suggests that this is a newly described Sarcocystis sp. Results of antibody tests for simian retrovirus, simian T-lymphotropic virus 1, and simian immunodeficiency virus were negative, suggesting that viral immunosuppression was unlikely to have augmented the pathogenicity of sarcosporidial infection. Clinical and histopathologic findings in this case of fulminant sarcosporidiosis are similar to those described in Dalmeny disease in cattle, which is associated with ingestion of massive numbers of infective Sarcocystis oocysts.

Cullen's sign and haemoglobinuria as presenting signs of retroperitoneal haemorrhage in a dog.

Haemoglobinuria and periumbilical discoloration (also known as Cullen's sign) are clinical signs uncommonly reported in veterinary patients. This report describes a case of retroperitoneal haemorrhage in a dog, associated with haemoglobinuria and Cullen's sign. To the authors' knowledge, these clinical signs have not previously been reported singularly or in combination with retroperitoneal haemorrhage in dogs. A neutered male Shetland sheepdog, which was presented for haematuria, also had an abdominal mass, abdominal pain and a large area of periumbilical discoloration. Laboratory studies determined that haemoglobinuria was the cause of the red-coloured urine. Abdominal radiographs suggested a splenic mass and a coeliotomy was performed. During the induction and throughout the anaesthetic period the dog was hypertensive and a large haematoma originating from the right retroperitoneal space was identified at surgery. The cause of the haemorrhage was uncertain but a ruptured phaeochromocytoma was thought possible on the basis of the persistent hypertension and the location of the haemorrhage.

The role of wild ruminants in the epidemiology of bovine petechial fever.

After experimental inoculation of Cytoecetes ondiri, the agent of bovine petechial fever (BPF), multiplication occurred in impala, bushbuck, Thomson's gazelles and wildebeest, as shown by infectivity studies and clinical findings. Similar attempts to infect one eland failed. As a sequel to this, blood and spleen samples were collected from four species of wild ruminants in an area where BPTF was endemic. Isolations of C. ondiri were made from three of five bushbuck, but not from any other species.