Lumbosacral transitional vertebra in 14 dog breeds in Norway: Occurrence, risk factors and association with hip dysplasia

A lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a congenital anomaly of the spine and has been suggested to predispose to canine hip dysplasia (CHD). This retrospective, cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of LTV and CHD among 14 dog breeds in Norway, the possible associations with risk factors, and whether LTV was a risk factor for the development of hip dysplasia. The results were based on evaluation of ventrodorsal radiographs from the CHD screening program from the Norwegian Kennel Club from February 2014 to January 2022. A total of 13,950 dogs were included in the study. For statistical analysis, CHD grades were reclassified from the official Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) grades into three grades: CHD free (CHD=A, B), CHD mild (CHD=C), and CHD severe (CHD=D, E). In the study sample, the overall occurrence of LTV was 18.5%, of which 32.9% were type 1, 45.7% type 2% and 21.4% type 3. The occurrence of LTV varied significantly among the included breeds, ranging from 9.5% to 46.2%. There was no association between sex and LTV. The frequencies of CHD grades were A: 43.1%; B: 31.4%; C: 18.4%; D: 6.0%; E: 1.1%. There was a statistically significant association with mild and severe CHD in dogs with LTV type 2 and LTV type 3 (P< 0.001). In the population studied, the prevalence of LTV was different among breeds. This supports initial data on the heredity of LTV and the diverse occurrence of LTV among breeds. Our results indicate that LTV type 2 and type 3 are associated with mild and severe CHD development. Therefore, this study has potentially identified an additional risk factor for the development of hip dysplasia.

Minimally invasive percutaneous elastic plate osteosynthesis as a treatment option for tibial diaphyseal fracture in skeletally immature dogs

Background

Pediatric fractures are relatively common in dogs, and several treatment options exist, particularly for fractures in the distal extremities. Regardless of the choice of treatment, the overall goal is rapid restoration and excellent long-term functional recovery, with minimal discomfort and morbidity during healing. This case series aims to report the long-term outcome after minimally invasive percutaneous elastic plate osteosynthesis (MIPEPO) in the treatment of pediatric tibial fractures in dogs and compare this to other treatment options, where all techniques emphasize biological osteosynthesis. We especially accentuate surgery time, patient comfort level during osteosynthesis, time to clinical union, and complications, including long-term follow-up.

Case Description

Medical records of five skeletally immature (juvenile) dogs <6 months old with an isolated tibial diaphyseal fracture or a combination of tibial and fibular diaphyseal fractures, treated with MIPEPO aided by fluoroscopy. All dogs experienced excellent levels of comfort and limb functionality and exhibited preserved muscle mass throughout the healing process. The mean duration until plate removal was 27.6 days, with a standard deviation [(SD) ± 9.61; range of 15-36 days] following the operation. Subsequently, four dogs underwent a follow-up examination approximately 1.5 years after plate removal, during which bilateral orthogonal radiographs of the tibia were obtained. These radiographs revealed minimal discrepancies in terms of limb length, frontal plane alignment, and rotational alignment. Furthermore, the owners expressed complete satisfaction with their dogs' recovery and restoration of intended function.

Conclusion

MIPEPO is quick to perform and well tolerated, with rapid fracture healing in juvenile dogs and excellent long-term outcomes. It can be considered along with external fixators and external coaptation when dealing with juvenile diaphyseal fractures.

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pet cats in Norway and risk factors for seropositivity

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the study were to estimate Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pet cats in Norway and to evaluate risk factors for seropositivity. Additionally, serum biochemistry and haematological variables for T gondii seropositive and seronegative cats were compared.

METHODS

A convenience sample of surplus sera submitted to the Central Laboratory, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, was collected. The samples were from healthy cats and cats with a variety of diseases. Analyses for IgG antibodies to T gondii were performed with a commercial direct agglutination test, with 1:40 as the threshold value. For risk factor analysis a logistic regression model of the relationship between predictors and the outcome was applied.

RESULTS

One hundred and ninety-six of 478 cats were seropositive for T gondii, and the estimated seroprevalence in the study sample was 41.0% (95% confidence interval 36.6-45.4). Compared with domestic cats, pedigree cats had reduced risk for Toxoplasma seropositivity (odds ratio [OR] 0.42). Males had increased risk (OR 1.63) compared with females. The effect of age was highly significant, and an increase in the cats' age across the interquartile range (IQR; 52-160 months/4-13 years of age) doubled the risk of Toxoplasma seropositivity (OR 2.11). The risk for Toxoplasma seropositivity among cats living in Oslo was significantly reduced (OR 0.51) when compared with the rest of Norway.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Pet cats in Norway appear to be commonly exposed to T gondii. Signalment and geographical region influenced the odds of Toxoplasma seropositivity, whereas health status did not.