2014 - 83 (6)

The epididymis and vas deferens store an important number of fertile spermatozoa called theextragonadal sperm reserves. These stored spermatozoa can be collected in an ultimate attemptto preserve viable spermatozoa of a critically ill or dying stallion. Epididymides are collectedvia routine castration. After cooled transport of the testicles and epididymides, spermatozoa arecollected either by retrograde flushing or by the float-up method. Retrograde flushing usuallyresults in a much higher sperm yield and is considered the method of choice. Epididymal spermatozoacan be frozen using standard freezing protocols.

The Sterycat project is a scientific study financed by the Federal Public Service of Public Health,Food Chain Safety and Environment, in which the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine collaborated withseventeen Flemish animal shelters, to investigate the effect of prepubertal gonadectomy on the healthand behavior of cats. To be able to efficiently integrate prepubertal gonadectomy of shelter cats ingovernmental policy, it is important to know the opinion on this topic of people in the field. For thispurpose, at the end of the Sterycat project, a survey (16 questions, 70 copies in total) was distributedamong shelter veterinarians and staff workers of the participating shelters.Thirty-five individuals completed the survey (10 shelter veterinarians, 25 staff workers). The majorityof them (85%) were in favor of continuing prepubertal gonadectomy in shelter cats after theSterycat project had ended. However, some respondents were concerned about potential complicationsdue to the procedure (58%) and about viral disease outbreaks (72%). Whether prepubertal gonadectomycould be implemented successfully seemed to be dependent upon the financial feasibility andthe development of a framework to prevent income loss for non-shelter veterinarians.Rest of the abstract:cf. full text

 In this report, a clinical case of dietary hyperthyroidism in a dog is described. An elevenmonth-old, male, intact Rottweiler was presented because of panting, weight loss and increasedserum total thyroxine concentration. A complete history revealed that the dog was fed a boneand raw food diet, which made dietary induced hyperthyroidism very likely. Other possible differentialswere excluded after a thorough diagnostic work-up. Finally, after changing towardsa traditional commercial maintenance diet, the clinical symptoms resolved and thyroid bloodvalues normalized. In every dog with an increased serum total thyroxine concentration, with orwithout clinical signs of hyperthyroidism, a thorough dietary history should be obtained. Ownersshould be informed that raw food diets tend to be nutritionally imbalanced, carry the riskof bacterial contamination, and have other safety problems. Therefore, veterinarians shouldrecommend against feeding these diets. 

A one-month-old Belgian blue bull calf was referred to the animal hospital of the Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine (UGhent) because of the sudden onset of severe colic. The animal showedintermittent recumbency, kicking to the abdomen, abdominal distension of the right quadrants,absence of feces and fluid-splashing and the presence of ping sounds on auscultation of the rightside. Abdominal ultrasound showed distended, but still contractile small intestines with thickenedwalls. On exploratory laparotomy, a complete obstruction with adult Toxocara vitulorumextending from duodenum to mid-jejunum was diagnosed. On the punctum maximum of theobstruction, the ascarides were partially removed through an enterotomy. After vermifugationwith doramectin, ascarides were found in the animal’s feces in the next days. In contrast to ascarideinfections in puppies, piglets and foals, to the author’s knowledge, intestinal obstructioncaused by T. vitulorum has not been described previously in calves.

Ultrasound revealed the presence of three coelomic masses and a nodular aspect of the liver in a threeyear-old, male bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) with anorexia. Histological examination revealedneoplastic cells consistent with a neuroendocrine origin and gastroscopy demonstrated the presence ofan ulcerative gastric lesion. Based on these findings, the presumptive diagnosis of neoplasia consistentwith a gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma with multiple metastatic implants was made. Necropsy andsubsequent histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a gastric neuroendocrine carcinoma. Inthe present report, the occurrence of gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas in bearded dragons, presumablya highly underdiagnosed neoplastic disorder in this lizard species, is emphasized.

Cetaceans descend from land mammals. Consequently, their hearing apparatus basically consistsof the same anatomical components. Whales, as land mammals, feature an outer, middle and inner ear.However, these structures show strong evolutionary adaptations to underwater hearing. In addition,other morphological elements, such as the mandibles and the associated acoustic fat, have acquired anacoustical function in the propagation of sound waves to the middle ear. The original function of otherstructures such as the external auditory canal is therefore questioned. How cetaceans hear is not yetfully understood. However, it is essential to clarify this in order to assess the impact of anthropogenicunderwater sound, since high-energy underwater sound may lead to physical trauma and hearing loss,physiological stress and behavioral changes. In this study, the external ear canal of a white-beakeddolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) and a common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) aredescribed and compared based on histological cross sections. These external ear canals seemed rudimentary,with a small to absent lumen. However, the blood supply, well-developed muscles, activeglands and numerous nerve fibres could indicate some functionality. Moreover, the presence of numerousstructures with a morphological similarity to lamellar corpuscles also could advert to a functionalstructure. Although the function of these potential mechanoreceptors is not known, they could play apart in pressure perception in these diving mammals.

 Canine recurrent flank alopecia is a non-inflammatory, non-scarring alopecia of unknownetiology and has a visually striking clinical presentation. Although this disease entity is relativelycommon in the northern hemisphere, there is only scant information in the literature regardingcase descriptions. The aim of this article was to review the literature and to describe clinicalpresentations recognized in practice, which are not always extensively documented in theliterature.