Background The trematode Heterobilharzia americana (HA) causes granulomatous gastrointestinal and hepatic disease in dogs. Before 2008, diagnosis relied on saline fecal sedimentation or histopathology, and earlier reports primarily described dogs with advanced disease or cases diagnosed incidentally at necropsy. The advent of a fecal PCR test has facilitated the diagnosis of HA and provided insights into manifestations and response to treatment. Objectives Describe the clinical findings, response to treatment, and outcome for dogs infected with HA. Animals Sixty dogs diagnosed with HA between 2010 and 2019. Methods Retrospective study. Medical records were searched for dogs diagnosed with HA by fecal PCR testing, identification of ova in feces, or histopathology. Results Mean age was 7.5 (±4.1) years and weight was 23.2 (±10.18) kg. Clinical signs included diarrhea (55.8%), vomiting (46.2%), and weight loss with or without anorexia (15.4%). Laboratory abnormalities included hyperglobulinemia (42.6%) and increased liver enzyme activities (30%). More than 40% of dogs had an eosinophil count >500/μL. Hypercalcemia attributable to HA was identified in only 4 dogs. Pinpoint hyperechoic foci were noted in intestines, liver, or mesenteric lymph nodes during transabdominal ultrasonography in 64.4% of dogs. Survival data was available for 34 dogs, of which 73.5% (25) were alive 6 months after diagnosis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Hyperglobulinemia, high eosinophil count, and ultrasonographic evidence of visceral mineralization were suggestive of infection. Hypercalcemia was uncommon. Combination treatment with praziquantel and fenbendazole was variably effective, and 17.6% of treated dogs with known outcome died as a result of HA infection.
French bulldogs (FBD) are reported to be at an increased risk of developing humeral condylar fractures (HCF). Spaniel breeds have been reported to be at increased risk of HCF due to a high prevalence of humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF), which can predispose to fracture. The aims of this retrospective, single center, observational study were twofold. First, to compare the signalment, fracture configuration, and etiology of populations of FBD and spaniel breeds presenting with HCF at a single hospital. Second, to evaluate the computed tomographic (CT) findings of the contralateral elbow joints of FBD and spaniel breeds presenting with HCF for concomitant pathology. FBDs were overrepresented for HCF, most commonly presenting when skeletally immature, with a median age of 3.7 months. Fractures of the lateral condyle were the most common configuration for both breed groups. Sclerosis at the fracture site was identified in 62% of FBD and 95% of spaniels undergoing CT scans. Humeral intracondylar fissures and intracondylar sclerosis were commonly observed in the contralateral elbows of FBD (44% and 50%, respectively) and spaniel breeds (58% and 95%, respectively).Medial coronoid pathology, elbow incongruency, and periarticular osteophytes were not identified in the contralateral elbows of FBD but were identified in 29%, 4%, and 20% of spaniels, respectively. The high prevalence of HIF in the FBD group may be a predisposing factor for HCF in this breed.
An 11-month-old female Labrador Retriever presented with a 3-month history of a progressively enlarging, unilateral, ventral mandibular swelling. Cytology was consistent with saliva, and the dog was referred for further investigations. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging was performed, and findings were suggestive of a leftsided mandibular sialocoele. The dog underwent sialoadenectomy surgery of the left mandibular-sublingual gland complex. On incising the thick capsule of the sialocoele, the swelling was incidentally found to contain hundreds of 1.5-2 mm firm, spherical structures. Cytological and histological examination of the structures demonstrated that these were non-mineralised, hypocellular, proteinaceous nodules. The nodules were not able to be identified on review of the pre-operative CT scan. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of such radiolucent, proteinaceous nodules being present within a canine sialocoele. BACKGROUNDSialocoeles are the most commonly presenting disease of the salivary glands of dogs. 1 This case report describes a case of a canine sublingual-mandibular sialocoele, with concurrent radiolucent, proteinaceous, hypocellular, nodules present within. Computed tomographic (CT) imaging has been considered the most sensitive imaging modality for diagnosing and differentiating salivary gland disease, 2 although sialolithiasis may be diagnosed by plain radiography due to the mineral component found in the sialoliths. [2][3][4][5] In the presented case, the numerous nodules were not visible on the CT scan and found incidentally at surgery. Cytological and histological analyses revealed no mineral component to the nodules. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report describing the presence of radiolucent, non-mineralised nodules found within a canine siaocoele. CASE PRESENTATIONAn 11-month-old, female entire, Labrador Retriever presented to the referral hospital with a 3-month history of a progressive, soft, non-painful swelling in the left ventral mandibular region. The patient had no other significant medical history and was noted to be fed a raw diet. No trauma or known inciting cause had occurred prior to the owner noticing the mass, and the patient had no other associated clinical signsThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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