Parathyroid hormone receptor 1 (PTHR1) is a prognostic indicator in canine osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant primary bone tumour in humans and dogs. Several studies have established the vital role of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and its receptor (PTHR1) in bone formation and remodeling. In addition, these molecules play a role in the progression and metastasis of many human tumour types. This study investigated the expression of PTHR1 and PTHrP in canine OS tissues and assessed their prognostic value. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 50 dogs diagnosed with primary OS were immunolabeled with antibodies specific for PTHR1 and PTHrP. The immunostaining intensity of tumours from patients with OS was correlated with survival time. Both PTHR1 and PTHrP were detected in all OS samples (n = 50). Dogs with OS tumours showing high immunostaining intensity for PTHR1 (n = 36) had significantly shorter survival times (p = 0.028, Log Rank; p = 0.04, Cox regression) when compared with OS that had low immunostaining intensity for PTHR1 (n = 14).PTHrP immunostaining intensity did not correlate with survival time (p > 0.05). The results of this study indicate that increased expression of PTHR1 antigen in canine OS is associated with poor prognosis. This suggests that PTHR1 may be useful as a prognostic indicator in canine OS.

An atypical cause of sporotrichosis in a cat.

A nine-year-old domestic cat from Melbourne, Australia, presented with a non-ulcerated nodule on its nasal bridge. A fungal infection of the subcutis was diagnosed based on histopathology and culture of a white mould, which was identified as Sporothrix pallida complex by ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and ß-tubulin gene sequencing. The cat was treated by cytoreduction, itraconazole and subsequently posaconazole, which eventually resulted in regression of residual infected tissues and clinical resolution.

Hyperinsulinaemic, hypoglycaemic syndrome due to acquired nesidioblastosis in a cat.

Case summary A 6-year-old, neutered female British Shorthair cat presented with acute-onset weakness and mental dullness. Initially the cat was mildly hyperglycaemic (9.9 mmol/l; reference interval [RI] 3.3-6.7 mmol/l). Over the following 12 h the cat developed central blindness, tremors, intermittent seizures and opisthotonus. Repeat blood sampling revealed a marked hypoglycaemia (0.8 mmol/l). Insulin level (performed on a serum sample collected while the cat was hypoglycaemic) was inappropriately elevated (1575 mIU/l; RI 10-80 mIU/l). An abdominal ultrasound was unremarkable. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a firm and erythematous left limb of the pancreas. Following surgical resection of the left limb of the pancreas, the cat returned to a euglycaemic state after a brief rebound hyperglycaemia. Histopathology revealed pancreatic fibrosis with marked multifocal micronodular hyperplasia of exocrine and endocrine cells. Synaptophysin immunohistochemistry confirmed nodular ß-cell hyperplasia. Relevance and novel information Nesidioblastosis describes a syndrome of acquired hyperinsulinaemia and associated hypoglycaemia secondary to focal or diffuse (non-neoplastic) ß-cell hyperplasia within the pancreas. Acquired nesidioblastosis has been reported in humans, where ß-cell dysregulation is thought to occur in response to pancreatic injury. This is the first reported case of clinically significant hypoglycaemia due to acquired nesidioblastosis in an adult domestic cat. While this condition is rare, nesidioblastosis is being increasingly recognised in humans and it is an important differential diagnosis to consider when investigating hypoglycaemia as it cannot be distinguished from insulinoma without histopathological evaluation. While recurrence has been occasionally reported in humans, the prognosis is considered good.

DogMATIC--A Remote Biospecimen Collection Kit for Biobanking.

Canine tumors are valuable comparative oncology models. This research was designed to create a sustainable biobank of canine mammary tumors for breast cancer research. The aim was to provide a well-characterized sample cohort for specimen sharing, data mining, and long-term research aims. Canine mammary tumors are most frequently managed at a local veterinary clinic or hospital. We adopted a biobank framework based on a large number of participating veterinary hospitals and clinics acting as collection centers that were serviced by a centralized storage facility. Recruitment was targeted at rural veterinary clinics. A tailored, stable collection kit (DogMATIC) was designed that was used by veterinarians in remote or rural locations to collect both fresh and fixed tissue for submission to the biobank. To validate this methodology the kit design, collection rate, and sample quality were analyzed. The Australian Veterinary Cancer Biobank was established as a network of 47 veterinary clinics and three veterinary pathology laboratories spanning over 200,000 km(2). In the first 12 months, 30 canine mammary tumor cases were submitted via the DogMATIC kit. Pure intact RNA was isolated in over 80% of samples with an average yield of 14.49 µg. A large network biobank, utilizing off-site collection with the DogMATIC kit, was successfully coordinated. The creation of the Australian Veterinary Cancer Biobank has established a long-term, sustainable, comparative oncology research resource in Australia. There are broader implications for biobanking with this very different form of collection and banking.

Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia: 13 cases and review of an emerging clinical entity.

OBJECTIVE: Feline gastrointestinal eosinophilic sclerosing fibroplasia (FGESF) is a recently described inflammatory disease of cats affecting stomach or intestines and draining regional lymph nodes. This study presents clinical and laboratory data on 13 newly described cases from Australia (11) and the UK (two). OBSERVATIONS: The disease was most often observed in middle-aged cats (median 7 years of age; interquartile range 5-9 years). Ragdolls (7/13) and males (9/13) were overrepresented. Cats generally had a long history of vomiting and/or diarrhoea. Lesions were typically large, hard, non-painful, easily palpable and most commonly situated near the pylorus or ileocaecocolic junction. Lesions were heterogeneous ultrasonographically and on sectioning at celiotomy or necropsy. Masses were hard and 'gritty' on fine-needle aspiration due to internal trabeculae made up of mature collagen bundles. Bacteria were commonly detected within masses (9/13 cases) using either culture or conventional light microscopy and a panel of special stains, and/or fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), although detection often required a diligent search of multiple tissue sections. A consistent bacterial morphology could not be appreciated among the different cases. OUTCOME: Patients were treated with a variable combination of cytoreduction (debulking and biopsy, to complete surgical resection), immunosuppressive therapy and antimicrobial agents. Many cats had a poor outcome, which was attributable to late diagnosis combined with suboptimal management. It is hoped that suggestions outlined in the discussion may improve clinical outcomes and long-term survival in future cases.

Second intention healing after wide local excision of soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs in dogs: 31 cases (2005-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcomes for dogs with soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs that underwent second intention healing after wide excision (2-cm lateral surgical margins and a margin 1 fascial plane deep) of the tumors. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 31 dogs with soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs that underwent second intention healing following wide local excision of their tumors. PROCEDURES: Tumors were excised with 2-cm lateral margins and a margin 1 fascial plane deep to tumors. Wounds healed by means of second intention. Time to healing, complications during healing, and information regarding tumor recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: All tumors were excised with histologically tumor-free margins. Twenty-nine (93.5%) wounds healed completely by second intention (median time, 53 days). Two (6.5%) dogs required free skin graft procedures to facilitate healing. Complications during open wound management developed for 7 (22.6%) dogs. Long-term complications were detected for 8 (25.8%) dogs, including intermittent epidermal disruption (5/31 [16.1%]) and wound contracture (3/31 [9.7%]). All complications were managed conservatively. Local tumor recurrence was detected for 1 (3.2%) dog. Median follow-up time was 980 days (range, 380 to 2,356 days). No patients died because of tumor-related causes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of this study indicated second intention healing of large wounds in the distal aspects of the limbs was complete and typically without complications for dogs that underwent wide excision of soft tissue sarcomas. Wide local excision of soft tissue sarcomas in the distal aspects of the limbs with 2-cm lateral margins and margins 1 fascial plane deep to the tumors provided excellent long-term local tumor control.

Successful treatment of malakoplakia of the bladder in a kitten.

A 4-month-old female kitten presented with chronic lower urinary tract signs and Escherichia coli cystitis, and was diagnosed with urinary bladder malakoplakia based upon histopathology. The kitten was treated with a prolonged antibiotic course and the malakoplakia resolved. Malakoplakia is a chronic granulomatous reaction characterized by the formation of Michaelis-Gutman bodies within von Hansemann macrophages. It is well described in humans, but has never been documented in a living veterinary patient. This case report describes the first successful treatment of malakoplakia in veterinary medicine.

Gaucher disease in sheep.

Gaucher disease, an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the ß-glucocerebrosidase gene, was recently discovered in sheep on a "Southdown" sheep stud in Victoria, Australia. Clinical signs include neuropathy, thickened leathery skin, and ichthyosis, with lambs unable to stand from birth. Affected lambs were found to be deficient in glucocerebrosidase activity, and mutational analysis found them to be homozygous for the missense mutations c.1142G>A (p.C381Y) and c.1400C>T (p.P467L). In addition, four silent mutations were detected (c.777C>A [p.Y259Y], c1203A>G [p.Q401Q], c.1335T>C [p.I445I], c.1464C>G [p.L488L]). The human equivalent [C342Y] to the C381Y mutation leads to an acute neuronopathic phenotype in patients. Identification of an acute neuronopathic form of Gaucher disease in sheep provides a large animal model that will enable studies of pathology and evaluation of therapies to treat this common lysosomal storage disorder.