Nickel is a nutritionally essential trace element that plays an important role in the immune system of several animal species. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of nickel chloride on chemotactic activity of peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and whether this effect is associated with interleukin (IL)-8 and a nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-dependent pathway. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and PMNs were isolated by Percoll solution (Specific gravity; 1.080) and 1.5% dextran treatment, respectively. A modified Boyden chamber assay was used to measure the chemotactic activity of PMNs. The level of IL-8 in culture supernatant from PBMCs was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Both of PBMCs and PMNs exhibited a low viability when cultured with concentration of greater than 1,000 μM of nickel chloride for 24 h. Thus, nickel chloride was used at concentration of 500 μM, which preserved cell viability. Treatment with nickel did not directly affect the chemotactic activity of PMNs. However, the chemotactic activity of PMNs was remarkably increased by culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with nickel chloride (500 μM) for 24 h. Recombinant porcine IL-8 polyclonal antibody (pAb) neutralized the enhancing effect on the chemotactic activity of PMNs by culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with nickel and this culture supernatant had higher IL-8 levels than the culture supernatant from untreated PBMCs. In addition, n-tosyll-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK), a NF-κB inhibitor, antagonized the enhancing effect on the chemotactic activity of PMNs by the culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with nickel. These results suggested that nickel stimulates porcine PBMCs to produce IL-8, which increases the chemotaxis of PMNs via NF-κB-dependent pathway.

The purpose of this study is to identify clinical features of sound (non-lame) dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL). Medical records of 72 dogs diagnosed with MPL were retrospectively reviewed. There were no significances in breed, sex, body weight, body condition score (BCS), osteoarthritis (OA) score, inclination of the femoral head angle (IFA), and mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) between sound and lame dogs, respectively. The mean age of sound dogs was significantly higher than that of lame dogs (P < 0.05), especially in MPL grade 3. The frequency of sound dogs with MPL grade 1 and 2 was 2.3 times higher than that of sound dogs with MPL grade 3 and 4 (P < 0.05). The anatomical lateral distal femoral angle (aLDFA) of sound dogs was significantly lower than that of lame dogs (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistical differences in aLDFA between sound and lame dogs in MPL grade 1, 2, and 4, except for MPL grade 3. This study suggests that in case of MPL grade 1 and 2, frequency of sound dogs is significantly high, and also that in MPL grade 3, if mean ± (standard deviation) age of the dogs is 7.4 ± 3.6 years old and the aLDFA is 105.6 ± 4.1 degrees, they are very highly possible to be sound dogs.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of autoligation techniques for castrating healthy male small breed dogs. Forty dogs were divided into four groups, with 10 in each group, based on maturity and the surgical technique used: 1) immature dogs aged less than 1 year, with autoligation of the spermatic cord via a scrotal approach (SAL) as the surgical technique (SAL-IM); 2) mature dogs aged 1 year or older, with the same SAL surgical technique (SAL-M); 3) immature dogs aged less than 1 year, with double ligation of the spermatic cord with an absorbable suture via a prescrotal approach (PDL) as the surgical technique (PDL-IM); and 4) mature dogs aged 1 year or older, with the same PDL surgical technique (PDL-M). The effectiveness of the surgical technique was evaluated by comparing the operating time and complications between these four groups. The significant decreases in operating times were found in SAL-IM and SAL-M compared with those of PDL-IM and PDL-M (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01). Regardless of maturity, the SAL surgical technique reduced operating time by approximately 69.5% compared with the PDL surgical technique. When the complication severities were scored, the results showed no significant differences among the four group. The autoligation technique for castration in healthy male small breed dogs is considered to be effective because the operating time consuming is less than conventional techniques.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the azygos vein to aorta diameter ratio (AV/AO ratio) in healthy dogs and dogs with diseases that may cause azygos vein dilation. The normal groups included eleven healthy beagle dogs and eleven small breed dogs. The abnormal group included 43 dogs that had diseases with high right atrial pressure (RA group), obstruction of cranial or caudal vena cava (CVC group) and porto-azygos shunt group (PSS group). The diameter of AV and AO were measured at three sites on thoracic CT images; the level of the cranial endplate of 12^th thoracic vertebra (TV level), the tracheal bifurcation (TB level) and the insertion to the cranial vena cava (CrVC level). The AV/AO ratio at the CrVC level had significantly higher values than those at the TV and TB levels in the normal groups. The AV/AO ratios of TV and TB levels in the CVC group and the values at all measurement sites of the PSS group were significantly higher than the normal groups. AV/AO ratio will be a useful factor for the evaluation of various clinical conditions that change the AV diameter with respect independent to the body weight in dogs.

A one year old spayed female Bichon Frise dog presented with gait abnormalities and seizure. Serum biochemical results showed elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, and ammonia. Serum bile acid level was also increased to be over 30 μmol/L on preprandial. Urinalysis identified the presence of ammonium urate crystal. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT revealed aberrant, tortuous, and multiple small vessels connected to the caudal vena cava between left kidney and caudal vena cava. Macroscopic specific findings associated with extrahepatic congenital portosystemic shunts (PSS) or other liver diseases were not identified. Liver biopsy was performed. Histopathologic evaluation revealed hepatic lobular hypoplasia with portal arterial duplication and vascular shunts. Based on these finding, this case was diagnosed as multiple acquired PSS secondary to hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMD) and hepatic encephalopathy. A liver biopsy is recommended to differentiate HMD from other liver diseases and to confirm HMD when a young dog has multiple acquired PSS.

A 13-year-old, intact male, Yorkshire terrier dog with oliguria and hematuria was presented to the Small Animal Clinic at the Gyeongsang National University animal medical center. There were no remarkable findings on serum chemistry values and complete blood counts. Abdominal radiographs revealed mild elevation of the descending colon at the pelvic level. On the excretory urographic images, a large filling defect was identified in urinary bladder with narrow urinary bladder wall contact and there were no remarkable findings in kidneys and ureters. The abdominal ultrasonography revealed that an irregularly marginated, heterogeneous mass in urinary bladder, central cavitary lesion and mild vascular flow were also observed. Computed tomography showed a heterogeneously attenuated mass within urinary bladder. The mass was surgically excised, and leiomyosarcoma was confirmed by histopathological examination. The patient was followed up for two months and there were no complications. This case is of interest because of the unusual findings of leiomyosarcoma of urinary bladder in a small breed dog.

An 11-year-old female Yorkshire terrier presented with alopecia, hyperpigmentation, and pruritus. Dermatological examination revealed a large number of Demodex mites including D. cornei and D. canis. Mean length of total body length of D. cornei was one third shorter than that of D. canis. In addition, sequential analysis of DNA extracted from the skin lesions showed a 97% and 99% identity with the two sequences of D. canis and D. cornei. This is the first report of a combined infestation of D. cornei and D. canis in Korea, along with its morphological and molecular characterization.

A 9-month-old, 11.3 kg, intact, male, mixed-breed dog was referred for treatment of cor triatriatum dexter (CTD); a 5-month-old, 1.9 kg, intact, male Maltese for pulmonic stenosis (PS); and a 3-year-old, 6.62 kg, intact, female West Highland white terrier for esophageal stricture with regurgitation. A balloon catheter intervention was performed in the dog with CTD, and subsequent color Doppler ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound showed normal blood flow across the perforated membrane dividing the right atrium and the disappearance of the severe ascites present before treatment. Balloon catheter intervention in the dog with PS reduced the blood flow through the stenosis from 5.82 m/s to 3.97 m/s. In the dog with esophageal stricture, balloon catheter intervention widened the esophagus and no subsequent regurgitation was observed. Balloon catheter intervention is an interventional radiology procedure that represents a definitive treatment option for various stenotic lesions in dogs, including CTD, PS, and esophageal stricture. Although interventional radiology procedures for these diseases have already been reported, details of procedures and successful outcome have not been reported in Korea.

An eight-month-old, outdoor, intact male English Pointer dog weighing 23.5 kg presented to the hospital with signs of hematochezia, soft stools, and weight-loss. There were no remarkable findings on physical examination, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, electrolyte and gas analysis, and radiography. The serologic and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests for canine parvovirus were negative. A fecal smear examination showed rod-shaped, sporeforming bacteria. Additionally, a fecal flotation test showed ova of Ancylostoma spp. The size of ova was 60 × 40 ㎛, and it was identified as Ancylostoma caninum using light microscopy. The PCR test indicated a Clostridial perfringens infection and the presence of C. perfringens alpha toxin. The diagnosis given was C. perfringens enterotoxicosis with ancylostomiasis. Treatment included antibiotics (metronidazole, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) and anthelmintics (afoxolaner, milbemycin oxime). After two weeks, the clostridial infection resolved, but ancylostomiasis persisted for six weeks. The anthelmintic was changed to Drontal^â plus (praziquantel/pyrantel pamoate/febantel). After four weeks, there were no remarkable findings in the fecal samples, but the patient still presented with watery stools and hematochezia. Survey of abdominal ultrasound had performed, and a target-like sign with multiple rings was seen in the cecocolic region. The patient was diagnosed with A. caninum-induced cecocolic intussusception from the history and clinical signs. After a surgery, he recovered fully. This is the first clinical case report of Ancylostoma caninum parasitizing from the small intestine and causing an intussusception in the large intestine.

A 5-year-old female lion-head rabbit weighing 2 kg was brought to a local animal hospital with hematuria. Radiography showed a mass in the uterus, which was removed by ovariohysterectomy. Macroscopic examination showed several masses in both uterine horns. These masses, which invaded the deep uterine walls, were firm to the touch, and their cut surfaces were greyish-white in color. Histopathologically, these masses were nonencapsulated and were composed of spindle cells arranged in cellular, large interlacing bundles or streams. The tumor cells had elongate nuclei with prominent nucleoli, granular chromatin and eosinophilic cytoplasm. Moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis were observed. Severe and extensive inflammation and necrosis were present within the masses. Immunohistochemically, the neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin, desmin, and α-smooth muscle actin, but negative for cytokeratin. These uterine masses were diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a uterine leiomyosarcoma in the rabbit in Korea.