Volume 40: Issue 5

Dear Editor:

The American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM) was invited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) to comment on the “Report of the AAHA Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature” (

JAAHA,2003;39(March/April):119–131

). Dr. Scott McVey, President of ACVM, appointed a committee of ACVM Diplomates (listed on next page) to provide comments on behalf of ACVM.

Our committee agrees that decisions regarding selection of vaccines and vaccination interval should be made on an individual basis by a veterinarian with a valid client-patient relationship. The committee

A retrospective study was performed in 75 hypertensive cats to determine the spectrum and frequency of M-mode echocardiographic abnormalities. Results indicated that 21.3% of the cats had M-mode measurements within normal reference ranges. For cats with echocardiographic abnormalities, changes were variable. Thirty-nine percent of hypertensive cats had hypertrophy of the interventricular septum in diastole, and 41.3% had hypertrophy of the left ventricular (LV) posterior wall in diastole. One cat in five had a dilated left atrium, while fractional shortening and LV internal dimension in diastole were normal in 82.7% and 86.7% of the cats, respectively. The marked variability of echocardiographic findings in hypertensive cats made echocardiography an unreliable screening test for hypertension.

Lactate concentration in peritoneal fluid was evaluated and compared to blood lactate concentration in dogs and cats with septic and nonseptic abdominal effusions. All dogs with septic effusions had a peritoneal fluid lactate concentration >2.5 mmol/L and a peritoneal fluid lactate concentration higher than blood lactate, resulting in a negative blood to fluid lactate difference. In dogs, the diagnostic accuracy of the peritoneal fluid lactate concentration and the blood to fluid lactate difference in differentiating septic peritoneal effusion was 95% and 90%, respectively. Peritoneal fluid lactate concentration and blood to fluid lactate difference were not accurate tests for detecting septic peritoneal effusions in cats.

This prospective study of 15 dogs evaluated biochemical parameters in abdominal effusions of neoplastic and nonneoplastic origin in an attempt to identify markers for malignant effusions. Dogs in the neoplastic group had statistically significant lower glucose concentrations (mean, 72.6 mg/dL versus 110.0 mg/dL; P=0.0431) and higher lactate levels (mean, 3.81 mmol/L versus 1.68 mmol/L; P=0.0377) in their abdominal fluid than did dogs in the nonneoplastic group, indicating that low glucose and high lactate in abdominal effusions may be markers for neoplasia.

Severe Neurological Signs and Hypernatremia Secondary to Polyethylene Glycol Paintball Ingestion in a Dog

Bruce GravesDVM,

Jessica KielbDVM, DACVECC, and

Nolan ChalifouxDVM, MSTR, DACVECC

Letters to the Editor

Response

Obtaining Quality Biopsies of the Liver and Kidney

Introduction

Spectrum of M-Mode Echocardiographic Abnormalities in 75 Cats With Systemic Hypertension

Lactate as a Diagnostic Test for Septic Peritoneal Effusions in Dogs and Cats

Biochemical Analysis of Neoplastic Versus Nonneoplastic Abdominal Effusions in Dogs

Comparison of Serological Tests for the Detection of Natural Heartworm Infection in Cats

Cranial Cruciate Ligament Pathophysiology in Dogs With Cruciate Disease: A Review

C-reactive Protein in the Differentiation of Pyometra From Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia/Mucometra in Dogs

Efficacy of Selamectin in the Treatment of Nasal Mite (Pneumonyssoides caninum) Infection in Dogs

Investigation of Keyes Skin Biopsy Instrument for Intestinal Biopsy Versus a Standard Biopsy Technique

Pigmented Epidermal Plaques in Three Dogs

Group G Streptococcal Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome in Three Cats

Anemia Associated With ’Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in a Feline Leukemia Virus-Negative Cat With Lymphoma

Table of Contents

Severe Neurological Signs and Hypernatremia Secondary to Polyethylene Glycol Paintball Ingestion in a Dog

The Effect of Time of Antimicrobial Administration on the Outcome of Septic Dogs

Hyperechoic Retroperitoneal Fat in a Cat with Systemic Coagulopathy

Myocarditis in a Dog Positive for Brucella canis

A Retrospective Study on Boar-Induced Trauma in 42 Dogs

Soft-Tissue Sarcomas in Dogs: A Review

Vascular Encephalopathy Associated With Bacterial Endocarditis in Four Dogs

The Use of Carbon Dioxide Laser for the Ablation of Meibomian Gland Adenomas in Dogs

Outcomes of Dogs Presented for Cataract Evaluation: A Retrospective Study

Nutritional Myths