Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction in a Bernese Mountain Dog

Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction (CIPO) is a rare syndrome characterized by chronic intestinal dilation and dysmotility in the absence of mechanical obstruction. A definite diagnosis of CIPO can only be made after histological examination of intestinal tissues. The present case describes a CIPO in a 2.5-year-old Bernese Mountain dog with a history of recurrent gastro-intestinal complaints suggestive for pseudo-obstruction. Histological lesions of small intestinal samples consisted of severe loss of smooth muscle cells of the tunica muscularis and diffuse infiltration of mononuclear cells. In addition, a hypertrophy of the lamina muscularis mucosa of the small intestinal tract was present. On the basis of these findings and the results of immunohistochemistry, a myopathic form of CIPO was diagnosed

Parafilariasis in a Belgian Blue breeding bull in Flanders

In March 2009 a three-year-old Belgian Blue breeding bull in Western Flanders demonstrated multiple nodules on the withers, shoulders and neck. Some of them were bleeding. The bull had been imported from the south of Belgium in the summer of 2008. Serohaemorrhagic exsudate from one of the nodules was examined under the light microscope and a larva and embryonated egg of Parafilaria bovicola could be identified. On histopathology a eosinophilic dermatitis was present and after serial sectioning an adult female filarid was found in the superficial dermis. The animal was treated with moxidectin and the skin lesions disappeared within a week. This is the first diagnosed case of bovine parafilariasis in Flanders. Nine months later, no additional cases were identified neither on the farm nor on the neighbouring farms

Neonatal foal death due to infection with equine arteritis virus in Belgium

This case report describes a small outbreak of neonatal foal death in Belgium due to infection with equine arteritis virus (EAV). The outbreak started with one foal suffering from acute dyspnea four days after birth. Despite intensive treatment, this foal died within a few hours. Three weeks later, another foal was born on the same farm in a healthy condition, although placental edema was found. At the age of 10 days, the foal showed acute respiratory distress and severe dyspnea and died shortly after. Post-mortem examination of both foals revealed consolidated diaphragmatic lung lobes with compensatory emphysema. Histologic lesions consisted of a mild acute interstitial pneumonia. Microscopic examination of the allantochorion from the second foal showed a focal necrotizing vasculitis, and immunolabeling demonstrated the presence of EAV antigens in chorionic vascular endothelial cells and macrophages. Upon inoculation of rabbit kidney (RK13) cell culture with a suspension of lung tissue, a cytopathic effect was observed. The agent was identified as equine arteritis virus by means of immunostainings

Transitional cell carcinoma of suspected ureteral origin, with intra-abdominal and distant metastases in two horses

The present paper describes two cases of suspected urothelial carcinomas with local lymphatic metastases, and distant metastases in the lungs. In one case, liver metastases were also present. Both cases are documented with an extensive clinical report, using bloodwork, rectal examination, ultrasonography, cytology of abdominal fluid and, in one case, also urine analysis, radiography and transrectal biopsy to come to a diagnosis of abdominal malignancy. Subsequently, the post-mortem exam, histopathology and immunohistochemistry are described and illustrated

Ovarian teratoma in the mare: a review and two cases

A 4-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare suffering from pelvic flexure impaction was diagnosed with a teratoma of the left ovary. The enlarged ovary was identified several days after treatment of the impaction. Surgical removal of the affected ovary was performed and histo pathological examination confirmed the presence of a teratoma. The features of another ovarian teratoma, which was an accidental finding at slaughter, are also described

Faryngeale sialocele bij een hond

A pharyngeal salivary mucocele was diagnosed in a seven-year-old male Irish softcoated wheaten terrier. The diagnosis was based on history, clinical findings, paracentesis and histopathology. An underlying etiology was not identified. Treatment consisted of the surgical removal of the mandibular and sublingual glands on the affected side and the resection of redundant pharyngeal tissue. Neither postsurgical complications, nor recurrence of the mucocele were observed ten months later

Histopathological lesions in reproductive organs, distal spinal cord and peripheral nerves of horses naturally infected with Trypanosoma equiperdum

Background: Dourine, a venereal transmitted trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma equiperdum, has different clinical signs related to the reproductive and nervous system. Pathologic tissue changes associated with the disease are poorly described. The present study describes the histopathological lesions in naturally T. equiperdum-infected horses in the chronical stage of dourine. Results: Four chronically dourine diseased horses underwent a post-mortem examination. They were Woo test negative, but CATT/T. evansi positive, had a low packed cell volume (PCV) and exhibited obvious clinical signs of dourine. Post-mortem examination did not reveal gross lesions in the organs assumed to be responsible for the symptomatology. On histopathology, genital organs were affected, with mononuclear cell infiltration and erosions and degeneration of seminiferous tubules and perivascular lymphoplasmacytic cuffing in the uterus. In the nervous system, mononuclear cell infiltration was located in peripheral nerves, ganglia and in the spinal cord, leading to axonal degeneration. Real-time PCR using ITS primer revealed the presence of trypanosomes in these organs and conventional PCRs using maxicircle and RoTat1.2 primers further confirmed the involvement of T. equiperdum since the DNAs from the vagina, testicle, distal spinal cord, sciatic and obturator nerves found to be positive for maxicircle and negative for RoTat 1.2. Conclusions: The histopathological lesions in the spinal cord and peripheral nerves explain the incoordination of the hind legs in T. equiperdum-infected horses, whilst its presence in the genital tract exemplifies the venereal transmission

Twee gevallen van peritoneopericardiale hernia diafragmatica bij de kat

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) is a common incidental finding in cats during echocardiography or at thoracic radiographs. Two cases of PPDH in cats with clinical signs are discussed. The first cat was presented with inspiratory dyspnea secondary to herniation of omentum, pylorus, liver and gallbladder within the pericardial space. The presentation of the second case was more exceptional. The cat was presented with intermittent tachycardia. During the surgical correction of the PPDH, the myocardium of the left ventricle was damaged. The cat was euthanized. Histopathologic results of the heart, diaphragm and liver showed that the epicard and the capsule of the liver could not be differentiated and formed a tightly connective tissue layer