Chemical characterization of milk oligosaccharides of the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

Previous structural characterizations of marsupial milk oligosaccharides have been performed in the tammar wallaby, red kangaroo, koala, common brushtail possum and the eastern quoll. To clarify the homology and heterogeneity of milk oligosaccharides among marsupial species, which could provide information on their evolution, the oligosaccharides of wombat milk carbohydrate were characterized in this study. Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides were isolated from the carbohydrate fractions of two samples of milk of the common wombat and characterized by ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The structures of six neutral saccharides were found to be Gal(β1‐4)Glc (lactose), Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (3'‐galactosyllactose), Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (3',3”‐digalactosyllactose), Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc, Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)[Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc (galactosyl lacto‐N‐novopentaose I) and Gal(β1‐3)[Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐3)[Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc (lacto‐N‐novooctaose), while those of six acidic saccharides were Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc. (sialyl 3'‐galactosyllactose), Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc (sialyl 3',3”‐digalactosyllactose), Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐3)[Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc (sialyl lacto‐N‐novopentaose a), Gal(β1‐3)[Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc (sialyl lacto‐N‐novopentaose c), Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐4)Glc,, Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)[Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc and Gal(β1‐3)Gal(β1‐3)[Neu5Ac(α2‐3)Gal(β1‐4)GlcNAc(β1‐6)]Gal(β1‐4)Glc. In addition, small amounts of sulfated oligosaccharides but no oligosaccharides containing Neu5Gc or α(2–6) linked Neu5Ac were detected.     

Vulvovaginitis of goats due to a herpesvirus

Two concurrent outbreaks of genital disease in goats were associated with infection by a herpesvirus that was isolated from vulval and vaginal lesions of affected does. Serum neutralising antibody to the virus was present both in goats with the clinical disease and some unaffected goats. Of 19 goat herds examined only 4 had serum neutralising antibody positive goats with low (5%) to high (60%) incidence of infection. The virus isolate was characterised as a herpesvirus on its physico-chemical and morphological features. It contained DNA and was inactivated at low pH and by treatment with lipid solvents and trypsin. The virus particles were icosahedral, consisting of a nucleocapsid surrounded by an envelope membrane and measured approximately 150 nm in diameter. The virus was serologically related to a New Zealand isolate of caprine herpesvirus (NZ-CpHV), associated with similar genital disease, and was distinct from bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1) showing a one way neutralisation pattern.     

Survival of a cat with pneumonia due to cowpox virus and feline herpesvirus infection

Cowpox virus infection in cats is rare and usually leads to cutaneous lesions alone. Pulmonary infection and pneumonia have been documented occasionally but all such cases described to date have been fatal. Although usually affecting the upper respiratory tract, feline herpesvirus can also induce pneumonia. The present report describes the case of a cat that recovered from a pneumonia in which both poxvirus and feline herpesvirus were demonstrated.     

Experimental immunization against respiratory disease due to equid herpesvirus 1 infection (rhinopneumonitis) using formalin-inactivated virus with various adjuvants

The efficacy and safety of four adjuvants, viz, alhydrogel, adjuvant 65, levamisole and killed Corynebacterium parvum were compared with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) for immunizing foals and yearlings with formalin inactivated, partially purified equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) antigen.The levels of antibody in serum and nasal secretions and the degree of lymphocyte stimulation (LS) induced by inactivated EHV-1 antigen with FCA were higher than those following infection with a virulent strain. Levamisole and C. parvum failed to augment the antibody response to inactivated EHV-1 antigen or to induce specific lymphocyte stimulation. Adjuvant 65 and alhydrogel, although less effective than FCA, both produced good humoral and LS responses. Alhydrogel proved the most satisfactory adjuvant as FCA produced unacceptable local reactions, and adjuvant 65 was difficult to administer.Neutralizing antibody induced by immunization with inactivated RAC-H virus (subtype 1) showed remarkable strain specificity and failed to cross-react with H45 virus (subtype 2).The duration of virus excretion following intranasal challenge was reduced in immunised animals but clinical responses still occurred in some vaccinated animals when high challenge doses of virus (10^9.4TCD₅₀) were used.     

Hyperostotic bone disease in a wombat (Vombatus ursinus)

Little is known about wombat diseases in general, and about their congenital diseases in particular. In the current study, the skeleton of a common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) that exhibited generalized hyperostosis is analyzed, and possible diagnoses are reviewed. Macromorphological analyses revealed that the diaphyses of the long bones manifested an increased diameter with extensive diaphyseal new-bone formation (periosteal and endosteal). Cross-sections of the diaphyses showed that the cortical–medullary demarcation was indistinct. The calvarial bones were thickened. Radiographs showed uniform sclerosis of the long bones with loss of trabecular pattern. Microradiography showed extensive bone remodeling, a hyper-vascularized lamellated layer of bone and numerous linear formation defects. Possible causes for the lesions, including sclerosing bone dysplasia disorders, acquired syndromes causing hyperostosis, and metabolic diseases typical of animals in captivity, are discussed.     

Disseminated panniculitis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) due to Mycobacterium chelonae infection

A 14-year-old female bottlenose dolphin was diagnosed with mycobacterial panniculitis based on punch biopsy specimens. The necropsy revealed numerous pyogranulomas in the blubber, as well as marked acute multifocal necrosuppurative pneumonia and lymphadenitis. In addition, the animal had marked scoliosis, which had first been noted clinically in the dolphin at about 1 mo of age. The animal had been treated with low-dose dexamethasone for approximately the last 19 mo to reduce perceived discomfort from spondyloarthritis and with the progestational agent altrogenest for approximately 8 yr to prevent pregnancy. Acid-fast positive bacilli were detected in the dermis but not in lung or lymph nodes. Mycobacterium chelonae was isolated from pooled skin, lung, and peripheral lymph-node tissue. Mycobacterial infection may be considered as a differential diagnosis in bottlenose dolphins with generalized cutaneous inflammation, particularly if chronic steroid and progesterone treatments were administered, both of which may have an immunomodulatory effect.     

Cytopathic herpesvirus infection in a green iguana (Iguana iguana).

A juvenile male green iguana (Iguana iguana) died 5 days following movement to a room 3-5 degrees C cooler than its previous housing. Gross necropsy lesions were limited to thin body condition. Histologically the animal had multifocal, random, moderate to severe, acute hepatocellular necrosis with intranuclear inclusion bodies at the periphery of the necrotic areas. Electron microscopy of the liver revealed icosahedral viral particles approximately 110 nm in diameter, consistent with a herpesvirus infection. Characteristics of the herpesvirus are similar to those described for iguanid herpesvirus 1.     

Molecular prevalence and characterization of Hepatozoon ursi infection in Indian sloth bears (Melursus ursinus)

Hepatozoon species are parasites that infect a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. The objective of the study was to detect the occurrence of Hepatozoon ursi in Indian sloth bears and to characterize the parasite based on phylogenetic analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene sequence. Hepatozoon infection could be detected in 38 (70%) out of fifty-four blood samples of Indian sloth bears (captive and wild), suggestive of high prevalence of Hepatozoon infection in Indian sloth bears. Sequencing of partial 18S rRNA gene of the positive samples and BLAST analysis indicated that the nearest phylogenetic neighbour was H. ursi with which they exhibited 99-100% similarity. Additionally, Hepatozoon sp. isolated from wild sloth bears of India were identical to those in captive sloth bears and phylogenetically related to H. ursi reported from Japanese black bears from Japan. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization of H. ursi infection in Indian sloth bears.     

Natural infection of captive coyote pups with a herpesvirus antigenically related to canine herpesvirus

Herpesviruses were isolated from captive coyote pups with ocular discharge and hepatomegaly. The viruses were shown to be antigenically related to canine herpesvirus on the basis of specific virus neutralization with canine herpesvirus antiserum. The epizootiology of the outbreak suggested that the herpesvirus was acquired by indirect contact with guard dogs being cared for by the same animal technicians who cared for the coyotes.