Comparison of quantitative immunoturbidimetric and semiquantitative latex-agglutination assays for D-dimer measurement in canine plasma.

Background: D-dimer measurement in dogs is considered the most reliable test for detecting disseminated intravascular coagulation or thromboembolism.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to compare 2 D-dimer assays, a quantitative immunoturbidimetric and a semiquantitative latex agglutination assay, and to assess the effect of hemolysis and storage conditions on D-dimer concentration using the quantitative assay.

Methods: The immunoturbidimetric assay was validated using canine citrated plasma samples containing different concentrations of D-dimer.

Construction of networks with intrinsic temporal structure from UK cattle movement data.

Background: The implementation of national systems for recording the movements of cattle between agricultural holdings in the UK has enabled the development and parameterisation of network-based models for disease spread. These data can be used to form a network in which each cattle-holding location is represented by a single node and links between nodes are formed if there is a movement of cattle between them in the time period selected. However, this approach loses information on the time sequence of events thus reducing the accuracy of model predictions.

Prevalence of feline cataract: results of a cross-sectional study of 2000 normal animals, 50 cats with diabetes and one hundred cats following dehydrational crises.

Objective: In this study 2000 normal cats, 50 cats with diabetes and 100 cats with a history of dehydrational crises were examined ophthalmoscopically to determine presence of cataract.

Materials And Methods: The cats examined were predominantly from veterinary hospital populations but also from re-homing facilities and breeding catteries. Prevalence of cataract was determined for different age groups (year cohorts).

Dynamics of bacterial growth and distribution within the liver during Salmonella infection.

Salmonella enterica causes severe systemic diseases in humans and animals and grows intracellularly within discrete tissue foci that become pathological lesions. Because of its lifestyle Salmonella is a superb model for studying the in vivo dynamics of bacterial distribution. Using multicolour fluorescence microscopy in the mouse typhoid model we have studied the interaction between different bacterial populations in the same host as well as the dynamic evolution of foci of infection in relation to bacterial growth and localization.

Diagnostic and hematologic features of probable essential thrombocythemia in two dogs.

The clinical and hematologic features of two cases of probable essential thrombocythemia in the dog are described. Both dogs presented with hepatosplenomegaly, severe nonregenerative anemia, neutrophilia and Thrombocytosis. Mean platelet volume and percentages of large platelets were markedly increased in both dogs.