No abstract

Prior studies have failed to detect a convincing association between histologic lesions of inflammation and clinical activity in dogs with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We hypothesized that use of a simplified histopathologic scoring system would improve the consistency of interpretation among pathologists when describing histologic lesions of gastrointestinal inflammation. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation of histopathologic changes to clinical activity in dogs with IBD using this new system. Forty-two dogs with IBD and 19 healthy control dogs were enrolled in this retrospective study. Endoscopic biopsies from the stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon were independently scored by 8 pathologists. Clinical disease activity was scored using the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) or the Canine Chronic Enteropathy Clinical Activity Index (CCECAI), depending on the individual study center. Summative histopathological scores and clinical activity were calculated for each tissue (stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon) and each tissue histologic score (inflammatory/morphologic feature). The correlation between CCECAI/CIBDAI and summative histopathologic score was significant ( P < .05) for duodenum ( r = 0.42) and colon ( r = 0.33). In evaluating the relationship between histopathologic scores and clinical activity, significant ( P < .05) correlations were observed for crypt dilation ( r = 0.42), lamina propria (LP) lymphocytes ( r = 0.40), LP neutrophils ( r = 0.45), mucosal fibrosis ( r = 0.47), lacteal dilation ( r = 0.39), and villus stunting ( r = 0.43). Compared to earlier grading schemes, the simplified scoring system shows improved utility in correlating histopathologic features (both summative histology scores and select histologic scores) to IBD clinical activity.

We report a case of sporotrichosis in a veterinarian who acquired the infection from a cat. Transmission was confirmed at the genetic level by demonstration that the two clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii had identical restriction-fragment-length profiles of whole-cell DNA. Review of the literature indicates that zoonotic transmission of sporotrichosis is rare and is virtually always associated with direct contact with an infected cat. Exposure to the large number of fungal organisms present in skin lesions of cats with sporotrichosis can result in transmission of infection to humans even without an associated penetrating injury. Since veterinarians and their assistants are at greatest risk, awareness of this mode of transmission and proper use of gloves when caring for cats with cutaneous ulcers should prevent most cases.

Abstract. An idiopathic disease involving skin and occasionally kidneys was seen in kenneled and racing greyhounds. Hemorrhages, fibrinoid arteritis, thrombosis, and infarction with deep, slowly healing ulcers characterized the skin lesions. Peracute renal glomerular necrosis, particularly involving afferent arterioles with intravascular coagulation in glomerular capillaries were the distinctive findings in affected kidneys. A complex pathogenesis of this disorder was suspected in which genetic predisposition plays a prominent role.