SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies in Dogs and Cats in the United Kingdom.

Companion animals are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and sporadic cases of pet infections have occurred in the United Kingdom. Here we present the first large-scale serological survey of SARS-CoV-2 neutralising antibodies in dogs and cats in the UK. Results are reported for 688 sera (454 canine, 234 feline) collected by a large veterinary diagnostic laboratory for routine haematology during three time periods; pre-COVID-19 (January 2020), during the first wave of UK human infections (April-May 2020) and during the second wave of UK human infections (September 2020-February 2021). Both pre-COVID-19 sera and those from the first wave tested negative. However, in sera collected during the second wave, 1.4% (n=4) of dogs and 2.2% (n=2) cats tested positive for neutralising antibodies. The low numbers of animals testing positive suggests pet animals are unlikely to be a major reservoir for human infection in the UK. However, continued surveillance of in-contact susceptible animals should be performed as part of ongoing population health surveillance initiatives.

Multi-modality imaging of an adult parachute mitral valve.

A parachute abnormality of the mitral valve is an extremely rare finding in adults. It is usually seen as part of Shone's complex. The authors present multimodality imaging from a case of adult parachute abnormality of the mitral valve to illustrate and explain features such as the characteristic "pear" shape of the valve and "doming" of the subvalvular apparatus. The solitary papillary muscle that defines the condition may be difficult to identify on transthoracic echocardiography, but redundancy of the chordae is a key echocardiographic feature in the adult form of the condition.

Tissue diagnosis of new lung nodules in patients with a known malignancy.

BACKGROUND: New lung nodules in patients with known malignancy often represent metastatic disease. However, a lack of pathological confirmation can lead to inappropriate treatment. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of patients with malignancy undergoing tissue diagnosis of a lung nodule between January 2006 and January 2008. RESULTS: Ninety-five cancer patients were identified with new lung nodules. Percutaneous biopsy was the first diagnostic procedure in 64 patients, showing metastatic disease in 37 patients and an alternative specific diagnosis in 9 patients. Eighteen biopsies were nondiagnostic. Surgical resection was the first diagnostic procedure in 31 patients. This confirmed cancer in 16 patients and benign disease in 15 patients. Overall, tissue diagnosis changed management in 31% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pathological confirmation of metastatic disease is vital before treatment, especially in regions with endemic pulmonary fungal diseases, because a number of lung nodules will represent benign processes despite a history of cancer.

Pancreatitis-associated splenic vein thrombosis with intrasplenic venous thrombosis: a case report.

Splenic vein thrombosis most often results from pancreatic disease and can result in gastrointestinal bleeding due to gastric varices. The diagnosis is becoming more frequent with the increasing utilization of imaging. This case report will review the imaging findings of splenic vein thrombosis with an illustration of the involvement of intrasplenic segmental venous branches.

CT findings of rupture, impending rupture, and contained rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE: With the increasing use of cross-sectional imaging for a variety of medical and surgical conditions affecting the abdomen and pelvis, familiarity with the imaging features of aneurysm rupture--and the findings suspicious for impending or contained aneurysm rupture--is crucial for all radiologists. This pictorial essay will review the imaging findings of rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms and of complicated aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Prompt detection of abdominal aortic aneurysm rupture or impending rupture is critical because emergent surgery may be required and patient survival may be at stake.

Cryptosporidiosis in developing countries.

Globally, Cryptosporidium infection continues to be a significant health problem where it is recognized as an important cause of diarrhoea in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent people. In developing countries persistent diarrhoea is the leading cause of death in children younger than five years of age, where it accounts for 30 to 50 percent of those deaths. Encouragingly an increasing number of investigations in developing countries employ molecular tools, significantly improving the quality of epidemiological information. This improved Cryptosporidium monitoring, with appropriate molecular methods, in surface water, livestock, wildlife and humans, will increase current knowledge of infection and transmission patterns, and ultimately help to control Cryptosporidium via improved risk assessments in the future.

Bradyarrhythmias during use of the AngioJet system.

The AngioJet system is an effective thrombectomy device, but it may cause chest discomfort and provoke bradyarrhythmias that range from mild bradycardia to asystole. The cause of AngioJet-induced bradyarrhythmia is unknown, although several hypotheses have attempted to explain the phenomenon. Herein several cases will be described, followed by a review of the relevant literature. The literature review suggests that the cause may be related to the effects of the hydrodynamic jets on stretch-activated receptors present on the vascular endothelium, and that pretreatment with gadolinium or streptomycin might prevent activation of these receptors.

Delayed presentation of traumatic aortocaval fistula: a report of two cases and a review of the associated compensatory hemodynamic and structural changes.

Chronic aortocaval fistula (ACF) is a rare complication of gunshot wounds to the abdomen. Herein we report two cases of traumatic ACF: one asymptomatic and the other presenting with congestive heart failure (CHF) 20 and 30 years, respectively, after their initial injury. The recent onset of CHF, the presence of a continuous abdominal bruit, and, in the second patient, a history of penetrating trauma suggested the diagnosis of ACF. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography scanning in both patients. Surgical repair of the ACF in the symptomatic patient resulted in resolution of the CHF and reversed the dilatation of the aorta and inferior vena cava. The asymptomatic patient was lost to follow-up. CHF in a young male patient with a history of penetrating abdominal trauma should alert the surgeon to this rare complication.

Misplaced devices in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis: Part I.

Numerous medical devices are used in the chest and fewer in the abdomen and pelvis. They are frequently seen on various radiological studies in daily practice. Knowing the specific name of the device is not important. However, knowing the proper positioning and function of the device is necessary. It is a duty of the reporting radiologist to recognize the malpositioning or breakage of a medical device and to inform the responsible physician promptly, since these complications can have undesirable consequences and sometimes a fatal outcome.

Misplaced devices in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis: Part II.

Numerous medical devices are used in the chest and fewer in the abdomen and pelvis. They are frequently seen on various radiological studies in daily practice. Knowing the specific name of the device is not important. However, knowing the proper positioning and function of the device is necessary. It is a duty of the reporting radiologist to recognize the malpositioning or breakage of a medical device and to inform the responsible physician promptly, since these complications can have undesirable consequences and sometimes a fatal outcome.

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return: iatrogenic occlusion of the innominate vein producing right-to-left shunt.

A patient experienced acute dyspnea and hypoxia upon removal of a thrombosed peripherally inserted central venous catheter. This was shown to be caused by innominate vein occlusion complicated by a right-to-left shunt, via an anomalous pulmonary vein, causing arterial desaturation. A stent was placed in the occluded innominate vein and arterial saturation returned to normal.

Reactivation of herpes zoster after liver biopsy.

A patient developed reactivation of herpes zoster infection (shingles) after a routine liver biopsy. Reactivation of herpes is often related to trauma. This entity should be considered when patients report postbiopsy pain inappropriate to the procedure. If the typical rash of shingles develops, antiviral therapy should be considered.