2016 - 85 (1)

De intensivering van de moderne landbouw wordt geassocieerd met een toename van Clostridiumperfringens-gerelateerde, gastro-intestinale problemen bij intensief gevoede runderen,zoals “hemorrhagic bowel disease” bij hoogproductief melkvee en enterotoxemie bij kalveren.Waar de pathogenese van hemorrhagic bowel disease nog grotendeels ongekend is, werdener de laatste jaren nieuwe inzichten in de pathogenese van enterotoxemie bekomen die eenbelangrijke repercussie op de aanpak van deze ziekte onder praktijkomstandigheden hebben.Ook andere clostridiumgeassocieerde maagdarminfecties, zoals “overeating disease” enneonatale clostridiose, worden regelmatig gediagnosticeerd. Overvoedering met structuurarme,eiwitrijke voeders is een overkoepelende risicofactor bij zowel HBD, enterotoxemie als overeatingdisease. Een goed uitgebalanceerd dieet dat zo stabiel mogelijk gehouden wordt, is dan ook hetbelangrijkste aandachtspunt op bedrijven die problemen hebben met clostridiose. Daarnaastdient bij jonge kalveren voldoende aandacht gegeven te worden aan een correcte en hygiënischebiestverstrekking om problemen met neonatale clostridiose te vermijden.

In a recent article from China, a transferable resistance mechanism has been described in Escherichiacoli (E. coli), isolated from food-producing animals, meat and hospital patients (Liu et al., 2015).Recently, this resistance mechanism has also been found in Denmark, France, the United Kingdom andBelgium. Colistin is considered as one of the last resort treatments against multi-resistant bacteria inhuman medicine, especially for patients with cystic fibrosis. Alertness is needed and the new resistancemechanism has to be detected properly in animal and human related bacteria.

A 14-year-old, female, spayed Domestic Shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of a darkred mass occupying about 75% of the cornea of the left eye. Furthermore, the eye presented uppereyelid trichiasis, lower eyelid entropion and a marked symblepharon. The fellow eye presentedupper eyelid trichiasis, lower eyelid entropion, extensive symblepharon and chronic stromalulcerative keratitis. Based on the results of a corneal biopsy of the left eye, a corneal squamouscell carcinoma was diagnosed and an enucleation was performed subsequently. Histopathologyof the globe revealed the presence of variably sized, vascular-like, blood-filled channels in thesuperficial corneal stroma, lined by spindle cells. In the central cornea, a markedly hyperplasticepithelium was noticed with infiltration of atypical corneal epithelial cells into the superficialstroma. A primary corneal hemangiosarcoma associated with a primary corneal squamous cellcarcinoma was diagnosed. In this case report, the rare presence of multiple primary neoplasmswithin the same anatomical structure is described.

Two male Golden retrievers, each one about ten years old, were presented with a visible mass inthe nose, showing symptoms of sneezing and epistaxis. The histopathological examination of biopsiesindicated that both dogs were affected by a squamous cell carcinoma. Further staging did not revealany indications for metastases. Surgical removal of the tumor through a planectomy or nosectomy wasproposed. Since the classical removal of the nose was cosmetically unacceptable for the owners of bothdogs, a rostral nose reconstruction was opted for in both cases. As the tumor in the first dog was rathersuperficial, resection of the cartilaginous part of the nose (planectomy) turned out to be sufficient. Inthe second dog however, there was also evidence of bony involvement. Therefore, not only the nosebut also the os incisiva was removed (nosectomy). In both cases, remission of the tumor was obtainedafter a 35 and 29 months follow-up, respectively, accompanied by an excellent cosmetic result.

A new technique, mini-FLOTAC, has recently been developed for the microscopic diagnosis of infectionswith gastro-intestinal nematodes in domestic animals. In this comparative study of diagnostictechniques, the mini-FLOTAC technique was compared to the commonly used McMaster techniquefor the detection and quantification of gastro-intestinal parasites in livestock as well as for the evaluationof the time needed to perform the assays. One hundred fecal samples (78 horses, 11 bovines, 6sheep and 5 goats) were examined with both the mini-FLOTAC and McMaster technique. This revealedthat more infections with gastro-intestinal parasites could be diagnosed with the mini-FLOTACtechnique than with the McMaster technique, but the comparative study also showed a very high correlation(correlation coefficient = 0.90, p < 0.001) between both techniques regarding the number ofeggs per gram feces (EPG) detected. The time needed to examine the samples with the mini-FLOTACtechnique (13 minutes) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the time needed with the McMastertechnique (6 minutes). This difference in time also depended on the observed EPG value, as with highEPG values, the difference in time between both techniques increased even more. In conclusion, themini-FLOTAC technique can be preferred when an accurate diagnosis of a low infection level is necessary,e.g. to detect anthelmintic resistance. In other circumstances, the faster McMaster technique canbe considered as the preferable technique.

Flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint is an important disorder in horses,which can be acquired during the first year of life, often as a result of lateralization duringgrazing. In this retrospective study, the medical files of 51 cases presented at the Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine of Ghent University (1999-2013) were analyzed, followed by a telephonequestionnaire. In 65% of the conservatively treated patients, the hoof conformation correctedcompletely, which was not significantly different from what was seen in the surgically treatedgroup (complete correction in 56% of cases). Foals treated conservatively before the age of sixmonths and foals treated surgically before twelve months of age, had a significantly better chanceof a successful correction than older foals. Moreover, cases in which treatment did not restore thehoof conformation completely, presented a significantly higher chance of (persisting) lamenessand were significantly less likely to have an athletic career. Finally, this study proved a significantassociation between the hoof conformation of the dam and her foals.

Polytetrafluoroethylene is a unique polymer, which is very present in daily life, and is commonlyknown as Teflon®. When thermal degradation takes place, toxic gasses and ultrafine particles appear, andmay cause intoxication both in humans and animals. The composition and toxicity of these degradationproducts depend on the specific conditions at the moment of breakdown. The clinical symptoms andinjuries differ greatly between species. Birds appear to be very sensitive, and intoxication mostlyresults in sudden death. The main source of polytetrafluoroethylene intoxication in pet birds, is theheating of non-stick cookware in the kitchen. As the diagnosis and treatment often come too late, theemphasis must lay on prevention.