Intranasal dexmedetomidine as premedication for magnetic resonance imaging examinations in dogs with neurological disorders mitigates hypotension and hypothermia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine as a premedication for preventing hypotension and hypothermia in canine patients undergoing MRI examinations. ANIMALS: Dogs undergoing MRI examinations for neurological disorders were enrolled in this study. The dogs were randomly assigned: 15 to the N-Dex group (without premedication) and 13 to the Dex group (125 µg/m2 of dexmedetomidine, intranasally, as a premedication). METHODS: During the examination, pulse rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded every 5 minutes for the first 30 minutes. Body temperature was measured before and after the examination. Any adverse events during the procedure were documented. RESULTS: Significant changes in pulse rate during the examination were not distinguishable. Although blood pressure and body temperature decreased in both groups under anesthesia, dogs in the Dex group had a significantly smaller drop in blood pressure and body temperature and fewer hypotension events than those in the N-Dex group MRI examinations of 1 hour's duration. Two dogs in the Dex group exhibited bradycardia at 45 and 60 minutes of MRI examination, which resolved after receiving atipamezole. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results indicate that intranasal administration of 125 µg/m2 of dexmedetomidine as premedication is safe and can potentially mitigate hypothermia and hypotension in dogs with neurological disorders during MRI examinations.

Serum alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and interleukin-8 elevations in felines with localized and metastatic tumors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression of acute phase proteins and plasma cytokines in cats with various tumor types and varying metastatic statuses. ANIMALS: 5 clinically healthy cats and 22 cats with neoplastic disease that underwent CT imaging before treatment were enrolled. Patients were grouped based on their tumor types and metastatic status. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from all cats for general blood analyses before they underwent CT imaging. The remaining plasma sample was frozen for subsequent alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), serum amyloid A (SAA), and feline cytokine panel measurements. These results were compared with those of healthy cats as well as between metastatic status and tumor types. RESULTS: Only 4 cats (18%) exhibited elevated SAA levels, whereas 16 (73%) showed elevated AGP levels. AGP was significantly increased in cats with tumors (P = .016), while SAA was not. Only IL-8 showed a significant difference (P = .002) between cats with primary tumors and those with radiologically suspected tumor metastasis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: While AGP is a more prominent biomarker than SAA in cats with tumors, a significant elevation of AGP and SAA levels in association with metastasis and specific tumor types could not be identified. Alternatively, further investigation is warranted to evaluate the potential significance of IL-8 in tumor progression and metastasis.

Comparison of Digital Radiography, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features in Canine Spontaneous Degenerative Stifle Joint Osteoarthritis.

Canine stifle joint osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by damage and degeneration of the articular cartilage and subchondral bone, bony hypertrophy at the margins, and synovial joint membrane changes. Non-invasive imaging modalities, such as digital radiography (DR), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to describe these changes. However, the value of MRI in diagnosing spontaneous canine OA and the comparison of different imaging modalities have seldom been addressed. This study compared multiple noninvasive imaging modalities in canine spontaneous stifle OA cases. Four client-owned dogs with five spontaneously affected OA stifle joints were recruited and underwent DR, CT, and MRI. Information on osteophytes/enthesophytes, ligament/tendon lesions, synovial effusion and membrane thickening, subchondral bone lesions, and meniscal and cartilage lesions were scored and compared. The results showed that MRI provides the most comprehensive and superior lesion detection sensitivity for ligament, meniscus, cartilage, and synovial effusions. DR provides adequate bony structure information, while CT provides the most delicate images of bony structure lesions. These imaging findings may provide further understanding of the disease and help clinicians draft a more precise treatment plan.

Submucosal Injection of Activated Platelet-Rich Plasma for Treatment of Periodontal Disease in Dogs.

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease seen in dogs, and its routine treatment usually involves dental scaling. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy may enhance the effectiveness of treatment of periodontal disease, delay the progression of the disease and decrease the time under anesthesia. However, its application in dogs is rarely discussed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the benefits of activated PRP for treatment of periodontal disease in dogs. 43 mL of whole blood was collected from six adult dogs and PRP extracted using the double centrifugation tube method. Subsequently, the PRP was activated using calcium chloride (A-PRP). Significantly elevated concentrations of PDGF-BB (7000.28 pg/mL), TGF-ß (378.98 pg/mL), and VEGF (7.14 pg/mL) were detected in the A-PRP. Additionally, three of the dogs with stage 2-3 periodontal disease were enrolled in the clinical trial. Periodontal pocket depth, stage of periodontal disease, gingival index, horizontal bone loss, and alveolar bone density involving the maxillary third and fourth premolar and first molar teeth (107, 108, 109, 207, 208, and 209) were evaluated. Teeth were treated by dental scaling alone (control group) or by dental scaling followed by submucosal injection of 0.1 mL A-PRP per site. After 56 days, significant improvement in periodontal pocket depth, stage of periodontal disease, gingival index, and horizontal bone loss was observed in dogs injected with A-PRP. The high concentrations of growth factors in A-PRP likely contributed to this effect. The use of submucosal injections of A-PRP to treat canine stage 2-3 periodontal disease appears safe and effective for clinical practice.

Colonic Intramural Hematoma in a Cat: A Case Report.

Colonic intramural hematoma is a rare condition in humans and companion animals. Its clinical presentation in cats has not previously been reported. An 8-year-old male American shorthair cat presented with acute onset of constipation and anorexia for 3 days. Laboratory examination indicated mild elevation of alanine aminotransferase, globulin, and total protein levels. Complete blood count was normal. Radiographs revealed a soft tissue opacity mass located caudodorsally to the urinary bladder, causing narrowing of the descending colonic lumen. Sonography showed a heteroechogenic intraluminal mass containing liquefied content between the submucosal and muscular layers of the descending colon. On computed tomographic images, the mass contained two different attenuated contents with an interface. Colonoscopy was then performed for intestinal biopsy, and the contents observed in the intraluminal mass were drained via surgical evacuation and considered as blood clots. Supportive medical treatment, including antibiotics and fecal softener, was administered, and the clinical signs resolved uneventfully. Mild chronic proctitis without apparent malignancy was confirmed histopathologically, and no recurrence was observed after more than 14 months, and thus a colonic intramural hematoma was presumptively diagnosed. The information provided by multimodal imaging of the mass was essential for the diagnosis and determination of the treatment in this case.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Zoonotic Dermatophyte Infection in Pet Rabbits in Northern Taiwan.

Dermatophytes are the group of keratinophilic fungi that cause superficial cutaneous infection, which traditionally belong to the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Dermatophyte infection is not only a threat to the health of small animals, but also an important zoonotic and public health issue because of the potential transmission from animals to humans. Rabbit dermatophytosis is often clinically identified; however, limited information was found in Asia. The aims of this study are to investigate the prevalence and to evaluate the risk factors of dermatophytosis in pet rabbits in Northern Taiwan. Between March 2016 and October 2018, dander samples of pet rabbits were collected for fungal infection examination by Wood's lamp, microscopic examination (KOH preparation), fungal culture, and PCR assay (molecular identification). Z test and Fisher's exact test were performed to evaluate the potential risk factors, and logistic regression analysis was then performed to build the model of risk factors related to dermatophyte infection. Of the collected 250 dander samples of pet rabbits, 29 (11.6%) samples were positive for dermatophytes by molecular identification. In those samples, 28 samples were identified as the T. mentagrophytes complex and 1 sample was identified as M. canis. Based on the results of the Firth's bias reduction logistic analyses, animal source (rabbits purchased from pet shops) and number of rearing rabbits (three rabbits or more) were shown as the main risks for dermatophyte infection in the pet rabbits in Taiwan. The results of the present study elucidate the prevalence of rabbit dermatophyte infection, pathogens, and risk factors in Taiwan, and provide an important reference for the prevention and control of rabbit dermatophytosis.

Case Report: Treatment of Femoral Non-union With Rib and Iliac Crest Autografts and rhBMP-2 in a Cat.

A 5-year-old, intact male Bengal cat weighing 5.2 kg was referred for the fixation failure of a right femoral fracture. Multiple surgical revisions failed, and atrophic non-union was diagnosed. The cat was then admitted for a final revision surgery using locking plate fixation in conjunction with rib and iliac crest autografts and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2). The fracture site was debrided and stabilized before filling the defect with 1.8 cm of rib bone autograft. The residual space in the defect was then filled with an iliac crest autograft. Finally, a 3 ×5 cm absorbable collagen sponge soaked with 0.5 mL of 0.2 mg/mL rhBMP-2 solution was placed around the defect. No significant complications were noted postoperatively. Bone healing was noted 2 months postoperatively, and it continued for 12 months. Although mild lameness remained, the cat's ambulatory function and quality of life were good. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report of a clinical transplantation of a rib segment as an autograft in combination with rhBMP-2 in a cat with a large bone defect.

Computed tomography lymphangiography via intrametatarsal pad injection is feasible in cats with chylothorax.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of CT lymphangiography via intrametatarsal pad injection in cats with chylothorax. ANIMALS: 7 client-owned cats. PROCEDURES: This was a multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study. Medical records and imaging data from 4 veterinary hospitals were reviewed to identify cats with chylothorax that had undergone intrametatarsal pad injection via CT lymphangiography. In total, 7 client-owned cats were included in the study. Signalment, history, image findings, and follow-up data were recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the success rate of thoracic duct (TD) enhancement and describe relevant clinical findings. RESULTS: Enhancement of TDs was successful in 6 of the 7 cats within 5 to 15 minutes after initiating intrametatarsal pad injection under general anesthesia. Successful migration of contrast medium into the lymphatic vessels cranial to the popliteal lymph nodes was observed in all cats within 5 minutes after injection. The recommended dose of contrast medium to achieve TD enhancement was 1 mL/kg (0.5 mL/kg/pad; concentration, 350 mg of iodine/kg). Only 1 cat had mild swelling of the paws after the procedure, and it recovered quickly without pain medication; no cats experienced lameness. Similar to dogs and unlike in previously published reports, 72% of TD branches were located in the right hemithorax. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: CT lymphangiography via intrametatarsal pad injection is a feasible and safe procedure for cats with chylothorax. This technique provides detailed information regarding the unique TD anatomy and cisterna chyli location. It also contributes to surgical planning.

Novel contrast agent Visphere™ is feasible for contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in dogs.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography provides a more functional diagnostic image than conventional ultrasonography. This prospective exploratory study compared the novel contrast agent, Visphere™ , with commercial contrast agents in five healthy Beagle dogs. Visphere™ has the smallest diameter and highest concentration compared with Sonazoid® and SonoVue® . Each dog received an intravenous injection of Visphere™ , Sonazoid® , or SonoVue® . Images were recorded for 300, 600, and 60 s in the heart, liver, and left kidney, respectively. The mean pixel values of the regions of interest for each organ were expressed as time intensity curves (TIC). The agents all improved the visualization of left ventricular endocardial border delineation in the heart, and had similar TICs and clinical useful durations. In contrast, Visphere™ expressed the highest mean pixel value in the liver parenchyma at an early observation time and maintained the intensity until 600 s, like Sonazoid® . The renal evaluation results indicated there were no statistically significant differences in time-to-peak for the renal cortex or medulla among the agents. Compared with the other two agents, SonoVue® had the lowest peak enhancement for the renal cortex and medulla. No dogs had any adverse reactions during or after the study. All three agents provided adequate results for left ventricular endocardial border delineation, and Visphere™ may have the same potential as Sonazoid® to detect and characterize hepatic lesions. Visphere™ and Sonazoid® may offer better visualization quality to evaluate renal function. In conclusion, the novel contrast agent, Visphere™ , is comparable with commercial agents and could be applied in different major organs in dogs.

Computed tomographic lymphangiography via intra-metatarsal pad injection is feasible in dogs with chylothorax.

Lymphangiography can be useful for preoperative planning in chylothorax. Conventional ultrasound-guided intranodal injection can be difficult in some cases and is dependent upon operator skill. Alternative methods have been proposed to simplify the procedure, but their feasibility has not been sufficiently evaluated in clinical cases. The primary purpose of this multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study was to assess the feasibility and describe the clinical findings of CT lymphangiography by intrametatarsal pad injection in dogs with naturally occurring chylothorax. Twenty dogs were analyzed, and enhancement of thoracic ducts (TDs) was successful in 18 (90%) dogs within 5-14 min after initiating the injection, while successful enhancement of the lymphatic vessels cranial to the popliteal lymph nodes was seen in all dogs within 5 min after injection. The dose with good success to achieve TD enhancement was 1 mL/kg (concentration 350 mg I/kg). Only two dogs had mild discomfort after recovery from general anesthesia. Computed tomography lymphangiography by intrametatarsal pad injection is a feasible, easy, and safe procedure, which could provide adequate TD and cisterna chyli enhancement, identify TD number and cisterna chyli location and structure, and contribute to surgical planning.

High detection rate of dog circovirus in diarrheal dogs.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is one of the most common clinical symptoms reported in companion animal clinics. Dog circovirus (DogCV) is a new mammalian circovirus that is considered to be a cause of alimentary syndromes such as diarrhea, vomiting and hemorrhagic enteritis. DogCV has previously only been identified in the United States, Italy, Germany (GeneBank accession number: KF887949) and China (GeneBank accession number: KT946839). Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of DogCV in Taiwan and to explore the correlation between diarrhea and DogCV infection. Clinical specimens were collected between 2012 and 2014 from 207 dogs suffering from diarrhea and 160 healthy dogs. RESULTS: In this study, we developed a sensitive and specific SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assays to detected DogCV in naturally infected animals. Of the analyzed fecal samples from diarrheal dogs and health dogs, 58 (28.0 %) and 19 (11.9 %), respectively, were DogCV positive. The difference in DogCV prevalence was highly significant (P = 0.0002755) in diarrheal dogs. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to reveal that DogCV is currently circulating in domestic dogs in Taiwan and to demonstrate its high detection rate in dogs with diarrhea.

The Spatial Relationship and Surface Projection of Canine Sciatic Nerve and Sacrotuberous Ligament: A Perineal Hernia Repair Perspective.

Sciatic nerve entrapment can occur as post-operative complication of perineal hernia repair when sacrotuberous ligament is incorporated during hernia deficit closure. This results in sciatic sensory loss and paralysis of the hind leg. This study investigated the spatial relationship of sciatic nerve and sacrotuberous ligament and their surface topographic projection of 68 cadavers (29 Beagles and 39 Taiwanese mongrels) with various heights (25-56 cm). By gross dissection, the sacrotuberous ligament and sciatic nerve were exposed and their distance in between was measured along four parts (A, B, C, D) of sacrotuberous ligament. The present study revealed that the C was the section of sacrotuberous ligament where the sciatic nerve and the sacrotuberous ligament are closest to each other. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between C and height of the dogs. From the present study, we found that the C in smaller dogs has the shortest distance between the sciatic nerve and the sacrotuberous ligament, and thus the most vulnerable to sciatic nerve entrapment, and needs to be avoided or approached cautiously during perineal hernia repair.

Phylodynamic analysis of the canine distemper virus hemagglutinin gene.

BACKGROUND: Canine distemper (CD) is one of the most contagious and lethal viral diseases in dogs. Despite the widespread use of vaccines, the prevalence of the CD virus (CDV) has increased at an alarming rate in recent years. In this phylodynamic study, we investigated the spatiotemporal modes of dispersal, viral demographic trends, and effectiveness of vaccines for CDV. A total of 188 full-length CDV hemagglutinin (H) gene sequences dataset were subjected to recombination analysis, including seven from modified live vaccine (MLV) strains and 12 from Taiwan specimens. After excluding the MLV strains and potential recombinant strains, alignments of 176 of 188 previous CDV strains were further used to analyze phylodynamic characteristics, and evidence of selection, and co-evolution. RESULTS: The CDV genotype consisted of MLV-associated genotypes such as America-1 and Rockborn-like strains, which were characterized by long terminal branches and no distinct geographical patterns among lineages. In contrast, wild-type isolates clustered into lineages with a spatiotemporal structure and short terminal branches. Co-circulation and extensive diversification were simultaneously observed. The sequence variation signature was shaped by both geographic diversity and host tropism. Codon 506 was identified as a multi-epistatic interacting in the H protein. CONCLUSIONS: The topological signature revealed in this study suggests different epidemic scenarios. For example, a ladder-like backbone is a hallmark of directional selection, and cladogenesis at long terminal branches indicates the emergence of a surviving lineage. The stable effective viral population of CDV indicate the effectiveness of vaccines currently used to control the virus.

Evaluation of ABCG2 and p63 expression in canine cornea and cultivated corneal epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expressions of ABCG2 and p63 in canine corneal epithelia and to evaluate their significance in corneal regeneration. PROCEDURES: Canine corneal and limbal epithelial cells were obtained from five healthy beagle dogs. We analyzed the morphological properties of cultivated limbal and corneal epithelial cells. We compared the expressions of ABCG2 and p63 in the limbus and central cornea by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. We analyzed the expression of these markers in cultivated cells by immunocytochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The limbal epithelial cells were smaller and proliferated more rapidly than the corneal epithelial cells in primary cultures. The corneal cells failed to be subcultured, whereas the limbal cells could be subcultured with increasing cell size. ABCG2 was localized in the basal layer of the limbal epithelium, and p63 was widely detected in the entire corneal epithelia. ABCG2 expression was significantly higher, and p63 was slightly higher in the limbus compared with the central cornea. ABCG2 was detected only in limbal cells in primary culture, not in corneal cells or passaged limbal cells. p63 was detected in both limbal and corneal cells and decreased gradually in the limbal cells with the cell passages. CONCLUSIONS: ABCG2 was localized in canine limbal epithelial cells, and p63 was widely expressed in canine corneal epithelia. ABCG2 and p63 could prove to be useful markers in dogs for putative corneal epithelial stem cells and for corneal epithelial cell proliferation, respectively.

Comparison of the canine corneal epithelial cell sheets cultivated from limbal stem cells on canine amniotic membrane, atelocollagen gel, and temperature-responsive culture dish.

OBJECTIVE: The current study compared canine corneal epithelial cell sheets cultivated from limbal stem cells on amniotic membrane, atelocollagen gel, and temperature-responsive culture dish. PROCEDURES: We collected limbal epithelial cells from the intact eyes of beagles and cultivated the cells on denuded canine amniotic membranes, temperature-responsive cell culture labware, and collagen gel with 3T3 feeder cells. Immunofluorescence staining for Ki-67 was used to analyze the capacity of cell proliferation in the sheets. Immunofluorescence staining was also performed for the corneal epithelium-specific marker cytokeratin 3 and putative stem cell markers ABCG2 and p63. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect ABCG2 and p63. RESULTS: The growth rates of the cultivated cells, or the times it took them to reach confluency, were different for the three scaffolds. The cultivated sheet on the temperature-responsive dish consisted of 2-3 layers, while those on the collagen gel and on the amniotic membrane consisted of 5-8 layers. The basal layer cells grown on all three scaffolds expressed putative stem cell markers. In real-time RT-PCR analysis, the highest level of p63 was observed in the sheets grown on collagen gel. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the cells cultured on the collagen gel demonstrated a capacity for cell proliferation, and the expressions of stem cells in the sheets suggested that collagen gel is the most suitable carrier for clinical use.

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) degrade neurocan in injured spinal cord by secreting matrix metalloproteinase-2 in a rat contusion model.

The mechanism by which olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) exert their potential to promote functional recovery after transplantation into spinal cord injury (SCI) tissue is not fully understood, but the relevance of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) has been suggested. We evaluated the expression of MMPs in OECs in vitro and the MMP secretion by OECs transplanted in injured spinal cord in vivo using a rat SCI model. We also evaluated the degradation of neurocan, which is one of the axon-inhibitory chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, using SCI model rats. The in vitro results showed that MMP-2 was the dominant MMP expressed by OECs. The in vivo results revealed that transplanted OECs secreted MMP-2 in injured spinal cord and that the expression of neurocan was significantly decreased by the transplantation of OECs. These results suggest that OECs transplanted into injured spinal cord degraded neurocan by secreting MMP-2.

A comparison of neurosphere differentiation potential of canine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Stem cell transplantation is one of the most promising yet enigmatic treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI), a common problem in dogs. As pre-differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be expanded and differentiated into neurospheres in vitro, before being transplanted back, they may prove to be more beneficial for treating SCI. Therefore, we compared the endogenous differentiation potential, including the neuronal cell differentiation, of neurospheres from canine bone marrow MSCs (cBMMSCs) with that of the adipose tissue-derived MSCs (cADMSCs). Nestin-positive neurospheres were generated from MSCs derived from the bone marrow and adipose tissue. Neuronal cells were differentiated from the neurospheres derived from both these tissues. Gene expression analysis revealed that Nestin, ßIII-tubulin, NCAM, OCT4 and SOX2 were expressed in MSCs and the corresponding neurospheres. Notably, cBMMSC-derived neuronal cells expressed higher levels of ßIII-tubulin. The mRNA expressions of NANOG, Nestin, OCT4 and SOX2 were upregulated in neurospheres derived from both. Immunofluorescence analysis detected the expression of neuronal markers, namely, ßIII-tubulin, GFAP, S100, NF200 and MAP2, in differentiated neuron-like cells. Our findings highlight that both cBMMSCs and cADMSCs could be differentiated into neurospheres and neuron-like cells, and therefore, these cells are suitable candidates for cell transplantation. Further, cADMSCs form a more suitable cell source, as larger number of cells could be harvested from cADMSC-derived neurospheres. Future studies employing in vivo transplantation models to investigate the effectiveness of MSCs for treating SCI are warranted.

Morphologic and cytochemical characteristics of Chinese striped-necked [corrected] turtle (Ocadia sinensis) blood cells and their hematologic and plasma biochemical reference values.

Hematologic analyses are useful for the monitoring of animal health and diseases and for the differentiation of physiologic processes for clinicians and conservationists. In order to establish hematology reference values for the Chinese striped-necked [corrected] turtle (Ocadia sinensis) and to produce an accurate baseline of clinical laboratory data for O. sinensis with regard to sex and season, 50 (24 males and 26 females) adult captive individuals of O. sinensis were studied. Blood samples from the jugular veins of the turtles were collected in January, April, June, and November. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance for significant (P < 0.05) variation by sex, season, and the interaction between sex and season. Significant sex differences were observed for the parameters of packed cell volume, eosinophil count, heterophils and monocytes ratio, total protein, albumin, uric acid, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase. Marked seasonal variation was noted in all parameters except mean cell hemoglobin, monocytes and heterophils ratio, and creatinine. Differences between sexes and seasons were primarily associated with the reproductive cycle. Heterophils had a strong positive reaction and eosinophils had a moderate positive reaction to benzidine peroxidase stain. Thrombocytes had a positive reaction to periodic acid-Schiff stain. Surface morphologic study using scanning electron microscopy of blood cells showed that white blood cells of O. sinensis had no distinctive surface characteristics.