Circumferential cervical rubber band foreign body diagnosis in a dog using computed tomography.

Computed tomography (CT) of a dog with a cervical concentric wound and ventral chronic draining tract revealed a hyper-attenuating, concentric foreign body and contrast-enhancing tract. This is the first descriptive report of rubber band syndrome in a dog and CT characteristics of a subcutaneous rubber band foreign body.

Diagnostic d'une bande élastique cervicale circonférentielle comme corps étranger chez un chien à l'aide de tomodensitométrie. La tomodensitométrie (TD) d'un chien avec une blessure concentrique cervicale et un faisceau de drainage ventral chronique a révélé un corps étranger concentrique hyper-atténuant et un faisceau accentué par contraste. Il s'agit du premier rapport sur un syndrome de la bande élastique chez un chien et sur les caractéristiques d'une TD d'une bande élastique sous-cutanée comme corps étranger.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Antemortem Diagnosis and Successful Treatment of Pulmonary Candidiasis in a Sun Conure (Aratinga solstitialis).

An adult male sun conure (Aratinga solstitialis) was evaluated because of lethargy, ruffled feathers, and decreased appetite. Physical examination revealed hypothermia, dehydration, dyspnea, and crop distention. Results of a complete blood cell count revealed a marked inflammatory leukogram, and cytologic examination of a crop swab sample identified gram-negative bacilli and occasional yeast organisms. Radiographs demonstrated an opaque, ill-defined, soft tissue structure in the caudal coelom just cranial to the renogonadal silhouette, loss of serosal detail, and splenomegaly. Endoscopic examination revealed a pale, granuloma-like structure within the caudal aspect of the left lung, splenomegaly, and an enlarged proventriculus. Intraoperative cytologic examination of a biopsy sample of the lesion demonstrated yeast organisms, and a subsequent culture of the biopsy sample revealed Candida albicans . The bird was treated intraoperatively with intralesional amphotericin B. Postoperative treatment consisted of meloxicam, trimethoprim sulfa, amphotericin B by nebulization, and systemic itraconazole and fluconazole. The bird made a complete recovery, was discontinued from all medications, and has remained asymptomatic for 6 months. Although rare, pulmonary candidiasis should be on the list of differential diagnoses for any respiratory infection in birds. Endoscopic biopsy, cytology, and fungal culture were valuable in making the diagnosis.

Diagnostic quality of percutaneous fine-needle aspirates and laparoscopic biopsy specimens of the liver in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diagnostic quality of liver percutaneous ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates and laparoscopic biopsy specimens of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). DESIGN: Prospective descriptive study. ANIMALS: 7 healthy adult rabbits. PROCEDURES: 3 to 5 liver fine-needle aspirates were obtained with a 22-gauge needle under ultrasound guidance in anesthetized rabbits. Liver biopsy specimens were also obtained with 1.7-mm (n = 2) or 3.0-mm (1) biopsy forceps by direct laparoscopic observation. Fine-needle aspirates were cytologically evaluated on a scale from 0 (suboptimal specimen) to 3 (optimal specimen) for cellularity, cell distribution, cell preservation, cell morphology, and blood contamination. Biopsy specimens were histologically evaluated on a scale from 0 (optimal specimen) to 5 (suboptimal specimen) for artifactual changes; numbers of portal triads and central veins were quantified. RESULTS: Aspirates were moderately to highly cellular (mean, 2.54) with good cell distribution (mean, 2.56), good cell preservation (mean, 2.20), and moderate blood contamination (mean, 1.04). The 1.7-mm biopsy specimens had a mean score of 1.3 for artifactual changes and contained a mean of 0.6 portal triads and 1.6 central veins/biopsy specimen. The 3.0-mm liver biopsy specimens had a mean score of 2.7 for artifactual changes, with a mean of 4.0 portal triads and 4.14 central veins/biopsy specimen. All but one 3.0-mm liver biopsy specimen had ≥ 1 portal triad suitable for histologic evaluation, and all had ≥ 1 central vein; in contrast, only half of the 1.7-mm liver biopsy specimens had a discernible portal triad or central vein. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For histologic evaluation, advantages of obtaining 3.0-mm liver biopsy specimens, compared with 1.7-mm liver biopsy specimens or fine-needle aspirates, should be considered in rabbits with suspected liver disease.