[Diagnosis of heptic diseases in ruminants and camelids with a special focus on sonographic examination]. / Diagnostik von Lebererkrankungen beim Wiederkäuer und Kameliden unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der sonographischen Untersuchung.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical symptoms are mostly unspecific in hepatic diseases, thus most clinical examinations are of limited benefit in the diagnosis of hepatic diseases and often only general statements can be made about parenchymal damage or loss of function. In contrast, sonography of the liver can provide information about the type of lesion and thus also about the prognosis for the animal. A systematic assessment of organ size, parenchymal, vascular and bile duct system structures can facilitate to make possible findings. Sonography is also used in further diagnostics such as liver biopsy or chole-cystocentesis. This review describes the basic procedure for the sonographic examination in ruminants and camelids on the basis of selected findings relevant to the clinical veterinarian. In addition, potential and limits of additional diagnostics are discussed.

INTRODUCTION: Dans les maladies hépatiques, les symptômes cliniques sont pour la plupart non spécifiques et la plupart des examens cliniques sont d'un bénéfice limité pour le diagnostic; souvent seules des considérations générales peuvent être faites sur les lésions parenchymateuses ou la perte de fonction. En revanche, l'échographie du foie peut fournir des informations sur le type de lésion et donc également sur le pronostic pour l'animal. Une évaluation systématique de la taille de l'organes, des structures des systèmes parenchymateux, vasculaire et biliaire peut faciliter le ciblage des résultats possibles. L'échographie est également utilisée dans d'autres diagnostics tels que la biopsie hépatique ou la cholécystocentèse. Cette revue explique la procédure de base de l'examen échographique chez les ruminants et les camélidés sur la base de résultats sélectionnés, pertinents pour le vétérinaire praticien. De plus, le potentiel et les limites des méthodes de diagnostic supplémentaires sont discutés.

Cerebral Coenurosis of a Long-Tailed Goral, Naemorhedus caudatus, in Korea.

We intended to describe a case of cerebral coenurosis in a long-tailed goral, Naemorhedus caudatus, from Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do (Province), in the Korea. The goral, a 10-year-old male, was suffering from neurological symptoms, such as turning the circle to one side without lifting the head straight, and died at 30 days after admission to the wildlife medical rescue center in Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do. A fluid-filled cyst was detected in the left cerebral hemisphere by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst removed from the deceased goral was transparent, about 3×3 cm in size, contained a clear fluid and approximately 320 protoscolices invaginating from the internal germinal layer. The protoscolex had 4 suckers and a rostellum with 28 hooklets arranged in 2 rows. By the present study, a case of cerebral coenurosis was first confirmed in a long-tailed goral, N. caudatus, from Gangwon-do, in Korea. The residents frequently exposed in the sylvatic environment should be careful the accidental infections of zoonotic metacestode of Taenia multiceps, Coenurus cerebralis, in Korea.

Radiographic diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 63 cases.

OBJECTIVES: To identify radiographic features that can be used to aid in the diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction in pet rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study comparing radiographic features of 63 cases of confirmed intestinal obstruction with 50 abdominal radiographs taken of rabbits without gastrointestinal disease. Abdominal radiographs were examined for gastric size, gastric contents, small intestinal dilatation and gas within the large intestine and caecum. RESULTS: Gastric size, gastric contents, small intestinal dilatation and gas within the large intestine and caecum were all features that differed between rabbits with small intestinal obstruction and rabbits without gastrointestinal disease. Radiographic features associated with small intestinal obstruction included severe gastric dilation, gastric contents primarily consisting of liquid and gas, small intestinal dilation and absence of large amounts of gas in the caecum and large intestine. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Observation on gastric size, small intestinal dilatation and gas within the large intestine and caecum aid in radiological diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction in rabbits and so can guide appropriate treatment.

First isolation and characterization of the pathogenic Aeromonas veronii bv. veronii associated with ulcerative syndrome in the indigenous Pelophylax ridibundus of Al-Ahsaa, Saudi Arabia.

Virulent microbial pathogen infections are the main cause for amphibian decline worldwide. In the present study, a bacterial strain named RDL-2, which was isolated from the skin of infected Pelophylax ridibundus larvae, was cultured and then phenotypically and biochemically characterized using scanning electron microscopic observations and the API20E strip and Biolog Gen III MicroPlate system. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain was also obtained and used in strain identification and phylogenetic analysis. Healthy P. ridibundus larvae were challenged with RDL-2 and monitored to determine clinical signs consistent with the disease. Strain RDL-2 was identified as Aeromonas veronii based on its phenotypic and biochemical characteristics and on 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analysis: RDL-2 was gram-negative, rod-shaped, and reacted positively for 69 (73%) of the 94 traits analysed; its 16S rRNA gene sequence displayed the highest homology to that of A. veronii bv. veronii (99.9%). Koch's postulates were fulfilled confirming that A. veronii is the causal agent of ulcerative syndrome. Thus, this study is the first to report A. veronii as a marsh frog pathogen in the Al-Ahsaa region. The aetiology of A. veronii as a potential poikilothermic pathogen shown here will expedite the development of diagnostic tests and methods for eradicating ulcerative syndrome.

Diagnostics and Ancillary Tests of Neurologic Dysfunction in the Ruminant.

A variety of diagnostic tests can be used to help further characterize and diagnose neurologic disease in ruminant species. Cerebrospinal fluid is easily collected, and analysis can help in defining the broad category of disease. Diagnostic imaging, including radiography, myelography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, and MRI, have all been used to varying degrees in ruminants. Advanced cross-sectional imaging techniques have the capacity to aid greatly in diagnosis, but their cost can often be prohibitive. Currently, electrodiagnostic tests are not well evaluated or used in the diagnosis of neurologic disease in ruminants.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Reptiles, Rodents, and Lagomorphs for Clinical Diagnosis and Animal Research.

MRI is a great diagnostic tool for evaluating exotic animals, particularly in clinical practice and in research with animal models. Here we review various aspects of MRI of reptiles, rodents, and lagomorphs, including the indications for this modality, the preparation of subjects, and protocols for imaging various organs and the musculoskeletal system. Protocols for the anesthesia and immobilization of subjects to facilitate their imaging are discussed also.

Veterinary diagnostic imaging: Probability, accuracy and impact.

Diagnostic imaging is essential for diagnosis and management of many common problems in veterinary medicine, but imaging is not 100% accurate and does not always benefit the animal in the way intended. When assessing the need for imaging, the probability that the animal has a morphological lesion, the accuracy of the imaging and the likelihood of a beneficial impact on the animal must all be considered. Few imaging tests are sufficiently accurate that they enable a diagnosis to be ruled in or out; instead, the results of imaging only modify the probability of a diagnosis. Potential problems with excessive use of imaging include false positive diagnoses, detection of incidental findings and over-diagnosis, all of which may contribute to a negative benefit to the animal. Veterinary clinicians must be selective in their use of imaging, use existing clinical information when interpreting images and sensibly apply the results of imaging in the context of the needs of individual animals. There is a need for more clinical research to assess the impact of diagnostic imaging for animals with common conditions to help clinicians make decisions conducive to optimal patient care.

INVITED REVIEW--IMAGE REGISTRATION IN VETERINARY RADIATION ONCOLOGY: INDICATIONS, IMPLICATIONS, AND FUTURE ADVANCES.

The field of veterinary radiation therapy (RT) has gained substantial momentum in recent decades with significant advances in conformal treatment planning, image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and intensity-modulated (IMRT) techniques. At the root of these advancements lie improvements in tumor imaging, image alignment (registration), target volume delineation, and identification of critical structures. Image registration has been widely used to combine information from multimodality images such as computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) to improve the accuracy of radiation delivery and reliably identify tumor-bearing areas. Many different techniques have been applied in image registration. This review provides an overview of medical image registration in RT and its applications in veterinary oncology. A summary of the most commonly used approaches in human and veterinary medicine is presented along with their current use in IGRT and adaptive radiation therapy (ART). It is important to realize that registration does not guarantee that target volumes, such as the gross tumor volume (GTV), are correctly identified on the image being registered, as limitations unique to registration algorithms exist. Research involving novel registration frameworks for automatic segmentation of tumor volumes is ongoing and comparative oncology programs offer a unique opportunity to test the efficacy of proposed algorithms.

Imaging diagnosis--seminoma causing liver compression in a spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca).

A 13-year-old male spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) was presented with anorexia, apathy, and prolapse of penile tissue. Ultrasonography revealed a large heterogeneous mass in the coelomic cavity, and fine-needle aspiration demonstrated sperm. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a sharply defined mass originating from the left testis. Appearance and signal intensities were similar to those reported in testicular neoplasms in humans, in particular sharing similarities with seminomas. Necropsy results and histopathological findings were consistent with a seminoma. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of the diagnosis of testicular neoplasia in a reptile using imaging techniques.

Serum albumin and body weight as biomarkers for the antemortem identification of bone and gastrointestinal disease in the common marmoset.

The increasing use of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) in research makes it important to diagnose spontaneous disease that may confound experimental studies. Bone disease and gastrointestinal disease are two major causes of morbidity and mortality in captive marmosets, but currently no effective antemortem tests are available to identify affected animals prior to the terminal stage of disease. In this study we propose that bone disease and gastrointestinal disease are associated disease entities in marmosets and aim to establish the efficacy of several economical antemortem tests in identifying and predicting disease. Tissues from marmosets were examined to define affected animals and unaffected controls. Complete blood count, serum chemistry values, body weight, quantitative radiographs, and tissue-specific biochemical markers were evaluated as candidate biomarkers for disease. Bone and gastrointestinal disease were associated, with marmosets being over seven times more likely to have either concurrent bone and gastrointestinal disease or neither disease as opposed to lesions in only one organ system. When used in tandem, serum albumin <3.5 g/dL and body weight <325 g identified 100% of the marmosets affected with concurrent bone and gastrointestinal disease. Progressive body weight loss of 0.05% of peak body weight per day predicted which marmosets would develop disease prior to the terminal stage. Bone tissue-specific tests, such as quantitative analysis of radiographs and serum parathyroid hormone levels, were effective for distinguishing between marmosets with bone disease and those without. These results provide an avenue for making informed decisions regarding the removal of affected marmosets from studies in a timely manner, preserving the integrity of research results.

Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in the animal kingdom: report of two cases.

This report describes two cases of marked bone loss (osteopenia) occurring in a 9-week-old German shepherd puppy and in a 6-month-old tiger. In both cases the animals were fed a diet which was exclusively boneless meat. The diets in both cases contained approximately 40 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of phosphorus per pound resulting in both calcium deficiency and phosphorus excess, resulting in a phosphorus-to-calcium ratio of 25:1, well beyond the amounts known to cause marked loss of bone experimentally. This has been termed nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism (NSH). Both animals presented with severe bone pain, difficulty in ambulation, and difficulty in chewing food. Radiographs showed marked osteopenia and spontaneous fractures. Both responded clinically and radiographically to calcium supplementation and a diet with an appropriate phosphorus-to-calcium ratio. The importance of calcium and phosphorus in the human diet is briefly discussed.

Digital radiographic artifacts.

Artifacts in radiography can be detrimental to interpretation by decreasing visualization or altering the appearance of an area of interest. Digital radiographs (DRs) have their own unique artifacts, and recognition of these artifacts is important to prevent misinterpretation and help identify the cause. A DR artifact can be categorized according to the step during which it was created. The major categories are preexposure, exposure, postexposure, reading, and workstation artifacts. Understanding the cause of artifacts and method of resolution is paramount in acquiring high-quality digital images.

Artifacts in digital radiography.

Digital radiography is becoming more prevalent in veterinary medicine, and with its increased use has come the recognition of a number of artifacts. Artifacts in digital radiography can decrease image quality and mask or mimic pathologic changes. They can be categorized according to the step during which they are created and include preexposure, exposure, postexposure, reading, and workstation artifacts. The recognition and understanding of artifacts in digital radiography facilitates their reduction and decreases misinterpretation. The purpose of this review is to name, describe the appearance, identify the cause, and provide methods of resolution of artifacts in digital radiography.

Acquisition hardware for digital imaging.

Use of digital radiography is growing rapidly in veterinary medicine. Two basic digital imaging systems are available, computed radiography (CR) and direct digital radiography (DDR). Computed radiographic detectors use a two-step process for image capture and processing. Image capture is by X-ray sensitive phosphors in the image plate. The image plate reader transforms the latent phosphor image to light photons that are converted to an analog electrical signal. An analog to digital converter is used to digitize the electrical signal before computer analysis. Direct digital detectors provide digital data by direct readout after image capture--a reader unnecessary. Types of DDR detectors are flat panel detectors and charge coupled device (CCD) detectors. Flat panel detectors are composed of layers of semiconductors for image capture with transistor and microscopic circuitry embedded in a pixel array. Direct converting flat panel detectors convert incident X-rays directly into electrical charges. Indirect detectors convert X-rays to visible light, then to electrical charges. All flat panel detectors send a digitized electrical signal to a computer using a direct link. Charge coupled device detectors have a small chip similar to those used in digital cameras. A scintillator first converts X-rays to a light signal that is minified by an optical system before reaching the chip. The chip sends a digital signal directly to a computer. Both CR and DDR provide quality diagnostic images. CR is a mature technology while DDR is an emerging technology.

Veterinary teleradiology.

Veterinary teleradiology was first commercially introduced in the early 1990s with limited success, mostly influenced by slow Internet speeds and large file sizes. Currently the practice of teleradiology in veterinary medicine is widespread due to the availability of broadband Internet connections, image compression, and economically priced PACS and DICOM software. This review article will discuss the current applications, equipment and configuration needs, the medicolegal aspects, image file formats, and methods of transmission needed for teleradiology in veterinary medicine.

Digital radiography artifacts.

Radiographic artifacts may mimic a clinical feature, impair image quality, or obscure abnormalities. With the development of digital radiography (DR), a new set of artifacts is introduced. Regardless of the technology, the classic technical errors that occur with film screen radiography still occur using DR. Artifacts created using computed radiography, DR, and incorrect image processing are discussed. Methods for correction of the artifacts are presented.