Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in an alpaca.

A 6-year-old female huacaya alpaca was referred to the clinic for evaluation with a 1-month history of rapid weight loss, inappetence, lethargy, and severe leukocytosis refractory to medical management. Physical examination revealed a body condition score of 1 out of 5 and a large, firm structure palpable in the right caudoventral abdomen. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination revealed 3 masses with hyperechoic, swirling centers. The largest mass measured 15 cm in diameter with a 2-centimeter capsule, and extended from right of midline into the left inguinal region. Transrectal ultrasonography identified a small uterus and clear delineation between the abdominal masses. Complete blood (cell) count findings were consistent with marked systemic inflammation. Based on initial examination and laboratory findings, exploratory laparotomy was elected. Multiple mesenteric masses strongly adhered to the jejunum were observed within the abdomen. Due to the inoperable conditions and the poor long-term prognosis, the alpaca was euthanized under general anesthesia. Bacterial culture of fluid aspirated from the largest mass revealed Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Key clinical message: Clinical progression and attempted treatment of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in camelids have not been previously described and the bacterium should be considered as a differential diagnosis for abscessation and persistent leukocytosis. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is also considered a zoonotic agent and proper precautions should be taken when handling cases of abdominal abscessation.

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis chez un alpaga. Une alpaga huacaya femelle de 6 ans a été référée à la clinique pour évaluation avec des antécédents d'un mois de perte de poids rapide, d'inappétence, de léthargie et de leucocytose sévère réfractaire à la prise en charge médicale. L'examen physique a révélé un score d'état corporel de 1 sur 5 et une structure large et ferme palpable au niveau de l'abdomen caudoventral droit. L'examen échographique abdominal a révélé 3 masses à centres hyperéchogènes et tourbillonnants. La plus grande masse mesurait 15 cm de diamètre avec une capsule de 2 centimètres et s'étendait de la droite de la ligne médiane jusqu'à la région inguinale gauche. L'échographie transrectale a identifié un petit utérus et une délimitation claire entre les masses abdominales. Les résultats de la numération globulaire (cellulaire) sanguine complète étaient compatibles avec une inflammation systémique marquée. Sur la base de l'examen initial et des résultats de laboratoire, une laparotomie exploratoire a été choisie. De multiples masses mésentériques fortement adhérées au jéjunum ont été observées dans l'abdomen. En raison des conditions inopérables et du mauvais pronostic à long terme, l'alpaga a été euthanasié sous anesthésie générale. La culture bactérienne du liquide aspiré de la plus grande masse a révélé Y. pseudotuberculosis.Message clinique clé :La progression clinique et les tentatives de traitement de Y. pseudotuberculosis chez les camélidés n'ont pas été décrites auparavant et la bactérie doit être considérée comme un diagnostic différentiel d'abcès et de leucocytose persistante. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis est également considérée comme un agent zoonotique et des précautions appropriées doivent être prises lors de la manipulation des cas d'abcès abdominal.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Goats diagnosed with neoplasia display variability in clinical presentations, treatments, and outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical presentation, treatment, and short- and long-term outcomes of goats diagnosed with neoplasia. ANIMALS: 46 goats with a definitive diagnosis of ≥ 1 neoplastic process admitted over a 15-year period. PROCEDURES: Medical records for all goats admitted to the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital over a 15-year period were reviewed to identify animals diagnosed with neoplasia. Signalment, presenting complaint, duration of clinical signs, diagnostic testing, treatment, and short-term outcomes were recorded. When available, long-term follow-up data were collected via email or telephone interview with owners. RESULTS: 46 goats with 58 neoplasms were identified. The prevalence of neoplasia within the study population was 3.2%. The most commonly diagnosed neoplasms were squamous cell carcinoma, thymoma, and mammary carcinoma. The Saanen breed was the most common breed noted in the study population. Evidence of metastasis was found in 7% of the goats. Long-term follow-up was available in 5 goats with mammary neoplasia that underwent bilateral mastectomy. No evidence of mass regrowth or metastasis was noted in any of the goats 5 to 34 months postoperatively. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Goats are increasingly treated as companion rather than strictly production animals, making it important for veterinarians to provide more evidence-based and advanced clinical care. This study provided a clinical overview of presentation, treatment, and outcome for goats diagnosed with neoplasia and highlighted the challenges associated with the wide variety of neoplastic processes affecting goats.

A comparison of Mini-FLOTAC and McMaster techniques, overdispersion and prevalence of parasites in naturally infected North American bison (Bison bison) in the USA.

Several quantitative diagnostic techniques are available to estimate gastrointestinal parasite counts in the feces of ruminants. Comparing egg and oocyst magnitudes in naturally infected samples has been a recommended approach to rank fecal techniques. In this study, we compared the Mini-FLOTAC (sensitivity of 5 eggs per gram (EPG)/oocysts per gram (OPG)) and different averaged replicates of the modified McMaster techniques (sensitivity of 33.33 EPG/OPG) in 387 fecal samples from 10 herds of naturally infected North American bison in the Central Great Plains region of the USA. Both techniques were performed with fecal slurries homogenized in a fill-FLOTAC device. In the study population, prevalence of strongyle eggs, Eimeria spp. oocysts, Moniezia spp. eggs and Trichuris spp. eggs was 81.4%, 73.9%, 7.5%, and 3.1%, respectively. Counts of strongyle eggs and Eimeria spp. oocysts obtained from 1 to 3 averaged technical replicates of the modified McMaster technique were compared to a single replicate of the Mini-FLOTAC. Correlation between the two techniques increased with an increase in the number of averaged technical replicates of the modified McMaster technique used to calculate EGP/OPG. The correlation for Moniezia spp. EPG when averaged triplicates of the modified McMaster technique were compared to a single replicate of the Mini-FLOTAC count was high; however, the correlation for Trichuris spp. eggs was low. Additionally, we used averaged counts from both techniques to show the overdispersion of parasites in bison herds.

Cardiovascular resistance to thrombosis in 13-lined ground squirrels.

13-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) enter hibernation as a survival strategy during extreme environmental conditions. Typical ground squirrel hibernation is characterized by prolonged periods of torpor with significantly reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow, interrupted every few weeks by brief interbout arousals (IBA) during which blood flow fluctuates dramatically. These physiological conditions should increase the risk of stasis-induced blood clots and myocardial ischemia. However, ground squirrels have adapted to survive repeated bouts of torpor and IBA without forming lethal blood clots or sustaining lethal ischemic myocardial damage. The purpose of this study was to determine if ground squirrels are resistant to thrombosis and myocardial ischemia during hibernation. Blood markers of coagulation, fibrinolysis, thrombosis, and ischemia, as well as histological markers of myocardial ischemia were measured throughout the annual hibernation cycle. Hibernating ground squirrels were also treated with isoprenaline to induce myocardial ischemia. Thrombin-antithrombin complex levels were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) during hibernation, while D-dimer level remained unchanged throughout the annual cycle, both consistent with an antithrombotic state. During torpor, the ground squirrels were in a hyperfibrinolytic state with an elevated ratio of tissue plasminogen activator complexed with plasminogen activator inhibitor to total plasminogen activator inhibitor (p < 0.05). Histological markers of myocardial ischemia were reversibly elevated during hibernation with no increase in markers of myocardial cell death in the blood. These data suggest that ground squirrels do not form major blood clots during hibernation through suppression of coagulation and a hyperfibrinolytic state. These animals also demonstrate myocardial resistance to ischemia.