Osteosynthese van een mid-diafysaire femurfractuur met behulp van type I 'tie-in-fixator' bij een kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

In this case report, the successful management of a traumatic fracture of the femur in a kookaburra using a type I tie-in-fixator (TIF) is described. A domesticated, five-month-old kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) suffered trauma due to interspecies aggression. Clinical and radiographic examination showed a closed, multiple transverse, spiral femoral fracture, located in the mid-diaphysis. Reduction of the fracture was managed using a type I TIF, combining an intra-medullar (IM) pin in combination with an external skeletal fixator. Postoperative radiographs confirmed an optimal reduction of the fracture and a correct placement of the type I TIF. Recovery was uneventful and correct positioning and normal functioning of the leg were observed immediately following surgery. One week postoperatively, the bird removed the external fixation but this did not interfere with the acquired stability and positioning of the affected leg. Two weeks after the surgery, radiographs confirmed a good healing of the fracture as callus development and bridging of the cortices were present. Based on the clinical and radiographic findings, it was decided to remove the IM pin. During a three-month follow-up period, the kookaburra showed full recovery

An atypical case of proventricular dilatation in a Red-and-green Macaw (Ara Chloropterus)

A Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloropterus) was presented with regurgitation and passage of undigested seeds in the feces. Radiographic examination revealed dilatation of the proventriculus. Contrast radiography was performed and revealed that the proventricular dilatation and associated clinical signs resulted from circumferential thickening of the proventricular wall leading to severe narrowing of the lumen of the proventriculus. Testing for parrot bornavirus (PaBV) was negative. After the initiation of antimicrobial treatment because of suspected bacterial overgrowth, all clinical signs resolved two weeks after the start of the treatment, and radiographs taken four months after initial presentation revealed a normal appearance and size of the proventriculus. In the present case, bacterial proventriculitis associated with hyperplasia of the proventricular wall was put forward as a final but presumptive diagnosis highlighting the need to differentiate bacterial proventriculitis from other causes of proventricular dilatation in macaws

An atypical case of proventricular dilatation disease in a red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus)

A Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloropterus) was presented with regurgitation and passage of undigested seeds in the feces. Radiographic examination revealed dilatation of the proventriculus. Contrast radiography was performed and revealed that the proventricular dilatation and associated clinical signs resulted from circumferential thickening of the proventricular wall leading to severe narrowing of the lumen of the proventriculus. Testing for parrot bornavirus (PaBV) was negative. After the initiation of antimicrobial treatment because of suspected bacterial overgrowth, all clinical signs resolved two weeks after the start of the treatment, and radiographs taken four months after initial presentation revealed a normal appearance and size of the proventriculus. In the present case, bacterial proventriculitis associated with hyperplasia of the proventricular wall was put forward as a final but presumptive diagnosis highlighting the need to differentiate bacterial proventriculitis from other causes of proventricular dilatation in macaws

Complicaties na marsupialisatie van een arachnoïd diverticulum bij een rottweiler

A young male Rottweiler had neurological signs since birth. The dog had hypermetria on his front limbs, ataxia on his hind limbs and proprioception was reduced on the hind limbs as well. Computer tomographic examination post myelography and MRI scans showed a long dorsal subarachnoidal diverticulum from cranial C2 up to cranial C5, causing compression of the spinal cord, thus explaining the neurological signs. A cervical dorsal laminectomy was performed, followed by durotomy and marsupialization. Postoperative complications led to revision surgery and on top of that, the patient needed five more days of mechanical ventilation. From then on, the dog was able to breathe on his own and his neurological condition improved step by step. He made a full recovery and eleven months after surgery, he was still doing well

Spinocerebellar ataxia in the Bouvier des Ardennes breed is caused by a KCNJ10 missense variant

Background: In Belgian Malinois, a KCNJ10 variant causes progressive spinocerebellar degeneration. Hypothesis/objectives: Describe the clinical, diagnostic, pathological and genetic features of spinocerebellar degeneration in the Bouvier des Ardennes breed. Animals: Five affected Bouvier des Ardennes puppies with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), 8 healthy related dogs, and 63 healthy unrelated Bouvier des Ardennes. Methods: Sequential case study. Results: Clinical signs started at 6 weeks of age in 1 puppy with severe signs of cerebellar disease, and at 7 to 10 weeks of age in the 4 remaining puppies with milder signs of spinocerebellar disease. The first puppy displayed severe intention tremors and rapidly progressive generalized hypermetric ataxia, whereas the 4 others developed a milder progressive SCA. Euthanasia after progression to nonambulatory status was performed by 8 weeks of age in the first puppy, and before 11 months of age in the 4 remaining puppies. Histopathology revealed cerebellar spongy degeneration and a focal symmetrical demyelinating myelopathy. All cases were homozygous for KCNJ10 XM_545752.6:c.986T>C(p.(Leu329Pro)), which is pathogenic for SCA with (or without) myokymia, seizures or both (SAMS) and spongy degeneration and cerebellar ataxia (SDCA) 1 in Belgian Malinois dogs. All sampled parents were heterozygous and none of the healthy dogs were homozygous for this recessive variant. This variant has an allele frequency of 15% in the 63 healthy dogs studied. Conclusions and clinical importance: Inherited spinocerebellar degeneration also affects the Bouvier des Ardennes breed and is caused by a KCNJ10 variant. It can present with a spectrum of severity grades, ranging from severe cerebellar to milder spinocerebellar signs