Case Report- Belgium Draft Nurse Mare with Chronic Progressive Lymphedema

Entry, Case Study
Rachel Ruden, University of Pennsylvania

History:

Lewie presented with gross lesions on both front fetlocks and a small cluster of nodules on the dorsal surface of her left hind pastern. The affected area was clearly painful. Her fetlocks were so swollen with edema it was hard to separate individual lesions, and they readily bled when manipulated. The odor and fluid attracted flies, but upon further examination, the moist spaces were also supporting colony of maggots. Finally, movement was onerous. All of these signs indicated Lewie was suffering from Chronic Progressive Lymphedema (CPL), commonly called Draft Horse Dermatitis. This is a skin disease that causes inflammation of the legs, most commonly affecting the fetlock region. Though the original insult may be a cut, the disease becomes escalated by secondary infections that produce edematous nodules that bleed and fester. Finally, ectoparasites complicate the issue, especially in mares that should not be treated with medications like Frontline while nursing. There is no cure for CPL, and due to its progressive and debilitating nature, this disease will put an early end to a horse’s career, and often, its life.

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Long-term treatment of a canine intramedullary spinal cord hamartoma

Honorable Mention, Cases and Abstracts
Keiko Petrosky and Dominik Faissler, Tufts University

From the Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Rd, North Grafton, MA, 01536

A nine month old castrated male Irish Setter presented for evaluation of intermittent paraparesis and hind end ataxia. A MRI showed a large inhomogeneous intramedullary T2*-W voiding lesion over T2-3 with an associated cystic component at T4. A Dorsal laminectomy and longitudinal myelotomy was performed at T2-4. A large, dark intramedullary mass was removed.  Histological analysis showed hemorrhage and a non-encapsulated, disorganized proliferation of vascular walls intermixed with fibrous tissue effacing the normal spinal cord architecture.  The diagnosis of a hamartoma was further supported by positive immunostaining with anti-factor VIII and anti-actin antibodies. Two months post-surgery the dog was ambulatory with mild hypermetric ataxia.  Eleven months after the myelotomy the patient presented for repeat imaging after the owner reported increased paraparesis and ataxia. At the mid-body of T3, the intramedullary lesion was noted more prominently than previously with an increased diameter of the T2*-W voiding lesion. The dog underwent definitive radiation therapy (3Gy/fraction, 15 treatments, total dose of 45 Gy). Additional recheck MRI studies at 16 and 25 months post-surgery showed an unchanged situation.  The patient continued to be neurologically stable, with mild paraparesis, ataxia and moderately clonic patellar reflex in the left hind leg.

Prehydration Requirements of Working Dogs

Honorable Mention, Abstracts
Shannon Palermo, University of Pennsylvania

Prehydration Requirements of Working Dogs

Abstract:

Detection dogs work in adverse environments. In the field, dog handlers have used subcutaneous fluids and oral electrolyte solutions in addition to water to prevent dehydration; however, the efficacy of these strategies has not been studied. Our study aimed to determine the effects of 3 prehydration strategies on body weight, blood electrolytes and search performance in police canines working in hot environments.  This field study tested 3 prehydration strategies in each of 3 police detection canines using a cross over design. Each dog was randomly assigned to 10 ml/kg of water (W), subcutaneous balanced electrolyte solution (SQ), or chicken flavored oral electrolyte solution (OES) at the beginning of each work day. All dogs were offered water every thirty minutes; however, OES dogs were offered 10 ml/kg OES if they drank <3 ml/kg of water. At the beginning, middle, and end of each day, we measured body weight, serum electrolytes, lactate, and vital signs. A timed standardized search at the beginning and end of each day was conducted. Dogs in the W (n=3) and SQ (n=3) groups drank a combined mean of 5.0 ml/kg/hr, while the OES dogs (n=3) drank 18.6 ml/kg/hr. Only dogs in the OES group developed isosthenuria and gained weight. Hematocrit decreased by the end of the work day for dogs in the OES and SQ group. Regardless of the hydration strategy all dogs had a small but significant decrease in potassium, no hydration strategy resulted in a significant change in electrolyte values throughout the day. Only dogs in the OES group maintained blood bicarbonate concentrations and had significantly faster afternoon search times compared to the morning. In this study, police dogs performing light to moderate work in hot environments were able to maintain hydration. In addition to maintaining hydration, by then end of the work day dogs in the OES group had improved search times, a significantly decreased hematocrit, and were able to maintain a consistent level of bicarbonate.

Adoptathon Case Study

Sandy L. MacArthur, University of Florida
Abstracts, Winner

OUTCOME OF PETS ADOPTED DURING A WAIVED-FEE ADOPTION EVENT: MADDIE’S MATCHMAKER ADOPTATHON 

 S. L. MacArthur, J. K. Levy, P. A. Dingman, S. J. Tucker.
Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA.

 Campaigns to increase shelter pet adoptions by reducing or eliminating adoption fees are controversial due to concern they may increase risk of poor care or abandonment. The purpose of this study was to assess the outcome of pets adopted during a waived-fee adoption event in the San Francisco Bay Area in June 2011.

   A survey regarding the adoption experience was sent to all 1,928 pet adopters. Pet and owner characteristics and pet lifestyle were compared between adopters who still had their pets 6-12 months post-adoption and those who did not.

   A total of 57% of adopters completed the survey, reporting that 95% of cats and 93% of dogs were still in the home. Pets were lost from the home by return to the shelter (1.8% cats; 2.2% dogs), rehoming (1.6%; 2.4%), death (1.4%; 2.0%), or going missing (.12%; .44%). Most pets lived predominantly indoors (95%; 93%), slept on the family bed (62%; 44%), and had been to a veterinarian (74%; 87%). Strong or very strong attachment to the pet was reported by 94% of adopters. There were no significant differences between the two groups based on pet attachment level, post-adoption lifestyle or healthcare, or perception of the adoption event.

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Visualization of Uroplakin Expression in a Mouse Model of Urinary Schistosomiasis

Honorable Mention, Cases and Abstracts
Amber Kerk, Purdue University 

 

Amber R. E. Kerk1, Yi-Ju Hsieh2, Michael H. Hsieh2

1Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

2Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine

Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease with global impact, which causes chronic urinary tract infections as well as increased risk of bladder cancer and HIV infection. It is the most prevalent form of schistosomiasis in humans world-wide, and is closely related to veterinary diseases caused by other species of schistosome. Infection with the causative parasite, Schistosoma haematobium, results in damage to the bladder lining as evidenced by the hematuria which is a hallmark feature of the disease. The presence of hematuria indicates damage to the bladder lining, which normally consists of an impermeable and flexible barrier. The primary component of this barrier is a meshwork made of tetramers of uroplakin proteins which form an interlocking structure on the luminal surface of the bladder. Previous work by our lab has shown that S. haematobium infection is associated with downregulation of uroplakin expression in the whole bladder.

 

To investigate the expression of uroplakins specifically in the urothelial lining of the bladder, transgenic RFP-uroplakin 1b mice were experimentally infected via bladder wall injection with infective S. haematobium eggs. At 7, 14, and 21 days after experimental infection, mice were sacrificed and immunohistochemistry for multiple urothelial markers was performed on the bladders. Digital processing of the images allowed fluorescence signals from only the urothelium to be analyzed. The relative fluorescence intensities of each marker were quantified and compared. Although no significant difference in relative fluorescence intensity was found between infected and control vehicle-injected bladders, this may be due to a lack of sensitivity in the immunohistochemistry techniques described here. Pursuit of further methods to refine this technique for investigating uroplakin expression in the bladder lining is ongoing.