Simultaneous evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function and intestinal absorptive function in dogs with chronic diarrhea

The N-benzoyl-L-tyrosyl-p-aminobenzoic acid (BT-PABA):xylose test was evaluated in 5 clinically normal dogs, 5 dogs with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI), and 7 dogs with intestinal malabsorption. A solution of BT-PABA (1 g/100 ml) and d-xylose (10 g/100 ml) was given orally (5 ml/kg of body weight) to dogs in each group. Plasma p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) curves were decreased in dogs with PEI and intestinal malabsorption (P < 0.05) but were the lowest in dogs with PEI, compared with clinically normal dogs. Xylose values in dogs with malabsorption were decreased (P < 0.05), compared with clinically normal dogs. Dogs with PEI had plasma xylose values that were intermediate to values in clinically normal dogs and dogs with intestinal malabsorption. Results of BT-PABA:xylose testing were compared with results of sodium PABA:xylose testing, to determine whether decreased PABA values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test were caused by free PABA malabsorption or by maldigestion of BT-PABA. The sodium PABA:xylose test was performed in dogs from each group by oral administration of a solution (5 ml/kg) of sodium PABA (0.372 g/100 ml) and d-xylose (10.0 g/100 ml). Plasma PABA values obtained by the sodium PABA:xylose test were similar in each group. Thus, different PABA values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test were not caused by PABA malabsorption. Xylose values were similar to values obtained by the BT-PABA:xylose test. It was concluded that: (1) the BT-PABA:xylose test is a practical test for detecting maldigestion or malabsorption in the dog; (2) dogs with intestinal malabsorption may have functional PEI; and (3) decreased PABA plasma values obtained by BT-PABA:xylose testing are not caused by malabsorption of free PABA.

Paracoccidioidomycosis presenting as a cavitating pulmonary mass

Paracoccidioidomycosis, a granulomatous fungal infection often termed "South American blastomycosis," has been reported in only 11 patients in the United States to date. All have been male patients who had either traveled to or emigrated from South America. We report the findings in a 24-year-old woman with a solitary cavitating pulmonary mass which was proven to be paracoccidioidomycosis. This uncommon presentation of paracoccidioidomycosis was surgically resected, and no antifungal chemotherapy was instituted. The patient remains well and apparently free of the infection.

Peritonitis during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We initiated a therapeutic program of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for patients with chronic renal failure. Our program resulted in many episodes of peritonitis arising from contamination due to the technical aspects of the procedure. Microbiologic evaluation showed that 73% of 97 episodes were culture positive, with gram-positive organisms causing most of the cases, especially early in dialysis. Gram-negative rods tended to occur later. Gram stains of dialysate effluent resulted in a disappointingly low yield of only 9% positivity. Cell counts were a dependable indicator of the presence of peritoneal inflammation and also of therapeutic success. Most patients responded well to intraperitoneal cephalothin, 125 mg/L for 10 to 14 d. The occurrence of peritonitis resulted in 0.93 years of hospitalization during the total of 15.45 patient-years on dialysis, which essentially negated the financial advantages of this method of treatment of chronic renal failure. For this to be a successful mode of therapy, advances in the prevention of peritonitis must be made.

Electromyographic and esophagomanometric findings in clinically normal dogs and in dogs with idiopathic megaesophagus

Electromyography of 12 clinically normal dogs and 7 dogs with idiopathic megaesophagus revealed trains of positive sharp waves in the muscles of facial expression and in the lingual muscles of both groups. Positive waves are usually indicative of motor-unit disease; however, they are clinically insignificant in these muscles. Positive sharp waves were detected in the esophageal muscle of one dog with congenital megaesophagus. Esophageal electromyograms obtained in a dog with congenital megaesophagus and in 2 clinically normal dogs were normal. Resting caudal esophageal sphincter pressure was similar in both clinically normal dogs (mean, 22.3 mm of Hg; range, 15--37 mm of Hg) and in dogs with congenital or acquired idiopathic megaesophagus (mean, 29.6 mm of Hg; range, 20--50 mm of Hg).

Canine coccidiosis attributed to an Isospora ohioensis-like organism: a case report

Coccidiosis due to an Isospora ohioensis-like organism was diagnosed in a 10-week-old pup. The pup had diarrhea, dehydration, and weight loss before it died 7 days after onset of clinical signs. Lesions were limited to the intestinal tract. Beginning in the distal end of the small intestine and extending through cecum and colon were mild histiocytic proliferation in the lamina propria and multifocal cryptitis. Numerous meronts and gamonts of an unidentified coccidium were in or near the lesions. Parasites were in the villous epithelium, lamina propria, and intestinal glands of the distal one-half of the small intestine, cecum, and colon. It was concluded that infection was due to an unidentified coccidium with oocysts structurally similar to those of I ohioensis.

Dactylogyrus atripinnei sp. n. from the blackfin sucker in Tennessee

A new species of Dactylogyrus, D. atripinnei, is described from the blackfin sucker, Moxostoma atripinne Bailey, collected from the Barren River drainage in Tennessee.

A retrospective study of probable glucocorticoid-induced hepatopathy in dogs

Hepatopathy associated with glucocorticoid therapy or with naturally occurring hyperadrenocorticism was detected retrospectively in hepatic biopsy specimens from 22 of 60 dogs, by histologic review. The hepatopathy was characterized by centrilobular vacuolization, perivacuolar glycogen accumulation within hepatocytes, and focal centrilobular necrosis. The predominant clinical findings were hepatomegaly, increased serum enzyme activity associated with hepatic disease, and increased bromsulphalein retention. The hepatopathy appeared to be reversible.

Partial deficiency of antidiuretic hormone in a cat

Marked polydipsia and polyuria developed subsequent to trauma in a 1 1/2-year-old male Abyssinian cat. Diabetes insipidus was suspected, inasmuch as intramuscualr vasopressin administration resulted in amelioration of polydipsia and polyuria. However, hypertonic (3%) saline solution given intravneously resulted in anuria, an indication of antidiuretic hormone activity. Polyuria and polydipsia were abolished by oral chlorpropamide therapy, which was indirect evidence for partial deficiency of antidiuretic hormone.

Rheumatoid factor: a cause of fals positive histoplasmin latex agglutination

Ten of thirteen patients with positive histolatex agglutination titers of 1:32 or greater had no evidence of acute histoplasmosis. Three of these false positives had rheumatoid arthritis. A fourth had a rising mycoplasma complement fixation titer, and the fifth had a high titer of cold agglutinins. All of these are associated with abnormal immunoglobulin M production. To evaluate the role of rheumatoid factor in producing false positive histolatex agglutination, the histolatex test was performed on sera from 32 patients having rheumatoid factor at a titer of 1:40 or greater. Four of these sera agglutinated the histoplasmin-coated latex particles at titers of 1:32 or greater. Review of clinical records suggests the this reactivity is nonspecific. It is our purpose to call attention to rheumatoic factor as a cause of false positive histolatex agglutination.

Lipid-laden aqueous humor associated with anterior uveitis and concurrent hyperlipemia in two dogs

Two dogs with cloudy aqueous humor due to accumulation of lipid and lipoprotein had concurrent hyperlipemia and anterior uveitis. In 1 dog, serum and aqueous humor had similar lipoprotein electrophoretic patterns, and in the other dog, the patterns were different. The therapeutic approach included symptomatic treatment of the uveitis and reduction of dietary fat intake. Clearing of fat from aqueous humor followed control of the uveitis.

Lipids and lipoproteins in normal dogs and in dogs with secondary hyperlipoproteinemia

Concentrations of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and free glycerol were neasured, and serum lipoprotein electrophoresis was performed in normal dogs and in dogs with hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and acute pancreatitis. Twelve privately owned dogs and 20 Basset Hounds from a research colony served as normal subjects. Privately owned had higher serum lipid concentrations than did research dogs. On electrophorisis of normal dog serum, lipoprotein bands were detected at the beta, pre-beta, alpha-2, and alpha-1 positions. Hypercholesterolemia was associated with increased intensity of the alpha-2-lipoprotein band, and hypertriglyceridemia occurred with increased lipoprotein at the origin, or the beta or pre-beta positions. Hypothyroid dogs had normal lipid values and lipoprotein electrophoretic patterns, hypercholesterolemia with increased intensity of the alpha-2-lipoprotein band, or hypercholesterolemia and hypertiglyceridemia with prominent beta-, pre-beta, and alpha-2-lipoprotein electrophoretic patterns were changed to near-normal values after levothyroxine administration. Diabetic dogs had increased serum cholesterol and triglyceride content and a predominance of lower density lipoproteins, as detected by electrophoresis. Insulin therapy caused the lipid concentrations to decrease and the electrophoretic pattern to revert to near normal. Dogs with acute pancreatitis had moderately increased serum lipid content and electrophoretic patterns characterized by increased intensity of the beta-lipoprotein band and by altered migration of alpha-1-lipoproteins.

XO/XY mosaicism in a 2 year phenotypic male

A 2-year-old male with bilateral undescended gonads, hypoplastic external auditory canals, large umbilical hernia and XO/XY chromosome mosaicism is described in this communication. Salient features of other similar cases, i.e. XO/XY mosaicism in phenotypic males, from the literature are summarized, showing the wide diversity of manifestations of this syndrome.

Idiopathic hyperlipoproteinemia in dogs

Six dogs with hyperlipoproteinemia of undetermined cause had increased serum concentrations of lower density lipoprotein classes, as detected by lipid measurements and lipoprotein electrophoresis. Five of the dogs were Miniature Schnauzers and 1 was of mixed breeding. Signs of disease included abdominal distress (2 dogs), abdominal distress and seizures (2 dogs), and weizures (1 dog). One dog was clinically normal. Feeding of a low-fat diet resulted in alterations of lipoprotein distribution and serum lipid content. In 2 dogs, intravenous (IV) administration of heparin caused shifing of the lipoprotein electrophoretic pattern, indicating activated lipoprotein lipase. These clinical and laboratory findings suggested a syndrome caused by an inherited defect in lipid metabolism.

Virulence factors of biotypes of Staphylococcus epidermidis from clinical sources

The biotyping scheme of Baird-Parker was applied to cultures of Staphylococcus epidermidis from patients. In all, 63.6% of 228 cultures belonged to biotype 1, followed by biotypes 4, 3, and 2 in decreasing order of incidence. When classified according to clinical source of isolation, cultures of S. epidermidis were most frequently isolated from urine, with 39.5% of 228 cultures from this source. Each of the four biotypes was distributed throughout all nine catagories of clinical sources. The production of virulence factors was based on the results of three groups of tests: (i) deoxyribonuclease, urease, gelatinase, caseinase, and lysozyme production; (ii) lipolytic activity on the tweens; and (iii) hemolysin production. Enzymatic activity was highest for organisms in biotypes 1, followed by biotypes 3, 4, and 2 in decreasing order. Of the 228 cultures, 76.3% were lysed by lysostaphin. Resistance to antibiotics was highest for tetracycline, ampicillin, and penicillin, with rates of 54.8, 69.3, and 81.6%, respectively. The role of S. epidermidis as an etiological agent was studied by analyzing the laboratory and clinical data of 80 patients selected at random with bacteriuric S. epidermidis. Organisms in biotype 1 were most commonly associated with urinary tract infection. The significance of certain biotypes of S. epidermidis as opportunistic pathogens among compromised hosts in a hospital environment is discussed.

Four new species of Gyrodactylus from fishes of Alabama

Four new species of Gyrodactylus are described from fishes of Alabama. Gyrodactylus dorosomae was collected from Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur) and D. petenense (Gunther); G. parvicirrus from Notropis atherinoides Raf; G. lythruri from Notropis b. bellus Hay and N. atrapiculus Snelson; and G. nigrum from Etheostoma nigrum Raf.