This report concerns 2 horses that suffered typical clinical signs of atypical myopathy (AM) and equine grass sickness (EGS) concurrently. Clinical details and pathological lesions of the cases are described. EGS and AM are relatively rare diseases and the concurrency of the diseases in the same animals is therefore considered unlikely to be a coincidence. However, it is not suggested that the evidence shows a common aetiology but rather the existence of common predisposing causes.
A pharyngeal salivary mucocele was diagnosed in a seven-year-old male Irish softcoated wheaten terrier. The diagnosis was based on history, clinical findings, paracentesis and histopathology. An underlying etiology was not identified. Treatment consisted of the surgical removal of the mandibular and sublingual glands on the affected side and the resection of redundant pharyngeal tissue. Neither postsurgical complications, nor recurrence of the mucocele were observed ten months later.
A multiresistant Morganella morganii subsp. morganii strain was isolated in pure culture from pneumonic lesions of a 3-week-old Belgian Blue calf, originating from a farm coping with chronic diarrhoea and respiratory tract disease as well as increased mortality in 1-3-week-old animals. Additionally, high numbers of Clostridium perfringens were isolated from the jejunum and a Giardia infection was diagnosed. Moreover, necropsy findings and histological examinations indicated nutritional myodegeneration. M. morganii is an opportunistic pathogen that is mainly associated with postoperative and nosocomial infections in immunosuppressed individuals.
The present paper describes two cases of suspected urothelial carcinomas with local lymphatic metastases, and distant metastases in the lungs. In one case, liver metastases were also present. Both cases are documented with an extensive clinical report, using bloodwork, rectal examination, ultrasonography, cytology of abdominal fluid and, in one case, also urine analysis, radiography and transrectal biopsy to come to a diagnosis of abdominal malignancy. Subsequently, the post-mortem exam, histopathology and immunohistochemistry are described and illustrated. SAMENVATTING In dit artikel worden twee gevallen beschreven van overgangscelcarcinomen vermoedelijk uitgaande van de ureter, met metastasen via de regionale lymfevaten en met longmetastasen. In een geval waren er ook levermetastasen. Het klinisch onderzoek komt uitgebreid aan bod, met een bespreking van onder andere het bloedonderzoek, rectaal onderzoek, de echografie en de cytologie van buikvocht. In een van de twee gevallen worden eveneens het urineonderzoek, de radiografie en transrectale bioptname besproken en wordt een maligne abdominaal proces gediagnosticeerd. Daarna wordt het pathologisch onderzoek beschreven en verduidelijkt met illustraties.
A multiresistant Morganella morganii subsp.morganii strain was isolated in pure culture from pneumonic lesions of a 3-week-old Belgian Blue calf, originating from a farm coping with chronic diarrhoea and respiratory tract disease as well as increased mortality in 1-3-week-old animals.Additionally, high numbers of Clostridium perfringens were isolated from the jejunum and a Giardia infection was diagnosed.Moreover, necropsy findings and histological examinations indicated nutritional myodegeneration.M. morganii is an opportunistic pathogen that is mainly associated with postoperative and nosocomial infections in immunosuppressed individuals. SAMENVATTINGEen multiresistente Morganella morganii subsp.morganii stam werd in reincultuur geïsoleerd uit pneumonieletsels bij een drie weken oud Belgisch Witblauw kalf.Het dier was afkomstig van een bedrijf dat kampte met chronische diarree, ademhalingsproblemen en een verhoogde mortaliteit bij 1 tot 3 weken oude dieren.Bij het kalf in kwestie werden ook hoge aantallen Clostridium perfringens geïsoleerd uit het jejunum en werd een Giardia-infectie gediagnosticeerd.Bovendien wezen de autopsiebevindingen en het histologisch onderzoek op nutritionele spierdystrofie.M. morganii is een opportunistische pathogeen die vooral geassocieerd wordt met postoperatieve infecties en ziekenhuisinfecties bij immunodeficiënte individuen.
In this study, the signalment, clinical signs, histopathological findings and treatment outcome of four dogs with chronic ulcerative paronychia, that presented clinical and microscopic characteristics of the mucocutaneous variant of canine chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus are described. The Greyhounds in the case series had a symmetric claw fold involvement, either exclusively or as major clinical presentation.
Between September 2008 and September 2009, 25 calves with neonatal haemorrhagic diathesis (NHD) were autopsied. Breed distribution was 52% Belgian Blue and 48% Holstein Friesian. 47% was female and 53% male. The animals were on average 13 days old (7-21 days). Grossly, all cases showed generalized haemorrhages (petechiae, ecchymoses or haemorrhages) with variable lymphadenopathy. All calves had an anemic appearance. In 45% of the cases intestinal haemorrhage was present. Less frequent lesions were bacterial bronchopneumonia (23%), abomasal ulceration (32%), intestinal intussusception (4%) or icterus (4%). Histopathology of skin, oral mucosa, skeletal muscle, and hemorrhagic lesions in internal organs was performed and revealed multifocal extravasation of red blood cells (hemorrhage) with preservation of tissue architecture and absence of other abnormalities. Histopathological examination of the spleen and lymph nodes consistently showed severe lymphoid depletion in which T- and B-compartments were equally affected. Findings in the spleens were consistent with lymphocyte loss in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheets (PALS) and the lymphoid follicles. The red pulp was hypocellular with histiocytosis in a single case. Lymphnodes had a striking cortical and paracortical depletion of lymphocytes. In several cases, histiocytosis of the medullary sinuses was found. In 18% of the calves the thymus was examined and lymphoid depletion was present. The bone marrow was characterized by depletion of hematopoietic tissue in which all cell lines were affected with reduction of stem cells and progenitor cells including megakaryocytes (total aplasia).
In 10 live calves bone marrow aspiration and cytology was performed at different stages of the disease. In three calves, the bone marrow punction was unsuccessful as only fat or subcortical tissue was present. A total aplastic bone marrow was seen in two calves in the terminal phase of the disease, with absence of megakaryocytes, lymphoid, myeloid and erythroid precursor cells. In the other 5 calves various amounts of cellular islands of precursor cells were still present and in two calves only a few megakaryocytes could be detected. In two animals the eosinophilic component was proportionally increased. In 5 animals groups of macrophages in close association with lymphocytes could be found in an aplastic bone marrow. The macrophages had an oval to round excentric nucleus with prominent nucleolus and fine stippled basophilic chromatin. The cytoplasm was abundant and vacuolated in two cases (consistent with activated macrophages). Hemophagocytosis was seen in two calves. In one calf, which eventually died of the disease, serial bone marrow aspiration was performed. On the onset of clinical symptoms (10 days old) the bone marrow was hypoplastic and myeloid precursor cells and megakaryocytes were still present. The eosinophilic component in the bone marrow was increased and a low number of macrophages was seen. In a second aspiration at an age of 14 days (the day before natural death) the bone marrow was totally aplastic with a sporadic presence of a myeloid precursor cell or macrophage. Cytology of peripheral blood showed stimulated lymphocytes, thrombocytopenia and granulocytopenia in most cases. In clinical cases no signs of regenerative anemia were seen. In a surviving calf normoblastosis and signs of regenerative anemia (Howel-Jolly bodies and reticulocytes) were seen 8 days after onset of clinical symptoms. Impression smears of the spleen were made in three calves, immediately after euthanasia. In all calves the lymphocytes were strongly activated (immunoblasts) and plasma cells were present. In one calf activated macrophages were seen. In another calf granulocytes were phagocytosing bacteria and in the third calf a sporadic eosinophil was seen. The findings are suggestive for an immune-mediated mechanism, of which the primary cause could be both toxic (natural toxins, medication, vaccination) or infectious.
