Objective To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for a diagnosis of cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease in dogs and to describe the management of such cases attending primary‐care veterinary practices. Study design Historical cohort with a nested case–control study. Sample population Nine hundred and fifty‐three dogs diagnosed with CCL disease from 171,522 dogs attending 97 primary‐care practices in England. Methods Medical records of dogs attending practices participating in the VetCompass project that met selection criteria were assessed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression methods were used to evaluate association of possible risk factors with diagnosis of CCL disease. Results The prevalence of CCL disease diagnosis was estimated at 0.56% (95% confidence interval 0.52–0.59). Compared with crossbred dogs, Rottweilers, West Highland White Terriers, Golden Retrievers, Yorkshire Terriers, and Staffordshire Bull Terriers showed increased odds of CCL disease diagnosis while Cocker Spaniels showed reduced odds. Increasing bodyweight within breeds was associated with increased odds of diagnosis. Dogs aged over 3 years had increased odds of diagnosis compared with dogs aged less than 3 years. Neutered females had 2.1 times the odds of diagnosis compared with entire females. Insured dogs had 4 times the odds of diagnosis compared with uninsured dogs. Two‐thirds of cases were managed surgically, with insured and heavier dogs more frequently undergoing surgery. Overall, 21% of cases were referred, with referral more frequent in heavier and insured dogs. Referred dogs more frequently had surgery and an osteotomy procedure. Conclusion Breed predispositions and demographic factors associated with diagnosis and case management of CCL disease in dogs identified in this study can be used to help direct future research and management strategies.

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This is the peer-reviewed, manuscript version of an article published in Veterinary Record. The final version is available online via http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.104528.The full details of the published version of the article are as follows: TITLE: Comparison of medical and surgical treatment for acute cervical compressive hydrated nucleus pulposus extrusion in dogs AUTHORS: Borlace, T., Gutierrez-Quintana, R., Taylor clinical presentation, or imaging findings between both groups. Two dogs in the medically 30 managed group underwent surgical decompression due to an unsatisfactory response to 31 medical management. All cases for which long-term information was available (n=30) were 32 neurologically normal at the time of data collection. There were no significant differences for 33 any of the short or long-term outcome variables between both treatment groups. This study 34 demonstrated successful outcomes after medical or surgical treatment and suggests that both 35 treatment modalities can be considered for dogs with cervical HNPE. 36 37

17Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe the clinical features, diagnostic imaging 18 findings, treatment and outcome in cats diagnosed with presumptive acute non-compressive 19 nucleus pulposus extrusion. Results: Eleven cats met the inclusion criteria. All cats had a peracute onset of clinical signs, 25with eight cats experiencing witnessed (n = 6) or suspected (n = 2) external trauma.

The thymus is crucial for T-cell output and the age-associated involution of this organ, is thought to have a major impact in the decline in immunity that is seen in later life. The mechanism that underlines thymic involution is not known, however, we have evidence to suggest that this is may be due to changes in the thymic microenvironment. To further test this hypothesis, we quantified the in situ changes to markers that identify cortical and medullary thymic epithelial cells. This analysis revealed an age-dependent decline in cortical and medullary markers together with an increase in Notch and Delta expression, in older mice, as judged by immunohistochemistry. This was accompanied by alterations of the archetypal staining patterns and three dimensional analysis revealed changes in the morphology of the thymic microenvironment. These studies suggest that there are age-associated alterations in the thymic microenvironment, which may therefore play a role in thymic involution.

Background: Animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are essential to study disease progression and assess efficacy of therapeutic intervention, however dystrophic mice fail to display a clinically relevant phenotype, limiting translational utility. Dystrophin-deficient dogs exhibit disease similar to humans, making them increasingly important for late-stage preclinical evaluation of candidate therapeutics. The DE50-MD canine model of DMD carries a mutation within a human ‘hotspot’ region of the dystrophin gene, amenable to exon-skipping and gene editing strategies. As part of a large natural history study of disease progression, we have characterised the DE50-MD skeletal muscle phenotype to identify parameters that could serve as efficacy biomarkers in future preclinical trials. Methods: Vastus lateralis muscles were biopsied from a large cohort of DE50-MD dogs and healthy male littermates at 3-monthly intervals (3-18 months) for longitudinal analysis, with multiple muscles collected post-mortem to evaluate body-wide changes. Pathology was characterised quantitatively using histology and measurement of gene expression to determine statistical power and sample sizes appropriate for future work. Results: DE50-MD skeletal muscle exhibits widespread degeneration/regeneration, fibrosis, atrophy and inflammation. Degenerative/inflammatory changes peak during the first year of life, while fibrotic remodelling appears more gradual. Pathology is similar in most skeletal muscles, but in the diaphragm, fibrosis is more prominent, associated with fibre splitting and pathological hypertrophy. Picrosirius red and acid phosphatase staining represent useful quantitative histological biomarkers for fibrosis and inflammation respectively, while qPCR can be used to measure regeneration (MYH3, MYH8), fibrosis (COL1A1), inflammation (SPP1), and stability of DE50-MD dp427 transcripts. Conclusion: The DE50-MD dog is a valuable model of DMD, with pathological features similar to young, ambulant human patients. Sample size and power calculations show that our panel of muscle biomarkers are of strong pre-clinical value, able to detect therapeutic improvements of even 25%, using trials with only six animals per group.

A 9-month-old domestic shorthair cat had progressive ambulatory paraparesis, proprioceptive ataxia, and thoracolumbar hyperesthesia. An extradural mass affecting the left pedicle and lamina of the second lumbar vertebra (L2) causing marked spinal cord impingement was identified in magnetic resonance (MR) images. The mass was predominantly calcified in computed tomographic (CT) images. A hemilaminectomy was performed to resect the mass. Clinical signs were greatly improved at 12-month follow-up. The histopathologic diagnosis was vascular hamartoma. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the MR characteristics of a vascular hamartoma associated with the vertebral column.