Characterization of protection from systemic infection and disease by use of a modified-live noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus type 1 vaccine in experimentally infected calves

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate protection against systemic infection and clinical disease provided by use of a modified-live noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) type 1 vaccine in calves challenged with NY-1 BVDV. ANIMALS: 10 calves, 5 to 7 months of age. PROCEDURES: Calves were allocated (n = 5/group) to be nonvaccinated or vaccinated SC on day 0 with BVDV type 1 (WRL strain). Calves in both groups were challenged intranasally with NY-1 BVDV on day 21. Calves' rectal temperatures and clinical signs of disease were recorded daily, total and differential WBC and platelet counts were performed, and serum neutralizing antibody titers against NY-1 BVDV were determined. Histologic examinations and immunohistochemical analyses to detect gross lesions and distribution of viral antigens, respectively, were performed. RESULTS: After challenge exposure to NY-1 BVDV, nonvaccinated calves developed high rectal temperatures, increased respiratory rates, viremia, leukopenia, lymphopenia, and infection of the thymus. Vaccinated calves did not develop high rectal temperatures or clinical signs of respiratory tract disease. Vaccinated calves appeared to be protected against systemic replication of virus in that they did not develop leukopenia, lymphopenia, viremia, or infection of target organs, and infectious virus was not detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or the thymus. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The modified-live BVDV vaccine protected calves against systemic infection and disease after experimental challenge exposure with NY-1 BVDV. The vaccine protected calves against infection and viremia and prevented infection of target lymphoid cells.     

Recurrent bilateral exophthalmos associated with metastatic thymic carcinoma in a pet rabbit

A five-year-old, castrated, male chinchilla rabbit was presented for evaluation of recurrent bilateral exophthalmos. Besides a transient and stress-related exophthalmos with protrusion of both third eyelids, the ophthalmological examination was unremarkable. Plain radiography of the thorax revealed a large precardial mass of soft tissue density. Cytological preparations from the thoracic mass were dominated by small, mature lymphocytes with approximately 10 to 20 per cent lymphoblasts. Computed tomography of the head showed a symmetrical laterodorsal deviation of both eyes without evidence of retrobulbar masses. On necropsy a large cystic mass was present in the cranial thorax associated with severe hydrothorax, hydropericardium and ascites. Histology identified the precardial mass as thymic carcinoma with metastases in the kidneys. This case illustrates the difficulty of diagnosing thymic tumours based on cytological or histological features of the primary tumour alone. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of recurrent bilateral exophthalmos associated with a metastatic thymic carcinoma in a pet rabbit.     

Molluscicidal activity of vulgarone B against ram's horn snail (Planorbella trivolvis)

The ram's horn snail (Planorbella trivolvis (Say)) is an intermediate host for a digenetic trematode (Bolbophorus confusus (Krause) Dubois) that has recently been discovered to be a significant problem in commercial channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Raf) production ponds in the Mississippi Delta region in the USA. In these catfish ponds, the digenetic life cycle of this parasitic trematode involves two intermediate hosts, the ram's horn snail and the channel catfish, and the final host, the American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin). One approach to eradicate this problem is to disrupt the life cycle of the parasitic trematodes by eliminating the snails. During our search for natural-product-based molluscicides to control the snails in the catfish ponds, vulgarone B, isolated from the steam distillate of the aerial parts of the plant Artemisia douglasiana Besser (Asteraceae), was found to be active towards the snails with a LC50 of ca 24 microM. Channel catfish toxicity studies indicated a LC50 of ca 207 microM. Vulgarone B may be an environmentally acceptable alternative for snail control in aquaculture.     

Outcome of equids with clinical signs of West Nile virus infection and factors associated with death

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome of equids in the western United States with clinical signs of West Nile virus (WNV) infection and identify factors associated with risk of death in infected equids. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 484 equids in Nebraska and Colorado. PROCEDURE: Owners of 484 equids with laboratory-confirmed West Nile virus infection in Nebraska and Colorado were contacted by telephone, and a questionnaire was used to obtain information on signalment, management, clinical signs, date of disease onset, duration of disease, WNV vaccination status, and health status at the time of the interview. RESULTS: 137 of 482 (28.4%) animals died or were euthanatized. Ataxia, lethargy, muscle fasciculations, and weakness were the most common clinical signs of disease. Animals > or = 3 years old were more likely to die than were animals < or = 2 years old. Unvaccinated equids were twice as likely to die as were animals that had been vaccinated at least once prior to the onset of disease. Animals that were recumbent and unable to rise were 78 times as likely to die as were animals that never lost the ability to rise. Females were 2.9 times as likely to die as males. Two hundred seventy-one of 339 (79.9%) animals that survived recovered fully; mean duration of disease for these animals was 22.3 days. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Among equids with WNV infection, age, vaccination status, an inability to rise, and sex were associated with the risk of death.     

Effect of reagent batch on activated partial thromboplastin time in canine plasma and use of the ratio system for standardization

In order to test the variability of the results of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in different reagent batches, 40 samples (20 from healthy dogs, 15 from patients with prolonged APTT as a result of different congenital or acquired haemostasis disorders, 5 from healthy dogs after in vitro addition of heparin) were used to compare 6 different lot Nos. of two commercial APTT-reagents (Pathromtin, PTT Reagent). Although the Friedman test showed a reagent batch dependency (p < 0.0001) for both reagents, only minor quantitative differences were observed with a variation coefficient of 2.7% (Pathromtin) and 2.4% (PTT Reagent), respectively. A second experiment was based on 105 samples measured with two batches of a third reagent (APTT-FS) with remarkable differences of results. Convergence of the results was achieved by converting into ratio values (quotient measurement value/control). However, statistical comparison still showed a significant difference. The study shows the good reproducibility of the APTT measured with different batches of the reagents Pathromtin and PTT Reagent in canine plasma, indicating that standardization is unnecessary. A standardization based on the ratio system can be used for reagents with a low batch consistency, requiring a high-quality control.     

Preclinical studies for the use of the platelet function analyser PFA-100 with the collagen/ADP cartridge in dogs

In this study, the following three aspects of platelet function analyser were investigated in dogs, using a collagen/ADP cartridge: precision, influence of the cartridge batch and of the sample storage time. Closure time and total volume of blood flow until closure of the capillary were measured. Based on several series of 5 repeated measurements mean coefficients of variation were 5% (3-6%; closure time) or 3% (1-5%; total volume). Neither closure time, nor total volume showed significant differences (p > 0.05) when comparing the results of 6 different batches of the collagen/ADP cartridge. Closure time (p = 0.0211, analysis of variance) and total volume (p = 0.0310) were significantly influenced by storage time, based on the sample material of 6 healthy dogs which was stored for 24 hours. Shortening of the closure time and decrease of the total volume observed in the time interval 1-2 hours after blood collection was followed by a significant prolongation of closure time and increase of the total volume (p < 0.05) starting 8 hours after blood collection. This study shows sufficient reproducibility which is not affected by reagent batch number. The results of the studies on storage indicated nearly identical recommendations for storage time before measurement of canine (0.5-2 hours) and human (0.5-3 hours) sample material.     

Use of immunocytochemical techniques in canine melanoma

The staining patterns of the monoclonal antibodies S-100 and Melan-A in canine melanoma were assessed based on cytological specimens of six canine melanomas (four benign, two malignant). In addition, eight regional lymph nodes of the two dogs with malignant melanomas were stained using these markers. For reference, all specimens were also evaluated immunohistochemically using S-100 and Melan-A. To assess the immunocytochemical specificity of both antibodies, various canine tumours and normal tissues were stained. The immunocytochemical staining results of the canine melanomas and the regional lymph nodes showed high conformity with the immunohistochemical reactivity patterns for S-100 and Melan-A. The specificity of Melan-A was higher compared with S-100. Melan-A, in particular, may be helpful for the cytological diagnosis of canine melanoma.     

泰国红色原鸡和中国红色原鸡mtDNA控制区遗传多态性和分类关系研究

对泰国红色原鸡Gallus gallus gallus亚种和中国红色原鸡Gallus gallus spadiceus亚种各16个个体mtDNAD-loop序列进行系统分析,测定线粒体D-loop部分序列大小约为560bp,A、C、G、T这4种核苷酸的平均比例分别为13.6%、43.2%、4.3%和38.9%,A+T含量高于G+C含量。结果共发现27个变异位点,颠换和转换之比为0.13,没有观测到插入/缺失情况。测定的6种单倍型中,2个红色原鸡亚种没有共享单倍型,单倍型多样度分别为0.250和0.695,平均核苷酸差异数分别为3.750和10.833,核苷酸多样度分别为0.954%和2.757%。泰国红色原鸡中性检验的Tajima'sD值为-1.800(P<0.05),不符合中性突变。2个红色原鸡亚种间核苷酸分歧度(Dxy)为2.847%,核苷酸净遗传距离(Da)为0.991%。序列群体间的方差组分(Va)占总变异的47.31%,Fst=0.473,差异极显著(P<0.01);群体间mtDNAD-loopFst值也差异显著(P=0.035)。红色原鸡2个亚种具有不同的群体遗传结构,群体之间存在明显的遗传分化,本研究支持这2个亚种并非是同一个亚种的观点。     

12个中国地方鸡种群体遗传结构及遗传多样性分析

利用29对微卫星引物对我国的12个地方鸡种进行群体遗传结构及遗传多样性评估，结果表明：每个座位的等位基因数从2到23不等，所有的12个群体均显示较高水平的杂合度，固始鸡最低，为0．4532，大骨鸡最高，为0．6271。鸡种间存在较大的遗传分化，16．7％的遗传变异源于品种间的差异。基于Reynolds’遗传距离的邻近（NJ）聚类图显示，12个群体可以分为2个主要的类群：重体型的鸡种首先聚在一起，然后轻体型鸡种加入。structure程序同时也被用于评价鸡种间的遗传关系，结果与NJ聚类法相似，重体型的鸡种首先与轻体型鸡种分成两类。     

Asymmetrical, transitional, lumbosacral vertebral segments in six dogs: a characteristic spinal syndrome

Clinical findings in six dogs with asymmetrical, transitional, lumbosacral vertebral segments are reported. All dogs exhibited low back pain and varying degrees of asymmetrical cauda equina dysfunction. Results of myelography, epidurography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated a unilateral disk protrusion in all dogs. In the dogs with MRIs, focal degenerative alterations in the vertebral end plates and adjacent body of the vertebra were detected. All dogs were treated with a dorsal laminectomy or hemilaminectomy. Results following surgery were good or excellent in all six dogs.