Table of Contents and Abstracts

Lymphoma represents up to 30% of neoplasms diagnosed in cats. Diagnosis of lymphoma in the urinary system by examination of urine sediment has been described in a dog, but apparently not previously in cats. Concurrent samples of serum, EDTA whole blood, and urine were submitted from a 15-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat exhibiting weight loss, polyuria, and polydipsia. Hematology and biochemical abnormalities included a mild normocytic, normochromic, non-regenerative anemia; an inflammatory leukogram; and azotemia. Urinalysis evaluation revealed inadequate urine concentration and marked proteinuria. Wet-mount urine sediment examination revealed moderate numbers of leukocytes and erythrocytes. A uniform population of intermediate-to-large lymphocytes was observed on a fresh, Wright-Giemsa-stained preparation from cytocentrifuged urine. The cat was euthanized and necropsy was completed. Bilateral renomegaly was identified and characterized by multifocal, pale-yellow, coalescing, poorly defined, homogenous nodules. Microscopically, these nodules were composed of dense sheets of CD3-positive round cells, consistent with T-cell renal lymphoma.

Key clinical message:
Lymphoma is a common neoplasm in cats that can affect many organ systems, including the upper urinary tract. This case represents an uncommon method of identifying neoplastic lymphocytes via evaluation of cytocentrifuged urine, and emphasizes the benefits of examining Romanowsky-stained urine sediment in animals.

A 6-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog underwent curative-intent surgical resection of a hard palatal multilobular osteochondrosarcoma and closure of the defect using bilateral buccal mucosal flaps. However, failure of the flaps resulted in a massive hard palatal defect that was subsequently repaired using a haired skin angularis oris axial pattern flap. This report describes the clinical outcome using this surgical approach and novel complications encountered.

Key clinical message:
The haired skin angularis oris axial pattern flap appears to be a suitable and robust option for reconstruction of large palatal defects.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors arising from gastric cardia are uncommon in dogs. A few studies have shown the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of canine gastrointestinal stromal tumors, but no standardized protocols are currently available. An 11-year-old spayed female Maltese dog was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor using histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. An adenosine triphosphate-based tumor chemosensitivity assay revealed that imatinib at lower concentrations had a stronger inhibitory effect than toceranib. Based on the results of the assay, the dog was treated with imatinib after surgery. After 28 mo of therapy, there was no recurrence of the tumor.

Key clinical message:
Adenosine triphosphate-based tumor chemosensitivity assays may help clinicians to select appropriate postoperative chemotherapeutic drugs for incompletely resected gastrointestinal stromal tumors in dogs.

A 3-month-old female English setter dog was presented to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Université de Montréal (Quebec) with acute respiratory distress. The dog had moderately increased C-reactive protein concentrations, and thoracic radiographs revealed a moderate, caudodorsal, nodular-to-miliary alveolo-interstitial pulmonary pattern that was worse in the perihilar region. Initial differential diagnoses included a fungal pneumonia (e.g., blastomycosis or histoplasmosis). Cytology of the bronchoalveolar lavage revealed several round, green structures ~2 µm in diameter, consistent with fungal spores. The dog was hospitalized, but within 24 h the respiratory condition deteriorated and euthanasia was elected. Post-mortem panfungal PCR and sequencing tests identified the spores as Lycoperdon sp. Retrospectively, the owners recalled that the dog had played in a wood pile with mushrooms and had sneezed in a cloud of spores, implying inhalation of Lycoperdon spores. This is the first report of a confirmed case of canine lycoperdonosis in eastern Canada (Quebec), and the radiographic features in this case differed slightly from previous reports. Diagnosis before bronchoalveolar lavage analysis was challenging, as spore inhalation was not initially reported. Although the disease is infrequently reported in dogs, this case report reminds veterinarians to consider lycoperdonosis as a differential diagnosis when addressing animals presented with acute dyspnea with similar radiographic lesions, and highlights the importance of history and cytology in diagnosing this condition.

Key clinical message:
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to inhalation of Lycoperdon spores must be included in differential diagnoses for a dog with acute onset of respiratory signs and a nodular-to-miliary interstitial pulmonary pattern coalescing in patchy perihilar alveolar pulmonary lesions, and should prompt clinicians to question owners regarding inhalation of mushroom spores.
• Although cytological examination of a bronchoalveolar lavage reveals the presence of fungal spores, panfungal PCR and sequencing tests are needed to pinpoint the species involved.

Objective
To describe the copper and selenium statuses of beef calves at weaning.

Animal
Calves (n = 1998) were sampled from 106 Canadian cow-calf herds in the fall of 2021.

Procedure
Serum samples from calves were tested for copper, selenium, and molybdenum concentrations.

Results
Although the percentages of calves classified as selenium deficient (< 0.025 ppm) were relatively low (0.5% western Canada, 3% eastern Canada), 53% of calves from western Canada and 77% of calves from eastern Canada were classified as having less than adequate selenium concentrations (< 0.08 ppm). Copper deficiency (< 0.5 ppm) was common in calves from both western (17%) and eastern (14%) Canada. High molybdenum concentrations (> 0.10 ppm) were identified in 6% of calves from western Canada and 7% of calves from eastern Canada.

Conclusion
Selenium concentrations were higher in calves from western Canada than from those in eastern Canada (P < 0.001). Copper and molybdenum concentrations were not significantly different between western and eastern Canada. Less-than-adequate serum copper was the most common deficiency identified in Canadian beef calves at weaning.

Clinical relevance
Trace minerals are important for immune system function in calves at weaning. Selenium concentrations in calves at weaning were lower than in cows from the same herds collected at pregnancy testing 2 y earlier. Copper deficiency was also identified, though less frequently than for mature cows. Supplementation programs for calves should be customized based on testing and recognize both regional and age differences in risk.

Objective
The present study was designed to identify tick species and determine prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection in ticks obtained from companion animals in British Columbia.

Animals and samples
Ticks were submitted by British Columbia veterinarians from client-owned companion animals over a 31-month period.

Procedure
Each tick was identified and PCR testing for B. burgdorferi undertaken on all Ixodes species identified by the Zoonotic Diseases and Emerging Pathogens Section of British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Public Health Laboratory (BCCDC PHL).

Results
Overall, 85% (n = 300) of ticks submitted were Ixodes spp., with the majority known to transmit B. burgdorferi. Furthermore, 0.8% (95% confidence interval: 0.094 to 2.78%) of these ticks were PCR-positive for B. burgdorferi.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Although the B. burgdorferi positivity rate in this study was low, it remains important for veterinary professionals to inform pet owners that ticks are present and can pose a risk to pets and humans. In eastern North America, B. burgdorferi infection risk has increased rapidly, underscoring the importance of ongoing surveillance in British Columbia to understand current and future distributions of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, especially in the context of climate change.

Background
As a major animal control service provider in the city of Guelph and Wellington County in Ontario, the Guelph Humane Society transports and presents injured or ill raccoons requiring humane euthanasia to the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre (OVC-HSC). Issues around handling, transportation, and delays before euthanasia have recently raised some concerns for welfare and the need for means of improving this process.

Objective
Investigation of a noncontrolled sedation and analgesia protocol for injured or ill raccoons intended to improve animal welfare by allowing humane handling, transport, and euthanasia following administration by an animal protection officer (APO).

Animals and procedure
Twenty-seven injured or ill raccoons requiring transport and euthanasia, as determined by the Guelph Humane Society APOs, were included in the study. Each raccoon was administered acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg), alfaxalone (4 mg/kg), and medetomidine (0.15 mg/kg), intramuscularly, before being transported to the OVC-HSC for humane euthanasia.

Results
The combination of acepromazine, alfaxalone, and medetomidine was suitable for administration by APOs and provided the desired sedation depth to allow transport and humane euthanasia. Transit time was the only predictor of sedation depth upon arrival at the OVC-HSC. Two raccoons showed mild physical response to intracardiac injection for euthanasia. Numerical cutoff points of an in-hospital visual analog score of sedation of ≥ 70/100 and duration of sedation of < 62 min showed zero probability of response to euthanasia.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Administration of acepromazine, alfaxalone, and medetomidine at the stated doses provided acceptable sedation and analgesia to improve animal welfare during transport and eventual euthanasia of raccoons.

Objective
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and overall postweaning treatment rates were compared among 3 groups of calves either differentially primed and boosted with commercially available bovine coronavirus (BCoV) vaccine or not vaccinated against BCoV.

Animals
Commercial heifer and steer beef calves born in April and May 2022.

Procedure
In June 2022, calves were randomly enrolled into 3 treatment groups. Those in 2 groups [V1 (n = 160) and V2 (n = 160)] were administered a mucosal priming dose of 1 of 2 commercial BCoV vaccines; those in the 3rd group [CTL (n = 151)] were unvaccinated against BCoV. The V1 and V2 groups were boosted by intramuscular injection pre-weaning with the same vaccine used for priming. Weaning occurred 3 wk after the last preweaning processing day. Ranch staff used a BRD case definition provided by their herd veterinarian to identify, treat, and record treatments for 45 d post-weaning.

Results
Postweaning BRD treatment rates for V1, V2, and CTL were 7%, 9%, and 14%, respectively. The CTL calves had 2.2× greater odds of receiving treatment for BRD than V1 calves. There were no differences in odds of treatment between CTL and V2 calves or V1 and V2 calves.

Conclusion
In a herd with previously diagnosed BCoV BRD cases, prime-boost vaccination of calves is associated with a difference in odds of BRD treatment post-weaning compared to not vaccinating calves against BCoV.

Clinical relevance
Prime-boost vaccination with commercial BCoV vaccine may be an important management tool for herds with known BCoV BRD outbreaks.

Background
Strongylus vulgaris is one of the most pathogenic nematodes affecting equids. Larval migration through the cranial mesenteric artery (CMA) with attendant arteritis and thromboembolism can result in fatal non-strangulating intestinal infarction. Once considered a historical disease, recent studies have described the reemergence of this pathogen in several European countries; however, little is known of the current prevalence of S. vulgaris in the Canadian horse population.

Objective
To determine the prevalence of active S. vulgaris cranial mesenteric arteritis in horses submitted for postmortem examination to the Diagnostic Services Unit (DSU) at the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Animals and procedure
We conducted a retrospective review of all equine postmortem cases submitted to the DSU between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2022. Over 12 y, 510 horses > 2 mo of age from Alberta were submitted to the DSU for necropsy. Active cases were defined as those with endarteritis and thrombosis in the CMA or its branches. Those cases with only intimal scarring of the CMA were classified as historical.

Results
The prevalence of all CMA lesions (both historical and active) over the study period was 17.3% (88/510). Active S. vulgaris cranial mesenteric arteritis was documented in 6.1% (31/510) of equine postmortems and the sequelae of verminous arteritis were the cause of euthanasia or death in 1.5% (8/510) of the cases submitted.

Conclusion and clinical relevance
Even after historically intense efforts to eradicate this parasite, the continued effects of S. vulgaris are demonstrated by the results of this study. Strongylus vulgaris should not be regarded as a parasite of the past and verminous arteritis remains an important differential diagnosis for horses in western Canada presenting with mild colic or dull demeanor and anorexia of duration > 24 h. Furthermore, S. vulgaris should be taken into careful consideration when implementing antiparasitic control strategies. Practitioners should remain current on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of this potentially reemerging and fatal equine disease.

A Swiss mountain dog, ~3 y old, was brought to a veterinary clinic because of a progressive enlargement of the abdomen. Upon clinical examination, a large mass was detected. After surgical extraction, the mass was confirmed to be a large ovarian teratoma. The weight of the tumor was > 16% of the dog’s overall body weight. The dog recovered fully after surgery. The observations from this case suggest that, although teratomas are rare, prompt and accurate diagnosis is necessary to prevent further growth of these masses and to ensure positive outcomes.