Page 109 Veterinary Lecture Notes - Clinical Pathology, Dermatology, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Page 109 notes across infectious disease (Salmonella typhimurium), dermatology (pemphigus foliaceus, proud flesh, urticaria, eosinophilic granuloma), clinical pathology (equine bone marrow findings, regenerative anemia), neutrophil toxic changes (Dohle bodies), and SCID in Arabians.

Salmonella typhimurium - clinical presentations

Several presentations: subclinical, self-limiting diarrhea, and acute diarrhea with endotoxemia; commonly involves the cecum and proximal colon; signs include acute onset lethargy, anorexia, and explosive watery diarrhea.

Salmonella typhimurium - site of infection

Predominantly affects the cecum and proximal colon, with acute diarrhea and systemic signs such as endotoxemia.

Salmonella typhimurium - diagnosis

Serial cultures of feces for 3–5 days to confirm infection.

Pemphigus foliaceus

Autoimmune disease with antibodies against intracellular adhesion proteins, causing vesicles, erosions, ulcers—especially at mucocutaneous junctions—with crusting lesions on head, limbs, and ventrum.

Pemphigus foliaceus - biopsy finding

Acantholytic cells observed on skin biopsy.

Pemphigus foliaceus - treatment and prognosis

Immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids; juveniles may remit spontaneously (good prognosis); adults have worse prognosis.

Proud flesh (exuberant granulation tissue)

Benign proliferation of exuberant granulation tissue at a previous wound site; etiology related to inhibition of epithelialization; treatment includes excision, skin grafts, and irradiation.

Urticaria (hives)

Allergic reaction with toxins, plants, insect bites, medications, chemicals, heat, sunlight, stress, or genetic abnormalities; presents as localized edema in the dermis with raised lesions after pasture exposure.

Urticaria - lesion characteristics

Elevated, flat-topped lesions ranging 2–8 cm, scattered multifocally.

Urticaria - treatment

Dexamethasone; diphenhydramine can be used but not administered IV because IV likely to exacerbate urticaria.

Eosinophilic granuloma (nodular necrobiosis of collagen)

Nodular mass lesion on the neck due to insect bites or trauma; non-ulcerative and non-pruritic; biopsy shows collagen degeneration with granulomatous inflammation and eosinophils.

Eosinophilic granuloma - treatment

Subcutaneous steroid injections, surgical excision, and systemic antibiotics.

Bone marrow aspirate in horses - purpose

Used to determine if a horse has regenerative or non-regenerative anemia when reticulocytes are not evident in circulation.

Regenerative anemia - bone marrow finding (equine)

Hypercellular bone marrow with a low myeloid-to-erythroid ratio (<0.5) indicating regenerative activity (note: peripheral reticulocytes may be absent in circulation in horses, so marrow assessment is essential).

Dohle bodies

Blue aggregates in neutrophils indicating toxic changes, commonly seen in sepsis; may be accompanied by cytoplasmic basophilia, vacuolation, and toxic granulation, especially in septic foals.

Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) in Arabians

Autosomal recessive condition; some Arabian foals are homozygous for the SCID gene; there is a genetic test available for this disease.