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Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the spinal cord. The diagnosis is based on the observation of clinical signs, genetic testing, and exclusion of other spinal cord diseases, and a definitive diagnosis of DM can only be confirmed by postmortem histopathological findings. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic ability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for DM. Eight DM-affected Pembroke Welsh Corgis, thirteen dogs with thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (IVDH), and six healthy control dogs were included. All dogs were scanned using a 3.0-T MRI system. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values were calculated for each intervertebral disk level slice between T8-T9 and L2-L3 intervertebral disk levels, and the entire area of the thoracolumbar spinal cord between T8-T9 and L2-L3 intervertebral disk levels (T8-L3 region). The ADC and FA values of the T8-L3 region were significantly lower in the DM group than in the IVDH group. The ADC values for the T8-L3 region had a moderate negative correlation with clinical duration (rs= -0.723, P=0.043); however, the FA values of other intervertebral disk levels and T8-L3 region had no correlation with clinical durations. The measurement of DTI indices can be used to quantitatively assess neurodegeneration and may have diagnostic value for DM. In particular, the ADC value of the T8-L3 region may aid in making a non-invasive premortem diagnosis of DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) contributes to cell homing to lymph nodes (LNs). Recent studies reported that CCR7 is also expressed in tumor cells, which correlates with LN metastasis in various cancers. However, the expression of CCR7 in tumor cells is unknown in dogs due to the lack of appropriate antibodies. In the present study, a fusion protein of C-C chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) was employed as an alternative method to CCR7 antibodies. The fusion CCL19 protein specifically detected CCR7 expressed in canine lymphoma cell lines, which showed active chemotaxis to both canine and mouse ligands. The present study will help further research on the involvement of canine CCR7 in LN metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In human erythema multiforme (EM), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play an essential role in the pathogenesis. In canine EM, immunohistochemical staining with anti-CD8 antibody using frozen sections has shown the involvement of CTLs; however, CTL infiltration has never been quantitatively analyzed. We herein quantitatively analyzed CTL infiltration by immunohistochemical staining with granzyme B and CD3 antibodies using paraffin sections of a dog with EM associated with zonisamide. The present results indicated approximately 70% of cells at the border between the epidermis and dermis consisted of CTLs. Detection of granzyme B and CD3 using paraffin sections employed in this study can be a clinically applicable method for detecting CTLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A 9-year-old neutered male Wire Fox Terrier presented with an 1-month history of hindlimb paresis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a contrast-enhanced mass at the level of the L2 vertebral canal. The dog became paraplegic with no deep perception of the hindlimbs, and the mass was surgically removed. The histopathological diagnosis was of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). The dog suffered a relapse of right hindlimb ataxia at 225 days after the surgery. The dog died 434 days after the surgery. Necropsy found a large mass in the abdominal cavity invading from the L2-nerve. This is the first report of MPNST invading the abdominal cavity through the nerve root. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Thoracolumbar intervertebral disk herniation (TL-IVDH) with caudal articular process anomalies has been reported in Pugs. It currently remains unclear whether congenital caudal articular process aplasia/hypoplasia predisposes to the development of TL-IVDH. However, there are difficulties in proving the causal relationship between caudal articular process anomalies and TL-IVDH. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of TL-IVDH at the vertebral space containing anomalous and normal caudal articular processes in Pugs. Fifty-seven pugs were eligible to be included in this study. Caudal articular process aplasia/hypoplasia affected 52/57 (91.2%) dogs. The caudal articular process anomalies were most frequently located between T10 and T13. Colocalization of caudal articular process aplasia/hypoplasia and TL-IVDH was detected in 11 dogs (19.3%). The prevalence of TL-IVDH at vertebral spaces containing abnormal caudal articular processes was 12.3%, whereas the prevalence of TL-IVDH at vertebral spaces containing normal articular processes was 2.4%. With the increase in the number of vertebrae with caudal articular process anomalies, the prevalence of TL-IVDH also increased. The results of this study suggested the prevalence of caudal articular process anomalies was high in Pugs. The caudal articular process anomalies could be associated with TL-IVDH. A large cohort is needed to prove the causal relationship between caudal articular process anomalies and TL-IVDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A 4-year-old male Toy Poodle was presented with a history of status epilepticus. On presentation, neurological examination revealed a delay in postural reactions in the right pelvic limb. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a fluid-containing cystic lesion that compressed the mesencephalon, hippocampus, and amygdala. The cyst was surgically removed via left rostrotentorial craniotomy. The final diagnosis was an intracranial ectopic choroid plexus cyst. The patient has remained free of seizures for 18 months after surgery. This is the first case report of an intracranial ectopic choroid plexus cyst that was surgically removed in a dog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A 4-year-old, male Bernese mountain dog was evaluated for a 1-year history of right hemiparesis. Computed tomography revealed a large hypoattenuating mass severely deforming the C5 vertebral arch, invading the C6 spinal canal, and causing spinal cord compression. The signal characteristics of magnetic resonance imaging indicated a lesion composed of adipose tissue. The mass was removed via right hemilaminectomy, and histopathological examination confirmed it was an infiltrative lipoma. The compressive lesion remained unresolved, so the dog underwent a second operation, after which he regained some ambulatory function. Although postoperative adjunctive radiation therapy was performed, the dog died 201 days after the first operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A 7-year-old cat was referred with pelvic limb ataxia. Radiography and CT revealed bone resorption of the L1 vertebral arch, and myelography identified a compressive extradural lesion. The mass was surgically removed and histopathologically diagnosed as giant cell osteosarcoma. Three years later, the recurrent tumor resection and vertebral fixation were performed. Six months later, vertebrectomy was performed to radically excise the recurrent mass and a titanium spinal cage was placed. The cat is alive approximately 5 years after the first surgery. This case report describes vertebrectomy and vertebral body replacement as a radical treatment for feline vertebral osteosarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is characterized by progressive degeneration of the spinal cord. Although atrophic changes in the intercostal muscles were previously reported in the late stage of DM in Pembroke Welsh Corgis (PWCs), changes in respiratory function have not yet been examined. In the present study, we performed an arterial blood gas analysis and measured respiratory movements over progressive disease stages to document changes in respiratory function in DM-affected PWCs. We found that respiratory dysfunction progressed during the later stages of DM and correlated with a change in respiratory movement to the abdominal breathing pattern. These results suggested that hypoventilation occurred due to dysfunctional changes in the intercostal muscles and resulted in hypoxemia in the later stages of DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article presents a study on the role of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) as a diagnostic biomarker in canine progressive myelomalacia. It discusses the increase in levels of GFAP in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, the collection of serum specimens and the sensitivity and specificity of the GFAP to progressive myelomalacia. more...

The article deals with a study about canine degenerative myelopathy, an adult-onset, progressive neurodegenerative disease that occurs in multiple dog breeds. Topics discussed include a preliminary genotyping survey that was performed on 122 randomly selected Pembroke Welsh Corgis in Japan, and genotyping assays that use conventional and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. more...

The article presents a study on the clinical effects of bovine lactoferrin on two canine littermates, 1 female and 1 male, with familial neutrophil dysfunction, and investigates their genetic background. It explains the possibility of abnormal clinical signs being linked to neutrophil dysfunction in the colony, and the mother dog of such cases being the genetic carrier of such disturbance. A table showing the findings of hematological and physical tests in the male dog is presented. more...

The article discusses a study which examined the effects of Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) on granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) production in a canine keratinocyte cell line. Topics discussed include the emphasis on the epicutaneous sensitization with house dust mite (HDM) allergens, suppression of the GM-CSF production by adding a cysteine protease inhibitor and the conclusion that cysteine protease-derived Der f may initiate allergic inflammation. more...

The article explores the case of a 12-week-old female Wire-haired miniature dachshund diagnosed with Dandy-Walker-Like Syndrome. The clinical presentation and the medical history of the dog are explored, as well as the findings of the various diagnostic tests performed including cranial nerve examination and computer tomography. Also mentioned is the presentation of DWS in humans and animals, including multiple breeds of dogs. more...