Multiple crusted cutaneous plaques in a cat

A 12-year-old castrated male, domestic shorthaired cat was presented with multiple skin lesions. The cat lived mainly indoors and was regularly vaccinated against feline herpes-, calici- and parvo-viruses. It had also been vaccinated against feline leukaemia virus 18 months previously and the owner claimed that the skin lesions had developed after that vaccination.     

Studies of endotoxin-dependent fever in pre-pubertal pigs following acute activation of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis: towards a new hypothesis of fever regulation

The possibility that adrenocortical activation might alter the pyretic effects of bacterial lipopolysaccharide endotoxin in growing pigs was investigated. In a series of four experiments, animals received increasing doses of porcine adrenocorticotrophic hormone ACTH (1.5, 4.5, 13.5 IU kg-1) or CRH (7 microg kg-1), all of which markedly affected cortisol release. Unexpectedly, these treatments tended to increase body temperature during the early and middle stages of the febrile response, although they did appear to induce an earlier deferscence. These results suggest that acute stress may not modify fever induced by immunological challenge, although a different situation could obtain during chronic stress. Furthermore, a hypothesis of fever regulation is proposed which attempts to reconcile the present findings with those from previous studies in swine.     

The classical swine fever epidemic 1997-1998 in The Netherlands: descriptive epidemiology

The objective of this paper is to describe the severe epidemic of classical swine fever (CSF) in The Netherlands in 1997–1998 under a policy of non-vaccination, intensive surveillance, pre-emptive slaughter and stamping out in an area which has one of the highest pig and herd densities in Europe.

The primary outbreak was detected on 4 February 1997 on a mixed sow and finishing pig herd. A total of 429 outbreaks was observed during the epidemic, and approximately 700 000 pigs from these herds were slaughtered. Among these outbreaks were two artificial insemination centres, which resulted in a CSF-suspect declaration of 1680 pig herds (mainly located in the southern part of The Netherlands). The time between introduction of CSF virus (CSFV) into the country and diagnosis of CSF in the primary outbreak was estimated to be approximately 6 weeks. It is presumed that CSFV was spread from The Netherlands to Italy and Spain via shipment of infected piglets in the beginning of February 1997, before the establishment of a total stand-still of transportation. In June 1997, CSFV is presumed to be introduced into Belgium from The Netherlands.

Pre-emptive slaughter of herds that had been in contact with infected herds or were located in close vicinity of infected herds, was carried out around the first two outbreaks. However, this policy was not further exercised till mid-April 1997, when pre-emptive slaughter became a standard operational procedure for the rest of the epidemic. In total, 1286 pig herds were pre-emptively slaughtered. (approximately 1.1 million pigs). A total of 44 outbreaks (10%) was detected via pre-emptive slaughter.

When there were clinical signs, the observed symptoms in infected herds were mainly atypical: fever, apathy, ataxia or a combination of these signs. In 322 out of 429 outbreaks (75%), detection was bases on clinical signs observed: 32% was detected by the farmer, 25% by the veterinary practitioner, 10% of the outbreaks by tracing teams and 8% by screening teams of the veterinary authorities. In 76% of the outbreaks detected by clinical signs, the farmer reported to have seen clinical symptoms for less than 1 week before diagnosis, in 22% for 1–4 weeks before diagnosis, and in 4 herds (1%) the farmer reported to have seen clinical symptoms for more than 4 weeks before diagnosis.

Transportation lorries played a major role in the transmission of CSFV before the primary outbreak was diagnosed. It is estimated that approximately 39 herds were already infected before the first measures of the eradication campaign came into force.

After the first measures to stop the spread of CSFV had been implemented, the distribution of the most likely routes of transmission markedly changed. In most outbreaks, a neighbourhood infection was indicated.

Basically, there were two reasons for this catastrophe. Firstly, there was the extent of the period between introduction of the virus in the region and detection of the first outbreak. As a result, CSFV had opportunities to spread from one herd to another during this period. Secondly, the measures initially taken did not prove sufficient in the swine- and herd-dense region involved.     

Examination of adenovirus-types in intestinal vascular endothelial inclusions in fatal cases of enteric disease in cattle, by in situ hybridisation

There have been occasional reports in the literature of a severe naturally occurring enteric disease of cattle in which adenoviral inclusions were found in intestinal vascular endothelium. Bovine adenovirus type 10 (BAV-10) was identified by in situ hybridisation (ISH) in the inclusions of all 13 such cattle detected in Northern Ireland [Smyth, J.A., Benk?, M., Moffett, D.A., Harrach, B., 1996. J. Clin. Microbiol. 34, 1270-1274]. The present paper describes ISH examination of the vascular endothelial inclusion bodies in a further seventeen cattle with enteric disease, from Canada, Great Britain, Italy and The Netherlands. BAV-10 was identified in the inclusions of ten cases, and Subgroup 2 BAVs in six cases. BAV-10 was identified in cattle from Canada, The Netherlands and Great Britain. This is the first recognition of BAV-10 infection outside Northern Ireland and New Zealand. The results also show that at least two adenovirus serotypes may induce inclusion bodies in intestinal vascular endothelium of cattle. It will, therefore, be difficult in the short term to develop a simple test to allow diagnosis of this form of adenoviral infection in living animals, and thus to determine the relationship between it and clinical disease.     

Feline immunodeficiency virus subtype C is prevalent in northern part of Taiwan

The seroepidemiological survey of cats conducted in northern part of Taiwan in 1998 revealed that the positive rate of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infection was 21.9% (7/32) and the rate was much higher than those of previous reports. We succeeded in isolation of three strains of FIV from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the blood samples. Nucleotide sequences of the env variable V3 to V5 region of the strains revealed that the isolates from distinct areas belong to subtype C. These data together with our previous report (Inada et al. 1997. Arch. Virol., 142: 1459-1467) indicate that FIV subtype C is prevalent in northern part of Taiwan.     

Pneumonia due to Mycobacterium abscessus in two domestic ferrets (Mustelo putorius furo)

Two ferrets were diagnosed with pneumonia due to Mycobacterium abscessus. Both cases were treated successfully using clarithromycin after positive cultures were obtained via unguided bronchoalveolar lavage. This is the first time M abscessus has been isolated in our laboratory and the first report of this organism causing disease in companion animals in Australia. Underlying respiratory tract disease was thought to be an important factor in the development of the infections. Thorough investigation of chronic lower respiratory tract disease in ferrets is recommended as this species appears predisposed to atypical infections.