Capillaria plica (syn. Pearsonema plica) infection in a dog with chronic pollakiuria: challenges in the diagnosis and treatment.

Capillaria plica (syn. Pearsonema plica) is a nematode parasite of the urinary tract of canids, felids and mustelids, which can cause cystitis, pollakiuria, dysuria and hematuria. An eight-month-old female crossbred dog from Switzerland presented a six-month history of frequent urination.

Ectopic ureters in dogs: clinical features, surgical techniques and outcome.

Objective: To compare clinical features of ectopic ureter (EU) in male and female dogs and outcome after neoureterostomy with resection restricted to the intravesical part of the ureter for intramural ectopic ureter (iEU) or of ureteroneocystostomy for extramural ectopic ureter (eEU).

Study Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: Female dogs (n = 26) with 32 iEU and 8 eEU; male dogs (n = 24) with 25 iEU and 18 eEU.

Spaying-induced coat changes: the role of gonadotropins, GnRH and GnRH treatment on the hair cycle of female dogs.

Although spaying can result in qualitative hair coat changes in dogs, the influence of spaying on the hair growth cycle has never been described. The study aims were to examine the effect of spaying and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment on canine hair coat, cycle stages of hair follicles, plasma gonadotropin concentrations and mRNA transcription of luteinizing hormone (LH) and GnRH receptors in hair follicles. Fifteen female dogs were examined before and 1 year after spaying and 24 spayed dogs before and after GnRH treatment.

Urodynamic parameters and plasma LH/FSH in spayed Beagle bitches before and 8 weeks after GnRH depot analogue treatment.

The pathophysiology of urinary incontinence due to spaying remains unknown. Incontinent bitches can be treated successfully with depot preparations of GnRH-analogues and there are differences in plasma gonadotropin levels between continent and incontinent spayed bitches. It is therefore assumed that the supraordinated hormones, GnRH, FSH, and/or LH, have an effect on the urodynamic parameters.

Immunohistochemical localization and quantitative assessment of GnRH-, FSH-, and LH-receptor mRNA Expression in canine skin: a powerful tool to study the pathogenesis of side effects after spaying.

It has been proposed that gonadotropins and/or gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) could be involved in the pathophysiology of the side effects after spaying in bitches, such as urinary incontinence and an increased production of a woolly undercoat. In order to provide tools to investigate the role of these hormones in dogs we developed immunohistochemical techniques and real-time RT-PCR to study whether GnRH-, LH-, and FSH-receptors exist in canine skin and urinary bladder. Tissue samples from the skin of the flank region and the ventral midline of the urinary bladder from euthanised dogs were examined.

Effect of a long acting GnRH analogue or placebo on plasma LH/FSH, urethral pressure profiles and clinical signs of urinary incontinence due to Sphincter mechanism incompetence in bitches.

In 23 bitches with urinary incontinence due to spaying, the effect of treatment with a long-acting formulation of leuprolide acetate on frequency of incontinence, plasma gonadotropin levels and urodynamic parameters was evaluated. In addition, the clinical effect was compared with that of treatment with alpha-adrenergics. Before treatment, the dogs' incontinent episodes occurred, on average, 4 times per day on up to 6 days per week.

FSH and LH plasma levels in bitches with differences in risk for urinary incontinence.

To determine whether the height of the plasma gonadotropin levels after spaying is associated with urinary incontinence, the concentrations of plasma follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined once in 191 intact and 308 spayed bitches. The bitches were grouped according to their risk for urinary incontinence and the medians of their respective gonadotropin levels were compared. For intact anestrous bitches, the FSH- and LH-plasma concentrations were 5.

Evaluation of long-term effects of endoscopic injection of collagen into the urethral submucosa for treatment of urethral sphincter incompetence in female dogs: 40 cases (1993-2000).

Objective: To evaluate long-term success of endoscopic injection of collagen into the urethral submucosa in female dogs with urinary incontinence caused by urethral sphincter incompetence.

Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: 40 incontinent female dogs.

Palliative irradiation of Scottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia.

This report describes palliative irradiation as treatment for Scottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia. A 3-year-old female spayed Scottish Fold cat suffering from osteochondrodysplasia was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Zurich. Based on the breed, history, clinical signs, radiographic findings, and the histologic diagnosis of a biopsy specimen, Scottish Fold osteochondrodysplasia was confirmed.

Changes in plasma gonadotropin concentrations and urethral closure pressure in the bitch during the 12 months following ovariectomy.

Urinary incontinence due to acquired urethral sphincter incompetence is a common side effect of spaying, for which the underlying cause remains unknown. Spaying not only results in a significant reduction in the urethral closure pressure within 1 year but also in an increase in the plasma gonadotropin concentrations. To investigate the possible link between the post-ovariectomy changes in plasma gonadotropins and in urethral closure pressure, gonadotropin and urodynamic measurements were performed in 10 Beagle bitches before and for a period of 1 year after spaying.

Interplay between alpha/beta and gamma interferons with B, T, and natural killer cells in the defense against herpes simplex virus type 1.

The essential components of the immune system that control primary and chronic infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in mice were investigated. Infection within the first few days can be controlled by alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) alone without significant contribution of B, T, or NK cells. IFN-alpha/beta and IFN-gamma cooperate in the elimination of virus in the absence of these lymphocytes.