A novel herpesvirus associated with chronic superficial keratitis and proliferative conjunctivitis in a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)

An adult great‐horned owl (Bubo virginianus; GHOW) presented with a history of recurrent corneal ulceration of the right eye (OD). Findings included ulcerative superficial keratitis, proliferative conjunctivitis, and iris pigmentary changes. The ulcer was initially nonresponsive to medical therapy, but showed rapid and appropriate healing following diamond burr debridement. Proliferative conjunctivitis markedly improved following topical antiviral therapy with cidofovir 1%, interferon alpha 2B ophthalmic solutions, and oral l ‐lysine. Histopathologic evaluation of a conjunctival biopsy revealed epithelial features suspicious for viral cytopathic changes and intranuclear structures suspicious for viral inclusions, suggestive of a possible viral‐induced papillomatous conjunctivitis. A novel alphaherpesvirus, referred to as Strigid Herpesvirus 1 (StrHV1), was identified using PCR and gene sequencing. This case represents a new clinical manifestation of a previously unreported herpesvirus in the GHOW. Identification of the herpes virus was critical to administration of appropriate therapy and resolution of the conjunctivitis, and corneal epithelial debridement promoted resolution of the chronic corneal epithelial defect.     

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle − Based Rangeland Monitoring: Examining a Century of Vegetation Changes

Rangelands comprise a large component of the terrestrial land surface and provide critical ecosystem services, but they are degrading rapidly. Long-term rangeland monitoring with detailed, nonsubjective, quantitative observations can be expensive and difficult to maintain over time. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide an alternative means to gather unbiased and consistent datasets with similar details to field-based monitoring data. Comparing summer 2017 UAV images with long-term plot measurements, we demonstrate that rangeland vegetation cover changes can be accurately quantified and estimate an increase in total absolute shrub/subshrub cover from 34% in 1935 to > 80% in 2017 in central Arizona. We recommend UAV image-based rangeland monitoring for land managers interested in a few specific and dominant species, such as the foundation species, indicator species, or invasive species that require targeted monitoring. Land managers can identify and continuously monitor trends in rangeland condition, health, and degradation related to specific land use policies and management strategies.     

Serum,milk, and tissue monensin concentrations in cattle with adequate and potentially toxic dietary levels of monensin: pharmacokinetics and diagnostic interpretation

Used in both beef cattle and dairy cows, monensin can provide many health benefits but can, when unintended overexposures occur, result in adverse effects. Information on serum and tissue concentrations following overexposure and/or overt toxicosis which may aid in diagnostics and clinical outcome is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of monensin in biological specimens following oral exposure for 10 days to an approved dose (1 mg/kg) and a higher dose (5 mg/kg) of monensin given daily on a body weight basis to 10 dairy cows. No deaths were reported; cows receiving 5 mg/kg showed early signs of toxicosis including depression, decreased feed intake, and diarrhea after 4 days of exposure. Histopathological findings were minimal in most cows. Pharmacokinetic modeling of the detected serum concentrations for the 1 and 5 mg/kg dose groups determined the C_max, T_max, and t_1/2λ to be 0.87 and 1.68 ng/mL, 2.0 and 1.0 h, and 1.76 and 2.32 days, respectively. Mixed regression models showed that the dose level and days since last dose were significantly associated with monensin concentrations in all four tissues, and with cardiac troponin levels. The high dose resulted in a significant elevation of monensin in tissues at approximately 4.7 times compared to the monensin concentrations in the tissues of animals from the low‐dose group. The cTnI concentrations in the high‐dose group were 2.1 times that of cTnI in the low‐dose group. Thus, the ability to diagnose monensin overexposure and/or toxicosis will improve from knowledge of biological monensin concentrations from this study.     

Use of newly developed assays for protein C and plasminogen in horses with signs of colic

Protein C content and plasminogen activity were measured in plasma from 100 horses with signs of colic. Data were analyzed by grouping horses 4 ways. Each horse was allotted to 1 of 2 outcome groups (survivors and nonsurvivors), 1 of 3 broad-category diagnosis groups (inflammatory disorders, strangulating obstructions, and all other gastrointestinal disorders), and 1 of 2 clinical management groups (medical and surgical). In a fourth grouping, all horses (although numbers of horses included in each subgroup were small) were assigned either to specific diagnostic groups that had high expectation for activated hemostasis (intestinal ischemia, endotoxemia, jugular thrombosis, peritoneal adhesions, and laminitis) or to a control group, in which active hemostasis was unlikely. Within 2 to 24 hours after admission, nonsurvivors developed lower protein C content than did survivors. Protein C content and plasminogen activity became low during hospitalization in horses with strangulating obstructions and in horses having surgery. The results from the grouping by specific diagnosis must be considered pilot data because the numbers of horses in each subgroup were small. Although not statistically significant, trends were noticed in protein C and plasminogen: (1) horses with intestinal ischemia and endotoxemia developed low protein C content and plasminogen activity, (2) protein C content became low in horses that developed peritoneal adhesions or laminitis, and (3) plasminogen activity became low in horses that developed jugular thrombosis. Low protein C content or low plasminogen activity, or both, may be useful as predictors for outcome and for these specific complications of equine colic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Quantitative electroencephalography in dogs anesthetized with 2.0% end-tidal concentration of isoflurane anesthesia

Quantitative electroencephalography was assessed in dogs under controlled, 2% end-tidal isoflurane anesthetic conditions, and each variable at each electrode site was tested for normal distribution. With the quantitative electroencephalographic system used, 16 values for each of 21 electrode sites were evaluated. Absolute power ratios also were evaluated. The methods for quantitative electroencephalographic recording and analysis appear to be readily adaptable to the dog. Most of the data do not conform to a normal distribution. Therefore, distribution-free nonparametric statistics should be used when looking for differences under experimental or clinical conditions. Quantitative electroencephalography appears to be a sensitive noninvasive method that could be used to evaluate brain function under anesthetic, clinical, and experimental settings.     

Comparison of culture, peroxidase-antiperoxidase reaction, and serum latex agglutination methods for diagnosis of chlamydiosis in pet birds

Comparison was made among results of cloacal specimen culture, and cloacal swab specimen (cytologic) peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP), serum latex agglutination (LA), and tissue PAP assays for diagnosis of chlamydiosis in 144 birds. Swab specimen PAP findings correlated poorly with LA results and failed to predict the LA test result in any bird. Only 1 cloacal swab specimen was regarded as PAP-positive and was from the cloaca of a bird from which chlamydiae were isolated in culture. The sensitivity of swab specimen PAP, compared with culture results, was 33%, whereas specificity was 94%. In this study, swab specimen PAP was a less sensitive test, compared with culture, than was reported in a previous study. The sensitivity of LA in identifying birds that were cloacal culture-positive was poor; true-positive results were not detected, compared with culture results. The specificity of the LA method was 93%, compared with culture results. Results of the tissue PAP method correlated with culture results in the 3 birds for which both tests were performed.     

Cryptosporidiosis in neonatal calves: 277 cases (1986-1987)

From January 1986 through December 1987, 277 cases of cryptosporidiosis in calves were diagnosed by the South Dakota State University Diagnostic Laboratory. Cryptosporidium sp was the only pathogen identified in 142 (51.3%) of the calves. Concurrent infections with rotavirus, coronavirus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp, bovine viral diarrhea virus, or other pathogens were identified in the remaining 135 calves. After elimination of cases involving autolyzed specimens or calves with chronic diarrhea, records of 11 calves with acute, severe cryptosporidiosis were identified in which Cryptosporidium sp was the only pathogen.     

Repair of an open radial fracture in an adult horse

An open radial fracture in an adult horse (450 kg) was repaired by internal fixation, using two 18-hole 4.5-mm broad dynamic compression plates and 5.5- and 4.5-mm bone screws. The fracture healed completely, but when evaluated 9 months after surgery, the horse was lame on the fractured limb at a trot. Local infiltration of anesthesia along the distal half of the bone plates greatly ameliorated the lameness, suggesting that the plates were irritating the soft tissues and extensor tendons along the cranial and lateral aspects of the antebrachium. Both bone plates were removed simultaneously with no complications, and the horse became sound.     

Tumor necrosis factor activity in serum from neonatal foals with presumed septicemia.

A study was performed to determine prevalence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity in serum of equine neonates with presumed sepsis and to determine correlation between serum TNF activity and severity and outcome of disease. Twenty foals less than 21 days old were considered suitable for inclusion in this study by satisfying clinical and laboratory criteria suggestive of septicemia. At admission, blood samples were collected from all foals for determination of serum TNF activity, then clinical course and outcome of disease were recorded. Thirty-one clinically normal foals less than 21 days old served as controls for serum TNF activity. Serum TNF activity was estimated by use of an in vitro cytotoxicity bioassay and WEHI 164 clone-13 murine fibrosarcoma cells. Of the 20 foals with presumed sepsis, 5 had high serum TNF activity. Mean heart rate (P less than 0.005), mucosal petechial hemorrhages (P = 0.06), and death rate (P = 0.06) were greater in the group of foals with high serum TNF activity. These foals also had a lower mean neutrophil count (P less than 0.001), greater band-to-segmented neutrophil ratio (P less than 0.0001), and more prevalent neutrophil toxic changes (P = 0.07) than did foals without serum TNF activity (P = 0.02). Joint swelling was more prevalent in foals without serum TNF activity. Results of the study indicate that serum TNF activity is correlated with clinical criteria of sepsis in equine neonates. An association was apparent between disease severity and serum TNF activity in this group of foals with presumed septicemia.