A rare finding of double Barr bodies and X-monosomy/X-trisomy mosaicism in a dog with presumed idiopathic epilepsy.

A 4-year-old spayed female Border Collie dog presented to the Neurology and Neurosurgery service for an approximately five-month history of seizures. A complete neurodiagnostic workup was performed and did not reveal any significant abnormalities. The patient's seizures were well controlled with a combination of anticonvulsants. During a manual blood smear review at a follow-up appointment, double Barr bodies were identified in segmented neutrophils. Karyotyping revealed that the patient is mosaic for X-monosomy and X-trisomy, a finding that has never been reported in a dog and is rarely reported in people. This case demonstrates how the identification of abnormal neutrophil nuclear appendages may correlate with chromosomal abnormalities in dogs.

Clinical Pathology of Freshwater Turtles.

Freshwater turtles are physiologically unique in their adaptations to life on both land and freshwater habitats. Appropriate interpretation of laboratory values specific to these species is important for both conservation efforts in free-ranging populations and in captive populations, especially because these animals become increasingly popular as pets. Although normal physiology has been well characterized, understanding of clinicopathologic changes in response to disease processes in freshwater chelonian species is relatively limited. This article reviews the current knowledge of hematology, plasma biochemistry, and urinalysis specific to freshwater turtles, with correlates to other chelonian species when specific data are unavailable.

Pathology in Practice.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings and antemortem cytologic diagnosis of intramedullary spinal cord ependymoma in a dog.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 3-year-old 31.1-kg castrated male mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of a 1- to 2-week history of paraparesis, knuckling of the hind feet, and difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog was paraparetic but weakly ambulatory with a kyphotic posture, a mildly decreased patellar reflex in the right pelvic limb, increased tone in both pelvic limbs, and marked hyperesthesia on paraspinal palpation of the lumbar region. The urinary bladder was enlarged and firm on palpation. Neuroanatomic findings were primarily consistent with localization to the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. Magenetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spinal column revealed a discrete intramedullary spinal cord mass from the cranial aspect of L4 to the middle of L5. The mass was sampled by fine-needle aspiration, and on cytologic evaluation, the suspected diagnosis was an ependymoma. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Owing to poor prognosis and limited treatment options, the owner elected euthanasia. Postmortem examination of the spinal cord and histologic findings for samples of the mass supported a likely diagnosis of ependymoma. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ependymoma is a rare neoplasm in dogs but should be considered in young patients with evidence of a tumor in the CNS. Fine-needle aspiration of the spinal cord mass was possible in the dog of this report, and the cytologic findings provided useful diagnostic information.

Three Manual Noncommercial Methods to Prepare Equine Platelet-Rich Plasma.

In light of PRP's increasing popularity in veterinary practice, this study aimed to compare three manual methods to prepare and cool equine PRP. The blood of 18 clinically healthy mares was collected via venipuncture in a blood transfusion bag (method 1), blood tubes (method 2), and a syringe (method 3). In method 1, samples were double centrifuged; method 2 involved one centrifugation, and in method 3 the syringe was kept in an upright position to sediment for 4 h. After processing with three methods, PRP and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were extracted and assessed for red (RBC) and white blood cell counts (WBC), platelet counts, and viability. In a subset of mares (n = 6), samples were processed with the three methods, and PRP was evaluated at 6 and 24 h postcooling at 5 °C. Method 1 resulted in the highest and method 3 in the lowest platelet concentration (p < 0.05), and the latter also had greater contamination with WBC than the others (p < 0.001). Platelet viability was similar across treatments (p > 0.05). Cooling for 24 h did not affect platelet counts in all methods (p > 0.05); however, platelet viability was reduced after cooling PRP produced by method 3 (p = 0.04), and agglutination increased over time in all methods (p < 0.001). The three methods increased (1.8-5.6-fold) platelet concentration in PRP compared to whole blood without compromising platelet viability. In conclusion, all three methods concentrated platelets and while cooling affected their viability. It remains unknown whether the different methods and cooling would affect PRP's clinical efficacy.

Intrauterine Blood Plasma Platelet-Therapy Mitigates Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis, Reduces Uterine Infections, and Improves Embryo Recovery in Mares.

Microorganisms, including pathogenic or opportunistic bacteria and fungi, may gain access to the uterus during breeding, and infectious endometritis plays a major role in equine subfertility. This study aimed to assess the post-breeding inflammatory response, endometrial culture, and embryo recovery of mares susceptible to persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) treated with plasma-rich (PRP) or -poor (PPP) plasma. Mares (n = 12) susceptible to PBIE had three cycles randomly assigned to receive intrauterine infusions of lactate ringer solution (LRS, control), or autologous PRP or PPP pre- (-48 and -24 h) and post-breeding (6 and 24 h). Mares were bred with fresh semen from one stallion. Intrauterine fluid accumulation (IUF) and endometrial neutrophils were assessed every 24 h up to 96 h post-breeding. Uterine cytokines (Ilß, IL6, CXCL8, and IL10) were evaluated before (0 h), 6, and 24 h post-breeding, and endometrial culture three and nine days after breed. Embryo flushing was performed 8 days post-ovulation. Data were analyzed with mixed model, Tukey's post-hoc test, and multivariate regression. PRP treatment reduced endometrial neutrophils, post-breeding IUF, and pro-inflammatory cytokines when compared to control-assigned cycles, but not significantly different than PPP. Controls had a significantly higher percentage of positive bacterial cultures (33%) in comparison to PRP-assigned cycles (0%), whereas cycles treated with PPP were not significantly different from the other groups (25%). The PRP-assigned cycles had significantly greater embryo recovery rates (83%) than the control (33%), though not significantly different than PPP (60%). Plasma infusion reduced the duration and intensity of the post-breeding inflammatory response and improved embryo recovery in mares susceptible to PBIE. Platelets incrementally downregulate PBIE and appear to have a dose-dependent antimicrobial property.

SYSTEMIC BLASTOMYCOSIS IN A CAPTIVE RED RUFFED LEMUR (VARECIA RUBRA).

A 5-yr-old, intact male red ruffed lemur ( Varecia rubra ) presented for evaluation as the result of a 1-wk history of lethargy and hyporexia. Physical examination findings included thin body condition, muffled heart sounds, harsh lung sounds, and liquid brown diarrhea. Complete blood count and serum biochemistry showed an inflammatory leukogram, mild hyponatremia, and mild hypochloremia. Orthogonal trunk radiographs revealed a severe alveolar pattern in the right cranial lung lobes with cardiac silhouette effacement. Thoracic ultrasound confirmed a large, hypoechoic mass in the right lung lobes. Fine-needle aspiration of the lung mass and cytology revealed fungal yeast organisms, consistent with Blastomyces dermatitidis. Blastomyces Quantitative EIA Test on urine was positive. Postmortem examination confirmed systemic blastomycosis involving the lung, tracheobronchial lymph nodes, spleen, kidney, liver, cerebrum, and eye. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of blastomycosis in a prosimian species.