Cholecystadenocarcinoma in a cat

A malignant neoplastic process originating from gall bladder epithelium was diagnosed in a 14-year-old, spayed female, domestic shorthair cat. The tumor produced widespread pulmonary and lymphatic metastases. The clinical and pathological manifestations are described. Neoplasia arising from the gall bladder epithelium is rarely reported in animals.     

Bentonite toxicosis in a cat from cat litter?

Peripheral i.v. cannulation is one of the most common procedures performed in hospitals. Expanding the nursing role to include i.v. cannulation has the potential to improve care. The individual practitioner is responsible for maintaining and updating such skills.     

Morphea-like lesion in a cat

Scleroderma is a rare chronic disease of connective tissues, involving the skin and/or internal organs in humans, and rarely described in the dog. A case is reported of localised scleroderma in a cat which presented with two well delineated alopecic, sclerotic, raised and shiny lesions localised on the trunk. Diagnosis was made by histopathological examination of skin biopsies which showed the replacement of all dermal components by dense thick collagen bundles. No therapy was instituted and a spontaneous recovery occurred three months later. Clinical and histopathological aspects of this feline dermatosis are compared with human and canine morphea.     

Phaeohyphomycotic ependymitis in a cat

A case of congenital toxoplasmosis is presented, where diagnosis by PCR amplification of Toxoplasma gondii DNA from peripheral blood led to early treatment of the infant and seemingly normal brain development despite the presence of intracranial calcifications at birth. The mother, who experienced a subclinical infection during pregnancy, was PCR-positive for toxoplasma DNA in a sample of peripheral blood drawn after delivery.     

Gastric extramedullary plasmacytoma in a cat

A 5-year-old boy developed hemorrhagic mucocutaneous blisters on various parts of the body leading to fetor, dysphagia, dysuria, anal pruritus, pain on defecation, and weight loss. The histopathology showed the classic features of pemphigus vulgaris, and direct immunofluorescence showed intercellular deposition of IgG and C3 in the epidermis. Circulating pemphigus antibodies were also detected. He was treated with a combination of systemic prednisone and dapsone which induced a rapid remission and controlled the disease well. He has been in remission for 1 year and 7 months with no immunosuppressive therapy except for the use of topical agents for the oral lesions. An adjuvant to corticosteroids has been used only once before in children with pemphigus vulgaris under the age of 12 years. This is the third and the youngest child in the literature treated in this fashion.     

Renal glomerular fibrosis in a cat

Renal glomerular fibrosis was observed in a 1-year-old spayed female Japanese domestic cat that showed clinically advanced renal failure. In the glomeruli, increased homogeneous materials were stained strongly with aniline blue by Masson's trichrome and positive for anti-type III collagen antibody by immunohistochemical staining, causing mesangial sclerosis and capillary collapse. By electron microscopy, randomly arranged fibrils were observed in the expanded subendothelial and mesangial areas, and the fibrils showed periodicity characteristic of collagen fibers in longitudinal sections. These findings of glomerular lesions closely resemble those of human "collagenofibrotic glomerulonephropathy," which has recently been described as a new type of glomerulonephropathy.     

Bilateral mandibular condylectomy in a cat

The problem of contribution of a forensic medic to verification of testimony at the site of criminal event is seldom, if ever, discussed. Tasks facing the specialist, some aspects of preparation to work, and methods of verifying the testimony on the spot, when the details of infliction of injuries with sharp instruments are investigated (the most frequent cause for calling forensic medics to verification of testimony on the spot) are discussed.     

Persistent papillomavirus infection in a cat

The purpose of this study was to further define the cellular response to titanium and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles in aseptic loosening, and to determine if the use of pamidronate may be effective in inhibiting bone resorption associated with this response. Macrophages and osteoblasts were cocultured to simulate the environment around an aseptically loose prosthesis. Macrophages were plated on the bottom of six well plates and osteoblasts were plated on culture dish inserts, and placed into the wells with the macrophages. Incubation of macrophages with PMMA in this system led to release of prostaglandin E (PGE2), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Incubation with titanium led to release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-6. Exposure of calvaria to media from cells exposed to either PMMA or titanium led to release of calcium 45. Incubation of calvaria with pamidronate was able to inhibit release of calcium 45 associated with exposure to the macrophage/osteoblast/particle conditioned medium. Bone resorption at the interface between implant and bone is a consistent feature leading to loosening of orthopedic implants. By inhibiting bone resorption associated with the inflammatory response to implant particulates, pamidronate or other bisphosphonates may have clinical utility in the treatment or prevention or aseptic loosening.     

Pulmonary embolism and impending paradoxical embolism: a role for transesophageal echocardiography?

Thrombolysis is advocated as the treatment of choice for hemodynamically important pulmonary embolism. This paper reports the case of a patient with subacute massive pulmonary embolism in which thrombolysis was not considered appropriate because transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a patent foramen ovale and impending paradoxical embolism.     

Paradoxical embolism of a shotgun pellet

Paradoxical embolism of a projectile from the venous to arterial system is a rare occurrence, which can cause diagnostic confusion. We present a case of venous embolism of a shotgun pellet from the left upper extremity to the noncoronary sinus of the aortic valve across a secundum-type atrial septal defect. Prevention of distal embolism of the pellet was presumably a result of its containment by flow vortices created within the sinuses of Valsalva.     

Mucolipidosis type II in a domestic shorthair cat

A seven-month-old, female domestic shorthair cat was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Zurich, with abnormal facial features, retarded growth and progressive hindlimb paresis. On physical examination the cat had a flat, broad face with hypertelorism, frontal bossing, small ears and thickened upper and lower eyelids. The corneas of both eyes were clear and the pupils were dilated. The skin was generally thickened, most prominently on the dorsal aspect of the neck. Radiography of the entire skeleton revealed a severely deformed spinal column, bilateral hip luxation with hip dysplasia, an abnormally shaped skull and generalised decreased bone opacity. The clinical features and radiographic changes were suggestive of mucopolysaccharidosis. The toluidine blue spot test on a urine sample, however, was negative for glycosaminoglycans. Further biochemical investigations revealed a deficiency of the enzyme N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphotransferase (GlcNAc-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.8.17) in peripheral leukocytes and an elevation of many lysosomal enzymes in the serum of the cat which is diagnostic for mucolipidosis type II. Histology and electron microscopy of different tissues are briefly summarised. The findings of this cat, the first reported case of mucolipidosis type II are compared with other similar storage diseases described in the cat.     

Bronchospasm, a sign revealing pulmonary embolism

A papillary adenoma with malignant change consisting of only Paneth cells and their precursors is described. Neoplastic proliferation of Paneth cells is discussed from a point of view of cell biology.