ACVIM consensus statement guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of pulmonary hypertension in dogs.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by increased pressure within the pulmonary vasculature, is a hemodynamic and pathophysiologic state present in a wide variety of cardiovascular, respiratory, and systemic diseases. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of PH in dogs. Comprehensive evaluation including consideration of signalment, clinical signs, echocardiographic parameters, and results of other diagnostic tests supports the diagnosis of PH and allows identification of associated underlying conditions. Dogs with PH can be classified into the following 6 groups: group 1, pulmonary arterial hypertension; group 2, left heart disease; group 3, respiratory disease/hypoxia; group 4, pulmonary emboli/pulmonary thrombi/pulmonary thromboemboli; group 5, parasitic disease (Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus); and group 6, disorders that are multifactorial or with unclear mechanisms. The approach to treatment of PH focuses on strategies to decrease the risk of progression, complications, or both, recommendations to target underlying diseases or factors contributing to PH, and PH-specific treatments. Dogs with PH should be monitored for improvement, static condition, or progression, and any identified underlying disorder should be addressed and monitored simultaneously

Diagnosis and surgical management of cholecystolithiasis in two adult inland beardeddragons (pogona vitticeps)

Two male inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) of 5 and 6 yr of age were presented for anorexia with and without lethargy, respectively. In both cases, a firm, spherical, and mobile mass, measuring 2 cm in diameter, was palpated in the cranio-medial coelom. Radiographs were unremarkable. Ultrasonographic evaluation was highly suggestive of cholecystolithiasis. Coeliotomy confirmed the presence of a markedly enlarged gallbladder containing a cholecystolith in both cases, and cholecystectomies were performed. Both dragons resumed eating after 1–7 days and were doing well 3–6 months postoperatively. The gallbladder wall was unremarkable on histology, and the choleliths were composed of protein and calcium carbonate crystals. Cholecystolithiasis in bearded dragons has been the subject of very few case reports, probably due to its low occurrence. The lack of available data on the diagnosis and management may have led to this condition being underdiagnosed in this species. Ultrasonography was essential to the clinical diagnosis of cholecystolithiasis in our two cases and should be recommended as part of the diagnostic approach of bearded dragons with cranio-medial coelomic masses

Localisation et quantification de la sérotonine au cours de la gamétogénèse chez la palourde, Spisula solidissima

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

Ventilator-Assisted Inspiratory and Expiratory Breath-Hold Thoracic Computed Tomographic Scans Can Detect Dynamic and Static Airway Collapse in Dogs with Limited Agreement with Tracheobronchoscopy

Airway collapse (AC) in dogs includes a tracheal collapse, mainstem and lobar bronchial collapse, and bronchomalacia (i.e., segmental/subsegmental bronchial collapse). The clinical presentation of AC may overlap with non-collapsible airway disease (NCAD) or another non-lower airway respiratory disease (NLARD). This study determined whether paired inspiratory (I)/expiratory (E)-breath-hold computed tomography (I/E-BH CT) can detect a static and dynamic AC in dogs with spontaneous respiratory disease and it compared the CT-derived metrics of the AC to the tracheobronchoscopy metrics. The CT-acquired I and E diameter and cross-sectional area (CSA) for the trachea, mainstem and lobar bronchi in dogs with an AC (n = 16), NCAD (16), and NLARD (19) served for a dynamic percent of the airway narrowing (%AN) calculation. A scoring system assessed the bronchomalacia. The circularity was calculated for each airway. The results were compared to the tracheobronchoscopy collapse grading. In the dogs with an AC, the %AN was larger for the trachea, right mainstem bronchus and right middle lobar bronchus when they were compared to the dogs with NCAD and NLARD. Flattening was only identified for the trachea of the AC dogs. The agreement between the CT and tracheobronchoscopy scores was 20% from trachea to the lobar bronchi and 47% for the segmental/subsegmental bronchi. Paired I/E-BH CT can detect static and dynamic AC with limited agreement with the tracheobronchoscopy metrics. Independent scoring systems that are tailored to the clinical manifestations of functional impairments are needed

Reversibility of clinical and computed tomographic lesions mimicking pulmonary fibrosis in a young cat

Abstract Background In humans with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), specific thoracic computed tomographic (CT) features in the correct clinical context may be used in lieu of histologic examination. Cats develop an IPF-like condition with similar features to humans. As few cats have invasive lung biopsies, CT has appeal as a surrogate diagnostic, showing features consistent with architectural remodeling supporting “end-stage lung”. Case presentation A 1-year-old female spayed Domestic Shorthair cat presenting with progressive respiratory clinical signs and thoracic CT changes (reticular pattern, parenchymal bands, subpleural interstitial thickening, pleural fissure thickening, subpleural lines and regions of increased attenuation with traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion) consistent with reports of IPF was given a grave prognosis for long-term survival. The cat was treated with prednisolone, fenbendazole, pradofloxacin and clindamycin. Five months later, while still receiving an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisolone, the cat was re-evaluated with owner-reported absent respiratory clinical signs. Thoracic CT demonstrated resolution of lung patterns consistent with fibrosis. Conclusions Fibrotic lung disease is irreversible. Despite this cat having compatible progressive respiratory signs and associated lung patterns on thoracic CT scan, these abnormalities resolved with non-specific therapy and time, negating the possibility of IPF. While the cause of the distinct CT lesions that ultimately resolved was not determined, infection was suspected. Experimental Toxocara cati infection shows overlapping CT features as this cat and is considered a treatable disease. Improvement of CT lesions months after experimental heartworm-associated respiratory disease in cats has been documented. Reversibility of lesions suggests inflammation rather than fibrosis was the cause of the thoracic CT lesions. This cat serves as a lesson that although thoracic CT has been advocated as a surrogate for histopathology in people with IPF, additional studies in cats are needed to integrate CT findings with signalment, other clinicopathologic features and therapeutic response before providing a diagnosis or prognosis of fibrotic lung disease. </jats:sec