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Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a gram-positive bacterial species that is utilised as a probiotic in humans and animals. There are no reports of infective endocarditis (IE) in dogs. An 8-year-old, spayed, female Maltese presented with a 1-month history of fever, depression, weight loss, and hindlimb lameness. Laboratory test results indicated non-regenerative anaemia, neutrophilia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Echocardiography revealed vegetation on the septal leaflet of the mitral valve and thromboemboli in the left atrium. Consecutive blood culture results revealed that the blood samples were consistently positive for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which is generally considered a probiotic bacterial species for animals. Broad-spectrum antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefotaxime) and anticoagulants (clopidogrel and rivaroxaban) were administered for 4 months. The clinical signs were responsive to antibiotic treatment. After 4 months, the dog was no longer febrile and the size of the thromboemboli in the left atrium had decreased. Bacteria were no longer isolated in blood cultures after antibiotic therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of canine IE caused by bactaeremic infection with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Hypoxia and limited vascularization inhibit bone growth and recovery after surgical debridement to treat osteomyelitis. Similarly, despite significant efforts to create functional tissue-engineered organs, clinical success is often hindered by insufficient oxygen diffusion and poor vascularization. To overcome these shortcomings, we previously used the oxygen carrier perfluorooctane (PFO) to develop PFO emulsion-loaded hollow microparticles (PFO-HPs). PFO-HPs act as a local oxygen source that increase cell viability and maintains the osteogenic differentiation potency of human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs) under hypoxic conditions. In the present study, we used a miniature pig model of mandibular osteomyelitis to investigate bone regeneration using hPDCs seeded on PFO-HPs (hPDCs/PFO-HP) or hPDCs seeded on phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-HPs (hPDCs/PBS-HP). Osteomyelitis is characterized by a series of microbial invasion, vascular disruption, bony necrosis, and sequestrum formation due to impaired host defense response. Sequential plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and 3D reconstructed CT images revealed new bone formation was more advanced in defects that had been implanted with the hPDCs/PFO-HPs than in defects implanted with the hPDCs/PBS-HP. Thus, PFO-HPs are a promising tissue engineering approach to repair challenging bone defects and regenerate structurally organized bone tissue with 3D architecture.

Background Combination therapy with glucocorticoids and adjunctive immunomodulating drugs has been generally accepted as a standard treatment regimen for meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown etiology (MUE). We hypothesized that treatment with MMF as an adjunctive agent along with glucocorticoids would be effective and well-tolerated protocol in dogs with MUE. Eighty-six dogs with MUE between May 2009 and June 2017 were included (59 females and 27 males; mean age of 5.93 years; mean body weight of 3.83 kg). The medical records of dogs with MUE treated with prednisolone and MMF were retrospectively evaluated to determine the therapeutic response, survival time, and treatment-related adverse effects. Results A partial or complete response (CR) was recorded for 75 dogs. The overall median survival time from the initiation of treatment was 558 days. Dogs that showed CR with no relapse over the treatment period (from diagnosis to death) had significantly longer median survival times. A significantly higher mortality hazard ratio of 4.546 was recorded in dogs that failed to achieve CR. The interval between the onset of clinical signs and the clinical presentation was not significantly associated with CR, relapse rate, and survival time. Adverse effects included gastrointestinal upsets in 26 dogs (30.23%), sporadic infections in 17 dogs (19.77%), and pancreatitis in seven dogs (8.14%). Conclusions The results suggest that adjunctive MMF treatment for MUE is safe and comparable to other immunosuppressive protocols. The treatment should focus on the achievement of CR and preventing relapse for successful management.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in the detection of mild pneumothorax using computed tomography (CT) in dogs. Nine adult healthy beagles were included in the study. A thoracic tube was inserted into pleural space at the left thoracic wall, and each dog underwent the examinations in the order of CT, lung ultrasonography, and radiography before the infusion of room air into the pleural space. Two, 3, and 5 mL/kg infusions of room air were sequentially introduced into the pleural space and CT, lung ultrasound, and radiography examinations were performed. Sonographic signs included A-lines, stratosphere, lung sliding, lung point, lung pulse, and reverse sliding signs. Radiographs were evaluated for the absence or presence of a pneumothorax. Lung ultrasound results were more accurate than radiography results for the detection of mild pneumothorax. The overall sensitivity of the sonographic reverse sliding sign was higher than that of other sonographic signs, and its specificity was 100% for detection of mild pneumothorax. Thus, the reverse sliding sign is useful when using lung ultrasonography for diagnosis of mild pneumothorax.

This study was carried out to derive and evaluate reference computed tomography (CT)-based indices for normal canine spine. CT and magnetic resonance images were acquired from 12 clinically normal Beagle dogs (normal group) and 50 dogs with 56 spinal disorders (patient group). Image acquisition regions were cervical spine (C2-T1), thoracic spine (T1-T13), and lumbar spine (L1-L7). Measured indices were: the ratios of width to height of the spinal cord including the dura matter (CR) and of the vertebral foramen (FR), and the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord to that of the vertebral foramen (CFAR). Reliability analysis was performed to evaluate intermodality agreement. Student's t-tests and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to discriminate the normal and patient groups on CT. Intermodality agreements of the normal and patient groups were acceptable to excellent. The highest discriminating levels of CR at the vertebral body level and the intervertebral disc space level were 1.25 or more and 1.44 or more, respectively. FR and CFAR had the highest discriminating level at the cervical region. This report presents quantitative information on canine spinal morphometry; the obtained indices may be helpful for CT screening of dogs with spinal disorders.

The present study aimed to investigate the technical feasibility of percutaneous endoscopic mini-hemilaminectomy via a uniportal approach, and to evaluate the possibility of decompression and endoscopic examination of the thoracic and lumbar spinal canals in small dogs during such procedures. Fresh canine cadavers of mixed-breed dogs (n=7) were used in this study. Following injection of a barium and agarose mixture (BA-gel) to stimulate intervertebral disc herniation, percutaneous endoscopic mini-hemilaminectomy was performed using a lateral approach to the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. BA-gel was removed to decompress the spinal cord using an elevator and rongeurs after mini-hemilaminectomy. Pre and post-operative computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained to evaluate surgical outcomes. Intra-operative complications, incision length, and procedure time were recorded. All procedures were completed with clear visualization of the spinal cord and floor of the spinal canal. The mean total operating time was 58.00 ± 18.06 min. Lengths of incision were under 1 cm in all dogs. Intra-operative complications included iatrogenic nerve root injuries caused by the micro-rongeur in two dogs. CT imaging revealed that removal of BA-gel resulted in sufficient spinal cord decompression. Our findings indicated that percutaneous endoscopic thoracolumbar mini-hemilaminectomy is feasible for spinal cord decompression and allows for adequate observation of the spinal canal. Thus, this technique may be an alternative surgical option for treatment of thoracolumbar disk disease in dogs.

Thymic hematomas are uncommon in animals, and the few reported cases are all in dogs. In May 2019, we necropsied a wild Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Junju, Republic of Korea, and found a thymic hematoma without any signs of trauma or hemorrhage in other organs, except for a hemothorax. This study describes the macroscopic and microscopic examinations of a thymic hematoma in an Eurasian otter.

This study evaluated the feasibility of using texture analysis and machine learning to distinguish radiographic lung patterns. A total of 1200 regions of interest (ROIs) including four specific lung patterns (normal, alveolar, bronchial, and unstructured interstitial) were obtained from 512 thoracic radiographs of 252 dogs and 65 cats. Forty-four texture parameters based on eight methods of texture analysis (first-order statistics, spatial gray-level-dependence matrices, gray-level-difference statistics, gray-level run length image statistics, neighborhood gray-tone difference matrices, fractal dimension texture analysis, Fourier power spectrum, and Law's texture energy measures) were used to extract textural features from the ROIs. The texture parameters of each lung pattern were compared and used for training and testing of artificial neural networks. Classification performance was evaluated by calculating accuracy and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Forty texture parameters showed significant differences between the lung patterns. The accuracy of lung pattern classification was 99.1% in the training dataset and 91.9% in the testing dataset. The AUCs were above 0.98 in the training set and above 0.92 in the testing dataset. Texture analysis and machine learning algorithms may potentially facilitate the evaluation of medical images.

A 16-month-old intact female Maltese dog was referred for examination of depression and vomiting. Ultrasonography revealed dilated right renal pelvis containing echogenic fluid with free gas. A hyperechoic material suspected of urolith was identified in the right ureter. Computed tomography revealed emphysematous change of the right kidney associated with ureteral obstruction and extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (EHPSS). Ureteronephrectomy and surgical correction were performed for the EHPSS. Escherichia coli was isolated from pus from the right kidney. Quantitative analysis revealed that the urolith was an ammonium urate stone. After 5 months follow-up, no complication was observed. This is the first report of emphysematous pyonephrosis associated with EHPSS in a dog.

The purpose of this study was to propose a standard for differentiation between normal dogs and patients with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) by measuring skin thickness via ultrasonography in small breed dogs. Significant changes in skin thickness of patients treated with prednisolone (PDS) or patients with HAC treated with trilostane were evaluated. Skin thickness was retrospectively measured on three abdominal digital images obtained from small breed dogs weighing < 15 kg that underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Mean skin thickness of normal dogs was 1.03 ± 0.25 mm (mean ± SD). Both the HAC and PDS groups showed significantly thinner skin than that in the normal group. Seven of the 10 HAC patients treated with trilostane had increased skin thickness. The area under the curve value of 0.807 was based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for differentiating normal dogs from HAC patients. Sensitivity was 76% and specificity was 73% when skin thickness was less than the 0.83 mm cutoff value. In conclusion, measurement of skin thickness in small breed dogs by using ultrasonography is likely to provide clinical information useful in differentiating HAC patients from normal dogs. However, exposure to PDS, trilostane, and other conditions may have a significant effect on skin thickness.

The purpose of this study was to identify time-related changes in clinical, MRI, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings associated with ischemic stroke in dogs. Additionally, the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and tissue levels of interleukin (IL)-6 with clinical prognosis was assessed. Ischemic stroke was induced by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in nine healthy experimental dogs. The dogs were divided into three groups according to survival time and duration of the experimental period: group A (survived only 1 day), group B (1-week experimental period), and group C (2-week experimental period). Neurologic status was evaluated daily. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed according to a predetermined schedule. Concentration of IL-6 in CSF was measured serially after ischemic stroke. Postmortem examination was performed for all experimental dogs. During histopathological examination, variable degrees of cavitation and necrosis due to neuronal cytopathic effects, such as pyknotic nuclei and cytoplasmic shrinkage, were observed on the affected side of the cerebral cortex in all dogs. Immunohistochemistry specific for IL-6 showed increased expression in the ischemic lesions. CSF IL-6 concentrations and ischemic lesion volumes 1 day after ischemic stroke were significantly higher in group A compared to groups B and C.

This study evaluated the feasibility of bag-of-features (BOF) and convolutional neural networks (CNN) for computer-aided detection in distinguishing normal from abnormal radiographic findings. Computed thoracic radiographs of dogs were collected. For the purposes of this study, radiographic findings were used to distinguish between normal and abnormal in the following areas: (1) normal cardiac silhouette vs. cardiomegaly, (2) normal lung vs. abnormal lung patterns, (3) normal mediastinal position vs. mediastinal shift, (4) normal pleural space vs. pleural effusion, and (5) normal pleural space vs. pneumothorax. Images for training and testing the models consisted of ventrodorsal and lateral projection images of the same scale. The number of images used for each finding are as follow: 3142 for cardiomegaly (1571 normal and 1571 abnormal from 1143 dogs), 2086 for lung pattern (1043 normal and 1043 abnormal from 1247 dogs), 892 for mediastinal shift (446 normal and 446 abnormal from 387 dogs), 940 for pleural effusion (470 normal and 470 abnormal from 284 dogs), and 78 for pneumothorax (39 normal and 39 abnormal from 61 dogs). All data samples were divided so that 60% would be used for training the algorithms and 40% for testing the two models. The performance of the classifiers was evaluated by calculating the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. The accuracy of both models ranged from 79.6% to 96.9% in the testing set. CNN showed higher accuracy (CNN; 92.9-96.9% and BOF; 79.6-96.9%) and sensitivity (CNN; 92.1-100% and BOF; 74.1-94.8%) than BOF. In conclusion, both BOF and CNN have potential to be useful for improving work efficiency by double reading.

An 8-year-old intact male Belgian Malinois, weighing 37.2 kg, was referred for evaluation due to right side facial paresis, ataxia and a 2-month history of decreased cognitive ability. Physical and neurological examinations revealed mild depression, left-sided head tilt, right-sided facial paresis and ataxia. A well-demarcated, broad-based cerebellar mass and hyperostosis were found on CT imaging of the brain. Based on these CT findings, a cerebellar meningioma was strongly suspected. Hydroxyurea and prednisolone were administered; after 4 weeks, there was reduction in mass size as compared to initial CT results. However, the mass size was found to have grown 6 weeks after hydroxyurea treatment. We then prescribed a combination of imatinib mesylate and hydroxyurea. Two weeks following combination treatment, the mass size had reduced significantly. The mass continuously decreased in size until the patient died during anesthesia. Cerebellar transitional meningioma was confirmed by histopathologic examination. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first reported case of imatinib mesylate plus hydroxyurea therapy for the treatment of meningioma in veterinary medicine.

A 9-year-old castrated male Shih Tzu dog was referred to us, because of chronic vomiting. The patient’s hematological, radiographic, ultrasonographic, endoscopic and histological examinations were evaluated for diagnosis. Hematologic analysis indicated moderate anemia and azotemia. Based on the imaging studies, an oval-shaped mass was identified in the gastric pylorus area. A proliferative mass was found on endoscopic examination, and we performed biopsy using grasping forceps. The histopathological findings of the biopsy specimens indicated hypertrophic gastritis, and Y-U pyloroplasty was performed. However, histopathological examination of the surgically resected mass revealed tubular adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Then, carboplatin chemotherapy was performed 4 times for 13 weeks. Clinical signs, such as vomiting, were resolved gradually after surgery and chemotherapy, and the patient’s condition was managed favorably until recently (30 months after surgery). This case report describes clinical features, imaging studies, endoscopic characteristics and histopathological and immunohistochemical features of gastric tubular adenocarcinoma as early gastric cancer in a dog.

An 8-year-old 7.9 kg castrated male Shih-tzu dog was presented to surgery with polyuria–polydipsia, intermittent abdominal pain and dermatological problems. The unilateral enlargement of the right adrenal gland was observed through ultrasound examination and based on this examination a hyperadrenocorticism was suspected. Upon physical examination, regional erythema was observed in the skin. An abdominal CT scan showed a well-defined retroperitoneal mass. Adrenalectomy via a midline abdominal approach was performed as well as optional treatments upon the approval of the owners. The histopathological diagnosis was that of an adrenal hemangioma without evidence of malignancy. Adrenal hemangioma was incidentally found in this dog during histological examination and this finding was an extremely rare case of the primary hemangioma in the adrenal gland.

A 4-year-old female Maltese (case 1), a 9-year-old castrated male shih tzu (case 2) and 2-year-old female Pomeranian (case 3) presented with neurological signs, such as head tilt, ataxia, circling and paresis. The three cases were tentatively diagnosed as having meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology based on computed tomography scan and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. All patients were managed with cyclosporine plus prednisolone therapy. The survival times of the three patients were 170, 70 and 21 days, respectively. After the cases died, we performed necropsy and histopathological examination for definitive diagnosis. Based on the necropsy, histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations, cases 1, 2 and 3 were definitely diagnosed as having necrotizing meningoencephalitis, necrotizing leukoencephalitis and granulomatous meningoencephalitis, respectively. This case report demonstrated the clinical findings, brain CT characteristics and histopathological and immunohistochemical features of NME, NLE and GME in dogs and discussed the reason for the relatively short survival times under cyclosporine plus prednisolone therapy.

Anesthesia is an inevitably important component of diagnosis and treatments examining the health condition of wild animals. Not only does anesthesia become an essential tool in minimizing stress of the patients and providing an opportunity to deliver accurate and safe procedures, but it also ensures the safety of the medical crew members. This study was conducted to investigate the dose-response cardiorespiratory effects of isoflurane during spontaneous ventilation in ten cinereous vultures. Each bird was administered isoflurane at initial concentration of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 and then an end-tidal isoflurane concentrations (ETiso) of 1.0% for an equilibration period of 15 min in the given order. At the end of the equilibration period, the direct blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and end tidal CO2 partial pressure (PETCO2) were recorded, and blood gas analysis was performed. Increasing isoflurane concentrations during spontaneous ventilation led to dose-dependent increases in HR and PETCO2, with minimal changes in RR, decreased arterial BP and respiratory acidosis. Overall, isoflurane for anesthesia of spontaneously breathing cinereous vultures is a suitable choice for diagnostic or surgical procedures.

Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a biodegradable polyester that is bioresorbable and biocompatible, and is widely used in medical fields. This study examines in vitro and in vivo osteogenic activities of cultured human periosteum-derived osteoblasts (POs) seeded into growth factor (bone morphogenic protein 2 [BMP-2] or vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF])-releasing scaffolds of PCL beads coated with Pluronic F127. Each growth factor immobilized in the PCL/F127 is cumulatively released from the beads for more than 40 days (up to 3.04 ± 0.08 ng mg

It is commonly accepted that the sustained release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) can enhance bone regeneration and minimize its safety issues. However, little is known regarding the appropriate duration of BMP-2 stimulation for sufficient osteogenic differentiation and new bone formation because of the short half-life of BMP-2 in the physiological environment and the lack of a well-defined delivery matrix that can regulate the release period of BMP-2. In this study, we prepared porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) beads with different surface pore sizes that can regulate the release period of BMP-2 (i.e., 7, 17, and 30 days) while providing the BMP-2 concentration required for bone regeneration. Our findings in both in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal studies using these BMP-2-loaded beads demonstrate that release of BMP-2 within 7 days affects only the initial differentiation of human periosteum-derived cells (hPDCs) and does not significantly enhance their subsequent differentiation into mature functional cells. However, extending the duration of BMP-2 stimulation over 17 days can provide a suitable environment for osteogenic differentiation of hPDCs and new bone formation.

A six year-old intact female miniature poodle was presented with a soft mass of the forehead region. Computed tomography identified generalized frontal bone loss and a large extracranial mass, which had a low attenuation area of hemorrhagic necrosis with septation and enhancement of solid components. In magnetic resonance imaging, the mass was isointense in T1-weighted images except its fluid parts and hyperintense in T2-weighted images with lobulated by low-signal septa. Surgery was performed to remove the mass, and histopathologic examination revealed that the mass was consistent with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (malignant fibrous histiocytoma). The dog died from the rapidly recurrent mass and severe pulmonary metastasis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether socialized Jindo puppies would show different behavioral reactivity from non-socialized puppies. Puppies (n=12), 7 weeks of age, were divided into socialized and non-socialized groups. The socialized group from the 7th until 13th week after birth was provided a socialization program, and the non-socialized group was reared in a semi-isolated environment without being exposed to the program. At 13 weeks after birth, both groups were adopted by new families and raised as a family pet until adulthood. Both groups were tested in 5 behavioral tests at 7, 9, 11, 13 and 60 weeks of age, and their behavioral responses to the tests were recorded using video cameras. The contact, fearful and playful behaviors toward each behavioral test were scored on a scale of 1 to 5 points. Using all of the score data, a principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three primary factors: 'social reactivity towards humans and a dog', 'playful reactivity towards novel stimuli and a dog' and 'fearful reactivity towards social stimuli'. The three extracted factors were compared between the socialized and non-socialized groups in each test session (weeks). Based on the results, the socialized Jindo puppies in the test session at the 9th week after birth, in contrast to the non-socialized puppies, exhibited a higher intensity of playful reactivity towards novel stimuli and a dog. However, there were no effects of the socialization program on the Jindo puppies in terms of social reactivity towards humans and a dog as well as fearful reactivity towards social stimuli.

We investigated the differences between vocalizations of mares in estrus and diestrus and determined the spectrographic parameters to discriminate estrus from diestrus. Thoroughbred brood mares (n=89) were exposed to a teasing procedure for 3 min, and we recorded all vocalizations emitted from them. Among the mares, 56.5% of estrus and 78.6% of diestrus mares emitted calls toward an approaching stallion, indicating that there was higher tendency in the occurrence rate of vocal responses in diestrus than estrus mares. We analyzed the spectrographic data of the mares (25 estrus and 22 diestrus mares) emitting calls in the form of a squeal toward an approaching stallion. Based on broad bandwidth spectrographic analysis, the duration and third formant of the call have a significant effect on discriminating estrus from diestrus.

In our previous study, dental follicle tissues from extracted wisdom teeth were successfully cryopreserved for use as a source of stem cells. The goals of the present study were to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of stem cells from fresh and cryopreserved dental follicles (fDFCs and cDFCs, respectively) and to analyze in vivo osteogenesis after transplantation of these DFCs into experimental animals. Third passage fDFCs and cDFCs showed similar expression levels of interferon-γ receptor (CD119) and major histocompatibility complex class I and II (MHC I and MHC II, respectively), with high levels of CD119 and MHC I and nearly no expression of MHC II. Both fresh and cryopreserved human DFCs (hDFCs) were in vivo transplanted along with a demineralized bone matrix scaffold into mandibular defects in miniature pigs and subcutaneous tissues of mice. Radiological and histological evaluations of in vivo osteogenesis in hDFC-transplanted sites revealed significantly enhanced new bone formation activities compared with those in scaffold-only implanted control sites. Interestingly, at 8 weeks post-hDFC transplantation, the newly generated bones were overgrown compared to the original size of the mandibular defects, and strong expression of osteocalcin and vascular endothelial growth factor were detected in the hDFCs-transplanted tissues of both animals. Immunohistochemical analysis of CD3, CD4, and CD8 in the ectopic bone formation sites of mice showed significantly decreased CD4 expression in DFCs-implanted tissues compared with those in control sites. These findings indicate that hDFCs possess immunomodulatory properties that involved inhibition of the adaptive immune response mediated by CD4 and MHC II, which highlights the usefulness of hDFCs in tissue engineering. In particular, long-term preserved dental follicles could serve as an excellent autologous or allogenic stem cell source for bone tissue regeneration as well as a valuable therapeutic agent for immune diseases.

Some studies have shown that relative to baseline, the renal resistive index (RI) remains unchanged in nonobstructed kidneys and increases in obstructed kidneys after administration of furosemide. To our knowledge, the effect of mannitol administration on the renal RI of dogs has not been reported. We evaluated the renal RI in 16 kidneys in 8 young adult dogs after administration of mannitol. The mean RI decreased significantly from baseline (P < .01). Additionally, left complete ureteral obstruction wasinduced in 5 dogs. Evaluation by Doppler ultrasonography was performed for 5 days. On the 5th day, Doppler examination was repeated at 30 and 60 minutes after administration of mannitol to obstructed dogs. After induction of left ureteral obstruction, the RI of the left kidney increased significantly over 5 consecutive days. Administration of mannitol decreased the RI in the nonobstructed contralateral kidneys, and thus the RI difference between obstructed and nonobstructed kidneys was increased above normal (P < .001). In conclusion, administration of mannitol may be useful as another diuretic agent to identify unilateral ureteral obstruction on Doppler sonographic examination.

Simple ectopic kidney was diagnosed in three dogs by means of radiography and ultrasonography. A 2-year-old castrated male Schnauzer, a 13-year-old female Schnauzer and a 9-year-old male Jindo were referred with vomiting, hematuria and ocular discharge, respectively. In all three dogs, oval-shaped masses with soft tissue density were observed in the mid to caudal abdomen bilaterally or unilaterally, and kidney silhouettes were not identified at the proper anatomic places on abdominal radiographs. Ultrasonography confirmed the masses were malpositioned kidney. The ectopic kidneys had relatively small size, irregular shape and short ureter but showed normal function on excretory urography.

This study was performed to validate the procedure of transarterial embolization of the renal artery (TAE-RA) using iohexol-ethanol solution in rabbits with unilateral experimental hydronephrosis and to evaluate the embolized kidney and contralateral normal kidney using B-mode ultrasonography and color Doppler ultrasonography. Experimental hydronephrosis was induced at 17 days after ligation of unilateral ureter in 13 rabbits. Renal artery embolization was performed using selective catheterization in the hydronephrotic kidney of eight rabbits and electrocardiography, oxygen saturation, body temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate were within normal ranges during procedures. Iohexol-ethanol solution was used as embolic material. Average ethanol dose for renal artery embolization was 1.4 +/- 0.7 ml/kg. There were no rabbits expired after TAE-RA and no side effects associated with regurgitation of iohexol-ethanol solution. In color Doppler ultrasonographic findings, there was no blood flow into the embolized kidneys treated by TAE-RA, however, blood flow signal was found in hydronephrotic kidney not treated by TAE-RA. Ultrasonographically, the mean longitudinal length of the embolized kidney significantly decreased at 2 and 3 months after TAE-RA. No significant difference of resistive index values was found between contralateral normal kidney of rabbits treated by TAE-RA and contralateral normal kidneys of rabbits treated with nephrectomy. We may conclude that TAE-RA with iohexol-ethanol solution is a viable alternative to nephrectomy in rabbits with unilateral hydronephrosis.

Color Doppler imaging (CDI) was carried out to evaluate the effects of anti-glaucoma drugs on ophthalmic circulation using CDI-derived resistive index (RI) values. CDI was performed on nine Beagle dogs, and RI values were calculated for the medial long posterior ciliary artery before and after the administration of anti-glaucoma drugs. A significant increase in RI values was found after topical administration of levobunolol (p < 0.05) or dipivefrin (p < 0.05). Pilocarpine showed no effects on RI values after topical administration. The results suggest that some anti-glaucoma drugs could affect ophthalmic blood flow.

The effect of low dose dopamine on the excretory urographic image quality and contrast media-induced nephropathy in normal dogs (experiment 1) and the dogs with decreased renal function (experiment 2) were assessed. In experiment 2, decreased renal function was induced by gentamicin overdose. In each experiment, animals were divided into 3 groups. In group 1, only contrast medium (iohexol) was administered. In group 2, contrast medium plus intravenous fluid (0.9% saline) were administered. And in group 3, contrast medium plus intravenous fluid and low dose dopamine were administered. Investigated parameters included intrarenal resistive index (RI), serum BUN and creatinine concentrations, contrast medium elimination time and radiographic image quality. In experiment 1, RI of group 1 increased at 80 min after contrast medium administration (p

The expression of immunogenic markers after differentiation of umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has been poorly investigated and requires extensive in vitro and in vivo testing for clinical application. The expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) classes on UCB-derived MSC was tested by Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and immunocytochemical staining. The undifferentiated MSC were moderately positive for HLA-ABC, but almost completely negative for HLA-DR. The MSC differentiated to chondrocytes expressed neither HLA-ABC nor HLA-DR. The proliferation of MSC was not significantly affected by the allogeneic lymphocytes stimulated with concanavalin A. The responder lymphocytes showed no significant decrease in proliferation in the presence of the MSC, but the apoptosis rate of the lymphocytes was increased in the presence of MSC. Taken together, these findings indicate that UCB-derived MSC differentiated to chondrocytes expressed less HLA class I and no class II antigens. The MSC showed an immunomodulatory effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of allogeneic lymphocytes. These data suggest that the differentiated and undifferentiated allogeneic MSC derived from umbilical cord blood can be a useful candidate for allogeneic cell therapy and transplantation without a major risk of rejection.

The detection of small amounts of free peritoneal gas in the canine patient can pose a diagnostic dilemma. The objective of this study was to determine how much of this free gas could be detected ultrasonographically. Ultrasound examinations were carried out after increments (0.1 ml) of air were intraperitoneally injected. Via ultrasonography, 0.4 ml of free gas can be reliably detected. The authors concluded that ultrasonography is a very sensitive modality for the detection of small amounts of peritoneal free gas (above 0.4 ml).

Objective—To obtain quantitative variables of the abdominal aorta and both kidneys on the basis of time-attenuation curves (TACs) and to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for each kidney and the global GFR in clinically normal cats by use of dynamic computed tomography (CT) and Patlak analysis. Animals—9 healthy cats. Procedures—All the cats were anesthetized with propofol. Anesthesia was maintained by administration of isoflurane, and CT examination was performed in the anesthetized cats. The TACs and renal volume were measured by use of the baseline precontrast and single-slice dynamic scans. The CT-GFR of each kidney and the global CT-GFRs were calculated via Patlak plot analysis. Results—CT-GFR results from 7 cats were valid. Peak aortic enhancement was detected between 9.0 and 14.0 seconds after iohexol injection, and the initial peak time of renal parenchymal enhancement was 15 to 24 seconds after iohexol injection. Mean ± SD global GFR was 2.06 ± 0.62 mL/min/kg. Mean ± SD CT-GFR of the right and left kidneys was 0.97 ± 0.32 mL/min/kg and 1.05 ± 0.31 mL/min/kg, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The CT-GFR method can be rapidly and conveniently performed in clinically normal cats. This combined structural-functional approach provided physiologic and morphological information on the kidneys of cats.

Objective—To evaluate the effects of thiopental, propofol, and etomidate on glomerular filtration rate (GFR) measured by the use of dynamic computed tomography in dogs. Animals—17 healthy Beagles. Procedures—Dogs were randomly assigned to receive 2 mg of etomidate/kg (n = 5), 6 mg of propofol/kg (7), or 15 mg of thiopental/kg (5) during induction of anesthesia; anesthesia was subsequently maintained by isoflurane evaporated in 100% oxygen. A 1 mL/kg dosage of a 300 mg/mL solution of iohexol was administered at a rate of 3 mL/s during GFR measurement. Regions of interest of the right kidney were manually drawn to exclude vessels and fatty tissues and highlight the abdominal portion of the aorta. Iohexol clearance per unit volume of the kidney was calculated by use of Patlak plot analysis. Results—Mean ± SD weight-adjusted GFR of the right kidney after induction of anesthesia with thiopental, propofol, and etomidate was 2.04 ± 0.36 mL/min/kg, 2.06 ± 0.29 mL/min/kg, and 2.14 ± 0.43 mL/min/kg, respectively. However, no significant differences in weight-adjusted GFR were detected among the treatment groups. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results obtained for the measurement of GFR in anesthetized dogs after anesthetic induction with etomidate, propofol, or thiopental and maintenance with isoflurane did not differ significantly. Therefore, etomidate, propofol, or thiopental can be used in anesthesia-induction protocols that involve the use of isoflurane for maintenance of anesthesia without adversely affecting GFR measurements obtained by the use of dynamic computed tomography in dogs.

A 4-year-old beagle had intermittent vomiting and weight loss for 1 month. On plain radiography, an approximately 3.5-cm, radiopaque, linear foreign body was identified in the region of the liver. On ultrasonography, a hyperechoic linear structure with reverberation was identified in the left lobe or quadrate lobe. On computed tomography(CT), a thin hyperattenuating material consistent with a metallic foreign body was identified just medial to the gall bladder. Removal of the foreign body was performed without complications. We present a rare case in which a metallic foreign body was embedded in the liver asymptomatically and found incidentally during a clinical examination performed to ascertain the cause of clinical signs.

The purposes of this study were to determine the optimal dose and delay time for lymphography by injection of Iohexol into popliteal lymph nodes and to assess images of computed tomography by the established protocol. Three different doses (30, 60 and 90 mgI/kg) of water-soluble iodinated contrast medium were injected into 15 popliteal lymph nodes of 10 adult beagles, and fluoroscopy was performed. Filling and duration of contrast media and the number of visible ducts from popliteal lymph nodes to the thoracic duct and its branches were recorded. CT lymphography was performed, and the number of visible thoracic ducts was compared with that found by radiographic lymphography. Radiographs obtained between 130 and 800 seconds after injection of contrast medium provided a detailed view of the thoracic duct. The dose of 60 mgI/kg was determined to enable quality diagnostic imaging without extranodal leakage in radiographic lymphography. There was no significant difference in the number of thoracic ducts between the two modalities at each anatomic location. However, CT lymphography provided images of the thoracic duct with better spatial resolution and without superimposition of surrounding tissue. The present study provides an adequate delay time and injection for identification of the canine thoracic duct, and therefore, this technique could be applied to diagnosis of disease associated with chest lymphatic drainage.

Computed tomographic arthrography (CTA) of four cadaveric canine stifles was performed before and after partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture in order to verify the usefulness of CTA examination for the diagnosis of partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture. To obtain the sequential true transverse image of a cranial cruciate ligament, the computed tomography gantry was angled such that the scanning plane was parallel to the fibula. True transverse images of cranial cruciate ligaments were identified on every sequential image, beginning just proximal to the origin of the cranial cruciate ligament distal to the tibial attachment, after the administration of iodinated contrast medium. A significant decrease in the area of the cranial cruciate ligament was identified on CTA imaging after partial surgical rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. This finding implies that CTA can be used for assessing partial cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs.

In the present study, the use of dogs with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a disease model for necrotizing encephalitis (NE) was assessed. Twelve healthy dogs were included in this study. Canine forebrain tissues (8 g), including white and grey matter, were homogenized with 4 mL of phosphate-buffered saline for 5 min in an ice bath. The suspension was emulsified with the same volume of Freund's complete adjuvant containing 1 mg/mL of killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra. Under sedation, each dog was injected subcutaneously with canine brain homogenate at four sites: two in the inguinal and two in the axillary regions. A second injection (booster) was administered to all the dogs using the same procedure 7 days after the first injection. Clinical assessment, magnetic resonance imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analyses, necropsies, and histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were performed for the dogs with EAE. Out of the 12 animals, seven (58%) developed clinically manifest EAE at various times after immunization. Characteristics of canine EAE models were very similar to canine NE, suggesting that canine EAE can be a disease model for NE in dogs.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) is hindered by insufficient ultrasound penetration through the temporal bone. The use of echo-contrast agents to enhance the Doppler signal is an important step toward the solution of this problem. The aim of the present study was to investigate the tolerability and diagnostic value of the intravenous echo-contrast agent, Levovist®. Levovist® was administered intravenously in 8 dogs with two doses (0.2 and 0.3 ml/kg) at different concentrations (300 and 400 mg/ml). In right middle cerebral artery (RMCA), the duration and degree of the signal enhancement were measured by TCD. All 32 administrations of Levovist® produced an increase in TCD signal of the RMCA without complications. The first assessable pulse curve could be seen on the screen after 4 to 7 seconds after injection. There was no significant difference of latency period between different concentration and dosage. The signal amplitude was increased homogeneously by more than 30 dB when 0.3 ml/kg with 300 mg/ml concentration of Levovist® and 0.2 and 0.3 ml/kg with 400 mg/ml concentration were administered. There was no significant difference in the duration of optimal contrasting between 0.3 ml/kg with 300 mg/ml concentration of Levovist® and 0.2 and 0.3 ml/kg with 400 mg/ml concentration. The duration of the signal enhancement was 144 to 422 seconds, depending on the degree of concentration and dose of administration. Optimal TCD signal enhancement of RMCA was obtained using 0.3 ml/kg with 300 mg/ml concentration of Levovist® in dogs, which is considered to provide quality visualization.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of ovariohysterectomy on vocalization during territorial aggression of German Shepherd dogs. Sixteen clinically healthy dogs of 5 to 10 months old were assigned randomly to one of two groups: ovariohysterectomy or control. Their behaviors and vocalizations induced by the approach of a strange with a strange dog were recorded using digital camcorder at four and five months after surgery and were analysed. When territorial aggression was induced, dogs in ovariohysterectomized group showed more offensive territorial aggression. The bark was the most frequent vocalization. In this study, the average number of barks was 45 times in ovariohysterectomized group, and 26 times in the control group. The pitch of vocalization was significantly lower in ovariohysterectomized group than control group. First formant, second formant, third formant, and fourth formant frequency in ovariohysterectomized group, which represent the degree of sound energy in specific frequency, were lower than those of control group. Ovariohysterectomy of bitches may influence the frequency of aggressive vocalization and affect the acoustic feature of dogs' vocalization. Analysis of vocalization could be a useful method of evaluating the dogs' intention.

The aims of this study were to investigate whether upper airway sounds of dogs with laryngeal paralysis and tracheal collapse have distinct sound characteristics, compared with unaffected dogs. The sounds of 5 dogs with laryngeal paralysis and 5 dogs with tracheal collapse were recorded. Honking sound appeared as predominant clinical signs in dogs with tracheal collapse. Laryngeal stridors appeared as predominant clinical signs in dogs with experimentally produced laryngeal paralysis by resection of laryngeal nerve, in which two types of stridor, I and II, were recorded. All these sounds were analyzed using sound spectrogam analysis. There were significant differences in duration (sec), intensity (dB), pitch (Hz), first formant (Hz), second formant (Hz), third formant (Hz), fourth formant (Hz) of sounds between the normal bark and two types of stridor or honking sound, indicating that the sound analysis might be a useful diagnostic modality for dogs with tracheal collapse and laryngeal paralysis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of estimating the smallest amount of abdominal free gas detectible in a large population of beagles by ultrasonography. Healthy dogs were randomly divided into three groups: group A that received 0.1 mL of air injected into the peritoneal cavity, group B that received 0.2 mL of air injected into the peritoneal cavity, and group C that received 0.5 mL of intraperitoneal air. Randomly, some dogs in each group did not receive air injection for the negative control. All ultrasonographic procedures were performed by individuals blinded to group assignments and the presence of intraperitoneal air. The minimum volume of consistently detectable air with good accuracy and reliability was 0.2 mL. Results of the study demonstrated that the enhanced peritoneal stripe sign (EPSS) can verify cases of pneumoperitoneum if more than 0.2 mL of intra-abdominal free gas is present The EPSS is a reliable and specific ultrasonographic characteristic for diagnosing pneumoperitoneum in dogs.

Canalography was performed to measure the diameter of the horizontal ear canal and to assess the clinical relevance of the measurements in identifying abnormalities of the ear canal. The diameter of the proximal and distal end of the annular cartilage in the horizontal ear canal was measured using canalography in 222 ears. The tympanic membrane could not be visualized with otoscopic examination in 70 ears even after ear cleansing. These canals were classified as being stenotic. The diameter of the proximal annular cartilage in the stenotic canals ranged from 0.8 to 3.1 mm (mean = 2.6 +/- 0.8 mm). The proximal annular cartilage was consistently smaller in diameter than the distal annular cartilage. The ratio between the diameter of the proximal and distal annular cartilage varied between dogs. In stenotic ear canals (70 ears) the ratio was less than 0.65. Total ear canal ablations and histopathological analysis were performed in 70 ear canals classified as stenotic after canalography. Hyperplasia of the epidermal layer was found in 56 stenotic canals. Stenosis of the canal due to otitis externa was found in the other 14 canals. Three canals with severe otitis externa were also diagnosed with canalography as having a ruptured tympanic membrane. The results suggest that canalography can be used to measure the diameter of the horizontal ear canal and to assess whether or not the tympanic membrane is ruptured prior to conservative or surgical therapy.

A 7-year-old female Maltese presented for evaluation of severe vomiting. A diagnosis of pylorogastric intussusception was made during ultrasonographic examination. The intussusception spontaneously underwent reduction by the following morning.

The objective of our study was to determine individual and global glomerular filtration rates (GFRs) using dynamic renal computed tomography (CT) in Beagle dogs. Twenty-four healthy Beagle dogs were included in the experiment. Anesthesia was induced in all dogs by using propofol and isoflurane prior to CT examination. A single slice of the kidney was sequentially scanned after a bolus intravenous injection of contrast material (iohexol, 1 mL/kg, 300 mgI/mL). Time attenuation curves were created and contrast clearance per unit volume was calculated using a Patlak plot analysis. The CT-GFR was then determined based on the conversion of contrast clearance per unit volume to contrast clearance per body weight. At the renal hilum, CT-GFR values per unit renal volume (mL/min/mL) of the right and left kidneys were 0.69 ± 0.04 and 0.57 ± 0.05, respectively. No significant differences were found between the weight-adjusted CT-GFRs in either kidney at the same renal hilum (p = 0.747). The average global GFR was 4.21 ± 0.25 mL/min/kg and the whole kidney GFR was 33.43 ± 9.20 mL/min. CT-GFR techniques could be a practical way to separately measure GFR in each kidney for clinical and research purposes.

The present study was performed to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of calculating the mitral regurgitant orifice area with the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method in dogs with experimental mitral regurgitation and in canine patients with chronic mitral insufficiency and to evaluate the effect of general anesthesia on mitral regurgitation. Eight adult, Beagle dogs for experimental mitral regurgitation and 11 small breed dogs with spontaneous mitral regurgitation were used. In 8 Beagle dogs, mild mitral regurgitation was created by disrupting mitral chordae or leaflets. Effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) area was measured by the PISA method and compared with the measurements simultaneously obtained by quantitative Doppler echocardiography 4 weeks after creation of mitral regurgitation. The same procedure was performed in 11 patients with isolated mitral regurgitation and in 8 Beagle dogs under two different protocols of general anesthesia. ERO and regurgitant stroke volume (RSV) by the PISA method correlated well with values by the quantitative Doppler technique with a small error in experimental dogs (r = 0.914 and r = 0.839) and 11 patients (r = 0.990 and r = 0.996). The isoflurane anesthetic echocardiography demonstrated a significant decrease of RSV, and there was no significant change in fractional shortening (FS), ERO area, LV end-diastolic and LV end-systolic volume. ERO area showed increasing tendency after ketamine-xylazine administration, but not statistically significant. RSV, LV end-systolic and LV end-diastolic volume increased significantly (p < 0.01), whereas FS significantly decreased (p < 0.01). The PISA method is accurate and reproducible in experimental mitral regurgitation model and in a clinical setting. ERO area is considered and preferred as a hemodynamic-nondependent factor than other traditional measurements.

This study was carried out to assess the feasibility of ultrasonographic measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) in normal dogs and evaluate the effect of breed, sex, body weight and age on biometry of ONSD. The ONSDs were evaluated in 15 dogs (10-50 months old) with normal eye (7 Yorkshire terrier and 8 Maltese). Ultrasonographic measurements of the ONSD were carried out at a constant position located 5 mm behind the optic disc. Eyes were collected immediately after euthanasia, and were used for saline immersion technique and direct measurement by calipers for biometry of ONSD. In this study, there was no significant difference of ONSD between the left and the right eyes, and was no significant difference among ONSD values obtained from ultrasonographical method, saline immersion technique and direct measurement (k=0.95). Also, there was no correlations between ONSD and sex, body weight and age, but was significant between the mean ONSD of Yorkshire terrier and Maltese (p

The purpose of this study was to verify whether small intestinal peristalsis could be observed and quantitatively assessed using pulsed-Doppler ultrasound. Pulsed-Doppler ultrasound was used to evaluate small intestinal peristalsis after a meal in ten normal dogs and ten sedated dogs. The small intestinal peristalses were measured 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hours after a 24-hour fast and after feeding. The number of small intestinal peristalsis were 0.133/min, 0.100/min, 0.033/min, 0.167/min, 0.070/min, 0.067/min, and 0.100/min in the fasted dogs, and 1.667/ min, 0.933/min, 1.133/min, 1.234/min, 1.933/min, 1.533/ min, and 0.533/min in fed dogs, respectively. In the dogs sedated with xylazine HCl, the number of small intestinal peristalsis was significantly reduced (p