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This study examines the impact of two types of environmental enrichment on the growth of the Amazon molly ( Poecilia formosa ), a clonal fish species. We investigated the effects of two welfare-related enrichment factors: physical enrichment (presence of a halfpipe PVC and gravel substrate, E) and social enrichment (presence of visible neighbor fish, N). Fish were divided into four treatment groups: (1) both physical and social enrichment (EN), (2) no physical enrichment but social enrichment (nEN), (3) physical enrichment without social enrichment (EnN,), and (4) no enrichment (nEnN). Results showed that individuals, which received both types of enrichment, exhibited faster growth rates and lower early life mortality compared to the other groups, indicating improved health and welfare. However, this initial advantage did not persist into adulthood, suggesting that the benefits of enrichment may be stage specific. These findings highlight the importance of environmental factors in promoting welfare in a particular species, especially during early developmental stages. This study may have implications for early life-stage fish research indicating that some environmental factors may play a role in enhancing growth, reproductive competence, and reduced mortality. Enrichment effects on growth, health, and reproduction in a single clone of the asexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Cunningham et al.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe clinical and diagnostic findings in cats with bone and joint disease associated with histoplasmosis., Methods: Medical records from between 2011 and 2017 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria required: (1) diagnosis of histoplasmosis by cytology, histology, urine or serum Histoplasma antigen testing, or culture; and (2) lameness or joint effusion as a presenting complaint or physical examination finding., Results: Twenty-five cases met the inclusion criteria. Four had incomplete records, but available data were included when applicable. Lameness was a presenting complaint in 17/21 cats and was the only complaint in 9/21 cats. Initial diagnosis was made by cytology in 22/25 cats and by culture, urine antigen and necropsy in one case each. Diagnostic cytology samples included synovial fluid (n = 13), lymph node (n = 5), skin (n = 2), lung (n = 1) and bone (n = 1). Two additional cases had synovial fluid examined but no organisms present. Inflammation was present in all synovial fluid samples examined. Biopsy was obtained in two cats and histologic diagnoses included osteomyelitis with no infectious organisms identified and severe lymphoplasmacytic synovitis suggestive of feline periosteal proliferative polyarthritis. Histoplasma urine antigen test was positive in 7/12 cats., Conclusions and Relevance: Inflammatory arthritis is common in cats with histoplasmosis, with lameness a common presenting complaint. Organisms are found in synovial fluid cytology in most cases. If not, appropriate additional diagnostics must be pursued.

Histoplasmosis is one of the most common systemic fungal diseases in cats from the United States. It commonly causes respiratory or disseminated disease and is often associated with one or more cytopenias. Here, we describe 32 cats in which a Histoplasma-like fungal infection was associated with concurrent hemophagia in at least one sample site, commonly spleen, bone marrow, liver, and/or lymph node. The degree of hemophagia was characterized as moderate or marked in the majority of cases, and in all cases, there was a predominance of phagocytized mature erythrocytes. A few cases also had macrophages with phagocytized erythroid precursors, platelets, and/or neutrophils. Complete blood count results were available for 25 cats, and cytopenias were common (20/25), including solitary anemia (10), anemia and thrombocytopenia (5), solitary neutropenia (2), pancytopenia (2), and anemia and neutropenia (1). Bone marrow samples were only available in a small subset of cases, preventing the further assessment of the causes of the cytopenias. Hemophagocytosis has been previously reported in cats with neoplastic diseases and a cat with calicivirus infection, and likely occurs with other conditions as well, such as hemorrhage or hemolysis. Results of this report suggest that systemic fungal disease is an additional differential to consider when there is hemophagia in a feline cytology sample., (© 2019 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Objective: To assess feasibility of the use of a dynamic viscoelastic coagulometer on chicken blood and compare coagulation variables for fresh whole blood and sodium citrate-preserved whole blood as well as effects of 3 coagulation activators on blood from chickens., Sample: Blood samples from 30 hens., Procedures: Chickens were allowed to rest undisturbed for 1 hour. A blood sample was collected from an ulnar vein; 1.4 mL was analyzed immediately, and 1.8 mL was mixed with sodium citrate and subsequently recalcified and analyzed. A separate coagulation activator (glass beads, kaolin clay, or tissue factor) was in each of the 2 channels of the analyzer. Chickens were allowed a 1-hour rest period, and another blood sample was collected from the contralateral ulnar vein; it was processed in the same manner as for the first sample, except both channels of the analyzer contained the same coagulation activator., Results: Compared with fresh samples, citrated samples had higher values for activated clotting time and platelet function and lower clotting rates. Intra-assay coefficients of variation of coagulation profiles for citrated samples were markedly greater than the limit of 10%, whereas values for fresh samples were close to or < 10%., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggested that use of a dynamic viscoelastic coagulometer on chicken blood was feasible and that analysis of fresh whole blood from healthy chickens provided results with less variability than did analysis of citrated blood. Samples preserved with sodium citrate were associated with significant relative hypocoagulability, compared with results for fresh blood.

An 8-year-old, intact female, mixed-breed dog presented to the Oklahoma State University Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of progressive lameness and joint effusion of multiple joints. Physical examination revealed joint effusion of the elbow, hock, and stifle joints bilaterally, enlarged left axillary and right popliteal lymph nodes, a subcutaneous mass over the left elbow, and a subcutaneous mass involving the left second and third mammary glands. Cytologic examination of the mammary mass, enlarged lymph nodes, and joint fluid from most affected joints revealed a monomorphic population of loosely cohesive neoplastic epithelial cells. The patient was humanely euthanized, and subsequent necropsy with histopathologic examination revealed a complex mammary carcinoma with metastases to enlarged lymph nodes, subcutaneous tissue over the left elbow, and the synovium of multiple joints. Immunohistochemical stains were performed and showed diffusely positive pan cytokeratin, CK8/18, and CK19 staining in the neoplastic luminal epithelial cells of the mammary carcinoma, synovium, and lymph nodes, and showed diffusely positive vimentin staining of the myoepithelial cells. Myoepithelial calponin positivity was diffuse in the mammary mass and lymph nodes but minimal in the synovium. Only the mammary mass showed p63 positivity. Metastatic mammary neoplasia is relatively common in dogs; however, metastasis to the synovium has only been reported once previously in the literature. This is the first case utilizing immunohistochemistry for confirmation and characterization of metastases., (© 2018 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

A 13-year-old, castrated male Maine Coon cat was presented to Oklahoma State University Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for yearly echocardiographic examination monitoring hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) diagnosed in 2003. Physical examination revealed a heart murmur and premature beats, likely related to HCM, but was otherwise unremarkable. A biochemistry profile revealed a hyperglobulinemia (6.3 g/dL). Cytologic examination of fine-needle aspirates from liver and spleen revealed increased numbers of plasma cells and mast cells, confirmed with subsequent histologic examination. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for c-kit in the spleen and liver showed mast cells predominantly exhibiting type I staining pattern, with moderate numbers exhibiting type II pattern in spleen, and scattered cells exhibiting type II and III patterns in liver. Bone marrow cytology and core biopsy documented approximately 22% plasma cells. Cutaneous masses on the cat's left shoulder and right carpus were cytologically confirmed mast cell tumors. Serum protein electrophoresis with immunofixation confirmed an IgG monoclonal gammopathy. This is an example of 2 hematologic neoplasms occurring simultaneously in a cat. Concurrent pathologies may be overlooked if a single disease is diagnosed and suspected of causing all clinical signs. Both neoplasms were well differentiated, and neoplastic cells could have easily been interpreted as a reactive population had a full workup not been performed. Missing either diagnosis could result in a potentially lethal outcome. Eleven months after diagnoses, the cat was clinically doing well following a splenectomy and oral prednisolone and chlorambucil chemotherapy. Globulins decreased to 4.9 g/dL., (© 2017 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.)

Background: Infection with Cytauxzoon felis in domestic cats can cause fever, lethargy, depression, inappetence, icterus, and often death. With a high mortality rate, cytauxzoonosis was historically considered a fatal disease. Within the last 15 years, cats with or without treatment have been recognized as chronically infected survivors of C. felis infection. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of C. felis in healthy domestic cats from Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma., Methods: Infection with C. felis was determined using DNA extracted from anticoagulated whole blood and PCR amplification using C. felis-specific primers. Chi-square, Fisher's exact tests, and odds ratios were used to compare proportions of cats infected with C. felis., Results: Blood samples were collected from 902 healthy domestic cats between October 2008 and April 2012. DNA from Cytauxzoon felis was detected in 56 of 902 (6.2%; 95% confidence interval, 4.7-7.9) samples. The highest prevalence of C. felis infection (15.5%; 10.3-21.7) was observed in cats from Arkansas, followed by cats from Missouri (12.9%; 6.1-24.0), and cats from Oklahoma (3.4%; 2.2-5.1). Cats sampled in Arkansas and Missouri were 5.1 and 4.2, respectively, times more likely to be chronically infected with C. felis than cats from Oklahoma., Conclusions: Infection with C. felis is common in domestic cats through Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The high prevalence of C. felis reported herein suggests that infected domestic cats are likely reservoirs of infection for naive felines. The high prevalence of C. felis substantiates the importance for the use of approved acaricides on cats to prevent cytauxzoonosis.

A 14-year-old spayed American Paint mare was evaluated for mild colic, anorexia, pyrexia, and pancytopenia. Physical examination revealed mild tachycardia, tachypnea, and pale mucous membranes. Serial laboratory analyses revealed progressive pancytopenia, hyperfibrinogenemia, and hyperglobulinemia. A few large atypical cells were observed in peripheral blood smears. Results of tests for equine infectious anemia and antipenicillin antibody were negative. Serum protein electrophoresis indicated a polyclonal gammopathy. Smears of bone marrow aspirates contained hypercellular particles, but cell lines could not be identified because the cells were karyolytic, with pale basophilic smudged nuclei and lack of cellular detail. A diagnosis of bone marrow necrosis was made. Treatment consisted of antimicrobials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and corticosteroids. The pyrexia resolved; however, the pancytopenia progressively worsened and petechiation and epistaxis developed. The horse was humanely euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed a diffuse round cell neoplasm infiltrating the kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and bone marrow. Immunophenotyping results (CD3+, CD79alpha-) indicated the neoplastic cells were of T-cell lineage. Infiltration of lymphoma cells into the bone marrow appeared to have resulted in severe myelophthisis and bone marrow necrosis. Bone marrow necrosis has been associated previously with lymphoma in humans and dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of lymphoma resulting in bone marrow necrosis in a horse.

Objective: To determine whether antemortem core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration of enlarged peripheral lymph nodes could be used to distinguish between inflammation and lymphosarcoma in cattle., Design: Prospective study., Animals: 25 cattle with enlarged peripheral lymph nodes., Procedures: Antemortem biopsies of the selected lymph nodes were performed with an 18-gauge, 12-cm core needle biopsy instrument. Fine-needle aspirates were performed with a 20-gauge, 4-cm needle. Specimens were analyzed by pathologists who were unaware of clinical findings and final necropsy findings, and specimens were categorized as reactive, neoplastic, or nondiagnostic for comparison with necropsy results., Results: Sensitivity and specificity of core needle biopsy ranged from 38% to 67% and from 80% to 25%, respectively. Sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration ranged from 41% to 53%, and specificity was 100%. Predictive values for positive test results ranged from 77% to 89% for core needle biopsy and were 100% for fine-needle aspiration. Predictive values for negative test results were low for both core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results indicated that core needle biopsy and fine-needle aspiration can aid in the antemortem diagnosis of bovine enzootic lymphosarcoma. Results of fine-needle aspiration of enlarged peripheral lymph nodes were more specific and more predictive for a positive test result than were results of core needle biopsy.

A 1-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat had an ulcerated, proliferative lesion in the submandibular area that did not respond to antibiotic therapy. Impression smears from the mass revealed septic pyogranulomatous inflammation, with large numbers of pleomorphic bacteria observed intracellularly within macrophages as well as neutrophils. Bacterial culture was consistent with a diagnosis of Rhodococcus equi, a facultative intracellular coccobacillus capable of replicating within macrophages. The cat's lesion resolved after treatment with rifampin and clarithromycin. R equi should be considered as a differential diagnosis when coccobacilli are recognized within macrophages in cytologic samples.

A 14-year-old, spayed female Cocker Spaniel was presented to the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Oklahoma State University with acute loss of vision in the right eye and a history of intermittent bloody diarrhea of unknown duration. Small, white, plaque-like lesions in the retina and subretina were visualized by direct ophthalmic examination, and aspirated with ultrasound-guidance. A direct smear of the subretinal fluid was highly cellular and contained large numbers of pleomorphic organisms consistent with Prototheca sp. The structures were round, oval, or elongated, 4-6 microm width and 8-16 microm in length and surrounded by a thin, clear cell wall. Small, central, pink to purple nuclei were observed in some organisms, but in most, the nuclei were obscured by a deeply basophilic, granular cytoplasm. Some organisms contained endospores. Negatively-stained structures of similar size and shape were considered to be empty casings (theca) of ruptured sporulating and nonsporulating forms of the organism. Protothecosis usually is a disseminated, fatal disease in dogs. The Prototheca organisms observed in this case showed characteristic morphology, illustrating the ability to diagnose protothecosis in cytologic samples.