Response of healthy dogs to infusions of human serum albumin

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and immunologic response in healthy dogs to infusions of human serum albumin (HSA). ANIMALS: 9 healthy purpose-bred mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: Each dog was administered a 25% HSA solution once or twice. Various physical examination and laboratory variables were serially evaluated. Antibody against HSA was assayed before and after infusion by use of an ELISA. Intradermal testing was also conducted. A repeated-measures ANOVA or Friedman repeated-measures ANOVA on ranks was used to compare results for the variables. RESULTS: Adverse clinical reactions were observed after the first or second infusion in 3 dogs. Anaphylactoid reactions were observed in 1 of 9 dogs during the first infusion and in 2 of 2 dogs administered a second infusion. Two dogs developed severe edema and urticaria 6 or 7 days after an initial infusion. All dogs developed anti-HSA antibodies. Positive responses for ID tests were observed in 8 of 9 dogs. Short-term increases were detected in blood protein, total bilirubin, and calcium concentrations after HSA infusion. Serum cholesterol concentrations and platelet counts decreased after HSA infusion. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of HSA resulted in profound reactions in 2 of 9 dogs administered a single infusion and in 2 of 2 dogs administered a second infusion. This indicates that there is risk of life-threatening adverse reactions to HSA infusion in healthy dogs.     

Naturally transmitted herpesvirus papio-2 infection in a black and white colobus monkey

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6.5-year-old female eastern black and white colobus monkey (Colobus guereza) was evaluated after acute onset of ataxia and inappetence. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The monkey was ataxic and lethargic, but no other abnormalities were detected via physical examination, radiography, or clinicopathologic analyses. During the next 2 days, the monkey's clinical condition deteriorated, and its WBC count decreased dramatically. Cytologic examination of a CSF sample revealed marked lymphohistiocytic inflammation. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Despite supportive care, the monkey became apneic; after 20 hours of mechanical ventilation, fatal cardiac arrest occurred. At necropsy, numerous petechiae were detected within the white matter tracts of the brain; microscopic lesions of multifocal necrosis and hemorrhage with intranuclear inclusions identified in the brain and adrenal glands were consistent with an acute herpesvirus infection. A specific diagnosis of herpesvirus papio-2 (HVP-2) infection was made on the basis of results of serologic testing; PCR assay of tissue specimens; live virus isolation from the lungs; and immunohistochemical identification of the virus within brain, spinal cord, and adrenal gland lesions. Via phylogenetic tree analysis, the colobus HVP-2 isolate was grouped with neuroinvasive strains of the virus. The virus was most likely transmitted to the colobus monkey through toys shared with a nearby colony of baboons (the natural host of HVP-2). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of natural transmission of HVP-2 to a nonhost species. Infection with HVP-2 should be a differential diagnosis for acute encephalopathy in primate monkeys and humans, particularly following exposure to baboons.     

Disease and mortality on red deer farms in New Zealand

A longitudinal observational study of 15 red deer farms was carried out in New Zealand for two years from March 1992. The deer were monitored for performance and health problems, and farm management practices were recorded. Numbers at risk were 4,683 hind-years, 2,459 stag-years and 3,202 weaner-years. The numbers of primiparous and adult hinds at risk of losing their progeny by weaning were 653 and 3,364, respectively. Where possible, postmortem examinations were carried out, and organs were sampled for histological and microbiological investigation. Rates of mortality varied with season with most stag and hind deaths in winter and weaner deaths in autumn and winter. Overall mortality rates were 1.77, 2.60 and 5.87 per 100 deer-years for hinds, stags and weaners, respectively. Malignant catarrhal fever accounted for 0.53 stag and 0.17 hind deaths per 100 deer-years at risk Misadventure, including broken bones, accounted for 15.4 per cent of weaner mortalities, or 0.53 weaner mortalities per 100 weaner-three months in autumn. Yersiniosis was confirmed in 18.6 per cent of weaner deaths, or 1.09 weaners per 100 weaner-years during the first six months after weaning, but was also suspected but unconfirmed in a further 41 per cent of weaner mortalities. Overall, 17 per cent of yearling hinds, and 9.2 per cent of adult hinds lost their progeny between pregnancy diagnosis in June and weaning in March. One outbreak of osteochondrosis was recorded. Mortality rates varied between farms and many mortalities were preventable.     

One-step RT-PCR for the Detection of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Clinical Samples

A single-tube, non-interrupted, one-step RT-PCR has been standardized to amplify the hypervariable region of the VP2 gene sequence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The technique standardized on purified viral RNA was successfully applied to the detection of the virus directly in clinical samples. The amplified products were confirmed to be IBDV specific by their size in ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel, nested PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Digestion of the amplicons with StyI restriction enzyme also differentiated classical virus from six very virulent field isolates. The sensitivity of the one-step RT-PCR was found to be 0.2 pg of viral RNA.     

Application of PCR and DNA probes in the characterisation of trypanosomes in the blood of cattle in farms in Morogoro, Tanzania

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probes were used to characterise trypanosomes from cattle in Morogoro region of Tanzania. Blood samples collected from 390 beef and dairy cattle in selected farms in Morogoro region were examined for presence of trypanosomes using the buffy coat technique (BCT) and blood smears (BSs). Fifty-two animals were found infected: 40 with Trypanosoma congolense, 10 with T. vivax and two with both T. congolense and T. vivax. DNA extracted from all the parasitologically positive and 62 randomly selected parasitologically negative samples were subjected to PCR amplification using primers specific for different trypanosome species. Using a set of seven specific-pairs of primers on the parasitologically positive samples, we detected only T. congolense, either the Savannah- or the Kilifi-type, as single or mixed infections. With the PCR, trypanosome DNA could be detected in 27 (43%) out of 62 samples that were parasitologically negative. DNA hybridisation using probes specific for Savannah- or Kilifi-types T. congolense, or T. vivax, confirmed the presence of these parasites in cattle kept on some farms in Morogoro region of Tanzania. From these studies, it is clear that there is a need to undertake molecular epidemiological studies to determine the distribution of trypanosome species and subspecies, and to assess the economic impact of these parasites in the productivity of livestock in Tanzania. In particular, it would be desirable to verify the assumed association between the different presentations of trypanosomosis on one hand and genotypes of T. congolense on the other.     

Adrenal teratoma in four domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

Teratomas are histologically complex neoplasms that are composed of structures derived from multiple germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm). These neoplasms are uncommon in domestic animals and are usually found in the gonads. This paper describes teratomas of the adrenal gland in four domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Three of four of the neoplasms contained tissues from ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal germ cell layers; two of four contained rudimentary teeth. In one case, malignant epithelial cells had metastasized to local lymph nodes. Teratomas, although uncommon, should be included in the differential diagnosis for adrenal neoplasms in domestic ferrets.     

Paraneoplastic thrombocytosis-induced systemic thromboembolism in a cat

A six-year-old cat presented with clinical signs consistent with distal aortic thromboembolism while clinical signs of cardiovascular disease were absent. Diagnostics, including thoracic radiographs, electrocardiography, and echocardiography revealed no cardiovascular anomalies. Thoracic radiographs revealed multifocal pulmonary lesions consistent with neoplasia. Complete blood cell count demonstrated a marked thrombocytosis, leukopenia, and neutropenia. Histopathology of the pulmonary lesions confirmed multiple bronchoalveolar carcinomas. Myelodysplasia with megakaryocytic hyperplasia and ineffective myelopoiesis was noted on bone-marrow histopathology from multiple sites. The absence of other causes suggested a paraneoplastic thrombocytosis. The diagnosis of paraneoplastic thrombocytosis-induced thromboembolism was made due to the lack of underlying cardiac disease and the presence of a marked thrombocytosis. The presence of thrombocytosis and thromboembolism associated with neoplasia is discussed.