Histopathologic and Molecular Characterization of Sarcocystis calchasi Encephalitis in White-winged Doves ( Zenaida asiatica ) and Eurasian Collared Doves ( Streptopelia decaocto ), East-central Texas, USA, 2010-13.

Sarcocystis calchasi is a recently described apicomplexan parasite that causes encephalitis in avian hosts. We diagnosed one White-winged Dove ( Zenaida asiatica ) and two Eurasian Collared Doves ( Streptopelia decaocto ) in Texas, US, with a history of neurologic signs with protozoal encephalitis. On histologic examination, all three doves had moderate to severe meningoencephalitis characterized by large numbers of plasma cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages with gliosis and astrocytosis.

Congenital dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) in Sprague Dawley rats: a case series.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare skin disease caused by defects in the basement membrane and/or other dermoepidermal junction components.

Hypothesis/objectives: We describe a series of spontaneous cases of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) in a colony of Sprague Dawley rats investigated with histopathology, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and inheritance pattern.

Animals: Four, 4-day-old pups from a litter of Sprague Dawley rats developed blistering, haemorrhagic skin lesions and were euthanized.

In utero infection of a calf by Saksenaea erythrospora resulting in neonatal abomasitis and dermatitis.

Saksenaea erythrospora is a filamentous fungus belonging to the order Mucorales. Cases of cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Saksenaea spp. have previously been reported in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed people.

Heterobilharzia americana infection as a cause of hepatic parasitic granulomas in a horse.

CASE DESCRIPTION-A 22-year-old American Paint Horse gelding from the Gulf Coast region of Texas was evaluated for regrowth of a perirectal squamous cell carcinoma that had been surgically removed 11 months previously. CLINICAL FINDINGS-A necrotic and ulcerated mass was present below the anus. The horse had paraphimosis and was having difficulty with urination.

Multi-organ involvement of Heterobilharzia americana infection in a dog presented for systemic mineralization.

Canine schistosomiasis due to Heterobilharzia americana is a clinically underdiagnosed disease in dogs, which is found primarily in the Gulf Coast and south Atlantic region of the United States. A 3-year-old dog from Texas with a clinical diagnosis of systemic mineralization of unknown origin in the absence of evidence of hypercalcemia was found at necropsy to have severe disseminated H. americana infection involving the liver, pancreas, small and large intestine, lungs, and kidneys.

Starry sky hepatic ultrasonographic pattern in horses.

The starry sky hepatic pattern is an unusual ultrasonographic appearance of equine liver characterized by numerous small, hyperechoic foci, some of which cast an acoustic shadow, distributed randomly throughout the hepatic parenchyma. Our objectives were to describe the signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological findings, primary disease process, and ultrasonographic findings of horses with this ultrasonographic pattern, as well as determine the associated gross and histologic changes. The starry sky pattern was identified in 18 adult horses of mixed gender and breed.

Imaging diagnosis-heterobilharzia americana infection in a dog.

An approximately three-year-old mixed breed female dog was evaluated for peritoneal effusion, anorexia, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea. Radiographically, there was mineralization of the wall of small intestinal segments. Sonographic findings were consistent with multisystemic mineralization of liver, small intestinal wall, and pancreas.