Morphological variation in the vomer of aquatic and terrestrial spelerpini salamanders.

The vomer is an important tooth-bearing cranial bone in the lungless salamanders (Caudata: Plethodontidae) that serves different functional roles in aquatic versus terrestrial feeding. Vomerine tooth rows that run parallel with the maxillary teeth are thought to help grasp prey while expelling water from the mouth, while posterior extensions of the tooth row may help terrestrial taxa bring prey down the throat. We hypothesize that these two general morphological types will correlate with the habitat (aquatic vs. terrestrial) of adult salamanders. Alternatively, variation in form may be due to taxonomic effects, such that closely related species will have similar vomer morphology regardless of adult habitat. To test this hypothesis, we examined vomer shape on a set of species of the morphologically diverse tribe Spelerpini, in which two of the five genera (Eurycea and Gyrinophilus) include both aquatic and terrestrial species. Data were collected using micro computed tomography (micro-CT) scans from specimens from the Field Museum of Natural History and the Illinois Natural History Survey; additional data was obtained from public online repositories including Morphosource.org. Two-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses were performed to capture shape variation of both the vomer and the vomerine tooth row. We found clear separation between aquatic and terrestrial taxa, with most of the variation due to differences in the vomerine tooth row. Differences ascribed to habitat use likely correspond to feeding behavior, and the functional role of the vomer in prey processing warrants further investigation in this species-rich salamander family.

Clinical and clinicopathological features and outcomes of cats with suspected dietary induced pancytopenia.

BACKGROUND: After a strong epidemiological link to diet was established in an outbreak of pancytopenia in cats in spring 2021 in the United Kingdom, 3 dry diets were recalled. Concentrations of the hemato- and myelotoxic mycotoxins T-2, HT-2 and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) greater than the European Commission guidance for dry cat foods were detected in the recalled diets. OBJECTIVES: To describe clinical and clinicopathological findings in cats diagnosed with suspected diet induced pancytopenia. ANIMALS: Fifty cats presenting with pancytopenia after exposure to a recalled diet. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective case series study. Cats with known exposure to 1 of the recalled diets were included if presented with bi- or pancytopenia and underwent bone marrow examination. RESULTS: Case fatality rate was 78%. Bone marrow aspirates and biopsy examination results were available in 23 cats; 19 cats had a bone marrow aspirate, and 8 cats had a biopsy core, available for examination. Bone marrow hypo to aplasia-often affecting all cell lines-was the main feature in all 31 available core specimens. A disproportionately pronounced effect on myeloid and megakaryocytic cells was observed in 19 cats. Myelofibrosis or bone marrow necrosis was not a feature. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Mycotoxin induced pancytopenia should be considered as differential diagnosis in otherwise healthy cats presenting with bi- or pancytopenia and bone marrow hypo- to aplasia.

Retrospective analysis of incidence, clinical features, potential risk factors, and prognostic indicators for aspiration pneumonia in three brachycephalic dog breeds.

OBJECTIVE To investigate incidence, clinical features, potential risk factors, and prognostic indicators for aspiration pneumonia in Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Bulldogs. DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. ANIMALS 41 brachycephalic dogs with aspiration pneumonia. PROCEDURES Medical records of a veterinary referral hospital were retrospectively searched to identify Pugs, French Bulldogs, and Bulldogs treated for aspiration pneumonia between 2006 and 2015. Signalment, clinical data, and outcomes were recorded. Variables of interest were analyzed for statistical associations with outcome. Incidence of aspiration pneumonia for the population of interest was compared with that for all other dog breeds and for the general hospital population of dogs during the study. RESULTS 41 of 2,141 (1.91%) dogs of the selected brachycephalic breeds and 396 of 80,137 (0.49%) dogs overall had a diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia. Relative risk of the disease in the population of interest was 3.77 times that for all other breeds. Median age at disease onset was greater for Pugs (83 months) than for French Bulldogs (8 months) and Bulldogs (6 months). History of gastrointestinal signs was the most commonly observed preidentified risk factor (27/41 [66%]) in these breeds. Neurologic disease was significantly more common in Pugs than in French Bulldogs and Bulldogs. On univariate analysis, increased age, male sex, obtundation, hypoalbuminemia, azotemia, and high liver enzyme activities were associated with nonsurvival; on logistic regression, increased age was associated with nonsurvival. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Age at onset and presence of other risk factors for aspiration pneumonia may vary among brachycephalic dog breeds. Prospective studies are needed to determine common risk factors and prognostic indicators for aspiration pneumonia in the larger population of brachycephalic dogs.

Feline primary erythrocytosis: a multicentre case series of 18 cats.

CASE SERIES SUMMARY: A retrospective multicentre case series of feline primary erythrocytosis (PE) was evaluated. The aim was to gain better understanding of disease presentation and progression to guide management and prognostication. Case records were assessed for evidence of increased packed cell volume (PCV; >48%), sufficient investigation to rule out relative and secondary erythrocytosis, and follow-up data for at least 12 months or until death. Eighteen cats were included in the case series. No significant trends in signalment were noted. Seizures and mentation changes were the most common presenting signs (both n = 10). Median PCV was 70% (median total protein concentration of 76 g/l) with no other consistent haematological changes. Sixteen cats survived to discharge. Phlebotomy was performed initially in 15/16 surviving animals and performed after discharge in 10/16. Hydroxyurea was the most common adjunctive therapy, used in 10/16 cats. Of the 16 patients surviving to discharge, 14 patients were still alive at the conclusion of the study (survival time >17 months post-discharge), with the two non-survivors having lived for 5 years or more after diagnosis. PCV, when stabilised, did not correlate with resolution of clinical signs. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: In contrast to perceptions, feline PE was generally well managed via a combination of phlebotomy and medical therapy, with evidence of prolonged survival times. The use of hydroxyurea enabled cessation or repeat phlebotomies.

Adverse event surveillance in small animal anaesthesia: an intervention-based, voluntary reporting audit.

OBJECTIVE: To develop, test and refine an 'intervention-based' system for the surveillance of adverse events (AEs) during small animal anaesthesia. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, voluntary reporting audit. ANIMALS: A total of 1386 consecutive small animal anaesthetics (including 972 dogs and 387 cats). METHODS: Adverse events were defined as undesirable perianaesthetic events requiring remedial intervention to prevent or limit patient morbidity. Using previous reports, 11 common AEs were selected and 'intervention-based' definitions were devised. A voluntary reporting audit was performed over 1 year at a university teaching hospital. Data on AEs were collected via paper checkbox forms completed after each anaesthetic and were assimilated using an electronic database. Interventions were performed entirely at the discretion of the attending anaesthetist. Comparisons between dogs and cats were made using Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: Forms were completed for 1114 anaesthetics (a compliance of 80.4%), with 1001 AEs reported in 572 patients. The relative frequency of AEs reported were as follows: arousal or breakthrough pain (14.9%), hypoventilation (13.5%), hypotension (10.3%), arrhythmias (5.8%), hyperthermia/hypothermia (5.0%), airway complications (4.8%), recovery excitation (4.6%), aspiration risk (4.5%), desaturation (2.8%), hypertension (1.7%) and 'other' (3.7%). Canine anaesthetics (57.3%) were more likely to involve AEs than were feline anaesthetics (35.5%, p < 0.01). Escalation in postanaesthetic care was required in 20% of cases where an AE was reported (8% of anaesthetics overall). In 6% of cases (2% overall), this involved management in an intensive care unit. There were six intra-anaesthetic fatalities (0.43%) during this period. The tool was widely accepted, being considered quick and easy to complete, but several semantic, logistical and personnel factors were encountered. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Simple intervention-based surveillance tools can be easily integrated into small animal anaesthetic practice, providing a valuable evidence base for anaesthetists. A number of considerations must be addressed to ensure compliance and the quality of data collected.

Drinking like a guy: frequent binge drinking among undergraduate women.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine why there has been an increase in frequent binge drinking among the most recent generation of female undergraduate students. Specifically, we examined whether female undergraduate women associated being able to "drink like a guy" (e.g., drink large amounts of alcohol, drinking competitively) with gender equality. Focus groups were conducted in March of 2003 with 42 female undergraduate women who consumed alcohol. Participants were recruited from respondents of a random sample survey of undergraduate students attending a large, public university and reflected the demographic characteristics of this population: traditional-age college students (i.e., attending college between 18 and 22 years of age), who were primarily white from middle or upper middle class families and living on or near the college campus. Focus groups were based on drinking trajectories during college (Stable High, Stable Low, Decreasers, Increasers) and sorority status. While women of all drinking levels reported feeling pressure to drink "heavily" because of the favorable impression they could make on their male peers, primarily women who were frequent binge drinkers throughout college felt that "drinking like a guy" described their own drinking behaviors. While women reported that being able to "drink like a guy" provided them with a sense of equality with their male peers, analysis of the transcripts suggests that "drinking like a guy" had less to do with gender equality and more to do with emphasizing women's (hetero)sexuality. Findings are discussed in terms of how "heavy alcohol consumption" affords college women positive attention from their male peers, but likely increases their vulnerability to sexual assault and alcohol use related health problems.