Bronchoscopic findings in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies: 84 cases (2010-2020)

OBJECTIVES

To describe endoscopic findings, foreign body location, success rate of removal and complications in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The current study retrospectively evaluated the case records of dogs diagnosed with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies at a veterinary hospital centre between January 2010 and April 2020. Information retrieved included breed, sex, age, bodyweight, the season of presentation, presentation and duration of clinical signs, previous removal attempts performed by the referring veterinarian, foreign body location and endoscopic and imaging findings.

RESULTS

Eighty-four cases were included. Fifty-nine dogs (70%) presented during spring and summer. Cough (77 of 84; 92%) and fever (15 of 84; 18%) were the main clinical signs. One to 10 bronchial vegetal foreign bodies were removed from each dog. Purulent exudate was observed in the ventral larynx, trachea and bronchi in 49 (65%), 61 (81%) and 71 (95%) dogs, respectively. In most cases, only the barbules of the vegetal foreign bodies were initially observed during endoscopy. The presence of large bronchial nodules or an irregular mucosal surface was a frequent finding (62 of 75; 83%). Mild bleeding was the main complication (58 of 75; 77%) of endoscopic removal, which was successful in 67 of the 84 (80%) cases.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Mucosal nodules associated with purulent material within the airways are frequent endoscopic findings in dogs with bronchial vegetal foreign bodies. Bronchoscopy is a relatively safe and useful technique for diagnosis and treatment of bronchial vegetal foreign bodies in dogs.

The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level

Background

Culicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C. montanus, forming the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Recently, cryptic diversity within C. obsoletus was reported in geographically distant sites. Clear delineation of species and characterization of genetic variability is mandatory to revise their taxonomic status and assess the vector role of each taxonomic entity. Our objectives were to characterize and map the cryptic diversity within the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex.

Methods

Portion of the cox1 mitochondrial gene of 3763 individuals belonging to the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex was sequenced. Populations from 20 countries along a Palaearctic Mediterranean transect covering Scandinavia to Canary islands (North to South) and Canary islands to Turkey (West to East) were included. Genetic diversity based on cox1 barcoding was supported by 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene sequences and a gene coding for ribosomal 28S rDNA. Species delimitation using a multi-marker methodology was used to revise the current taxonomic scheme of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex.

Results

Our analysis showed the existence of three phylogenetic clades (C. obsoletus clade O2, C. obsoletus clade dark and one not yet named and identified) within C. obsoletus. These analyses also revealed two intra-specific clades within C. scoticus and raised questions about the taxonomic status of C. montanus.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, our study provides the first genetic characterization of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex on a large geographical scale and allows a revision of the current taxonomic classification for an important group of vector species of livestock viruses in the Palaearctic region.

Extended palatoplasty as surgical treatment for nasopharyngeal stenosis in six cats

OBJECTIVE

To describe the use of extended palatoplasty as treatment of caudal nasopharyngeal stenosis in cats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

CT was used to confirm the diagnosis in cats with clinical signs consistent with nasopharyngeal stenosis. Extended palatoplasty rostral to the tonsils using monopolar electrocautery allowed simultaneous removal of the caudal soft palate together with the stenotic area. Cats were re-evaluated 2 weeks postoperatively. Telephone interview was used to obtain long-term follow-up.

RESULTS

Six domestic shorthair cats were diagnosed with nasopharyngeal stenosis, with clinical signs of snoring (n=4), stertor (n=4), nasal discharge (n=3) and sneezing (n=1). CT scan identified a soft-tissue stricture at the level of the caudal nasopharynx in all cats. Other abnormalities included bilateral rhinitis (n=3), retropharyngeal adenomegaly (n=2), unilateral sinusitis (n=1) and bilateral otitis externa with unilateral otitis media (n=1). Excision of the caudal soft palate and the entire stenotic soft-tissue membrane was successful in all six cats. No pre-, intra- or postoperative complications were observed. Short-term outcome revealed clinical improvement in all cases. Long-term outcome revealed no recurrence of clinical signs in four cats. In one cat, occasional sneezing was reported. One cat died 1 month postoperatively for reasons unrelated to the respiratory condition.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Extended palatoplasty was an effective technique to treat caudal nasopharyngeal stenosis and provide improvement of clinical signs without postoperative complications in all cases.

Endoscopic and surgical removal of oesophageal and gastric fishhook foreign bodies in 33 animals

OBJECTIVES

To describe the location, retrieval, frequency of surgery and complications associated with fishhook foreign bodies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective evaluation of the medical records of cats and dogs admitted between 2010 and 2016 after fishhook ingestion.

RESULTS

A total of 33 cases (2 cats and 31 dogs) were included. The most common locations were the proximal oesophagus [12/33 (36%)] and stomach [11/33 (33%)]. Endoscopic retrieval was successful in 27 of 33 cases (82%); oesophageal perforation was the only recorded complication, occurring in six of 33 (18%) cases. Surgery was performed in six cases (18%), and no early complications were recorded. The survival rate was 100%.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The endoscopic removal of ingested fishhooks is highly successful. In the present study, survival to discharge was 100%, even in cases of oesophageal perforation or in cases requiring surgery.

Risk factors for falling in community-dwelling older adults: which of them are associated with the recurrence of falls?

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine which risk factors were associated with the recurrence of falls among community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

Based on a cross-sectional design, 1066 community-dwelling volunteers aged 65 and older were recruited. The use of psychoactive drugs, the number of drugs taken per day, the basic mobility assessed with the Timed Up & Go test (TUG), the maximal isometric voluntary contraction strength of hand, the lower limb proprioception, the distance binocular vision, the fear of falling and the history of falls during the past year were recorded. Subjects were separated into 4 groups based on the number of falls: 0, 1, 2 and ≥ 2 falls.

RESULTS

Among the 395 (37.1%) fallers, 291 (27.3%) were single fallers and 104 (9.8%) were recurrent fallers (i.e., > 2 falls). The numbers of falls increased significantly with age (Incident Rate Ratio (IRR)=1.03, p < 0.001), female gender (IRR=1.95, p < 0.001), institutionalization (IRR=1.66, p=0.002), number of drugs taken per day (IRR=1.05, p < 0.001), use of psychoactive drugs (IRR=1.29, p=0.009), increased time of TUG Test (IRR=1.02, p < 0.001), use of a walking aid (IRR=1.59, p=0.002), and fear of falling (IRR=3.08, p < 0.001). In addition, a high score at the handgrip test (IRR=0.97, p < 0.001) and distance binocular vision (IRR=0.92, p < 0.001) were associated with a decreased number of falls. After adjustment for potential confounders, only female gender (IRR=1.44, p < 0.001), vision (IRR=0.95, p=0.006) and lower limb proprioception (IRR=0.95, p=0.046), and fear of falling (IRR=2.68, p < 0.001) were still significantly associated with the number of falls. CONCLUSION. The current study shows that female gender, poor vision and lower limb proprioception, and fear of falling were associated with the recurrence of falls.

Decrease in gait variability while counting backward: a marker of "magnet effect"?

Counting backward (CB) and walking are both rhythmic tasks. An improvement of CB performance has been reported while walking, and has been interpreted as a "magnet effect" which is the tendency of biological oscillators to attract each other. The objective of this study was to compare the coefficient of variation (CoV) of stride time (ST) and the number of enumerated figures while single- and dual-tasking between older adults who increased and decreased their CoV of ST while CB. The number of enumerated figures and the CoV of ST under single-task (i.e., CB while sitting or walking alone) and dual-task (i.e., CB while walking) were measured among 100 community-dwelling older subjects (mean, 69.8 ± 0.07 years). Subjects were separated into two groups according to the dual-task-related changes in CoV of ST (i.e., either above or below the mean value of CoV of ST under single-task). Seventeen participants decreased their CoV of ST while CB compared to usual walking (2.6 ± 1.6% vs. 2.0 ± 1.3%, P < 0.001), while 83 increased their CoV of ST (1.7 ± 0.6% vs 3.4 ± 2.3%, P < 0.001). The subjects who decreased their CoV of ST had a tendency to enumerate more figures while walking compared to sitting (20.9 ± 6.3 vs 19.4 ± 4.7, P = 0.046) unlike those who increased their CoV of ST (20.3 ± 5.0 vs 21.8 ± 6.0 while sitting, P = 0.001). We found that most of subjects had worse gait and CB performance while dual-tasking. Conversely, a limited number of subjects improved significantly their gait performance and simultaneously had a tendency to improve their CB performance while walking compared to sitting. This behavior was observed only among subjects with the highest gait variability and could be interpreted as an implicit strategy based on the "magnet effect".