Microbial Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Isolates From Dogs with Otitis Externa in Kenya

Exudates from 78 dogs with clinical signs of otitis externa in the period 1991 to 2000 were submitted for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. The microbial isolates recovered were Staphylococcus aureus, 40/78 (51.3 %), Streptococcus spp 11/78 (14. 1 %), Pseudomonas spp 11/78 (14.1 %), Proteus spp 8/78 (10.2 %), Escherichia coli 2/78 (2.6 %), Corynebacterium spp 1/78 (1.3 %) and yeasts 3/78 (3.8 %) were infrequently isolated. No organisms were isolated from 2/78 (2.6 %) of samples submitted. Otic cytology is useful in demonstrating yeasts from dogs with otitis externa. These isolates were resistant to tetracyclines, sulphonamides, kanamycin and streptomycin, hence the drugs may not be effective in treating bacterial otitis externa in dogs. However, good sensitivity was observed with gentamycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin and penicillin. This study has characterized microbial isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility from dogs with otitis externa, information that can be used to provide appropriate antibiotic therapy to affected dogs. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 29 2005: pp. 40-44

Use of a Tiemann\'s Catheter in the Surgical Management of Obstructive Multiple Urolithiasis in a Mixed Breed Dog

A two year-old mixed breed, neutered dog was presented at the Small Animal Clinic University of Nairobi with a history of urinary obstruction. Clinical signs of uremia were observed. Catheterization of the urinary bladder using a conventional French male urinary catheter both at clinical examination and surgery was unsuccessful. Transabdominal cystocentesis was performed to relieve retained urine on two occasions prior to surgery. Cystotomy in conjunction with catheterization with a Tiemann's/Cuade pointed tip catheter was performed to remove multiple uroliths in the urinary bladder and urethra under general anesthesia. The patient recovered with normal micturition and the uremic syndrome was reversed within fourteen days postoperatively. It was recommended that a Tiemann's catheter be used to relieve urinary obstruction by uroliths. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 30 (1) 2006: pp. 14-1

Clinical, Laboratory Diagnosis and Treatment of Ehrlichial Infections in Dogs: A Review

Canine ehrlichiosis, a tick borne disease, is caused by an intracellular bacteria belonging to the genus Ehrlichia. It is one of the most important diseases in dogs and other canids in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease is transmitted transstadially, mainly, by the nymph and adult stages of the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus. Clinically the disease can take the acute or chronic form with a wide range of clinical presentations that include fever, depression, lethargy, dyspnea, anorexia, weight loss, lymphadenopathy, hemorrhage, epistaxis, increased hair loss, vomiting, blindness, edema, ataxia and polyarthritis. Superinfection with other organisms can complicate the clinical picture making clinical diagnosis difficult. Several diagnostic tests, notably identification of morulae in blood smears, in-vitro cell culture technique, indirect fluorescent test (IFA), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR ) have been developed for the confirmation of the disease. The abundance of Rhipicephalus sanguineus in most areas in Kenya, due to favorable weather, increases the risk of the disease in dogs kept in such areas despite the control measures. Whenever the small animal clinicians are presented with cases of dogs having non-specific clinical signs, especially in Nairobi and other areas having similar climatic conditions, it would be prudent to consider the possibility of canine ehrlichiosis. At the moment the treatment protocol entails use of doxycycline or imidocarb dipropionate. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 29 2005: pp. 71-7

Systemic Mastocytosis Associated with Liver Failure in an Adult German Shepherd Dog

A 10-year–old German shepherd dog was presented with right fore limb oedema, ascites and hepatomegaly. A clinical diagnosis of ehrlichiosis and liver failure was made. Response to therapy was unfavorable and with the owner's consent, euthanasia was performed. Necropsy findings revealed a markedly enlarged liver whose surface had numerous cream colored nodular masses. On histopathology, the liver tissue was destroyed by the infiltrating neoplastic mast cells and eosinophils. Based on the gross and microscopic findings, the condition was diagnosed as metastatic mastocytoma that resulted in liver failure. Occurrence of systemic mastocytosis without overt cutaneous lesions is rare. This article documents a case of liver failure due to malignant mastocytosis of which there are scant reports. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 30 (1) 2006: pp. 19-2