Canine recurrent flank alopecia: a synthesis of theory and practice

Canine recurrent flank alopecia is a non-inflammatory, non-scarring alopecia of unknown etiology and has a visually striking clinical presentation. Although this disease entity is relatively common in the northern hemisphere, there is only scant information in the literature regarding case descriptions. The aim of this article was to review the literature and to describe clinical presentations recognized in practice, which are not always extensively documented in the literature

Mandibulair samengesteld odontoom bij een jonge bordercollie

A four-month-old, female Border collie was presented with a firm swelling of the left mandibular body. The most important differential diagnosis for this type of lesion in a young dog consists of a dentigerous cyst, a papillary squamous cell carcinoma or an odontoma. Intra-oral radiographs were taken and a biopsy was performed to reach a diagnosis. Histopathologic examination revealed a compound ondontoma and the dog was surgically treated. Follow-up showed uneventful healing of the wound and no signs of recurrence were visible on the three-month postoperative radiographs

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography imaging of a carotid body tumor in a dog

A 5-year-old castrated male Labrador Retriever was presented to a referring veterinarian for a swelling in the neck region. Based on the results of histopathology, a carotid body tumor, was diagnosed. The dog was referred to a medical imaging unit for further staging and follow up. This report describes the magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomographic (CT) appearance of a carotid body tumor

Congenital cutaneous fibropapillomatosis in a warmblood foal

In this report, clinical and histological findings of a rare case of a large congenital fibropapilloma on the forehead of a warmblood foal are reported. Surgical excision was curative and no recurrence was observed after nine months. The foal did not present any other abnormalities. Morphologically, the lesion was classified as a fibro-epithelial type of skin hamartoma. The fibrous component has thus far only been reported in pigs. Although fibropapillomas are common in adult animals and are associated with papillomavirus infection, this association has not been demonstrated in foals and piglets. Additionally, there were no histopathological indications of papillomavirus infection in the present study, nor could PCR reveal the presence of papillomavirus DNA

Portal vein hypoplasia in dogs

Portal vein hypoplasia (PVH) is a congenital disorder, in which microscopic intrahepatic shunts are present, causing blood to bypass the liver sinusoids. As the clinical presentation and the laboratory findings are similar to those in dogs with an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS), differentiation between both disorders is based on the confirmation of a macroscopic shunt by diagnostic imaging techniques. This review highlights the major aspects of PVH, including the differentiation from EHPSSs, and the challenges to diagnose both disorders in dogs with concurrent PVH and EHPSS

Multipele dermoïd sinuscysten op de kop van een dwergschnauzer

A one-year-and-nine-months-old, neutered, female Miniature schnauzer was presented to the primary care veterinarian with a skin lesion between the eyebrows. There were multiple papulae present at birth, and later, small fistulae with protruding hair bundles appeared. Topical antibiotic therapy and epilation of the hairs only brought temporary relief and a presumptive diagnosis of dermoid sinus cysts was made. The dog was referred and the skin lesions were surgically excised. During histopathological examination, the lesion was diagnosed as multiple dermoid sinus cysts, a consequence of the incomplete separation of the ectoderm during embryogenesis. Depending on the depth of the tubular dermal invaginations and the location of the lesions, different types have been recognized. This is the third dog described in the literature with dennoid sinus cysts on the head

Development of a non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor and a duodenal ulceration after cholecystoduodenostomy in a cat

A six-year-old Ragdoll with previous extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction due to cholangio-hepatitis, treated with cholecystoduodenostomy, was presented for acute vomiting, hyporexia, and weight loss. Abdominal ultrasound examination revealed randomly distributed hepatic nodules and dilated biliary ducts. Gastroduodenoscopy showed a patent cholecystoduodenostoma but disclosed a perforated duodenal ulceration. Conversion to celiotomy revealed extensive liver pathology, a discrete pancreatic nodule, and a duodenal ulcer opposite to the cholecystoduodenostoma. The cat was euthanized intra-operatively and necropsy was performed. The intrahepatic biliary tract of the right liver lobes was obstructed and severely dilated, whereas bile from the left lobes drained through the cholecystoduodenostoma. Histopathologic diagnoses were a primary pancreatic tumor, positive for glucagon on immunohistochemistry, with liver meta-stases, chronic purulent cholecystitis, and duodenal ulceration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in which the development of pancreatic neoplasia is described in a cat with a history of biliary tract disease

Titanium mesh reconstruction of a dog's cranium after multilobular osteochondrosarcoma resection

An eleven-year-old cavalier King Charles spaniel was presented with a large mass arising from the sagittal crest of the skull. Computed tomography also revealed an intracranial component. A histological diagnosis of multilobular osteochondrosarcoma grade 1 was made from surgical biopsies. Since this tumor type has a moderate aggressive biological behavior characterized by a slow growth, compression of adjacent structures, and only a 30% metastatic rate, surgical resection was performed. A wide partial craniectomy was performed, the skull defect was reconstructed with a designated custom designed titanium mesh and the skin defect closed with a local subdermal plexus flap technique. Histologic evaluation indicated clean surgical margins, which may lead to a long-term survival in this low-grade tumor. Approximately seventeen months after surgical resection, the dog showed no signs of local tumor recurrence or metastasis

HIV prevalence and associated risk factors among individuals aged 13-34 years in Rural Western Kenya.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate HIV prevalence and characterize risk factors among young adults in Asembo, rural western Kenya. DESIGN: Community-based cross-sectional survey. METHODS: From a demographic surveillance system, we selected a random sample of residents aged 13-34 years, who were contacted at home and invited to a nearby mobile study site. Consent procedures for non-emancipated minors required assent and parental consent. From October 2003 - April 2004, consenting participants were interviewed on risk behavior and tested for HIV and HSV-2. HIV voluntary counseling and testing was offered. RESULTS: Of 2606 eligible residents, 1822 (70%) enrolled. Primary reasons for refusal included not wanting blood taken, not wanting to learn HIV status, and partner/parental objection. Females comprised 53% of 1762 participants providing blood. Adjusted HIV prevalence was 15.4% overall: 20.5% among females and 10.2% among males. HIV prevalence was highest in women aged 25-29 years (36.5%) and men aged 30-34 years (41.1%). HSV-2 prevalence was 40.0% overall: 53% among females, 25.8% among males. In multivariate models stratified by gender and marital status, HIV infection was strongly associated with age, higher number of sex partners, widowhood, and HSV-2 seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS: Asembo has extremely high HIV and HSV-2 prevalence, and probable high incidence, among young adults. Further research on circumstances around HIV acquisition in young women and novel prevention strategies (vaccines, microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis, HSV-2 prevention, etc.) are urgently needed