Fatal haemobartonellosis in a non–splenectomized dog–a case report

A 4–year–old non–splenectomized Irish Setter which had survived one episode of pyrexia and icterus died during a haemolytic crisis associated with a more severe relapse. Laboratory investigations revealed large numbers of organisms identified as Haemobartonella species in the blood, together with a marked neutrophilia and shift to the left. A post–mortem examination revealed only widespread icterus. No previous record of Haemobartonellosis in a dog in Great Britain has been found.     

Diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy in a hedgehog

A one‐year‐old African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was evaluated for severe respiratory distress. Physical examination findings included marked dyspnoea, cyanosis and tachypnoea. Radiographic findings included an enlarged heart and pulmonary oedema, and dilated cardiomyopathy was confirmed via echocardiogram. The patient was treated for congestive heart failure because of dilated cardiomyopathy with furosemide, enalapril, pimobendan and l‐carnitine. Within 24 hours of treatment, the pulmonary oedema and cyanosis had resolved. Following discharge, clinical improvement was noted by the owner and echocardiogram confirmed improved fractional shortening. Cardiomyopathy has been reported at post‐mortem examination in hedgehogs, but there are no reports of ante‐mortem diagnosis and treatment. Performing baseline cardiac assessment in hedgehogs is recommended, and treatment with l‐carnitine and pimobendan may improve outcome, as carnitine deficiency is a possible cause of cardiomyopathy in hedgehogs. Successful emergency treatment of congestive heart failure in the hedgehog of this report may be effective for other hedgehogs presented with similar clinical signs .     

Baby pig diarrhea caused by coccidiosis

Summary

An outbreak of coccidiosis on two Belgian farms is described. Diarrhea started in piglets at 9 or 10 days of life. Zero to three pigs died per litter. The morbidity rate varied from 70 to 90 per cent. Histological examination of the intestines revealed shortening of villi and different stages of the life cycle of coccidia were seen in the enterocytes. Virological examination was negative for corona‐, corona‐like, and rota‐virus. A haemolytic E. coli strain was isolated in one case. As for treatment, good results were obtained by the adding of 1 kg amproleum pre‐mix per ton sow feed. Scouring pigs were treated orally with 2 cc of an amprol solution once a day. The diarrhea stopped one day after treatment.     

Complement activation and fibrinolysis during infection with Theileria parva (East Coast fever) in cattle

The role played by complement and fibrinolysis in the pathogenesis of pulmonary oedema and the disseminated, subendothelial, petechial haemorrhages in cattle infected with $\text{Theileria parva}$ was investigated. There was a marked reduction in total haemolytic complement in animals that died of this disease whereas the survivors showed only transient changes. The reduction in C3 levels in animals with severe disease, however, was equivalent to that in the survivors. Neither circulating soluble immune complexes nor free antibody against macroschizonts were detected in sera from cattle with severe infection. In addition to the complement changes, high levels of fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) were detected in sera from the infected animals. The rate of production of FDPs and reduction in total haemolytic complement paralleled the clinical course of the disease. It is, therefore, suggested that the pulmonary oedema and disseminated petechial haemorrhages seen in East Coast fever may be the direct result of the combined effects of complement activation and consumption of fibrinogen and fibrin.     

Cor triatriatum sinister in a cat

A heart murmur was detected in a five-month-old Persian chinchilla cat. The animal was referred to Nihon University Animal Medical Center where radiographic examination revealed an enlarged heart with dilation of pulmonary arteries and veins and pulmonary oedema. Echocardiography revealed partition of the left atrium, with turbulent blood flow within the left atrium. The patient was placed under continuous care at the facility, but died at seven months of age. Postmortem examination revealed that the left atrium was partitioned by a fibromuscular septum, with a 1 mm diameter perforation, consistent with a diagnosis of cor triatriatum sinister.     

The clinical pathology of heartwater. II. Studies on cardiac and pulmonary function in 4 calves with experimentally-induced heartwater

Studies to evaluate cardiac and pulmonary function were undertaken in 4 calves suffering from experimentally-induced heartwater. There was a marked variation in the course of the disease. Three of the calves recovered spontaneously after developing clinical signs. These included a rectal temperature in excess of 40 degrees C, anorexia and listlessness but no neurological signs. The remaining calf died 2 days after developing a fever and neurological signs. In the 3 calves that recovered, a mild hypoxemia developed during the acute stage of the disease. Arterial CO2 tension remained within normal limits, but there was a tendency towards an alkalosis. Increases in pulmonary dead space and fluctuations in venous admixture were observed. The calf that died showed similar mild changes in blood gas parameters, despite the presence of a marked reduction in minute volume, and a lung oedema was demonstrated on post-mortem examination. No marked changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressures and in right cardiac intraventricular pressures were observed. Terminally, however, there were marked decreases in stroke volume and cardiac output. These changes were associated with a sharp increase in heart rate. No primary cardiac pathology was observed on clinical and post-mortem examinations.     

Endocardial fibroelastosis in a dog

Endocardial fibroelastosis is an uncommon congenital heart disease in dogs that may be manifested by signs of left-sided congestive heart failure. A three-month-old, male, Fila Brasileiro dog developed signs of generalised heart failure. Physical examination revealed normal temperature, ascites, and pale and cyanotic mucous membranes. The pup died just after radiography which revealed ascites, hepatomegaly, severe cardiac enlargement and pulmonary oedema. At necropsy, serosanguineous fluid in the thorax and abdomen, pulmonary oedema, right ventricular dilatation, hypertrophy and dilatation of the left ventricle, and mitral valve incompetence were observed. The histopathological examination demonstrated that the thickening of the endocardium of the left atrium and left ventricle was due to the presence of elastic and collagen fibres, although there were no signs of an inflammatory process.     

Fatal levamisole toxicosis of captive kiwi (Apteryx mantelli)

CASE HISTORY: Nine of 24 captive kiwi treated with oral levamisole at a dose between 25–43 mg/kg showed signs of respiratory distress. Six died within 4 h of treatment and the remaining three made a full recovery within 24 h.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Within 3–4 h of treatment, the affected birds had an elevated respiratory rate, mucoid nasal discharge and rapidly became comatose. Post mortem examination revealed accumulation of thick mucus in the oral cavity and trachea. There was severe pulmonary congestion and oedema and early bronchopneumonia in the lungs of five of the birds. In two birds, there was acute hepatic degeneration and necrosis and one bird had acute pancreatic degeneration and necrosis.

DIAGNOSIS: Acute levamisole toxicity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Kiwi were acutely sensitive to levamisole toxicity at doses that are well within the safe range for domestic poultry. Levamisole should not be used as an anthelmintic in kiwi.     

一例猪瘟病毒与大肠杆菌混合感染的实验室诊断

肇东市某商品猪场内仔猪大批发病,病猪精神状态极差、发热、食欲下降、拉白色糊状并伴有腥臭味的粪便,有些迅速死亡但死亡率不高。为确诊此批病猪,运用临床分子生物学诊断和病理解剖观察等手段初步判定为大肠杆菌与猪瘟病毒混合感染。根据其剖解现象使用细菌学检测和PCR技术对蓝耳病病毒、猪圆环病毒、猪瘟病毒、大肠杆菌、放线杆菌及链球菌进行检测。SS培养基培养出的菌落形态为圆形半透明的小凸起,革兰氏染色镜检后观察到是革兰氏阴性杆菌。PCR检测结果显示猪瘟病毒为阳性。最终确诊为大肠杆菌和猪瘟病毒混合感染。通过对分离细菌进行药敏试验结果显示该菌对环丙沙、硫酸阿米卡星、恩诺沙星、阿莫西林等药物较为敏感。     

An outbreak of perirenal oedema syndrome in cattle associated with ingestion of pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus L.)

Forty seven of 150, 15-month-old long weaners died of an acute renal disease syndrome following introduction into an old maize field with a heavy stand of Amaranthus spp. The clinical syndrome was characterised by sudden onset neurological disease with ataxia and recumbency. Subcutaneous oedema, ascites and perirenal oedema with urine odour were the major gross necropsy findings. Renal histopathology revealed marked coagulative renal tubular necrosis of the proximal and distal straight tubules with intertubular haemorrhage. Acute renal failure and perirenal oedema has been described in cattle, pigs, horses and sheep associated with the ingestion of A. hybridus L. and A. retroflexus L. This perirenal oedema syndrome has been widely reported in the Americas, while in South Africa intoxication with the amaranths has only previously been associated with nitrate and possibly oxalate poisoning in cattle.     

Canine parvoviral myocarditis

A 5-week-old crossbred pigdog pup was presented in respiratory distress. It appeared to dry retch, and then died suddenly before a clinical examination was performed; a littermate had died suddenly the week before. Histopathological examination revealed an ongoing lymphocytic myocarditis, characterised by myofibril degeneration and lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates. In scattered degenerate myofibres, there were large amphophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies distending their nuclei. There was also marked pulmonary oedema. Canine parvoviral myocarditis, due to canine parvovirus type 2, was diagnosed. Further questioning regarding the history of this pup revealed that it had been born to an unvac-cinated dam that had been moved late in her pregnancy from an isolated farm on to another property. It seems likely that the dam was naïve and only became exposed to the virus immediately prior to whelping. The lack of wildlife vectors and a well-controlled population of dogs in rural New Zealand means that there may be isolated areas of the country where dogs can reach maturity without becoming exposed to parvovirus, creating the potential for development of this now uncommon syndrome. When parvovirus first arose in New Zealand, between 1979–;1981, parvoviral myocarditis was relatively common, occurring in neonates when the virus was introduced to breeding kennels that previously had been unexposed.     

Mitral valve and tricuspid valve dysplasia in a 9‐week‐old Standardbred colt

A 9‐week‐old Standardbred colt was presented for investigation of dull demeanour, exercise intolerance and heart murmurs. Cardiac auscultation revealed a grade 5/6 holosystolic murmur and a grade 5/6 pansystolic murmur over the left and right cardiac apex respectively, and an irregularly irregular cardiac rhythm. Electrocardiographic examination findings were consistent with atrial fibrillation and tachycardia. Echocardiographic examination identified marked atrioventricular regurgitation and atrial dilation bilaterally, thickening of the mitral and tricuspid valves and dilation of the pulmonary artery consistent with pulmonary hypertension. No ventricular or atrial septal defect was present. Cardiomegaly and diffuse pulmonary oedema were evident on examination of lateral thoracic radiographs. Dysplasia of the mitral and tricuspid valves, eccentric cardiomegaly and pulmonary oedema were confirmed by post mortem examination. Dysplasia of the atrioventricular valves represents a rare cause of biventricular failure in the horse.     

Guttural pouch leiomyosarcoma causing nasopharyngeal compression in a pony

A 14‐year‐old Connemara cross gelding presented with abnormal respiratory noise and exercise intolerance. Upper airway endoscopy, ultrasonography, radiography and computed tomography revealed a large mass within the left guttural pouch causing marked left dorsal nasopharyngeal collapse and displacement and compression of the right guttural pouch. The horse was subjected to euthanasia and a post‐mortem examination confirmed the above findings. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations of the mass confirmed a diagnosis of guttural pouch leiomyosarcoma, a lesion previously unreported at this site.     

A comparison of Shiga-toxin negative Escherichia coli O157 aflagellate and intimin deficient mutants in porcine in vitro and in vivo models of infection

Isolation of Shiga-toxin (Stx) positive Escherichia coli O157:H7 from commercially grown pigs has been reported. Furthermore, experimental infection studies have demonstrated that Stx-positive E. coli O157:H7 can persist in 12-week-old experimentally orally inoculated conventional pigs for up to 2 months and that persistence was not dependent upon intimin. We have shown that the flagellum of Stx-negative E. coli O157:H7 does not have a role to play in pathogenesis in ruminant models whereas, in poultry, the flagellum of E. coli O157:H7 was important for long-term persistent infection. The contribution of the flagellum of Stx-negative E. coli O157 in the colonisation of pigs was investigated by adherence assays on a porcine (IPI-21) cell line, porcine in vitro organ culture (IVOC) and experimental oral inoculation of conventional 14-week-old pigs. E. coli O157:H7 NCTC12900nal(r) and isogenic aflagellate and intimin deficient mutants adhered equally well to IPI-21 cells. In porcine IVOC association assays, E. coli O157:H7 NCTC12900nal(r) was associated in significantly higher numbers to tissues from the caecum and the terminal rectum than other sites. The aflagellate and intimin deficient mutants significantly adhered in greater numbers to more IVOC gastrointestinal tissues than the parent. Groups of 14-week-old pigs were dosed orally with 10(10)CFU/10ml of either E. coli O157:H7 NCTC12900nal(r) or isogenic aflagellate and intimin deficient mutants and recovery of each test strain was similar. Histological analysis of pig tissues at post mortem examination revealed that E. coli O157 specifically stained bacteria were associated with the mucosa of the ascending and spiral colon. These data suggest that colonisation and persistence of Stx-negative E. coli O157:H7 in pigs, involves mechanisms that do not require the flagellum or intimin.     

Fatal Prevotella oralis meningitis

Prevotella oralis, an obligate Gram‐negative anaerobe, was detected as the cause of acute meningitis in a four‐year‐old cocker spaniel. Clinical signs included acute onset collapse and severe depression. Despite treatment, the animal died. A post‐mortem examination was performed which revealed a fibrinosuppurative meningitis with no significant inflammation of the brain or spinal parenchyma. The aetiological diagnosis was confirmed by anaerobic bacterial culture. This report discusses the nature and extent of the lesions and possible routes of infection of the causative organism.     

Observations on outbreaks of respiratory disease in housed calves--(2) Pathological and microbiological findings.

Extensive pneumonic lesions were present in 42 out of 43 calves obtained for post mortem examination from 34 outbreaks of respiratory disease in Northern Ireland. Bronchiolitis and alveolitis with necrosis of bronchiolar mucosa which progressed to bronchiolitis obliterans and peribronchiolar fibrosis were prominent histopathological features in the lungs of calves obtained live. The majority of calves which died within the first two months of these outbreaks had severe exudative bronchopneumonia with marked vascular damage and necrosis of pulmonary parenchyma. Pasteurella spp, Mycoplasma spp and P13 virus were the organisms most frequently recovered from the pneumonic lungs.     

Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in the calf

Thirty-five calves were delivered by caesarean section near to term. During the operation amniotic fluid was collected for determination of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio. Clinical examination of the calves and analysis of blood gas concentration (venous blood) were carried out within the first hour of life. Fifteen out of 35 calves under examination did not show clinical or blood gas disorders in the course of the first hour of life. In these calves, the L/S ratio, which represents a measure for the maturity of the surfactant system, averaged 2.6. The other 20 calves, however, developed a respiratory distress syndrome together with a progressive respiratory and metabolic acidosis within the first hour of life. The L/S ratio in the animals affected with respiratory distress syndrome reached an average value of 1.5 which was significantly below that of the calves not suffering from respiratory distress. Eleven of the 20 calves which developed respiratory distress syndrome died within the first 60 hours of life. The most striking findings in the post mortem examinations of these animals were intracranial haemorrhages and pulmonary lesions (hyaline membranes, interstitial and alveolar oedema). On the basis of the significantly lower L/S ratio and the post mortem findings, it is to be assumed that the respiratory distress syndrome in calves, equally with that in infants, is attributable to a surfactant deficiency.     

Haemophilus parahaemolyticus serotypes. Pathogenicity and cross immunity.

Pigs inoculated intranasally with Haemophilus parahaemolyticus, serotype 2, resisted challenge 3 weeks later with serotypes 2, 4 and 5 without showing clinical symptoms. The pigs were sacrificed 2 days after challenge, and post mortem examination showed a chronic pleuropneumonia from which only serotype 2 was re-isolated. Pigs inoculated intranasally with H. parahaemolyticus, serotype 2, showed no clinical symptoms when challenged 3 weeks later with serotype 1. Post mortem examination revealed a chronic pleuropneumonia with areas of necrosis from which H. parahaemolyticus, serotype 2, was re-isolated, but also small areas of a more acute fibrinous pneumonia from which serotype 1 was re-isolated. The control pig inoculated with only serotype 1 showed a severe acute fibrinous pleuropneumonia. The results indicate that a considerable cross immunity exists between the various serotypes of H. parahaemolyticus.     

Demonstration of Clostridium septicum infection in a goose flock.

Clostridium septicum infection causing 5.0 to 5.2% mortality is reported for the first time in the literature from six-week-old growing geese in three flocks comprising 5,200, 5,500 and 5,900 geese, respectively. The affected birds exhibited weakness, uncoordinated movement, ataxia and, frequently, oblique position of the head and neck (torticollis) as well as signs indicative of dysequilibrium. The affected birds died within 18-24 h. Gross pathological examination revealed anaemia, hepatitis with map-like necroses of irregular outline (Fig. 1), acute enteritis, pulmonary oedema and cardiac dilatation. Light and electron-microscopic examination showed that the sinusoids of the liver were markedly dilated (Fig. 2) and filled with serous exudate and gas (Figs 2 and 3), and the hepatocytes surrounding them exhibited severe oedema (Fig. 4). Among the hepatocytes, ciliated bacteria 7-10 mu in length and 1-3 mu in width, bounded by a well-defined cell wall and often showing signs of spore formation were observed (Figs 5 and 6). By bacteriological examination the pathogen was isolated, its properties were studied, and the clinical entity of malignant oedema was experimentally reproduced by intramuscular injection of guinea-pigs and rabbits. The applied antibiotic (oxytetracycline) and furazolidone therapy proved effective.     

Experimental reproduction of acute lesions of porcine pleuropneumonia with a haemolysin-deficient mutant of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae.

The role of the heat-labile haemolysin of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in acute porcine pleuropneumonia was examined. A virulent strain was compared with an isogenic haemolysin-deficient mutant in experimental infections. The pigs which received the virulent strain showed clinical signs of acute respiratory disease whereas the animals infected with the mutant strain appeared to be less severely affected. At post mortem examination, both groups showed similar acute pulmonary lesions and pleurisy typical of A pleuropneumoniae infection. The bacterial antigen representing the haemolysin was detected in lung lesions infected with the parent strain but not in those infected with the mutant. These results demonstrate that the haemolysin of serotype 2 A pleuropneumoniae is not an essential factor for the production of the lesions of pleuropneumonia in pigs.