Ultrasound-guided blockade of the dorsal nerve of the penis in a Great Dane

This report describes an approach to regional anaesthesia of the dorsal nerves of the penis in a Great Dane, as part of an anaesthetic protocol for surgical urethral resection and anastomosis. Bupivacaine (0.5%) was infiltrated around the left and right dorsal nerves of the penis, with ultrasound guidance. The locoregional approach was trans-perineal, with the ultrasound probe orientated at a right angle to the anus, at the level of the ischial symphysis. The described technique provided good visualisation of the urethra and dorsal arteries of the penis. No adverse events relating to the nerve blockade were encountered and no additional analgesia, other than the methadone premedication, was required intra-operatively. The locoregional approach was subsequently repeated on a cadaver using the same technique and, on dissection, demonstrated deposition of injectate next to the target neurovascular bundles. The technique described may provide a simple method of distal penile anaesthesia in the dog, where ultrasound is available.

Long-read assembly of a Great Dane genome highlights the contribution of GC-rich sequence and mobile elements to canine genomes

Technological advances have allowed improvements in genome reference sequence assemblies. Here, we combined long- and short-read sequence resources to assemble the genome of a female Great Dane dog. This assembly has improved continuity compared to the existing Boxer-derived (CanFam3.1) reference genome. Annotation of the Great Dane assembly identified 22,182 protein-coding gene models and 7,049 long noncoding RNAs, including 49 protein-coding genes not present in the CanFam3.1 reference. The Great Dane assembly spans the majority of sequence gaps in the CanFam3.1 reference and illustrates that 2,151 gaps overlap the transcription start site of a predicted protein-coding gene. Moreover, a subset of the resolved gaps, which have an 80.95% median GC content, localize to transcription start sites and recombination hotspots more often than expected by chance, suggesting the stable canine recombinational landscape has shaped genome architecture. Alignment of the Great Dane and CanFam3.1 assemblies identified 16,834 deletions and 15,621 insertions, as well as 2,665 deletions and 3,493 insertions located on secondary contigs. These structural variants are dominated by retrotransposon insertion/deletion polymorphisms and include 16,221 dimorphic canine short interspersed elements (SINECs) and 1,121 dimorphic long interspersed element-1 sequences (LINE-1_Cfs). Analysis of sequences flanking the 3′ end of LINE-1_Cfs (i.e., LINE-1_Cf 3′-transductions) suggests multiple retrotransposition-competent LINE-1_Cfs segregate among dog populations. Consistent with this conclusion, we demonstrate that a canine LINE-1_Cf element with intact open reading frames can retrotranspose its own RNA and that of a SINEC_Cf consensus sequence in cultured human cells, implicating ongoing retrotransposon activity as a driver of canine genetic variation.

Pregnancy Effect on Echocardiographic Parameters in Great Dane Bitches

Pregnancy is associated with adaptation of the left ventricular (LV) function. Due to differences between breeds in baseline echocardiographic values and specific predispositions for myocardial diseases, breed-specific echocardiographic parameters may be helpful to evaluate whether the systolic function varies during pregnancy. This study enrolled nine healthy Great Dane bitches with uncomplicated pregnancy. Echocardiographic M-mode and B-mode data were collected before ovulation and within 7 days of the predicted parturition term. Evaluated parameters were: LV dimension in diastole (LVd) and systole (LVs), end-diastolic (EDVI) and end-systolic (ESVI) volumes indexed to body surface area (BSA), end-diastolic (EDV) and end-systolic (ESV), end-point-septal-separation (EPSS), left atrium to aortic root ratio (LA/Ao), sphericity index (SI), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO). The ANOVA showed a statistical effect of the age of gestation (p < 0.01) on the increase of diastolic dimensions and functional parameters and on the decrease of systolic dimensions. The CO increase parallels the rise in SV and HR (p < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed for EPSS, LA/Ao, and SI. The changes in cardiac chambers and function are likely to reflect maternal adaptation to allow the fetal development in uncomplicated pregnancy. The present study provides specific echocardiographic values in uncomplicated pregnancy of Great Danes, showing that the systolic function is enhanced and that the increase in preload, observed during gestation, is the likely mechanism.

ALANS AND ALANIAN DOGS.

Немецкий дог (Deutsche Dogge), называемый также большая датская собака (Grand Danois), известен в Италии под именем аланской собаки (Cane Alano) или немецкой аланской собаки. Это название употребляется в Италии с 1920 г., и оно было дано немецкому догу вероятнее всего в связи с предполагаемым его происхождением от собаки аlaunt, появившейся в Европе, в соответствии с некоторыми гипотезами, вместе с приходом аланов во время их передвижения на запад. Цель настоящей работы – попытаться выяснить, возможно ли доказать, что немецкий дог происходит от аlaunt, и, в особенности, существует ли на самом деле связь между аланами, собаками аlaunt и аланскими собаками нашего времени. The Deutsche Dogge, also called Great Dane (Grand Danois), is known in Italy under the name of the “Alanian dog” (Cane Alano) or “German Alanian dog”. This name has been used in Italy since 1920, and it was given to the Great Dane most likely in connection with its alleged origin from the “Alaunt” dog, which appeared in Europe, according to some hypothesis, along with the arrival of the Alans during their movement westward. The purpose of this work is to try to find out whether it is possible to prove that the Great Dane comes from “Alaunt” and, in particular, whether there is really a connection between Alans, “Alaunt” dogs and “Alanian dogs” of our time.

Long-read assembly of a Great Dane genome highlights the contribution of GC-rich sequence and mobile elements to canine genomes

Technological advances have allowed improvements in genome reference sequence assemblies. Here, we combined long- and short-read sequence resources to assemble the genome of a female Great Dane dog. This assembly has improved continuity compared to the existing Boxer-derived (CanFam3.1) reference genome. Annotation of the Great Dane assembly identified 22,182 protein-coding gene models and 7,049 long non-coding RNAs, including 49 protein-coding genes not present in the CanFam3.1 reference. The Great Dane assembly spans the majority of sequence gaps in the CanFam3.1 reference and illustrates that 2,151 gaps overlap the transcription start site of a predicted protein-coding gene. Moreover, a subset of the resolved gaps, which have an 80.95% median GC content, localize to transcription start sites and recombination hotspots more often than expected by chance, suggesting the stable canine recombinational landscape has shaped genome architecture. Alignment of the Great Dane and CanFam3.1 assemblies identified 16,834 deletions and 15,621 insertions, as well as 2,665 deletions and 3,493 insertions located on secondary contigs. These structural variants are dominated by retrotransposon insertion/deletion polymorphisms and include 16,221 dimorphic canine short interspersed elements (SINECs) and 1,121 dimorphic long interspersed element-1 sequences (LINE-1_Cfs). Analysis of sequences flanking the 3’ end of LINE-1_Cfs (i.e., LINE-1_Cf 3’-transductions) suggests multiple retrotransposition-competent LINE-1_Cfs segregate among dog populations. Consistent with this conclusion, we demonstrate that a canine LINE-1_Cf element with intact open reading frames can retrotranspose its own RNA and that of a SINEC_Cf consensus sequence in cultured human cells, implicating ongoing retrotransposon activity as a driver of canine genetic variation.SignificanceAdvancements in long-read DNA sequencing technologies provide more comprehensive views of genomes. We used long-read sequences to assemble a Great Dane dog genome that provides several improvements over the existing reference derived from a Boxer dog. Assembly comparisons revealed that gaps in the Boxer assembly often occur at the beginning of protein-coding genes and have a high-GC content, which likely reflects limitations of previous technologies in resolving GC-rich sequences. Dimorphic LINE-1 and SINEC retrotransposon sequences represent the predominant differences between the Great Dane and Boxer assemblies. Proof-of-principle experiments demonstrated that expression of a canine LINE-1 could promote the retrotransposition of itself and a SINEC_Cf consensus sequence in cultured human cells. Thus, ongoing retrotransposon activity may contribute to canine genetic diversity.

Informational goals, sentence structure, and comparison class inference

Understanding a gradable adjective (e.g., big) requires making reference to a comparison class, a set of objects or entities against which the referent is implicitly compared (e.g., big for a Great Dane), but how do listeners decide upon a comparison class? Simple models of semantic composition stipulate that the adjective combines with a noun, which necessarily be- comes the comparison class (e.g., “That Great Dane is big” means big for a Great Dane). We investigate an alternative hypothesis built on the idea that the utility of a noun in an adjectival utterance can be either for reference (getting the listener to attend to the right object) or predication (describing a property of the referent). Therefore, we hypothesize that when the presence of a noun N can be explained away by its utility in reference (e.g., being in the subject position: “That N is big”), it is less likely to set the comparison class. Across three pre-registered experiments, we find evidence that listeners use the noun as a cue to infer comparison classes consistent with a trade-off between reference and predication. This work highlights the complexity of the relation between the form of an utterance and its meaning.

Anaesthetic complications and management of a great dane presenting with acute respiratory distress

Anaesthesia can be challenging in animals with acute respiratory distress. This report details the management of a seven-year-old female great dane who initially presented with acute onset tachypnoea and retching. Under general anaesthesia, the dog was initially tachycardic, hypotensive and developed hypoxaemia. CT revealed a hiatal hernia with complete gastric herniation, gastric dilatation and suspected volvulus. At surgery, a type IV hiatal hernia with splenic involvement was confirmed. Following correction of the hernia and repositioning of the stomach and the spleen, oxygen saturation improved, and volume-controlled ventilation was initiated. The dog recovered from general anaesthesia but developed oliguria, anaemia and became oxygen dependent in the following 48 hours. The dog was subsequently euthanased owing to a grave prognosis.