Aortic Stenosis in Dogs and Cats: Past, Present and Future

Aortic stenosis is one of the three most common congenital heart defects in dogs and less frequent in cats. Most dogs or cats have subvalvular type of stenosis; valvular or supravalvular types are less frequent. Heart failure is seldom a consequence of aortic stenosis; most dogs with heart failure have a concurrent disease. The most common accompanying diagnosis is pulmonic stenosis, especially in the Boxer breed. Screening programs seem to have efficiently lowered the incidence of aortic stenosis in dogs. Genetic evidence for aortic stenosis has been shown in Golden Retriever, Newfoundland and Dogue de Bordeaux; however, the genetic background of aortic stenosis at molecular level remains unclear

Obstructive urolithiasis and secondary bacterial urethritis and nephritis in a swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)

Mokraćni kamenci relativno su česti u većine domaćih životinja. Njihova učestalost, te koja će se vrsta kamenca razviti, ovisi o životinjskoj vrsti i nizu predispozicijskih čimbenika. Općenito su najčešće i najvažnije vrste kamenaca u domaćih životinja silikatni, struvitni, uratni, oksalatni i ksantinski. S druge strane, spoznaje o mokraćnim kamencima u klokana relativno su oskudne. Čini se da su najčešći kamenci u životinja iz roda klokana oni od kalcijeva karbonata ili nekog srodnog spoja s kalcijem. U ovom su osvrtu, koristeći se slučajem močvarnog valabija iz zoološkog vrta koji je uginuo od posljedica urolitijaze i sekundarne bakterijske infekcije mokraćnog sustava, s patološkog aspekta objašnjeni čimbenici koji dovode do urolitijaze, vrste urolita te morfologija nastalih lezija.Uroliths are relatively common in most domestic species. Their frequency and type vary significantly in relation to the animal species and various predisposing conditions. Generally, the most common and most important types of uroliths in domestic animals include silica, struvite, urate, oxalate, and xanthine calculi. On the other hand, data about urolithiasis in the animals of the Macropodidae family are relatively scarce. It seems that the most common type of calculi in the Macropodidae family is from calcium carbonate, or some other similar calcium compound. This report describes the pathological aspects of a case of a Zoo-held swamp wallaby that succumbed to urolithiasis and secondary bacterial infection of the urinary system. It underlines the factors that lead to urolithiasis, types of uroliths, and the morphology of lesions in such cases

Atipični aktinomikotični piogranulom frontalne i parijetalne regije u srne (Capreolus capreolus) - prikaz slučaja

Actinomycosis is a rare infectious bacterial disease that affects domestic and wild ruminants, horses, small carnivores, monkeys, rabbits, birds and humans. Actinomyces spp. are gram-positive, acid-fast-negative filamentous bacteria which can grow anaerobically and cause abscesses and pyogranulomatous inflammation. In this report, a case of an atypical actinomycotic pyogranuloma due to Actinomyces sp. of the frontal and parietal region of the head in a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is described. Based on the gross and histopathological findings and bacterial culture results, a diagnosis of extrafacial actinomycosis affecting the neurocranial part of the skull and soft tissues of the frontal and parietal regions was made.Aktinomikoza je rijetka zarazna bakterijska bolest koja zahvaća domaće i divlje preživače, konje, male mesojede, majmune, kuniće, ptice i ljude. Bakterije Actinomyces spp. jesu gram-pozitivne, filamentne bakterije koje se boje Ziehl-Neelsenovim bojenjem, a mogu rasti anaerobno te uzrokovati apscese i piogranulomatoznu upalu. U ovom se radu opisuje slučaj atipičnog aktinomikotičnog piogranuloma uzrokovanog bakterijom Actinomyces sp. u frontalnoj i parijetalnoj regiji glave srne (Capreolus capreolus). Na temelju makroskopskog i histopatološkog nalaza te bakteriološke pretrage ustanovljena je dijagnoza ekstrafacijalne aktinomikoze koja je zahvatila neurokranijalni dio lubanje i meka tkiva frontalne i parijetalne regije

Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin of different types of cutaneous tumours in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Mast cell tumour, sebaceous gland adenoma, and less common squamous papilloma are skin tumours in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), and early excisional surgery is usually the treatment of choice. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of electrochemotherapy (ECT), a new, minimally invasive non-surgical method, as first treatment option of different types of ferret skin tumours located on surgically difficult sites. Materials and methods A 5-year-old castrated male ferret with two cutaneous masses, presenting 4 months apart and a 7-year-old spayed female ferret with two cutaneous masses, that appeared simultaneously on two locations are presented. In the first patient, both masses were diagnosed as mast cell tumours, and in the second patient, squamous papilloma and sebaceous adenoma were diagnosed. One session of ECT with bleomycin injected intratumourally was applied in all tumours. Results Complete response (CR) of all tumours was obtained, without recurrence during observation period of 15 months after ECT for first tumour and 11 months after ECT of the tumour located on the right hock in first patient, and 8 months after treatment for the second patient. Conclusions In present study, ECT with bleomycin proved to be safe and effective against different cutaneous tumours in ferrets. Due of good results, low cost and relatively easy procedure, ECT could be the treatment of choice instead of surgery for the selected skin tumours in ferrets

VIVIPARITY IN SNAKES – HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FETUS, FETAL MEMBRANES AND OVIDUCT IN EMERALD TREE BOA (Corallus caninus)

Viviparity is an important reproductive mode in reptiles from an evolutionary perspective. Viviparous reproduction is associated with certain physiological changes, probably in response to inadequate environmental conditions for egg development. Unlike in oviparous species, embryos remain and develop in the oviduct until birth. In order for the developing embryo to exchange respiratory gasses, water, and food, a placenta is required, which consists of fetal membranes that interact with the maternal oviduct. About 20% of squamates (snakes and lizards) are viviparous, but the morphology of the snake placenta has been studied only in the subfamilies Thamnophiinae and Hydrophiinae. Our objective was to study the structure of the placental layers and fetus in situ in the maternal oviduct of a 6-year-old Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus). Five fertilized and three unfertilized slugs were found in the uterus during post mortem examination. The average mass of the slug with the fetus (48 mm length x 26 width) was 55–65 g and that of the unfertilized slug was 15–35 g. The fetal membranes and two fetuses were examined by light microscopy. Multiple projections of the tissue samples were made and cut into 5 μm thick paraffin tissue sections, which were stained with Haematoxylin-eosin, Toluidine blue, Goldner’s Trichrome and assessed immunohistochemically with monoclonal antibodies for cytokeratin. The morphology of the fetal membranes was described and found to have an anatomy similar to that of most squamates: a type I allantoplacenta. The structure of the oviduct and of the fertilized and unfertilized slug was described. This case report provides a better understanding of placental morphology in boids and expands the spectrum of viviparous squamate species described

Solid type primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma in a cat

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common nonodontogenic oral tumor in cats. In the jaw, it usually presents as an ulceroproliferative lesion associated with enlargement of the affected bone. Case presentation: This report describes the case of a cat in which clinical and radiographic findings of a mandibular swelling were suggestive of an aggressive process, but the oral mucosa was unaffected. The results of histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of the samples obtained from the intraosseous lesion were consistent with SCC. The animal was euthanized 5 months after initial presentation as a result of the severe progression of the disease, and no other primary tumors were identified at necropsy. Conclusions: Based on the clinicopathological, microscopic, and immunohistochemical staining features, as well as the absence of a primary tumor at a distant site, we propose that the term, solid type primary intraosseous SCC (PIOSCC), be used to describe this neoplasia, as it shares similar features with human PIOSCC

Clinical and histologic tissue responses of skin incisions closed with glycomer 631 and lactomer 9-1 using a subcuticular technique in pigs

Background: Glycomer 631 and lactomer 9–1 are absorbable suture materials indicated for soft tissue approximation in non-infected wounds. Pigs are often used as surgical models in translational researchhowever, reports of tissue reactions to both suture materials in pigs are limited. The aim of this study was to assess clinical and histologic responses of skin incisions closed with a subcuticular technique using glycomer 631 and lactomer 9–1 in pigs. Results: Skin incisions on 17 pigs were closed with glycomer 631 and lactomer 9–1, and a clinical reactive score (CRS) including erythema, swelling, discharge and dehiscence was calculated on postoperative days 7 and 14. Subcuticular tissue reaction was assessed histologically on postoperative day 14 (the presence of extravascular neutrophils, macrophages, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, bacterial colonies and the overall severity of the inflammatory response to the suture material), and the cumulative score of the variables was calculated as an aggregate tissue irritation score (ATIS). Tissue samples were examined for suture extrusion and evaluated microbiologically. The clinical reactive score did not differ between the suture materials. Only one ATIS variable, namely the overall severity of the inflammatory response, was lower (p = 0.029) when glycomer 631 was used. Suture extrusion was found in 10/17 of the incisions closed by glycomer 631 and in 7/13 of the incisions closed by lactomer 9–1. Trueperella pyogenes was isolated from the skin and from the area of tissue reaction in six pigs. Conclusions: No difference in CRS between the suture materials was observed, and thus both materials may be used for the subcuticular technique in pigs. Glycomer 631 induced less tissue reaction only in terms of the overall severity of the inflammatory response. Suture extrusion was observed in more than 50% of incisions regardless of the suture material, possibly due to a large amount of suture material in the wound. Trueperella pyogenes was the only pathogen isolated from the tissue surrounding the suture material