A Rare Case of Salmonella Spp. Osteomyelitis in a Dog

Osteomyelitis is an inflammatory condition of bone usually caused by infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi or viruses. The disease is characterized by systemic illness, pain and soft tissue swelling with visible radiographic alterations in bone. The most common bacteria isolated in cases of osteomyelitis in dogs and cats are Staphylococcus spp. (60% of cases), followed by Escherichia coli and Streptococcus spp. [1,2]. To our knowledge, this is the first canine case of Salmonella spp. osteomyelitis

Case report: Sublingual mucinosis in a dog

Oral focal mucinosis (OFM) is a rare clinic-pathological condition histologically similar to focal skin mucinosis and thus, OFM is considered as the oral counterpart of cutaneous focal mucinosis (1, 2). Cutaneous mucinosis refers to an excessive deposition of mucinous substance in the dermis that clinically manifests as a thickening of the skin or as a vesicular appearance (3, 4). A generalized cutaneous mucinosis, of likely genetic origin, occurs primarily in Shar-pei dogs, giving them its characteristic appearance (5). In other breeds, severe mucinosis is associated with secondary diseases such as intertrigo, bacterial infections and entropion, all of which can lead to severe deterioration in the health of the animal (6). In human, OFM was first described and named by Tomich in 1974 (1). Its pathogenesis is still unclear, but an increased production of hyaluronic acid (HA) by fibroblasts in expense of collagen production and myxoid degeneration is suggested (7, 8). Clinically, oral lesions often present as a small (<1 cm) submucosal, single, pink, and slow-growing asymptomatic nodule containing gelatinous material (8, 9). The gingiva and palate are the most affected sites (9, 10). OFM has already been reported in literature in a dog as a nodular lesion on the buccal mucosa (11). This is the first case described with this type of presentation

Prevalence of p53 dysregulations in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma and non-neoplastic oral mucosa

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant oral tumor in cats. The late presentation is one of the factors contributing to the detrimental prognosis of this disease. The immunohistochemical expression of the p53 tumor suppressor protein has been reported in 24% to 65% of feline oral squamous cell carcinomas, but no study has systematically evaluated in this tumor the presence of p53 encoding gene (TP53) mutations. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether p53 immunohistochemistry accurately reflects the mutational status of the TP53 gene in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma. Additionally, the prevalence of p53 dysregulation in feline oral squamous cell carcinoma was compared with that of feline non-neoplastic oral mucosa, in order to investigate the relevance of these dysregulations in cancer development. The association between p53 dysregulations and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and tumor characteristics was further assessed. Twenty-six incisional biopsies of oral squamous cell carcinomas and 10 cases each of lingual eosinophilic granuloma, chronic gingivostomatitis and normal oral mucosa were included in the study. Eighteen squamous cell carcinomas (69%) expressed p53 and 18 had mutations in exons 5\u20138 of TP53. The agreement between immunohistochemistry and mutation analysis was 77%. None of non-neoplastic oral mucosa samples had a positive immunohistochemical staining, while one case each of eosinophilic granuloma and chronic gingivostomatitis harbored TP53 mutations. Unlike previously hypothesized, p53 dysregulations were not associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. These results suggest an important role of p53 in feline oral tumorigenesis. Additionally, the immunohistochemical detection of p53 expression appears to reflect the presence of TP53 mutations in the majority of cases. It remains to be determined if the screening for p53 dysregulations, alone or in association with other markers, can eventually contribute to the early detection of this devastating disease

Use of a polypropylene prosthetic mesh to support traditional perineal herniorrhaphy in dogs

Scopo del progetto di dottorato è stato quello di mettere a punto l’utilizzo di una tecnica alternativa, rispetto a quelle riportate in letteratura, per la risoluzione dell’ernia perineale nel cane. Tale tecnica si propone di risolvere il difetto mediante l’ausilio di una rete protesica in polipropilene in supporto all’erniorrafia perineale tradizionale, mediante sutura a punti staccati dei muscoli che costituiscono il diaframma pelvico. Questa procedura risulta meno invasiva per l’animale rispetto alla tecnica che in letteratura viene definita il gold standard, ovvero la trasposizione del muscolo otturatore interno (Shaughnessy and Monnet, 2015), ed altre tecniche traspositive, quali la trasposizione del muscolo semitendinoso (Morello et al., 2015) e del gluteo superficiale (Bellenger & Canfield, 2002), con tempi di recupero postoperatori più rapidi e una gestione più semplice da parte del proprietario, pur mantenendo eccellenti outcomes. La messa a punto di questa procedura nasce dalla necessità di trovare una tecnica semplice da eseguire, che determini una chiusura del diaframma pelvico tale da evitare la comparsa di recidive e minimizzare le complicazioni post-operatorie. L’intento del progetto è stato di combinare l’erniorrafia perineale tradizionale con l’utilizzo di reti protesiche così da ricostruire il diaframma pelvico con i muscoli deputati a svolgere tale compito e fornire, tramite la rete, un maggiore supporto alla rafia, evitando le trasposizioni muscolari che comporterebbero un intervento più demolitivo e un recupero più lento da parte del paziente. Sono stati inclusi nello studio 30 cani portatori di ernia perineale, per un totale di 50 ernie, trattati con l’intervento proposto dal progetto. Di ogni caso sono stati raccolti il segnalamento, l’anamnesi, le indagini diagnostiche e i successivi follow up post-operatori considerando le eventuali complicazioni o la comparsa di recidiva dell’ernia.The aim of the PhD's project was to develop the use of an alternative technique, compared to those reported in the literature, for the resolution of perineal hernia in dogs. This technique aims to solve the defect with the help of a polypropylene prosthetic mesh in support of the traditional perineal herniorrhaphy, by suturing the muscles that make up the pelvic diaphragm with separate stitches. This procedure is less invasive for the animal than the technique which in the literature is defined as the gold standard, i.e. the transposition of the obturator internus muscle (Shaughnessy and Monnet, 2015), and other transposition techniques, such as transposition of the semitendinosus muscle (Morello et al., 2015) and gluteus superficialis (Bellenger & Canfield, 2002), with faster postoperative recovery times and easier management by the owner, while maintaining excellent outcomes. The development of this procedure stems from the need to find a simple technique to perform, which determines a closure of the pelvic diaphragm such as to avoid the appearance of recurrences and minimize post-operative complications. The intent of the project was to combine traditional perineal herniorrhaphy with the use of prosthetic mesh so as to reconstruct the pelvic diaphragm with the muscles assigned to perform this task and provide, through the mesh, greater support to the raffia, avoiding the muscular transpositions which would involve a more demolitive intervention and a slower recovery by the patient. Thirty dogs with perineal hernia were included in the study, for a total of 50 hernias, treated with the intervention proposed by the project. Reporting, anamnesis, diagnostic investigations and subsequent post-operative follow-ups were collected for each case, considering any complications or the appearance of recurrence of the hernia

Aloe barbadensis miller versus silver sulfadiazine creams for wound healing by secondary intention in dogs and cats: A randomized controlled study

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the topical application of Aloe barbadensis Miller (juice and fresh gel) to skin wounds, in dogs and cats, with that of topically applied silver sulfadiazine cream. The sample included 16 patients with cutaneous wounds (13 dogs and three cats) that were divided into three groups. Aloe vera â\u80\u9cjuiceâ\u80\u9d and â\u80\u9cfresh gelâ\u80\u9d were applied for groups I and II, respectively, while silver sulfadiazine was applied for the control group III. In order to evaluate the healing of wounds, the following parameters were taken into consideration: the percentage of wound shrinkage, the healing time and the macroscopic appearance of the scarring process. The interpretation of the data relating to the percentage of wound shrinkage showed a faster rate for groups I and II compared to that of group III. However, the wound shrinkage rates between â\u80\u9cjuiceâ\u80\u9d and â\u80\u9cfresh gelâ\u80\u9d protocols were not significantly different. Aloe vera was more effective than silver sulfadiazine, in accelerating wound shrinkage, reducing healing time and decreasing the severity of the associated injuries

Retrospective evaluation of an hand-sewn side-to-side intestinal anastomosis technique in dogs and cats

Background: Hand-sewn intestinal resection and anastomosis is commonly performed in veterinary medicine. The outcome of hand-sewn side-to-side anastomosis technique has never been described and compared to other techniques in dogs and cats. Aim: The aim of the study is to describe the side-to-side hand-sewn anastomosis technique in small animals and to compare it with the end-to-end technique. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of the clinical records of dogs and cats that underwent enterectomy between 2000 and 2020 and were treated with side-to-side or end-to-end anastomosis was performed. Results: Of the 52 dogs and 16 cats included in the study, 19 dogs and 6 cats received a side-to-side anastomosis, and the remaining received an end-to-end anastomosis. No intraoperative complication was reported. Short-term complication rates were comparable and mortality rates in end-to-end anastomosis group were higher, while stenosis was a frequent complication of side-to-side anastomosis and never reported following end-to-end anastomosis. Conclusion: End-to-end technique remains the gold standard for hand-sewn intestinal anastomosis in small animals, but side-to-side anastomosis can be considered for selected cases with acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(3.000): 278-287

Comparison between May Grünwald-Giemsa and rapid stains in fine-needle aspirates of canine mast cell tumor: diagnostic and prognostic implications

Introduction Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are often diagnosed by cytology based on the identification of their characteristic purple intracytoplasmic granules with methanolic Romanowsky stains, including May Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG). In clinical practice, aqueous Romanowsky stains are commonly used because of their rapidity, but the risk exists that mast cell granules may not stain properly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of hypogranularity of MCT with rapid staining (RS) in terms of frequency and correlations with tumor characteristics, along with diagnostic and prognostic implications. Materials and Methods A prospective study was carried out on cytologic preparations of histologically-confirmed canine primary MCTs and metastatic lymph nodes. For each case, good-quality smears were stained with both MGG and RS and comparatively assessed. Results Fifteen out of 60 (25%) primary canine MCTs were hypogranular with RS (P=0.002). These were predominantly cutaneous high-grade tumors and in 7 of them (11.7%) a certain diagnosis could not be made with RS. Accuracy in grading assessment was not significantly different compared with MGG (79% vs 83%). Ten of 25 (40%) metastatic lymph nodes were hypogranular with RS (P=0.002); the negative predictive value in the detection of nodal metastases, assessed with three independent observers, was significantly lower (100% vs 73%; P=0.010). Discussion This study confirms that RS can be ineffective in staining MCT granules, especially in biologically aggressive tumors, and can occasionally prevent the achievement of a correct diagnosis. The use of RS is discouraged for the search of nodal metastases, as the identification of isolated mast cells can be particularly challenging

Stress Echocardiography in Italian Echocardiographic Laboratories: A Survey of the Italian Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging

Background: The Italian Society of Echography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SIECVI) conducted a national survey to understand the volumes of activity, modalities and stressors used during stress echocardiography (SE) in Italy. Methods: We analyzed echocardiography laboratory activities over a month (November 2022). Data were retrieved through an electronic survey based on a structured questionnaire, uploaded on the SIECVI website. Results: Data were obtained from 228 echocardiographic laboratories, and SE examinations were performed in 179 centers (80.6%): 87 centers (47.5%) were in the northern regions of Italy, 33 centers (18.4%) were in the central regions, and 61 (34.1%) in the southern regions. We annotated a total of 4057 SE. We divided the SE centers into three groups, according to the numbers of SE performed: <10 SE (low-volume activity, 40 centers), between 10 and 39 SE (moderate volume activity, 102 centers) and >= 40 SE (high volume activity, 37 centers). Dipyridamole was used in 139 centers (77.6%); exercise in 120 centers (67.0%); dobutamine in 153 centers (85.4%); pacing in 37 centers (21.1%); and adenosine in 7 centers (4.0%). We found a significant difference between the stressors used and volume of activity of the centers, with a progressive increase in the prevalence of number of stressors from low to high volume activity (P = 0.033). The traditional evaluation of regional wall motion of the left ventricle was performed in all centers, with combined assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) in 90 centers (50.3%): there was a significant difference in the centers with different volume of SE activity: the incidence of analysis of CFVR was significantly higher in high volume centers compared to low - moderate - volume (32.5%, 41.0% and 73.0%, respectively, P < 0.001). The lung ultrasound (LUS) was assessed in 67 centers (37.4%). Furthermore for LUS, we found a significant difference in the centers with different volume of SE activity: significantly higher in high volume centers compared to low - moderate - volume (25.0%, 35.3% and 56.8%, respectively, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This nationwide survey demonstrated that SE was significantly widespread and practiced throughout Italy. In addition to the traditional indication to coronary artery disease based on regional wall motion analysis, other indications are emerging with an increase in the use of LUS and CFVR, especially in high-volume centers