OBJECTIVE:To describe the clinical application and outcome of the double-flap technique (DFT) for oesophagogastric reconstruction following distal oesophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy in a cat with extensive oesophagogastric leiomyosarcoma. STUDY DESIGN:Case report. PATIENT:A 10-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat. CASE DESCRIPTION:Computed tomography revealed a large mass at the oesophagogastric junction in a cat with vomiting and regurgitation. Distal oesophagectomy and proximal gastrectomy were performed, followed by oesophagogastric reconstruction using the DFT, a valve-forming technique involving two seromuscular flaps designed to reduce gastroesophageal reflux. Intraoperative oesophagogastric endoscopy was used to assess anastomotic patency and integrity. OUTCOME:The reconstruction using the DFT was feasible without intraoperative complications after the complete resection of the mass. The operation time was 134 min. The resected mass was histopathologically diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma. Oral feeding resumed on postoperative Day (POD) 13. Although the cat required frequent small meals due to reduced gastric capacity, vomiting did not occur. No evidence of anastomotic leakage or reflux oesophagitis was observed. After a period of clinical stability, the cat presented on POD 53 with lethargy and anorexia. Metastatic disease was suspected, and the cat succumbed to cancer-associated cachexia on POD 66. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first reported case of oesophagogastric reconstruction using the DFT following extensive resection of the oesophagogastric junction in a cat. The procedure was technically feasible and resulted in functionally effective reconstruction without evidence of reflux or anastomotic complications. The DFT may represent a viable surgical option for feline patients undergoing gastrectomy for oesophagogastric neoplasia.

Canine immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA) is an idiopathic disorder encompassing both erosive and nonerosive forms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a clinical picture similar to human RA. Resemblance in major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-associated risk between the two was first noted within the specific amino acid motif known as the shared epitope (SE) on human leukocyte antigen DRB1. Following further identification of amino acids conferring risk for human RA outside the SE, this study was designed to examine amino acids both within and outside the classic SE in dachshunds, a breed with reported susceptibility to IMPA in Japan. Genomewide association studies have linked positions 11, 13 and 71 with strong risk for human RA and important roles in antigen presentation to T cells. Sequence based genotyping of 16 case and 64 control dachshunds revealed strong associations comparable to human RA between IMPA risk and valine at position 11 (Val-11), phenylalanine at 13 (Phe-13), and arginine at 71 (Arg-71) on the dog leukocyte antigen (DLA)-DRB1 molecule (OR 2.89, 95%CI 1.3-6.4, p = 0.009), while association with the classic SE was significant only regarding homozygote frequency of the QRRAA haplotype-also carrying Val 11 and Phe 13 outside the SE (p = 0.04). Moreover, limited range in possible combinations of amino acids at positions 11, 13 and 71 starting with Val-11 among all DLA-DRB1 alleles registered with the GenBank and IPD-MHC canine databases, suggested potential of further single-breed analyses in dachshunds to clarify the disorder in terms of diagnosis, treatment, and epigenetic control, while clinical and immunopathogenetic similarities between human and dachshund RA also suggested the possibility of gaining insight into RA per se through study of canine IMPA as a spontaneous model of human RA.

AbstractBackgroundInformation regarding changes in renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) during cardiac remodeling after mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) in dogs remains lacking.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo assess the longitudinal effects of MVP on circulating RAAS activity.AnimalsEight client‐owned dogs receiving MVP for myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD).MethodsThis is a cohort study. Plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II (AT2), aldosterone (PAC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine concentrations, were measured in these dogs before (baseline) and at 3 consecutive monthly follow‐ups (Post‐1M, Post‐2M, Post‐3M). Echocardiography was concomitantly used to assess the process of cardiac recovery after MVP.ResultsThe echocardiography revealed a significant decrease in LVIDDN, LA/Ao, FS, E velocity, E/A, E′ sep, S′ lat, E′ lat, and A′ lat after MVP compared with baseline (P < .05). There was a significant reduction in the PRA (2.45, 3.05, 2.74 vs 8.8 ng/mL/h;P = .002), AT2 (466, 315, 235 vs 1200 pg/mL;P = .009), and PAC (39.88, 47, 54.62 vs 179.5 pg/mL;P = .01), respectively at Post‐1M, Post‐2M, Post‐3M compared to the baseline. Additionally, BUN and creatinine concentrations decreased from Post‐1M. The RAAS variables showed significant, weak to moderate, relationship with selected echocardiographic variables.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceMitral valvuloplasty contributes to decreased RAAS activity in MMVD dogs, which paralleled the process of cardiac reverse remodeling up to Post‐3M. This information facilitates formulating strategies to optimize clinical outcomes for dogs after MVP.

This report is the first to describe a case of canine metatarsal fistulation in a Shikoku dog. A male Japanese Shikoku (9 years old; weight, 18 kg) presented with an ulcer and hemorrhagic discharge from a fistula on the metatarsal region of the left hind leg. X-ray examination showed a normal foot structure and the absence of shadows that might suggest the presence of a foreign body in the metatarsal region of the left hind leg. Histological examination of a biopsy of the lesion revealed granulation tissue; with mild infiltration by lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes, but no apparent infectious microorganisms. Oral administration of prednisolone with cyclosporin was effective in treating this disease, which might have been immune mediated.

Canine chronic enteropathy (CE) is a group of immunogenetic disorders of unclear etiology characterized by chronic or recurrent gastrointestinal signs and inflammation. Diagnosis of CE subtypes by treatment response is a lengthy and challenging process, particularly in refractory cases of the disease. Given known association of dog leukocyte antigen (DLA) class II genotype and various immunogenetic disorders between and across breeds, this study was designed to examine the potential of determining susceptibility to refractory CE through identification of risk and protective genotypes in French bulldogs and miniature dachshunds & mdash;two popular dog breeds in Japan. Sequence-based genotyping of three DLA class II genes in 29 French bulldogs and 30 miniature dachshunds with refractory CE revealed a protective haplotype DLA-DRB1*002:01-DQA1*009:01-DQB1*001:01 against CE in French bulldogs (OR 0.09, 95 % CI 0.01-0.71, p = 0.0084). No statistical difference was noted between miniature dachshund cases and controls. These findings, largely disparate from a previous study on German shepherd dogs in the UK, were taken as possible indication of etiological differences in the refractory CE noted between and within breeds, and by extension, the potential of identifying such disease heterogeneity by DLA typing. The DLA-DQA1/DQB1 haplotype, protective against CE in our French bulldogs, has been reported as protective in various immune-mediated disorders such as Doberman hepatitis (Dyggve et al., 2011). Likewise, the DLA-DRB1*006:01 risk allele for Doberman hepatitis was noted in more French bulldogs with CE compared to controls, in line with reports on genotypes associated with both risk and protection being shared across various autoimmune diseases and breeds. These findings support an immunogenetic basis to the French bulldog-CE in our analysis, calling for further DLA studies working with larger samples and different breeds towards phenotypic clarification that may aid in early diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis through epigenetic approaches and breeding.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated in humans with portal hypertension (PH) associated with liver disease. However, involvement of RAAS in dogs with intrahepatic PH is not clear. To measure plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in dogs with PH (chronic hepatitis [CH] and primary hypoplasia of the portal vein [PHPV]), dogs with extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt (EH-CPSS), and healthy dogs and to determine whether the RAAS is activated in dogs with PH. Twenty-seven dogs with acquired portosystemic collaterals (APSCs; 15 dogs with CH, 12 dogs with PHPV), 9 dogs with EH-CPSS, and 10 healthy dogs. Retrospective study. Plasma renin activity and PAC were measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma renin activity was significantly higher in the CH group (median, 4.4 ng/mL/h) than in the EH-CPSS (median, 1.0 ng/mL/h; P < .01) and the healthy (median, 1.1 ng/mL/h; P < .01) groups. No significant differences were found between the PHPV group (median, 2.2 ng/mL/h) and other groups. Plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly higher in the CH (median, 111.0 pg/mL) and PHPV (median, 89.5 pg/mL) groups than in the EH-CPSS (median, 1.0 pg/mL; P  < .001, P  < .01, respectively) and healthy (median, 14.5 pg/mL; P  < .001, P  < .05, respectively) groups. Activation of the RAAS contributes to the pathophysiology of intrahepatic PH in dogs, suggesting that spironolactone may not only be effective for the treatment of ascites but also for the suppression of intrahepatic PH.

Cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) generates severe inflammatory reactions secondary to hemodilution and surgical stress. This study was conducted to evaluate whether modified ultrafiltration (MUF) could be performed safely and to clarify its effects during mitral valve repair in dogs in terms of hemodilution and the status of inflammatory cytokines. We retrospectively studied 38 dogs with mitral valve disease who underwent MUF immediately after mitral valve repair under CPB. To determine the effect of MUF, we measured the pre- and post-MUF blood dilution and blood cytokine levels. The levels of red blood cells, hematocrit (HCT), and albumin were significantly increased after MUF, whereas interleukin (IL)-6 levels were significantly increased from 24.3 (range 9.6-54.6) to 32.3 (15.9-65.1) pg/ml. The levels of IL-8 and IL-10 declined significantly after MUF, from 368.2 (246.1-669.4) and 45.4 (28.6-76.1) to 272.2 (174.1-414.4) and 28.8 (18.8-44.5) pg/ml, respectively. Our results demonstrated that MUF can be applied in dogs undergoing CPB and is effective in achieving hemoconcentration. Moreover, MUF may be useful for the removal of cytokines. Further studies are needed to validate these findings and clarify the effects of inflammatory cytokines after CPB.

Computed tomographic (CT) angiography, the gold standard for diagnosing portal vein thrombosis (PVT) in humans, is poorly documented in dogs. Therefore, we retrospectively reviewed dogs with PVT diagnosed by CT angiography. Medical records of 13 client-owned dogs diagnosed with PVT by CT angiography were reviewed. All dogs had chronic PVT, and the most frequent clinical sign was vomiting (5/13), with pancreatitis the most frequent concurrent disease (6/13). All dogs tested for plasma D-dimer concentration (12/12) revealed elevated levels. On CT angiography, a thrombus was detected as a non-contrast enhancement structure in the portal vessel of 13 dogs. There was no evidence of complete obstruction of the portal vein in any of the dogs. The median luminal filling of the portal vein was 60.4%. The thrombus extension was variable among dogs, with a median of 34.9 mm. CT angiography identified the thrombus in the main portal vein of 12/13 dogs and multiple thrombus formation other than the main portal vein in 9/13 dogs. CT angiography provided specific information such as detecting the presence, location, and number of PVT in dogs. Therefore, CT angiography might be useful for the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of PVT in dogs.

The medical records of 40 client-owned miniature dachshunds were reviewed to analyze the clinical features of miniature dachshunds with inflammatory colorectal polyps (ICRPs) and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of surgical treatment involving the mucosa-submucosal pull-through technique. All the dogs underwent a physical examination, digital rectal examination, complete blood count, serum chemistry, colonoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, surgical treatment (with the mucosa-submucosal pull-through technique), and postoperative care, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Typical clinical signs included hematochezia (100%), tenesmus (75%), and large intestinal diarrhea (70%). Colonoscopies revealed that the lesions were located only in the rectum in 18 cases (45%), involved the descending colon in 21 cases (52.5%), and involved the transverse colon in 1 case (2.5%). Endoscopic ultrasounds showed that the lesions were located within the mucosal layer in all dogs. The mucosa-submucosal pull-through technique was feasible in all cases without intraoperative complications. Short-term complications were observed; however, they rapidly resolved. No long-term complications were noted. Most dogs were prescribed NSAIDs and mesalazine for long-term postoperative medical management. The mortality rate was 0%; the recurrence rate was 12.5%. Our study described the clinical features of ICRPs in miniature dachshunds and revealed that the lesions were located in the mucosa-submucosal layer even in cases of adenocarcinoma. Our findings suggest the mucosa-submucosal pull-through technique improves the prognosis of miniature dachshunds with ICRPs.

AbstractBackgroundThe renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) is activated in humans with portal hypertension (PH) associated with liver disease. However, involvement of RAAS in dogs with intrahepatic PH is not clear.ObjectiveTo measure plasma renin activity (PRA) and plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in dogs with PH (chronic hepatitis [CH] and primary hypoplasia of the portal vein [PHPV]), dogs with extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunt (EH‐CPSS), and healthy dogs and to determine whether the RAAS is activated in dogs with PH.AnimalsTwenty‐seven dogs with acquired portosystemic collaterals (APSCs; 15 dogs with CH, 12 dogs with PHPV), 9 dogs with EH‐CPSS, and 10 healthy dogs.MethodsRetrospective study. Plasma renin activity and PAC were measured by radioimmunoassay.ResultsPlasma renin activity was significantly higher in the CH group (median, 4.4 ng/mL/h) than in the EH‐CPSS (median, 1.0 ng/mL/h; P < .01) and the healthy (median, 1.1 ng/mL/h; P < .01) groups. No significant differences were found between the PHPV group (median, 2.2 ng/mL/h) and other groups. Plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly higher in the CH (median, 111.0 pg/mL) and PHPV (median, 89.5 pg/mL) groups than in the EH‐CPSS (median, 1.0 pg/mL; P < .001, P < .01, respectively) and healthy (median, 14.5 pg/mL; P < .001, P < .05, respectively) groups.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceActivation of the RAAS contributes to the pathophysiology of intrahepatic PH in dogs, suggesting that spironolactone may not only be effective for the treatment of ascites but also for the suppression of intrahepatic PH.

9歳，未避妊雌の雑種犬が，3ヶ月前からの搔痒，脱毛，鱗屑，落屑，糜爛，色素沈着を主訴に来院した。皮膚病理組織検査，骨髄生検，脾臓・肝臓の針吸引細胞検査によりリンパ球の増加，末梢血の血球計算にて著しいリンパ球増多を認めた。各種検査の結果，リンパ球の腫瘍性増殖，その他疾患は確認できず，皮膚病変を伴うリンパ球増多症と診断した。抗生物質，抗真菌薬，食事療法，インターフェロン療法等には抵抗性を示したが，ステロイド療法により皮膚病変の寛解，及びリンパ球増多症の改善を得た。

OBJECTIVE To compare conventional MRI and nonenhanced 3-D time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings between dogs with meningioma and dogs with intracranial histiocytic sarcoma (IHS). DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 14 dogs with meningioma and 5 dogs with IHS. PROCEDURES Medical records of dogs with meningioma or IHS that were examined at a tertiary veterinary hospital from 2010 through 2014 and underwent 3-D TOF MRA in conjunction with conventional MRI were reviewed. Findings for conventional MRI and 3-D TOF MRA were compared between the 2 groups of dogs to evaluate whether there were any characteristics that could be used to differentiate meningioma from IHS. RESULTS Tumor type was significantly associated with signal intensity on conventional T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI images; most meningiomas were hyperintense, and most IHSs were isointense or hypointense on those images. Tumor type was not associated with signal uniformity, tumor location, tumor origin, or the presence of edema, midline shift, or brain herniation. On MRA, blood vessels adjacent to the tumor were identified and characterized for 9 of 14 dogs with meningioma and all 5 dogs with IHS. Vessels adjacent to meningiomas were displaced in 8 of 9 dogs, whereas vessels adjacent to IHSs were not displaced. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated nonenhanced 3-D TOF MRA findings provided additional information that can be assessed in conjunction with conventional MRI findings to help differentiate meningiomas from IHSs in dogs.

BACKGROUND:The etiology of canine chronic bronchitis (CB) is not completely understood, although exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the airway inflammatory responses in some dogs with CB. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.FINDINGS:We investigated the concentrations and methylation rates of free-floating DNA fragments in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from dogs with chronic bronchitis. Based on serum cotinine levels, dogs with CB were divided into 2 groups: dogs that either had or had not been exposed to ETS. Our results demonstrated that the total nucleated cell and macrophage numbers increased in BALF of ETS-exposed dogs with CB. There were no significant differences in DNA concentrations and methylation rates in BALF between the 2 groups. However, 3 out of 8 dogs exposed to ETS had high DNA methylation rates in their BALF samples.CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that ETS exposure leads to epigenetic modifications of cellular components in BALF in dogs diagnosed with CB.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gene expression of growth factors and growth factor receptors of primary hepatic masses, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and nodular hyperplasia (NH), in dogs. Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression of 18 genes in 18 HCCs, 10 NHs, 11 surrounding non-cancerous liver tissues and 4 healthy control liver tissues. Platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B), transforming growth factor-α, epidermal growth factor receptor, epidermal growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor were found to be differentially expressed in HCC compared with NH and the surrounding non-cancerous and healthy control liver tissues. PDGF-B is suggested to have the potential to become a valuable ancillary target for the treatment of canine HCC.

Canine chronic rhinitis (CR) and bronchitis (CB) are suspected to be allergic diseases. The present study tested whether dogs diagnosed with CR or CB present an atopic predisposition based on the ratio of CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)-positive cells among peripheral blood CD4-positive cells (CCR4/CD4) and the serum levels of allergen-specific IgE antibodies. We found that most dogs with CR and CB have a possibility of atopic predisposition, and macrolide therapy constitutes an alternative to corticosteroid therapy in controlling the clinical signs.

A disintegrin-like and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeat motifs 13 (ADAMTS13) is a von Willebrand factor (vWF)-cleaving protease. Deficiencies in ADAMTS13 activity are known to cause thrombotic diseases in human beings. The present study evaluated whether the human ADAMTS13 activity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit containing human vWF73 (a minimal substrate) and anti-N10 antibody (which specifically recognizes the decapeptide of the C-terminal edge of cleaved vWF by human ADAMTS13) is applicable to the measurement of canine plasma ADAMTS13 activity. Human vWF73 fused with a GST-tag and a His-tag (GST-hvWF73-His) was reacted with recombinant canine (rc)ADAMTS13, canine plasma, and human plasma, and then used in Western blotting using anti-N10 antibody. Linearity and intra- and interassay reproducibility of the human ADAMTS13 activity ELISA kit in canine plasma were further evaluated. Finally, plasma ADAMTS13 activity was measured in 13 healthy dogs and 6 dogs with bacteremia using the human ADAMTS13 activity ELISA kit. Cleaved products with a 28-kDa GST-hvWF73-His were detected specifically in rcADAMTS13 as well as in human ADAMTS13, and also in canine plasma by anti-N10 antibody, showing excellent linearity. Intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was 3.0-12.4%, and interassay CV was 11.5-12.5%. The ADAMTS13 activity was significantly lower in dogs with bacteremia than in healthy dogs (P = 0.0025). The current study revealed that the human ADAMTS13 activity ELISA kit is applicable for measurement of canine plasma ADAMTS13 activity to elucidate the pathology of thrombotic diseases in dogs.

Canine peritoneal larval cestodiasis (CPLC) is an unusual parasitic disease in dogs that is caused by asexual proliferation of larval Mesocestoides. A 12 year-old spayed Shetland sheepdog with abdominal distension was referred to the Animal Medical Center at Nihon University, Japan. The presence of ascites was confirmed by abdominal ultrasonography and X-ray imaging. In addition, a number of parasites were observed in the ascitic fluid collected by abdominal paracentesis. Each of the whitish colored parasites was less than 1mm in size. The parasites were morphologically identified as Mesocestoides sp. tetrathyridia. The parasites had four suckers and calcareous corpuscles, but no hooks or rostellum. Mitochondrial (mt) 12S rDNA and mt cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 DNA amplified from the tetrathyridia were used for molecular identification to species level. DNA sequence analysis showed that the tetrathyridia shared more than 99% identity with M. vogae (syn. M. corti) for each gene. The patient was treated with a standard dose (5mg/kg) of praziquantel, which was administered subcutaneously twice at an interval of 14 days. This resulted in successful deworming. This is the first case that CPLC was diagnosed in a dog that had never been taken outside of Japan, indicating that M. vogae is distributed in this country.