A 7-year-old, intact female Domestic Shorthair cat was referred to University Veterinary Hospital (UVH), UPM for diagnostic workup of a hepatomegaly observed on abdominal radiographs. Physical examination revealed no significant findings except for a distended abdomen. Hematology and serum biochemistry findings included a regenerative anaemia, left shift neutrophilia and a 10-fold elevation in gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). Abdominal ultrasound revealed heterechoic liver lobes with irregular margins and presence of nodular and cyst-like structures predominantly affecting the left lobes. A mild ascites was also noted. A fine needle aspiration of the liver was performed and cytology results confirmed a cholangiocarcinoma. Generally, the outcome for cholagiocarcinoma is poor and there is limited information regarding the prognosis for patients with cholangiocarcinoma following chemotherapy or surgery.
A 4-year-old, male local dog was referred to University Veterinary Hospital-Universiti Putra Malaysia (UVH-UPM) due to
dyspnoea and ascites. Full diagnostic investigations inclusive of blood haematology, serum biochemistry, blood smear examinations
for haemopathogens, heartworm antigen test, thoracic and abdominal radiography and echocardiography were conducted. A
diagnosis of severe heartworm disease was made from the positive heartworm antigen test, the presence of heartworms on
echocardiography and the accompanying advanced clinical findings. This was the first case of right-sided heart failure due to severe
heartworm disease with concurrent pulmonary hypertension diagnosed in UVH-UPM from which the moribund dog was
successfully stabilised during hospitalisation.
An 8-year-old spayed female Shih Tzu was referred to University Veterinary Hospital (UVH) with history of chronic coughing for more than a year duration. Dry, hacking cough was heard and bilateral wheezing lung sound was noted upon physical examination. Auscultation of heart revealed left apical systolic heart murmur Grade III/VI. A soft, intermittent swelling was observed at ventral neck, cranial to thoracic inlet (protruded upon expiration and collapsed upon inspiration). Thoracic radiography taken showed presence of apical radiolucency at cervical region and bronchial pattern at caudodorsal lungs with left atrium enlargement and right-sided heart enlargement. Echocardiographic examination revealed myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) with mild regurgitation. Based on diagnostic imaging, this case was diagnosed as dynamic lung lobe herniation secondary to chronic coughing concurrent with myxomatous mitral valve disease. Other differential diagnosis that may lead to chronic cough such as of tracheal collapsed and bronchiectasis was not rule out.
Melioidosis is a zoonotic disease as a result of infection by Burkholderia pseudomallei. It is of significant public health
concern due to its ubiquitous nature with high morbidity and mortality in humans and animals. In cats, the disease is usually reported
with abscess formation in lung, liver and spleen, however, isolated articular melioidosis is rare. A 1-year-old, a female Domestic
Shorthair cat was presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UVH-UPM) with swollen right elbow and
non weight bearing lameness of the right forelimb. Physical examination revealed pyrexia, soft tissue swelling and pain upon
palpation of the right elbow joint. Radiographs of the right forelimb revealed osteolysis at the distal third of the humerus and
proximal radius and ulna, cortical thinning at the olecranon and soft tissue swelling around the elbow joint. Bacterial culture of the
joint fluid revealed positive growth for Burkholderia pseudomallei. Unfortunately, the owner opted to euthanise the cat citing
personal reasons. Upon necropsy, there was presence of multiple caseous nodules within the right elbow joint cavity only and none
of the other limbs, lung, spleen and liver was affected. It is important for veterinarian to be aware of septic arthritis and osteomyelitis
form of melioidosis.