Joergen Steen Agerholm

Background: Cerebral hemangioma is a recognized cause of acute onset of epileptic seizures with interictal neurological abnormalities in dogs, although the number of cases reported is limited. Hemangiomas can affect dogs of all age groups, but there is an increasing risk with age, peaking at nine years. Case presentation: This case report describes a 5-month-old female Chow Chow dog with an acute onset of epileptic seizures and interictal neurological deficits indicative of a right forebrain lesion due to a cerebral hemangioma and associated hemorrhage. Initially, extracranial causes were excluded, and magnetic resonance imaging of the head was performed, revealing a large well-delineated hemorrhagic mixed intra- and extra axial lobular mass in the right frontal lobe, generalized ventriculomegaly, and two intraventricular smaller, well-defined cyst-like structures in the right cerebellopontine angle and fourth ventricle. The dog was euthanized due to the severity of neurological deficits combined with imaging findings, suggesting a poor prognosis. Post-mortem gross examination, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry identified the larger structure as a hemangioma accompanied by extensive hemorrhage. The significant hemorrhage likely explained the acute onset of neurological signs. It is probable that the hemangioma might have remained subclinical, had this hemorrhage not occurred. The smaller cyst-like structures were identified as multilocular ependymal diverticula originating from the fourth ventricle. Conclusions: This case report underlines the importance of considering cerebral hemangiomas accompanied by acute hemorrhage as a possible differential diagnosis in cases with an acute onset of epileptic cluster seizures with accompanying interictal neurological signs, here found in a juvenile dog.

Background: Easily obtainable biomarkers for non-infectious, inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) disorders in dogs are lacking. Hypothesis/Objectives: Dogs with non-infectious inflammatory CNS disorders might have specific neural autoantibodies in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or both, discoverable by commercially available indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) assays. Animals: Dogs (n = 23) with non-infectious inflammatory CNS disorders, including meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown origin, were recruited from the University Hospital for Companion Animals (Copenhagen, Denmark). Methods: Using an exploratory, prospective study design, serum and CSF from dogs were investigated for specific neural autoantibodies with cell- and tissue-based IIF assays used to identify neural autoantibodies in humans. Results: Astrocytic autoantibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein were present in 2 dogs, neuronal targeted autoantibodies against N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) in 2 dogs, and tripartite motif-containing protein 46 in 1 dog. Additionally, autoantibodies toward myelin were suspected in 6 dogs and myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein in 4 dogs. Autoantibodies against a neuronal surface structure were suspected in 1 dog but could not be further specified. Conclusions and clinical importance: This study confirmed the presence of neural autoantibodies in several dogs with non-infectious inflammatory CNS disorders. The importance of both tissue- and cell-based assays (CBA) is emphasized by the fact that all specific autoantibodies apart from those targeting NMDAR were detected by tissue-based assays and then confirmed on cell-based assays (CBA).

Diagnosing the cause of slowly progressing weight loss in mares may be challenging, especially when only accompanied by non‐specific and weak clinical signs and non‐specific biochemical and haematological alterations. A 15‐year‐old mare presented with a history of weight loss, anorexia and fever. The most conspicuous clinical finding was enlarged ovaries. Abdominal fluid cytology revealed suspected tumour cells. Postmortem examination identified a primary uterine adenocarcinoma that had infiltrated adjacent structures and caused both peritoneal implantation metastases and distant metastases to multiple organs. The uterine adenocarcinoma was diagnosed when already in an advanced stage with widespread metastases and extensive infiltrative growth in multiple abdominal structures. Presence of uterine adenocarcinoma and other malignant uterine tumours should be ruled out as part of an initial clinical examination when mares, especially older mares, are presented with non‐specific clinical signs and weight loss to ensure early recognition of such malignancies.

Introduction: Microglia and astrocytes are believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain (NeP). These glial cells are commonly identified by the expression of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1) for microglia and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for astrocytes. Under pathological conditions, astrocytes and microglia undergo both morphological and transcriptional changes, which may promote shifts in functions that can have both protective and detrimental effects on the surrounding neuroparenchyma. Like humans, the dog breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) suffers from heritable syringomyelia (SM) which in both species is associated with NeP. Objectives: To investigate the potential role of IBA1 and GFAP-positive cells in the dorsal horn in CKCSs with SM and NeP. Methods: Using NanoString GeoMx technology, we conducted spatial transcriptomic analyses on spinal cord dorsal horns from CKCSs with SM and NeP. Results: Several differentially expressed genes were identified in dogs with SM and NeP. Cells positive for IBA1 showed upregulation of inflammatory genes as well as a downregulation of immune functions, while GFAP-positive cells indicated different states of reactivity. Pathway analyses indicated that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may be involved in the generation of NeP in CKCSs with SM. Conclusion: These findings provide new insights into the complex molecular changes in dorsal horn IBA1 and GFAP-rich areas in the presence of NeP and SM. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for future research that may facilitate new understandings of NeP mechanisms.

Endometrial fibrosis leads to subfertility when periglandular fibrosis impairs endometrial gland function. Identifying distinct protein expressions in mares suffering from this condition is essential for understanding the pathogenesis and developing treatments to delay fibrotic progression. To gain a better understanding of protein dynamics underlying this condition, Data-Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry was utilized to comprehensively characterize and compare the equine endometrial and plasma proteome from mares with different severities of endometrial fibrosis. Mares in diestrus were selected as controls (n = 9), moderate endometrial fibrosis (n = 9), and severe endometrial fibrosis (n = 9), based on examination of tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemically marked for alpha-smooth muscle actin. Approximately 10,000 proteins were identified in endometrial tissue and 500 in plasma. Between moderate fibrosis and controls, 310 and 75 differed in endometrial tissue and plasma, respectively, and between severe fibrosis and controls, 585 and 71 differed, respectively. Extracellular matrix-related pathways were over-represented among upregulated proteins in endometrial tissue from mares with moderate and severe fibrosis. Several of the proteins involved appear to promote development or progression of fibrosis. Immune-related pathways were over-represented among downregulated proteins in mares with moderate fibrosis, and among upregulated proteins in mares with severe fibrosis. Several of the proteins highlighted by our analysis have both immunologic and fibrotic properties. We anticipate that the extensive profiling of endometrial and plasma proteome paves the way for identification of potential diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic use in equine endometrial fibrosis.

Dystocia due to developmental disorders causing foetal malformation is a significant challenge in bovine obstetrics, often resulting in severe birth complications. This narrative review provides an updated overview of the most common congenital syndromes associated with dystocia in cattle, emphasising both their clinical implications and underlying causes. Congenital disorders such as schistosoma reflexum, perosomus elumbis, arthrogryposis, hydrocephalus, anasarca and embryonic duplication are reviewed in detail, along with their impact on the course of calving. While the management of dystocia due to foetal malformations has remained relatively constant over time—mainly involving assisted delivery, foetotomy or caesarean section—our understanding of their aetiologies has advanced considerably. In addition to environmental factors, such as viral infections during gestation, genetic causes may also be implicated. Genetic aetiologies, including dominant de novo mutations and recessively inherited alleles, such as single nucleotide variants, larger structural variants or aneuploidies, have been identified as the cause of some of these congenital defects. This review provides a comprehensive resource on dystocia due to developmental disorders, offering veterinarians updated knowledge to guide clinical decision making and improve outcomes for both the dam and the calf.

Pregnancy toxemia is known from terrestrial mammals such as sheep and goats in which late-term twin-pregnant animals may enter a state of negative energy balance with compromised glucose homeostasis. Twin pregnancy is rare in seals, and pregnancy toxemia is undescribed. Herein, we describe a case from an almost 17-year-old harbor seal (Phoca vitulina, Linnaeus, 1758) raised in captivity. The seal died in stage 1 of labor after having experienced a 7- to 14-day period in which it refused to eat, but without any further clinical signs observed. The carcass was CT-scanned and necropsied. The most striking necropsy findings were a late-term twin-pregnant uterus that occupied most of the abdominal space, an abundant amount of fat, compressed and empty stomach and intestines, and diffuse hepatic steatosis. The imaging and necropsy findings indicate that the seal may have died as a result of pregnancy toxemia. As an incidental finding, a well-calcified os cordis was observed with CT, which may be due to the seal’s advanced age. This case thus represents three rarities: twin pregnancy, suspected pregnancy toxemia, and cardiac bone.

Congenital malformations have always fascinated humans but it was not until recently that deeper knowledge on their causes have become more evident. The development within genomic analysis has until now resolved the molecular cause of almost 200 bovine genetic diseases. However, the cause of certain well-known congenital syndromes in cattle have remained unexplained. The Danish Bovine Genetic Disease Program was in its current form established in 1989 and many genetic diseases have been investigated. Lately, we have focused on some well-known congenital disorders: schistosoma reflexum, congenital syndromic Chiari-like malformation and the bulldog calf syndrome. Genetic analyses of such cases sampled as part of the bovine genetic disease surveillance in Denmark have confirmed their genetic etiology. Investigations into a fourth congenital syndrome, perosomus elumbis, are underway.