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Computed tomography of the abdomen in Saanen goats: I.reticulum, rumen and omasum Computed tomography of the abdomen in Saanen goats: I. reticulum, rumen and omasum AbstractComputed tomography (CT) of the reticulum, rumen and omasum was carried out in 30 healthy goats and the images were compared to corresponding body sections obtained at postmortem. A multidetector CT was used to examine goats in sternal recumbency. A setting of 120 KV and 270 mA was used to produce 1.5-mm transverse slices from the fifth thoracic vertebra to the sacrum. Soft tissue structures were assessed in a soft tissue with a window width (W) of 400 Hounsfield Units (HU), and a window level (L) of 40 HU. The layering of the ruminal contents was assessed in an ingesta window with a W of 1500 HU and an L of 30 HU. After subjective evaluation, the size of the rumen and omasum, the thickness of the walls of the reticulum, rumen and omasum and the height of the gas cap and fibre and liquid phases of the rumen were measured. Fifteen goats were euthanised after CT examination, placed in sternal recumbency and frozen at -18 ºC for three to 10 days. Thirteen goats were then cut into 1.0-to 1.5-cm-thick transverse slices. One goat was cut in dorsal-plane slices and another in sagittal slices. The structures in the CT images were identified by using the corresponding anatomical slices. et al., 2008a, 2008b, 2009a, 2009b). The methods used to diagnose disorders of these organs include 50 physical examination, haematologic and serum biochemistry analyses, faecal analysis, radiography 51 and ultrasonography (Steininger, 2009; Braun und Steininger, 2010; Jacquat, 2010 After subjective evaluation, the various structures were measured using a window that provided the Results 118In all animals, the reticulum, rumen and omasum could be identified on all anatomic sections and the 119 corresponding CT images (Fig. 1). The reticulum and rumen could be seen between the fifth thoracic vertebra and the sacrum; both 123 organs were consistently seen between the eighth thoracic vertebra and the fifth lumbar vertebra in all 124 the goats. In the transverse plane, the reticulum appeared as a round structure and was almost 125 completely filled with ingesta except for an area of gas in the dorsal aspect (Fig. 2). The reticular 126 structure of the mucosa was seen in the gas-filled dorsal region of the reticulum. The mean thickness 127 of the reticulum wall was 0.2 cm ( Table 1). The reticulum bordered the lungs via the diaphragm (not 128 visible) craniodorsally, the left lobe of the liver on the right and the apex of the heart cranioventrally. 129In the sagittal plane the reticulum and heart, separated by the diaphragm, were seen immediately 130 adjacent to each other over a distance of a few centimetres (Fig. 3), and dorsal to this area of contact (Fig. 4) and the vertical grooves divided the anterior and 138 the two posterior blind sacs from the remaining main part of the rumen (Fig. 5). The craniocaudal 139 extent of the rumen was best evaluated in the sagitta...

Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) among animals and humans are a public health threat. This study analyzed the occurrence of ESBL-E in a high-risk environment in a companion animal clinic and two animal patients’ households. In an intensive care unit (ICU), rectal swabs from 74 dogs and cats, 74 hand swabs from staff and 298 swabs from surfaces were analyzed for ESBL-E. Seventeen hospitalized patients (23%) and ten (3%) surfaces in the ICU tested ESBL-E positive. Transmission chains for Klebsiella pneumoniae ST307 blaCTX-M-15 and Escherichia coli ST38 blaCTX-M-14, ST88 blaCTX-M-14 and ST224 blaCTX-M-1 were observed over extended periods of time (14 to 30 days) with similar strains isolated from patients and the clinical environment. After discharge, two colonized dogs (dogs 7 and 12) and their household contacts were resampled. Dog 7 tested repeatedly positive for 77 days, dog 12 tested negative; six (24%) surfaces in the household of the persistently colonized dog tested ESBL-E positive. The owner of dog 7 and one of the owners of dog 12 were colonized. Based on whole genome sequencing, isolates from the owners, their dogs and other ICU patients belonged to the same clusters, highlighting the public health importance of ESBL-E in companion animal clinics.

Echocardiographic assessment of cardiac structures, dimensions, and mechanical function in goats is poorly documented. The goal of this study was to describe normal findings, establish normal values for two-dimensional (2DE) and M-mode (MME) echocardiography, and investigate the influence of general anaesthesia. Standardized 2DE and MME recordings were obtained on 22 healthy female Saanen goats (3.7 ± 1.1 years [mean ± SD], 60.2 ± 10.6 kg) awake (standing) and during isoflurane anesthesia (sternal recumbency). Cardiac dimensions and function were assessed and compared between treatments (awake vs. anaesthetized). Color Doppler imaging and saline contrast studies served to assess abnormal blood flow patterns. Post mortem examination was performed in a subset of 12 goats. Transthoracic echocardiography was feasible in all goats. Indices of LV systolic function proved to be significantly increased during general anesthesia. The membranous and occasionally echolucent appearance of the oval fossa suggested abnormal interatrial communication in 9 goats. Color Doppler imaging and saline contrast studies proved to be inaccurate to detect interatrial shunting of blood. Post mortem examination confirmed small persistent foramen ovale in only 3 out of 7 goats, in which it had been suspected on echocardiography.

Summary External lipoma is a benign subcutaneous and submucosal tumour and usually is of little clinical concern. Occasionally, the lipoma may invade muscles, the infiltrating lipoma. Complete surgical excision is mandatory because of the infiltrative nature and potentially high incidence of recurrence after inadequate surgery. In order to assess the extension of the tumour accurately, computed tomographic examination is indicated.

This study describes the results of computed tomography (CT) of the liver, spleen, abomasum, small intestine and large intestine in 30 healthy Saanen goats. CT examination and anatomical slice preparation postmortem were performed as described in the first communication. After subjective evaluation of the CT images, various variables including the length/size, volume and density of the liver, spleen and gallbladder, the wall thickness of the abomasum, small intestine and large intestine and the diameter of the intestine were measured. The liver, spleen, abomasum, small intestine and large intestine could be accurately visualised using CT.

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Objective  To evaluate the accuracy of a new cardiac output monitor (FloTrac/Vigileo), originally designed for humans, in dogs. This pulse contour cardiac output monitoring system cannot be calibrated and measures cardiac output (Q̇t) from a standard arterial catheter. Study design  Prospective experimental trial. Animals  Eight adult Beagle dogs weighing 13.1 (9.8–17.1) kg [median (range)]. Methods  Anaesthesia in the dogs was maintained using isoflurane. A pulmonary artery catheter and a metatarsal arterial catheter (22 gauge) were placed. Cardiac output was measured simultaneously 331 times by thermodilution and FloTrac technique. A broad spectrum of Q̇t measurements was achieved through alterations of isoflurane concentration, administration of propofol boluses and dobutamine infusions. Agreement between the methods was quantified with Bland Altman analysis and disagreement was assessed with linear mixed models. Results  Median (10th and 90th percentile) cardiac output as measured with thermodilution was 2.54 (1.47 and 5.15) L minute−1 and as measured with FloTrac 8.6 (3.9 and 17.3) L minute−1. FloTrac measurements were consistently higher with a mean bias of 7 L minute−1 and limits of agreement of −3.15 to 17.17 L minute−1. Difference between the methods was most pronounced in high Q̇t measurements. Linear mixed models showed an estimated difference between the two methods of 8.05 (standard error 1.18) L minute−1 and a significant interaction between mean arterial pressure and method. Standard deviation (4.45 higher) with the FloTrac method compared to thermodilution was increased. Conclusion  Compared to thermodilution measurements, the FloTrac system was influenced to a higher degree by arterial blood pressure, resulting in consistent overestimation of cardiac output. Clinical Relevance  The FloTrac monitor, whose algorithms were developed based on human data, cannot be used as an alternative for thermodilution in dogs.