Hypertrophic osteopathy in a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) with concurrent pulmonary Halocercus delphini infestation.

Dolphins are marine mammals that often live in coastal habitats. Common causes of severe skeletal disorders among wild dolphins are congenital vertebral anomalities, collisions with sea vessels, trauma, hunting-related injury, infectious diseases, environmental pollution, and tumors. A free-ranging male, 3-year-old common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) was found dead in the coast of Asturias in northern Spain. Postmortem examination revealed lordosis in the caudal vertebral column, while X-ray imaging and computer tomography showed well-organized palisade-like periosteal proliferation, appearing as florid-like accretions, along the spinous apophysis of 26 lumbar-caudal vertebrae. The transverse apophysis was affected on only a few caudal vertebrae. The cortical layer remained intact. Histology of vertebra tissue showed periosteal proliferation of cancellous bone. The animal was diagnosed with hypertrophic osteopathy. The lungs showed diffuse parasitic granulomatous bronchointerstitial pneumonia caused by Halocercus delphini, consolidation of the pulmonary tissue, congestion, and alveolar edema. The animal was also afflicted by parasitic granulomatous gastritis caused by Anisakis simplex sensu lato and tattoo skin disease. The dolphin suffered from hypertrophic osteopathy associated with pulmonary Halocercus delphini infestation. This syndrome, known as hypertrophic pulmonary osteopathy, has been described in diverse terrestrial mammals, including domestic animals, wildlife and humans, but not in dolphins. This case reports the first description of hypertrophic osteopathy associated to a pulmonary disorder in dolphin, and it provides insights into factors that can induce column malformation in dolphins, suggesting the importance of taking thoracic lesions into account during differential diagnosis.

Arthroscopic Tenotomy of the Long Head of the Biceps Tendon and Section of the Anterior Joint Capsule Produce Moderate Osteoarthritic Changes in an Experimental Sheep Model.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the glenohumeral (GH) joint is a common cause of shoulder pain, resulting in considerable invalidity. Unfortunately, the study of its pathogenesis is challenging. Models of OA are necessary to identify specific targets for therapy and to be able to interfere with the development and evolution of OA. This study aims to assess the effect of an arthroscopic tenotomy of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) and section of the anterior glenohumeral joint capsule on the ovine glenohumeral joint. In addition, the authors aim to validate and evaluate the reliability of a modified semi-quantitative MRI score to assess joint degeneration in a sheep's shoulder. Eight skeletally mature sheep received an arthroscopic tenotomy of the LHBT and section of the anterior joint capsule and were euthanized four months after surgery. All animals tolerated the surgery well, and no complication was recorded for six weeks. Moderate degenerative changes to the ovine shoulder joint were found on MRI and histological evaluation. The arthroscopic tenotomy of the LHBT and the anterior glenohumeral joint capsule section caused moderate degenerative changes to the ovine shoulder joint.

Magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistochemistry of primary vertebral hemangiosarcoma in a dog and implications for diagnosis and therapy.

A vertebral mass in a dog with an acute onset paraparesis was identified by magnetic resonance imaging. A poorly differentiated hemangiosarcoma was diagnosed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase could be a new differential marker for poorly differentiated hemangiosarcoma in dogs. Immunohistochemical detection of p53 phosphorylated at Serine392, p53, CD117, and CD44 suggest targets for design of therapeutic strategies.

Imagerie par résonance magnétique et immunistochimie d'un hémangiosarcome vertébral primaire chez un chien et répercussions pour le diagnostic et le traitement. Une masse vertébrale chez un chien atteint d'une manière soudaine d'une paraparésie a été identifiée à l'aide d'imagerie par résonance magnétique. Un hémangiosarcome mal différencié a été diagnostiqué par histopathologie et immunohistochimie. La synthase à l'oxyde nitrique endothélial pourrait être un nouveau marqueur différentiel pour l'hémangiosarcome mal différencié chez les chiens. La détection immunohistochimique de p53 phosphorylé à la sérine392, p53, CD117 et CD44 suggère des cibles pour la conception de stratégies thérapeutiques.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Surgical induced models of joint degeneration in the ovine stifle: Magnetic resonance imaging and histological assessment.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to (1) validate and assess the reliability of a modified magnetic resonance semi-quantitative score (sheep Magnetic Resonance osteoarthritis Knee Score (sMOAKS)) to evaluate joint degeneration in the ovine knee and to (2) investigate whether the transection of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), isolated or in combination with meniscal injuries, reproduce the degenerative changes described in the meniscectomized sheep. METHODS: Twenty sheep were randomly subjected to one of the following injuries to induce osteoarthritis (OA): ACL transection (ACLt), mid-body transection of the medial meniscus, ACLt combined with complete medial meniscectomy and complete medial meniscectomy. OA assessment was performed eight weeks postoperatively with sMOAKS, Mankin and Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) histological scores. RESULTS: sMOAKS showed very good to excellent reliability (kappa=0.61 to 1.0) for the majority of features evaluated. sMOAKS revealed small differences between groups (p<0.05) being the ACLt group the most affected. We observed a strong positive correlation between the three scales in the evaluation of femoro-tibial articular cartilage (AC) (r=0.829, r=0.917, r=0.879). CONCLUSIONS: sMOAKS is a reliable semi-quantitative Magnetic Resonance (MR) scale to evaluate and quantify the effect of different OA induction lesions in the ovine knee and presents a high correlation with Mankin and OARSI scales in the evaluation of femoro-tibial AC. Although minor differences were observed between the different surgical procedures for the induction of OA, ACLt proved to be the intervention that produced the highest amount of degeneration eight weeks postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.