SummaryThe goal of this study was to determine the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders in a large canine population. Patient information was obtained from clinical cases contributed to the Veterinary Medical Data Base (VMDB) by 16 veterinary teaching hospitals during the ten year period of 1980 through 1989. The relative contribution of bone diseases, joint diseases, and muscle-tendon-unit diseases was determined, and the incidence of each musculoskeletal disease reported.Nearly 24% of all patients in the source population had been affected by a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, and over 70% of those diagnoses involved appendicular structures. Diseases of joints, ligaments, and related structures contributed more cases (47%) to this study than diseases of bones (39%) or muscle-tendon-units (14%). Fractures made up the largest disease category, with pelvic fractures most common, followed by femoral fractures, and fractures of the radius and/or ulna. Joint instability and degenerative joint dis-ease were also common diagnosis categories, affecting primarily the hip and stifle joints. Common specific dis-ease entities included hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament rupture, traumatic hip luxation and patellar luxation.In this study we provided a comprehensive analysis of the canine musculoskeletal system. The relative importance of joint disorders compared to those of bones and muscle-tendon-units was illustrated. The incidence of most of the disorders described in this report had not been well documented previously.Patient information was obtained from the clinical cases of 16 veterinary teaching hospitals during a 10-year period. The number of dogs with musculoskeletal disorders was determined. The absolute and relative contribution of bone diseases, joint diseases, and muscle-tendon-unit diseases is reported as well as the incidence of the specific disease entities affecting the canine appendicular musculoskeletal system.

A large-scale epidemiological study was conducted to determine breeds at risk for 12 developmental orthopedic diseases (DODs). Developmental orthopedic diseases investigated included canine hip dysplasia (CHD); craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO); fragmented coronoid process; hypertrophic osteodystrophy; Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease; osteochondrosis of the medial humeral condyle, caudal humeral head, femoral condyles, and talar trochlear ridges; panosteitis; patella luxation; and ununited anconeal process. Dogs that were diagnosed with any one of the diseases of interest at any of 10 veterinary teaching hospitals participating in the Veterinary Medical Database from 1986 to 1995 were included as cases. Odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated to determine risk. Frequency of diagnosis during the 10-year period ranged from 35 cases (CMO) to 10,637 cases (CHD). The number of breeds at increased risk for a disease ranged from one (CMO) to 35 (CHD). Breed susceptibility for a DOD may suggest a genetic component in the disease etiology. The results of this study serve to increase veterinarians' awareness of breeds susceptible to DODs and may facilitate the control of such diseases by identifying breeds that might benefit from breeding programs or environmental intervention such as dietary modification.

SummaryAn analysis of hypertrophic osteodystrophy (HOD), craniomandibular osteopathy (CMO) and canine distemper virus (CDV) infection was undertaken. Risk factors (age, breed, sex, neuter status, weight, geographical and seasonal distribution) of the three diseases were determined and compared. Patient records were searched using the Veterinary Medical Database (VMDB) during the period of 1980 through 1989. This search identified 131 cases of HOD, 68 cases of CMO and 1,757 of CDV infection. Dogs less than six months of age were identified to be at greatest risk for HOD, CMO and CDV. The Great Dane, Cairn Terrier and the Greyhound were identified to be at highest risk for HOD, CMO and CDV infection, respectively. Males puppies were twice as likely to develop HOD. We concluded, from the risk factors analyzed, that risk factors for HOD, CMO or CDV infection were not similar.Patient information was obtained from clinical cases of 16 veterinary teaching hospitals to examine a possible relationship between Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy (HOD), Craniomandibular Osteopathy (CMO), and Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) infections. Risk factors for each disease were determined. Subjective comparison of risk factors for HOD and CMO did not support the notion of a relationship between HOD and CMO. In addition, no evidence for a possible relationship between CDV and HOD or CMO was found.

Abstract. A retrospective epidemiologic study was conducted to evaluate the application of an objective quantitative algorithm for estimating genetic similarity from restriction endonuclease analysis data. The analysis was performed to assist the determination of chronologic trends in an Aujeszky's disease viral epidemic in a geographic region. DNA from each viral isolate obtained during the epidemic was digested with 4 restriction endonucleases and molar ratio labeled to generate separate fragment patterns that were simultaneously compared using the algorithm. The resultant estimates of genetic similarity were then used in conjunction with time of virus isolation and specific geographic location of the outbreaks to identify the probable sources of infection and the patterns of spread among swine herds. This type of quantitative analysis enabled a more precise and objective approach than previously has been applied to the interpretation of restriction endonuclease data, thereby demonstrating the benefit of this methodology for the investigation of infectious disease outbreaks.Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) has been used as an epidemiologic tool to support hypotheses regarding the source of Aujeszky's disease (AD, pseudorabies) virus (ADV) infection for swine farms and individual animals. 7,8,24,26,38 Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) among viral isolates has been used to distinguish field and vaccine strains of ADV. 11,12,19,29 To utilize REA for epidemiologic purposes, it was necessary to establish that ADV is relatively stable genetically, both in vivo and in vitro. In previous study, there was enough viral genomic stability in a swine herd to enable the use of REA to categorize isolates into strains. 10 This type of first-order molecular characterization of DNA polymorphism has been based on visual comparisons and/or the use of 1-dimensional computerized dendrograms to produce phylogenetic trees representing the percentage of similarity or diversity.Considerations of an ADV epidemic within a geographic location must include animal sources other than swine, although such nonporcine species usually are dead-end hosts. Domestic livestock (cattle, goats, sheep) 3,5,13,14,25,30,35 and wildlife (wild rats, mice, mink, fox, deer, badger, coyotes, hare, raccoons) 21,28,37 are susceptible to natural ADV infections. Deaths from ADV infections also may occur in cats and dogs residing on or near premises with infected livestock. 4,6,15,16,20,22,23,31 Moreoever, ADV was genetically stable during in vivo passage through nonporcine species. 33 Epidemiologic applications of REA include documenting the occurrence of new ADV strains in an area and classifying isolates from a geographic location into groups to infer viral transmission. In this regard, REA was performed on ADV isolated from moribund lambs. 38 The infected lambs had both fence line contact with swine and exposure to a syringe, which had previously been used to vaccinate swine with a modified live ADV product. The resultant patterns indicate...

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