Hypertrophic osteopathy in a cat with a concurrent injection-site sarcoma.

Case summary An 11-year old neutered female domestic shorthair cat presented for investigation of a large, partially ulcerated skin mass in the area of the left scapula. The cat had been vaccinated 6 weeks previously in the same area. Haematology showed a marked neutrophilia and monocytosis. Tru-cut biopsies were taken and histopathology was consistent with a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound revealed no abnormalities. Moderate mixed (palisading, brush border and smooth) periosteal reaction was seen on the diaphysis of long bones at the time of the radiographic examination. Magnetic resonance imaging of the mass showed infiltration within deeper tissues and the owners elected euthanasia. Post-mortem examination confirmed the presence of hypertrophic osteopathy with a concurrent injection-site sarcoma. No evidence of intra-thoracic or intra-abdominal disease was found. Relevance and novel information To our knowledge, this is the first report where hypertrophic osteopathy has been described in a cat with a soft tissue sarcoma, most likely an injection-site sarcoma.The authors received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for profit sectors for preparation of this case report.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from SAGE via http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2055116915593968

Agreeing language in veterinary endocrinology (ALIVE): diabetes mellitus - a modified Delphi-method-based system to create consensus disease definitions

[No abstract

Agreeing Language in Veterinary Endocrinology (ALIVE): Diabetes mellitus - a modified Delphi-method-based system to create consensus disease definitions

[No abstract

Serum thyrotropin, thyroxine and free thyroxine concentrations as predictors of mortality in critically ill puppies with parvovirus infection : a model for human paediatric critical illness?

This prospective case-controlled study investigated the role of the pituitaryethyroidal axis in the prediction of mortality in dogs. Serum thyrotropin, thyroxine and free thyroxine were measured at admission and daily until death or discharge in dogs ill with parvoviral diarrhoea. Serum thyroxine and free thyroxine in ill dogs were significantly lower than in controls and also significantly lower in nonsurvivors than in survivors on days 1-4. Serum thyrotropin at admission in ill dogs was similar to controls, but was significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors. Thyrotropin concentrations became significantly lower in nonsurvivors vs survivors by day 4.Clinical Studies Trust Fund of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicin

Adrenal response to the low dose ACTH stimulation test and the cortisol-to-adrenocorticotrophic hormone ratio in canine babesiosis

This prospective, interventional, case-controlled study sought to determine the association between adrenocortical function and mortality in dogs with naturally occurring Babesia rossi babesiosis. Sixty-eight dogs with canine babesiosis were studied and fifteen normal dogs were used as controls. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein in each dog prior to treatment, at admission to hospital, for the measurement of basal plasma ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) and serum cortisol concentrations. Immediately thereafter, each dog was injected intravenously with 5 μg/kg of ACTH (tetracosactrin). A second blood sample was taken 1 h later for serum ACTH-stimulated cortisol measurement and the resultant calculation of delta cortisol by subtracting basal from ACTH-stimulated cortisol. Diagnosis of babesiosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse line blot (RLB). Three outcomes were defined: hospitalization with subsequent death (n = 4); hospitalization followed by recovery (n = 48); and treatment as an outpatient (n = 16). Basal cortisol, but not ACTH-stimulated cortisol, was significantly higher in patients compared to control dogs. Basal- and ACTH-stimulated serum cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in the dogs that died, compared to hospitalized dogs that survived and compared to dogs treated as outpatients. There was no significant difference in delta cortisol concentrations or cortisol to ACTH ratios across outcome groups in dogs suffering from B. rossi babesiosis However, dogs with delta cortisol concentrations below 83 nmol/l had significantly higher cortisol to ACTH ratios compared to dogs with delta cortisol concentrations above 83 nmol/l. These findings of increased basal- and ACTH-stimulated cortisol and increased cortisol to ACTH ratios confirm the absence of adrenal insufficiency and concur with those in human malaria.Jowett Fund, University of Cambridge and Alliance Pharmaceutical

The response of the pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-thyroidal axes to the plasma glucose perturbations in Babesia canis rossi babesiosis

This prospective, cross-sectional, interventional study was designed to determine the association between the hormones of the pituitary-adrenal and pituitary-thyroid axes and other clinical parameters with the blood glucose perturbations in dogs with naturally occurring Babesia canis rossi babesiosis. Thirty-six dogs with canine babesiosis were studied. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein in each dog prior to treatment at admission to hospital and serum endogenous adrenocorticotrophic hormone(ACTH), pre-ACTH cortisol, thyroxine, free thyroxine and TSH concentrations were measured. Basal and post-ACTH serum cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in hypoglycaemic dogs, whereas body temperature, serum thyroxine and free thyroxine were significantly lower in hypoglycaemic dogs. Haematocrit was significantly lower in both hypo-and hyperglycaemic dogs compared with normoglycaemic dogs. Low blood glucose concentrations were significantly associated with high basal and post-ACTH cortisol concentrations and with low serum thyroxine and free thyroxine concentrations in dogs suffering from B. canis rossi babesiosis

Prevalence of incidental humeral intracondylar fissures in brachycephalic breed dogs in CT studies.

Humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) have been predominantly reported in spaniel breeds and proposed to be possible risk factors for humeral condyle fractures (HCF). We hypothesized that the prevalence of incidental HIF in French Bulldogs may be greater than that of other brachycephalic breeds. A retrospective, observational, prevalence study was performed using CT examinations of French bulldogs and other brachycephalic breed dogs presenting for an unrelated condition. Two European College of Veterinary Diagnostic and Imaging-certified radiologists reviewed the images of the humeral condyles of these dogs. A classification system was devised to grade the findings. We considered a Score 1 to be normal, Score 2 to have centralised sclerosis, Score 3 to have a partial fissure and Score 4 to have a complete fissure. A total of 228 elbows were reviewed from 122 dogs. Of this population, 145 elbows were from French Bulldogs, 54 were from Pugs, and the remainder were from a mix of other brachycephalic breeds. The prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4) in elbows of the French bulldog, pug and other breed groups was 6.9% (CI 2.8-11%), 5.6% (CI 0-11.7%), and 3.4% (CI 0-10.15%), respectively. At a dog level, the prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4 present in at least one elbow) was found to be 11.8% (CI 4.6-19%) in French Bulldogs, 11.1% (CI 0-22.9%) in Pugs, and 5.26% (CI 0-15%) in the other breed group. There was no significant difference between the breed groups. The inter-reviewer reliability for CT scoring of HIF based on Cohen's weighted kappa was low at 0.19