Transtracheal wash from a puppy with respiratory disease

A 4-month-old, intact male Boxer puppy was presented to the Animal Emergency and Critical Care Services of South Florida because of nasal discharge, dehydration, dyspnea, and coughing. The dog had been diagnosed with intestinal parasites and kennel cough approximately 10 days before presentation. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs of the thorax revealed an increased bronchointerstitial pattern throughout the lungs. A transtracheal wash was performed. On cytologic examination of direct, Wright-Giemsa-stained smears, small basophilic coccoid structures (0.3-0.9 microm in diameter) were observed in low to moderate numbers within neutrophils and adherent to epithelial cells. The small size of the organisms raised suspicion for Mycoplasma. Culture of the transtracheal wash fluid resulted in growth of a Mycoplasma sp. The patient was treated with enrofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate and made a full recovery. Recognizing Mycoplasma in transtracheal washes could aid in recommending the appropriate culture media or immunologic techniques, which could result in an accurate diagnosis of mycoplasmosis.     

Efficacy of a modified live intranasal bovine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine in 3-week-old calves experimentally challenged with BRSV

Two experimental bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) challenge studies were undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a single intranasal dose of a bivalent modified live vaccine containing BRSV in 3-week-old calves. In the first study, vaccine efficacy was evaluated in colostrum deprived (maternal antibody negative) calves 5, 10 and 21 days after vaccination. Nasal shedding of BRSV was significantly reduced in vaccinated calves challenged 10 or 21 days after vaccination. Virus excretion titres were also reduced in vaccinates challenged 5 days after vaccination but reduction in duration of shedding and total amount of virus shed were not statistically significant. Clinical disease after challenge in this study was mild. In the second study, vaccine efficacy was assessed in calves with maternal antibodies against BRSV by challenge 66 days post-vaccination. Vaccination significantly reduced nasal shedding after challenge and the severity of clinical disease was also reduced.     

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) pneumonia in beef calf herds despite vaccination.

The present report describes the clinical, pathological, serological and virological findings in calves from 2 larger Danish beef herds experiencing outbreaks of pneumonia. The calves had been vaccinated with an inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) vaccine 2 months prior to the outbreak. The clinical signs comprised nasal discharge, pyrexia, cough and increased respiratory rates. A total of 28 calves died in the 2 herds. The laboratory investigations revealed that BRSV was involved and probably initiated both outbreaks. Furthermore, the serological results suggested that the vaccine induced only sparse levels of antibodies probably due to the presence of maternally derived antibodies at the time of vaccination. Necropsy findings in 5 calves revealed changes typical for infectious pneumonia with involvement of BRSV. In conclusion, vaccination of calves against BRSV in 2 Danish beef herds failed to protect the calves against severe or even fatal BRSV mediated respiratory disease 2 months later.     

Cytology of the lower respiratory tract in horses: An updated review

The diagnosis of respiratory diseases in horses can be difficult due to the nonspecific nature of the clinical signs, which overlap between the different diseases. Cytological examination of the respiratory secretions is a helpful diagnostic tool that, when combined with clinical features and other diagnostic techniques, has the potential to improve diagnostic accuracy significantly. This review article should help readers to become familiar with the cytology of the normal respiratory tract and with the cytopathological abnormalities associated with common respiratory disorders in horses.     

Management of pneumothorax in cattle by continuous-flow evacuation

Pneumothorax in cattle can develop subsequent to acute or chronic pulmonary disease, and if unresolved may lead to respiratory distress and death due to hypoxia and compression and collapse of cardiac and thoracic great vessels. Therapeutic evacuation of free air within the pleural space can provide acute relief and improve chances of survival. This article descibes the adaptation and use of a continuous flow evacuation device to resolve pneumothorax in 3 cattle with pneumothorax associated with infectious lower airway disease.     

牛呼吸道合胞体病毒主要编码蛋白研究进展

牛呼吸道合胞体病毒(BRSV)是引起反刍动物呼吸道疾病的主要病毒之一,犊牛对该病毒的感染率、发病率和病死率均较高,严重危害养殖的经济效益。牛呼吸道合胞体病毒主要编码蛋白F蛋白和G蛋白上的某些抗原表位可刺激中和抗体反应,而且是BRSV唯一能够在动物模型中诱导中和抗体并产生保护性免疫应答的蛋白。N蛋白具有高度保守性,可诱导BRSV的保护性免疫,小疏水性蛋白(SH)有助于维持病毒外壳稳定性。目前,在该病的防控措施上仍然存在未解决的问题,可根据BRSV编码蛋白的不同特性与功能,研发出一种免疫效果良好、安全高效的疫苗,用以防控BRSV的感染。     

牛呼吸道合胞体病毒RT-PCR检测方法的建立

根据GenBankTM上发表的牛呼吸道合胞体病毒核衣壳蛋白N基因序列,设计合成了一对特异性引物,扩增大小为596bp的目的片段,通过特异性试验、敏感性试验和重复性试验建立了牛呼吸道合胞体病毒的RT-PCR检测方法。所建立的牛呼吸道合胞体病毒的RT-PCR方法与牛腺病毒、牛副流感病毒、牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒、牛无浆体均无交叉反应,该方法的敏感性可达1TCID50。结果表明,该方法具有快速、敏感、特异性强和重复性好等特点,可作为牛呼吸道合胞体病毒检测的一种方法。     

Human respiratory syncytial virus infection in the pre-clinical calf model

Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the most important respiratory pathogen in young children worldwide. Experimental modelling of hRSV disease by bovine RSV (bRSV) infection in calves provides an important tool for developing new strategies for prevention and treatment. Depending on the scientific hypothesis under investigation, this cognate host-virus model might have the disadvantage of using a highly related but not genetically identical virus. In this study, we aim to describe viral kinetics and (clinical) disease characteristics in calves inoculated with hRSV. Our results show that hRSV infects the upper and, to a lesser extent, the lower respiratory tract of calves. Infection causes upper airway clinical disease symptoms and neutrophilic infiltration of the lower airways. We conclude that a hRSV model in calves may aid future research involving distinct scientific questions related to hRSV disease in children.     

The effect of an outbreak of respiratory disease on herd-level milk production of Norwegian dairy farms

This study was done to evaluate the effect of an outbreak of acute respiratory disease associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) on the daily milk yield per cow in Norwegian dairy-cattle farms. Retrospective data from 184 dairy herds located in two neighbouring veterinary districts during the study period (December 1994–May 1995, during which an epidemic of acute respiratory disease associated with BRSV occurred in this area) were analysed. Data on the bulk-milk deliveries and the date of the outbreak were collected at herd level, whereas information on calving dates and parity was collected at cow-level. The effect of the herd outbreaks on the daily milk yield was analysed with a repeated-measurement approach. The average daily milk loss was estimated to be 0.70 kg per cow for 7 days after a herd outbreak (compared with the period >1 week prior to an outbreak), adjusted for the herd-level lactation stage, parity and their interaction term. We consider the estimated milk loss associated with a herd outbreak of epidemic respiratory disease to be of minor importance.     

An experimental infection model for reproduction of calf pneumonia with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) based on one combined exposure of calves

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) has been recognised as an important pathogen in calf pneumonia for 30 years, but surprisingly few effective infection models for studies of the immune response and the pathogenesis in the natural host have been established. We present a reproducible experimental infection model for BRSV in 2-5-month-old, conventionally reared Jersey calves. Thirty-four colostrum-fed calves were inoculated once by aerosol and intratracheal injection with BRSV. Respiratory disease was recorded in 91% of the BRSV-inoculated calves, 72% had an accompanying rise in rectal temperature and 83% exhibited >5% consolidation of the lung tissue. The disease closely resembled natural outbreaks of BRSV-related pneumonia, and detection of BRSV in nasal secretions and lung tissues confirmed the primary role of BRSV. Nine mock-inoculated control calves failed to develop respiratory disease. This model is a valuable tool for the study of the pathogenesis of BRSV and for vaccine efficacy studies.     

Association of herd BRSV and BHV-1 seroprevalence with respiratory disease and reproductive performance in adult dairy cattle

Background

The aim of this study was to detect the associations between bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) status of a herd and respiratory disease (BRD) occurrence and reproductive performance in pregnant heifers and cows. The association between management-related factors and higher BRD occurrence was also estimated.

Methods

Serum samples, collected from cows and youngstock from 103 dairy cattle herds, were analyzed for antibodies against BHV-1, bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), and Mycoplasma bovis. A questionnaire was used to collect data concerning herd management factors and reproductive performance, as well as the occurrence of clinical signs of respiratory disease in the last two years, as evaluated by the veterinarian or farm manager. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify and quantify the risk factors.

Results

A low to moderate prevalence (1-49%) of BRSV antibodies among youngstock was associated with a high occurrence of respiratory disease (OR = 6.2, p = 0.010) in cows and in-calf heifers. Employees of the farm may participate in the spread of such disease. Larger herd size, loose-housing of cows, housing youngstock separately from cows until pregnancy, and purchasing new animals were factors possibly related to a high occurrence of respiratory disease symptoms in pregnant heifers and cows. The highest risk of abortions (> 1.3%) and increased insemination index (number of inseminations per pregnancy) (> 1.9) occurred in herds with a moderate prevalence of BHV-1 antibodies (1-49%) in cows.

Conclusions

BHV-1 was not associated with acute respiratory disease in adult dairy cattle, however was significantly related to reproductive performance. BRSV possesses the main role in respiratory disease complex in adult dairy cattle.     

Duration of immunity of a quadrivalent vaccine against respiratory diseases caused by BHV-1, PI3V, BVDV, and BRSV in experimentally infected calves

Several laboratory studies assessed the duration of immunity of a quadrivalent vaccine (Rispoval™4, Pfizer Animal Health) against bovine respiratory diseases (BRD) caused by bovine herpes-virus type-1 (BHV-1), parainfluenza type-3 virus (PI₃V), bovine viral-diarrhoea virus type 1 (BVDV), or bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). Calves between 7 weeks and 6 months of age were allocated to treatment and then were injected with two doses of either the vaccine or the placebo 3 weeks apart. Six to 12 months after the second injection, animals were challenged with BHV-1 (n = 16), PI₃V (n = 31), BVDV (n = 16), or BRSV (n = 20) and the course of viral infection was monitored by serological, haematological (in the BVDV study only), clinical, and virological means for ≥2 weeks. Infection induced mild clinical signs of respiratory disease and elevated rectal temperature in both vaccinated and control animals and was followed by a dramatic rise in neutralising antibodies in all treatment groups. Titres reached higher levels in vaccinated calves than in control calves after challenge with BHV-1, BVDV, or BRSV. On day 3 after PI₃V challenge, virus shedding was reduced from 3.64 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ in control animals to 2.59 log₁₀ TCID₅₀ in vaccinated animals. On days 6 and 8 after BRSV challenge, there were fewer vaccinated animals (n = 2/10 and 0/10, respectively) shedding the virus than control animals (n = 8/10 and 3/10, respectively). Moreover, after challenge, the mean duration of virus shedding was reduced from 3.8 days in control animals to 1 day in vaccinated animals in the BVDV study and from 3.4 days in control animals to 1.2 days in vaccinated animals in the BRSV study. The duration of immunity of ≥6 months for PI₃V, BHV-1 and BVDV, and 12 months for BRSV, after vaccination with Rispoval™4, was associated mainly with enhanced post-challenge antibody response to all four viruses and reduction of the amount or duration of virus shedding or both.     

The presence of diatom algae in a tracheal wash from a German Wirehaired Pointer with aspiration pneumonia

A 7‐year‐old spayed female German Wirehaired Pointer was presented with difficulty breathing after being found seizing in a water‐filled drainage ditch while out hunting. Aspirates from a tracheal wash contained numerous degenerate neutrophils, fewer macrophages, some of which contained basophilic debris, low numbers of extracellular diatoms, and a single intracellular short bacterial rod. As the dog continued to clinically decline and could not be weaned from oxygen support, the owners chose euthanasia. The major necropsy finding was a severe granulomatous bronchopneumonia that was likely due to aspiration of foreign material based on the microscopic presence of plant‐like material, bi‐refringent crystalline material, non‐cellular debris, and occasional fungal structures. Diatoms are a class of algae that live primarily in water. Diatom analysis has been used, with some controversy, in human forensics to assist in documenting drowning as the cause of death. In this case, given the clinical history, the presence of diatoms and inflammation in the tracheal wash were interpreted as a likely result of the aspiration of surface water. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of diatoms observed in a cytologic specimen in a nonhuman mammal with aspiration pneumonia.     

Acute phase protein changes in calves during an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus

Bovine acute phase proteins (APPs), lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and alpha₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP) were evaluated as inflammatory markers during an outbreak of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) caused by bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV). Calves (n = 10) presented mild to moderate signs of respiratory disease. Secondary bacterial infections, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma dispar as major species, were detected in tracheobronchial lavage samples. Concentrations of SAA and LBP increased at week 1 had the highest values at week 3 and decreased at week 4 of outbreak. Some calves had high Hp concentrations at week 3, but AGP concentrations did not rise during respiratory disease. Higher SAA, LBP and Hp concentrations at a later stage of BRD (week 3) were associated with the low BRSV-specific IgG₁ production, suggesting that these calves had enhanced inflammatory response to the secondary bacterial infection. In conclusion, APPs (especially SAA and LBP) are sensitive markers of respiratory infection, and they may be useful to explore host response to the respiratory infections in clinical research.     

牛呼吸道合胞体病毒G蛋白抗原区原核表达及反应原性鉴定

本研究旨在获得重组牛呼吸道合胞体病毒（BRSV） G蛋白并对其进行反应原性鉴定。从NCBI上找出G基因的核苷酸序列,分析其抗原区域,利用Primer Premier 5.0软件设计1对特异性引物,利用RT-PCR方法扩增BRSV G基因片段,将目的片段连接到克隆载体pMD19-T后,对其进行双酶切鉴定和测序。将双酶切后的目的片段进行胶回收,构建重组质粒pET-32a-G,将重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）感受态细胞,用Ni-IDA亲和层析法纯化经IPTG诱导表达的蛋白,并测定其浓度;通过SDS-PAGE和Western blotting方法对该蛋白进行分析与鉴定。结果显示,本试验成功克隆出大小约为567 bp的G基因,获得分子质量约为40 ku的可溶性重组蛋白,优化诱导条件后用SDS-PAGE对表达产物进行鉴定,在16℃、IPTG浓度1.2 mmol/L、诱导4 h时蛋白表达量最大;通过Western blotting检测发现,重组蛋白可与山羊源BRSV标准阳性血清发生特异性反应,说明该蛋白具有反应原性。综上,本研究成功表达并纯化了BRSV G蛋白,为建立BRSV抗体间接ELISA检测方法和BRSV亚单位疫苗的研制奠定了基础。     

犊牛呼吸道合胞体病毒和巴氏杆菌混合感染的调查研究

为了对疑似牛呼吸道合胞体病毒和巴氏杆菌混合感染的犊牛进行病原鉴定,本研究采用常规病毒经细菌分离鉴定和PCR方法分别进行分离与鉴定。结果表明,该病毒株能在BT细胞上增殖并产生特征性合胞体形态的细胞病变;无血凝性和血吸附特性;能被牛呼吸道合胞体病毒(bovine respiratory syncytial virus,BRSV)标准阳性血清中和;分离的病毒经RT-PCR鉴定为牛呼吸道合胞体病毒;根据菌落形态、细菌染色特性及生化特性,鉴定分离的细菌为巴氏杆菌。提示,该牛场为牛呼吸道合胞体病毒和巴氏杆菌混合感染。     

套式RT-PCR检测牛呼吸道合胞体病毒的研究

为了检测牛呼吸道合胞体病毒(BRSV),根据已发表的融合蛋白(F)基因序列,设计了套式RT-PCR引物,初步建立了BRSV的套式RT-PCR检测方法。对138份牛鼻腔棉拭子进行了检测,结果检测到了BRSV阳性样品54份,总的阳性检出率为39.1%。对大部分BRSV阳性样品的F基因扩增产物进行了序列测定与分析。用该套式RT-PCR对牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒、牛副流感病毒3型、牛病毒性腹泻病毒等进行了检测,结果无交叉反应,表明该检测方法具有良好的特异性。本研究首次用套式RT-PCR技术证实了我国部分省的牛群中存在BRSV感染。     

Malignant histiocytosis in a domestic cat: cytomorphologic and immunohistochemical features

Malignant histiocytosis (MH) was diagnosed in a 13-year-old neutered male Domestic Shorthair cat on the basis of light microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. Thoracic fluid analysis showed a modified transudate which contained a very few atypical discrete cells. Cytologic and histologic evaluation of mediastinal and splenic masses revealed a pleomorphic population of large, discrete, round cells 10 to 30 micrometers in diameter with marked cellular atypia. Nuclei were oval to reniform, often with prominent, bizarre nucleoli. Multinucleated cells and mitotic figures were commonly seen. Erythro- and leucocytophagia were noted. Immunohistochemistry indicated a scattered positive staining pattern with the histiocytic antigenic marker Mac387 and a minor population of cells showing positive reactivity for lysozyme. This report describes the characterization of MH in a cat and emphasizes that MH should be considered as a differential diagnosis in proliferative disorders of discrete-cells in this species.