Bacteremia in Equine Neonatal Diarrhea: A Retrospective Study (1990 –

2007)
J Vet Intern Med 2008;22:1203-1209
50% were bacteremic at admission. The most common isolate was Enterococcus
spp. IgG concentration was not associated with blood culture status. Blood culture
status was not associated with survival. Possiblity of compromised intestinal barrier
increasing the risk for bacterial translocation and subsequent bacteremia.

Acute Hemobilia and Hemocholecyst in 2 Dogs with Gallbladder Carcinoid

J Vet Intern Med 2008;22:1249-1252

Thrombosis of the Pulmonary Artery in a Yearling Thoroughbred Colt

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:215-219
Etiological agent: Actinobacillus equuli

Large areas of consolidation pulmonary artery thrombus

and foci of necrosis.

Juvenile Pancreatic Atrophy in Greyhounds: 12 Cases (1995 -2000)

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:67-71
Histopathology: Acinar cell apoptosis, zymogen granule loss, cytoplasmic clearing or
vacuolar change, lobular atrophy, islet loss, and lymphocytic or lymphoplasmacytic
pancreatitis.
Antemortem test results on the 2 Greyhound puppies indicated concurrent exocrine
pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
Juvenile pancreatic atrophy

Zymogen granule loss, apoptotic bodies

(arrows), and acinar cell cytoplasmic

Previous reports of pancreatic acinar atrophy was reported to be due to chronic

inflammation, this is the first report of juvenile onset with no apparent cause but
mostly probably is auoimmune-mediated.

Fibrin Deposits and Organ Failure in Newborn Foals with Severe

Septicemia
J Vet Intern Med 2008;22: 1403-1410

Summary: Previous studies showed that following septicemia fibrin deposition takes
place in multiple organs leading to organ failure in adult horses and new born
humans. Here they evaluated if this is true with new born foals, because foals <1 yr
old have poor homeostatic mechanism. Results showed that new born foals do
develop similar condition as adult horses following septicemia causing multiorgan
failure.

Fibrin Stain: Phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) and IHC for fibrin were used
to visualize fibrin deposits in multiple organs.

Vitamin D-Dependent Hereditary Rickets Type I in a Cat

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:196-199
Summary: CBC showed hypocalcemia and hyperphosphotemia. Radiographs
showed decreased bone density. Increased parathyroid hormone secretion which is
in response to low blood calcium levels. 25- Hydroxycholecalciferol was within the
reference range but the active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol was lower
(no hydroxylation in kidney).
Two types of rickets:
1. Vitamin D-Dependent Hereditary Rickets Type I
2. Vitamin D receptor deficiency Type II

Normal process: Vitamin D precursor in skin-Sun exposure-become Vit D3 or

cholicalciferol-migrates to liver-25-hydoxycholicalciferol-further migrates to kidney
becomes active vitamin D which is 1,25-hydroxycholicalciferol (1-alpha-
hydroxylase).

Due to mutation in the gene that encodes the enzyme, 1-alpha-hydroxylase.

Mutation in exon 2 and single nucleotide deletion in exon 4 leading to frame shift
and premature truncation of the protein that is nonfunctional.

So in this study the decreased production of Vitamin D was due to the mutation in
the enzyme 1-alpha-hydroxylase which is Type 1 rickets.

Congenital Thyroid Hypoplasia and Seizures in 2 Littermate Kittens

J Vet Intern Med 2008;22:1427-1431
Gross findings:
Disproportionally short legs, abducted
elbows, rounded and flattened faces and
were severely obstipated. The facial
structure and dentition resembled that of a
4-week-old kitten. There was a poor
body weight gain, and had a large colon
filled with firm feces.

Radiographs showed widened bone

growth plates inappropriate for their age,
as well as shortened long bones and
wide vertebral bodies. Several tarsal and
carpal bones were not visible due to
delayed mineralization.
Serum total T4 concentrations lower
thanthe detectable levels.
Gross, radiographs, and histological findings are suggestive of epiphyseal
dysgenesis and typical of congenital hypothyroidism (CH).

Concurrent Infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Mycoplasma

haemolamae in a Young Alpaca
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:379-382

History of partial anorexia, mild colic, ataxia progressing to recumbency, and

suspected blindness of 1-day duration. To the authors’ knowledge, this case is the
first report of concurrent M. haemolamae and A. phagocytophilum infection leading
to neurological, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal signs in an alpaca.
Calcium Regulating Hormones and Serum Calcium and Magnesium
Concentrations in Septic and Critically Ill Foals and their Association with
Survival
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:335-343

Septic foals had decreased Ca2, increased serum PTH, and phosphorus
concentrations. No differences in serum Mg2, PTHrP, and CT concentrations were
found. Nonsurviving septic foals had higher PTH concentrations than survivors.

Cellular and Molecular Characterization of a Feline Insulinoma

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:383-387

Immunohistochemistry examination indicated that the tumor cells expressed

insulin, chromogranin A, and somatostatin but not glucagon or pancreatic
polypeptide. The tumor expressed several genes characteristic of pancreatic beta
cells including insulin, glucose transporter 2, and glucokinase. The tumor also
expressed hexokinase 1, a glycolytic enzyme not normally expressed in b cells. GCK
expression was higher in the insulinoma than in normal pancreas from the same
cat. The GCK: HK1 ratio was 420-fold higher in insulinoma tissue than in normal
pancreas.

Protozoal Hepatitis Associated with Immunosuppressive Therapy in a Dog

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:366-368

The most common forms of canine neosporosis are myositis-polyradiculoneuritis

and encephalomyelitis.

Lack of Detectable Equine Herpesviruses 1 and 2 in Paraffin-Embedded

Specimens of Equine Sarcoidosis
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:623-625

Equine sarcoidosis is a rare, multisystemic, noncaseating, granulomatous and

lymphoplasmacytic disease of unknown etiology. A recent report described a horse
with granulomatous skin disease displaying histologic, electron microscopic, and
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) findings consistent with equine herpesvirus 2
(EHV-2). Retrospective study in 8 horses with sarcoidosis. PCR assays of the tissues
were performed to detect DNA associated with EHV-1 and EHV-2. The PCR analyses
for both equine herpesviruses’ DNA were negative in all 8 horses.

Ionized Hypercalcemia in Dogs: A Retrospective Study of 109 Cases (1998 –2003)

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:514-519

Ionized calcium (iCa) comprises approximately 50% of serum total Ca, is the most
biologically active form and directly affects parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin
D release to regulate body Ca concentrations.

Neoplasia, specifically lymphosarcoma (releases PTHrP), followed by renal failure,

hyperparathyroidism (increased PTH), hypoadrenocorticism (Ionic imbalance due to
mineralocorticoid and corticosteroid defficiency) and Vit D toxicity (increased
calcium absorption through GI tract) were the most common causes of increased
ionized hypercalcemia.
Presumptive Albendazole Toxicosis in 12 Alpacas
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:945–949
Signalment: 7 crias and 2 adults presented with severe watery diarrhea, lethargy,
and fever.
Clin Path: Moderate/marked hypoproteinemia, moderate/profound neutropenia
Gross path: Crias: Erythema of the serosal and mucosal surfaces of the small and
large intestines. The Adults: Erythema of the serosal and mucosal surfaces of the
large intestines, with prominent spiral colon serosal hemorrhages and diffuse,
severe, linear mucosal ulcerations.
Histopathology: Crias: Small intestinal crypt epithelial necrosis. Crypts were dilated
with lumina containing necrotic cell debris. The remaining crypt epithelium was
regenerative. Some regions were noted to exhibit extensive mucosal necrosis with
collapse of the lamina propria, fibrin deposition, and admixed neutrophilic cell
debris. Large intestine was similarly affected. Adults: Similar lesions with additional
areas of severe ulceration were noted in the colonic mucosa with intralesional
bacterial colonies and fibrin thrombi.
Bone marrow was markedly hypocellular, with extensive depletion of hematopoietic
precursor cells.

Calcium Reuptake Related Genes as a Cardiac Biomarker in Dogs with

Chronic Mitral Valvular Insufficiency
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:832–839

The mRNA expression levels of PLN and HAX-1, but not SERCA2a were significantly
reduced in dogs with moderate to severe Chronic Mitral Valvular Insufficiency.
SERCA2a is a transmembrane protein expressed in the myocardium, that controls
both the rate of cytosolic calcium removal and loading via the sarcoplasmic
reticulum. PLN modulates SERCA2a activity by down-regulating its activation. HAX-1
is a recently identified PLN-binding partner. Binding of HAX-1 to PLN increases
cytosolic calcium concentrations in myocytes.

Idiopathic Eosinophilic Masses of the Gastrointestinal Tract in Dogs

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:818–823
Biopsies obtained from grossly normal areas were documented to be free of
eosinophilic infiltrate in each dog. All masses contained a predominance of
moderate to severe eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrate, ranging from mucosal to
transmural. Associated fibrosis was described in masses from 5 dogs, with active
fibroplasia also seen in 2 of these. Loss of colonic and gastric glands was described
in 2 separate dogs, and flattening of the intestinal villi was described in 1 dog.

Changes in Regulatory T Cells in Dogs with Cancer and Associations with

Tumor Type
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:875–881
The percentage of Tregs was significantly increased overall in dogs with cancer
compared with control dogs. When tumor types were compared, Treg percentages
were significantly increased in dogs with carcinoma. The Treg/CD8 T cell ratio was
significantly higher in dogs with cancer compared with control dogs and was also
significantly increased in 2 dogs with T-cell lymphoma.

Multisystem Axonopathy and Neuronopathy in Golden Retriever Dogs

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:935–939
Signalment: 3 Golden Retriever puppies from the same litter. Weakness and
tremors progressing to tetraparesis with decreased reflexes. No ataxia noted.
Gross path: Severe generalized muscle atrophy.
Histopathology: Multiple serial sections of the spinal cord revealed diffuse axonal
degeneration characterized by astrogliosis, axonal swelling, ballooned or absent
myelin sheaths, and axons lacking normal myelin sheath (secondary
demyelination). Ballooned myelin sheaths contained myelin sheath fragments and
axonal debris, also with foamy, plump, finely granular macrophages inside. In the
ventral gray column of the spinal cord, the CEV stain revealed extensive loss of
neuronal cell bodies and occasionally a cell body in the process of degeneration at
all spinal cord levels. The caudal medulla oblongata that had a continuum of the
spinal cord astrogliotic lesions. The motor nuclei of the trigeminal nerve also had
areas of vacuolation, with some neurons having multiple, large, clear empty
cytoplasmic vacuoles. Scattered vacuolation of the myelin surrounding axons within
most nerves was seen, with occasional pyknotic macrophages, axonal swelling, and
axonal debris. The lesions were thought to represent Wallerian degeneration
secondary to cell body loss.
Symmetrical lesion in the lateral and ventral funiculi (arrows) Luxol fast blue (LFB) stain showing loss of
myelin that is
and the sparing of the dorsal funiculi (arrowheads). Bielschowsky pronounced in the tracts in the
dorsolateral funiculus of the
stain. spinal cord (arrowheads).

Polymicrogyria in Standard Poodles

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:871–874

Remission of Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis in Boxer Dogs Correlates with

Eradication of Invasive Intramucosal Escherichia coli
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:964–969

Intramucosal E. coli was present in colonic biopsies of 7/7 Boxers with HUC. Clinical
response was noted in all dogs within 2 weeks of enrofloxacin.
Blinded evaluation of biopsies obtained before and after administration of
enrofloxacin revealed a marked reduction in the severity of inflammation in 4 of the
5 dogs evaluated. Histologic remission lagged behind clinical remission in each of
the responders.
Histologic evaluation of colonoscopic biopsies 2 weeks after diagnosis showed
marked improvement of the initially severe, erosive HUC, but a mild infiltration of
PAS 1 macrophages persisted. Colonoscopic biopsies collected from this dog on a
3rd occasion, 7 months after the initial diagnosis and were histologically within
normal limits though rare macrophages and crypt distortion persisted.

In Vivo and In Vitro Evidence of the Involvement of CXCL1, a Keratinocyte-

Derived Chemokine, in Equine Laminitis
J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:1086–1096

Twenty adult horses using black walnut extract model of laminitis.

163-fold increase in laminar CXCL1 mRNA a 1.5 hours.
21-fold increase in laminar CXCL1 mRNA a 4 hours.
CXCL1 gene expression was localized to laminar epithelial cells, endothelial cells,
and emigrating leukocytes. CXCL1 plays an early and possibly initiating role in
neutrophil accumulation, and that laminar keratinocytes are an important source of
this chemokine.

Gastric Neoplasia in Horses

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:1097–1102

Twenty-four horses with gastric neoplasia. The most common presenting complaints
were inappetance (17/24), weight loss (14/24), lethargy (7/24), hypersalivation
(7/24), colic (5/24), and fever (5/24).
Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common tumor identified (19/24), and was
most often found as a single ulcerated, necrotic mass in the nonglandular portion of
the stomach. leiomyoma (2), mesothelioma (1), adenocarcinoma (1), and lymphoma
(1). Metastatic neoplasia was found in 18/23 horses.

Colonic Impaction Due to Dysautonomia in an Alpaca

J Vet Intern Med 2009;23:1117–1122

HISTORY: 6 day history of anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, and obstipation.

Dysphagia was observed in that the alpaca successfully prehended hay and
attempted to drink, but water and masticated food either fell out of the alpaca’s
mouth or were retained in the buccal pouch. There were generalized muscle
fasciculations, and intermittent, focal, muscular twitches, most prominently
affecting the face.
GROSS: Colonic impaction involving the distal portion of the ascending colon.
HISTO: Neuronal density was diminished in both the cranial and caudal mesenteric
ganglia of the affected alpaca, and associated with a relative increase in density
and size of satellite (glial) cells. Cell bodies were moderately swollen, and had signs
of degeneration characterized by pyknotic, eccentrically placed nuclei,
hypereosinophilic cytoplasm, and diffuse loss of Nissl substance. Neurons were rare
in the submucosal and myenteric plexuses and remaining cells were swollen with
hypereosinophilic cytoplasm and pronounced nuclear eccentricity.
IMMUNO: Cranial mesenteric ganglion, intestinal submucosa, and myenteric
plexuses neurons expressed tyrosine hydroxylase with variably intense staining,
whereas the control alpaca neurons stained uniformly and darkly. Tyrosine
hydroxylase is an enzyme responsible for catalyzing the conversion of the amino
acid L-tyrosine to DOPA. DOPA is a precursor for dopamine, and in turn is a
precursor for norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Comparison of Histopathologic Findings in Biopsies from the Duodenum

and Ileum of Dogs with Enteropathy
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:80–83

30 cases
8/30 (27%) had the same histopathologic diagnosis in both the duodenum and the
ileum.
3/30 (10%) if different disease severity was also considered as disagreement.
Microscopic pathology would have been found in 60% if only duodenal and 80% if
only ileal.

Congenital Cardiac Defects in Neonatal Foals: 18 Cases (1992 –2007)

J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:206–212

Arabian foals represented 39% of cases.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) (14/18)
Tetralogy of Fallot (5/18)
Tricuspid valve atresia (4/18)

Endoscopic, Biopsy, and Histopathologic Guidelines for the Evaluation of

Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Companion Animals
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:10–26

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) International

Gastrointestinal (GI) Standardization Group was convened in 2004 for the purpose
of developing standards for history taking, physical examination, laboratory
diagnostic tests, imaging procedures and reports, endoscopic procedures and
reports, biopsy procedures and reports, histopathologic interpretation,
immunohistochemistry (IHC), treatment trials, and patient response and outcome in
dogs and cats with
gastrointestinal disease.

Canine Sterile Nodular Panniculitis: A Retrospective Study of 14 Cases

J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:278–284

Skin lesions were ulcerated or draining nodules in 9 dogs and nonulcerative

subcutaneous nodules in 5. Most dogs had systemic signs, such as fever,
inappetence, lethargy, and multiple lesions. Common findings included neutrophilia
with or without left shift and increased alkaline phosphatase activity. Concurrent
diseases included pancreatic disease, SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, polyarthritis,
lymphoplasmacytic colitis, and hepatic disease.

Progressive Juvenile Glomerulonephropathy in 16 Related French Mastiff

(Bordeaux) Dogs
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:314–322

Clinical signs were typical of progressive glomerulopathy with resultant renal

failure.
Both males and females from healthy parents were affected. An autosomal
recessive mode of transmission is suspected.

Evaluation of Brain Tissue or Cerebrospinal Fluid with Broadly Reactive

Polymerase Chain Reaction for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Spotted Fever Group
Rickettsia, Bartonella, and Borrelia Species in Canine Neurological
Diseases (109 Cases)
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:372–378

Pathogen nucleic acids were detected in 1 of 109 cases evaluated. Specifically,

Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii DNA was amplified from 1/6 dogs with
histopathologically confirmed GME.
Uveal Inflammation in Septic Newborn Foals
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:391–397

Anterior uveitis is highly prevalent in septic newborn foals, especially in those with a
positive blood culture, and it should be considered as a survival prognostic factor.

Acute Renal Failure and Anuria Associated with Vitamin D Intoxication in

Two Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Cria
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:443–449

Both cria developed tissue mineralization and acute renal failure after
administration of excessive doses of vitamin D.
Drug-Induced Minimal Change Nephropathy in a Dog
J Vet Intern Med 2010;24:431–435

7-year-old, spayed female Giant Schnauzer with severe proteinuria. The dog had a
5-year clinical history of recurring otitis externa and allergic dermatitis; the dog was
enrolled into a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial evaluating the
efficacy of masitinib mesylatea for the treatment of atopy. Masitinib is a selective
and potent inhibitor of c-KIT-dependent cell proliferation as well as PDGFR
dependent cell proliferation in vitro. Furthermore, masitinib inhibits to a lesser
extent FGFR3.1 Another potentially important target of masitinib is LYN, which is a
key component of the transduction pathway leading to IgE-induced degranulation.
A presumptive diagnosis of subacute glomerulopathy was made based on the
persistent proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia.
Histopathologic changes within the kidney biopsy were minimal. Glomeruli were of
normal cellularity, and thickening of the glomerular capillary loops was not evident.
Within many glomeruli, a few podocytes were enlarged with increased cytoplasmic
volume and slightly enlarged nuclei; rare parietal epithelial cells lining Bowman’s
capsule were similarly hypertrophied. A few renal corpuscles had mild thickening or
splitting of the basement membrane of Bowman’s capsule. The proximal tubular
epithelium was slightly swollen with eosinophilic and granular cytoplasm (hyaline
droplet change) and hyaline casts were present in a small number of distal tubules,
indicative of proteinuria. Ultrastructurally, changes were restricted to the
glomerular visceral epithelial cells (podocytes) and consisted of markedly diffuse
foot process effacement and villous transformation. The cytoplasm of the podocytes
was swollen and occasional vacuoles containing debris were identified. The
glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and endothelium were normal in
appearance, and immune deposits were not observed. A diagnosis of MCN was
made based on these ultrastructural findings.
* = Glomerular BM Arrowhead: Endothelial cell Big arrow: Podocyte Little
arrow: Microvillus