Cryptosporidiosis associated with immunosuppression attributable to distemper in a pup

Cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, trichomoniasis, and distemper were diagnosed in a 6-month-old female Siberian Husky pup. Poor growth rate, mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharges, and diarrhea were observed. Results of immunologic studies revealed decreased serum IgG concentration and undetectable serum IgA concentration. Cultured lymphocytes yielded a less-than-adequate response to mitogen stimulation. The serum also contained a factor that suppressed mitogen stimulation in control cultured lymphocytes.     

隐孢子虫病检测技术研究进展

隐孢子虫是动物和人腹泻的重要病原,也是人类艾滋病患者的主要致死因素之一.当前,对隐孢子虫病的研究已成为全球寄生虫学研究领域的热点由,于迄今尚无治疗隐孢子虫病感染的特效药物,因此,快速、简便、准确地发现隐孢子虫是控制该病的关键.随着分子生物学技术的应用,隐孢子虫病的检测技术得到了极大的发展.笔者就近年来隐孢子虫病检测技术进行了简要综述.     

隐孢子虫病及其在牦牛中的流行现状

隐孢子虫病是由隐孢子虫寄生于人或动物所引起的常见寄生虫病,其主要症状为腹泻,是一种人兽共患病,不仅对畜牧业经济生产造成损失,也威胁着人类健康。论文从隐孢子虫病的病原学、临床症状、病理变化、诊断与防控以及该病在牦牛中的流行情况等方面进行综述,可为牦牛隐孢子虫病的研究提供参考。     

Cryptosporidiosis in a feline leukemia virus-positive cat

A 4-year-old FeLV-positive cat with a 1-year history of intermittent diarrhea and subsequent anorexia, depression, and weight loss had enteric cryptosporidiosis at necropsy. Cryptosporidium sp is an important cause of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in various species, including human beings with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A major determinant of the severity of the disease caused by Cryptosporidium sp is the immunologic status of the affected animal. Cryptosporidiosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of protracted diarrhea in FeLV-positive cats. Because cryptosporidiosis now is recognized as a zoonosis, cats with this disease should be considered a potential source of human infection.     

我国羊隐孢子虫感染情况及危险因素

隐孢子虫是可以感染小反刍动物的肠道原生生物,具有潜在的公共卫生学问题。隐孢子虫可引起人和动物的腹泻和肠道疾病,严重情况下会出现死亡。被感染的动物可能是人畜共患型隐孢子虫的宿主,可引起公共卫生风险、农场利润减少和动物福利等问题。隐孢子虫病已被报道是新生牛、羊等反刍动物腹泻和死亡的一个重要原因,认为是新生羔羊腹泻的第二大诱因,仅次于轮状病毒。羊隐孢子虫病在世界范围内都有发现,不同程度地威胁着人和动物的身体健康,基于此,现就隐孢子虫对羊感染的危险因素和常用检测方法,以及我国羊感染的现状进行综述,为其防控提供参考。     

Cryptosporidiosis in four cockatoos with psittacine beak and feather disease.

Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in 4 cockatoos with psittacine beak and feather disease. Three of the birds had cryptosporidiosis confined to the epithelium covering the bursa of Fabricius. One bird had generalized parasitism of the small intestine, large intestine, and bursal epithelium. All of the birds had intermittent to protracted diarrhea before death. Presumably, acquired immunodeficiency from psittacine beak and feather disease promoted establishment of cryptosporidiosis and other secondary diseases including septicemia, peritonitis, chlamydiosis, and mycotic ventriculitis.     

Cryptosporidiosis in veterinary students

Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in 10 veterinary students. Exposure to the pathogen was associated with direct contact with infected calves and contact with contaminated materials. Affected students had fever (50%), headache (50%), nausea (70%), diarrhea (80%), and vomiting (40%). Clinical signs persisted for 30 hours to 16 days after the onset of clinical signs of disease. Although one student required hospitalization, the remaining students recovered without treatment.     

Cryptosporidium infection as a cause of calf diarrhea

Cryptosporidiosis is a self-limiting protozoal disease of the intestinal tract. Although identified as possible agents of calf diarrhea less than 15 years ago, Cryptosporidium spp. are now believed to be common in calves and in many other host animal species worldwide. Recent literature on all aspects of cryptosporidiosis in calves is reviewed, predicaments in diagnosis and management are discussed, and public health concerns are raised.     

Canine coccidiosis attributed to an Isospora ohioensis-like organism: a case report

Coccidiosis due to an Isospora ohioensis-like organism was diagnosed in a 10-week-old pup. The pup had diarrhea, dehydration, and weight loss before it died 7 days after onset of clinical signs. Lesions were limited to the intestinal tract. Beginning in the distal end of the small intestine and extending through cecum and colon were mild histiocytic proliferation in the lamina propria and multifocal cryptitis. Numerous meronts and gamonts of an unidentified coccidium were in or near the lesions. Parasites were in the villous epithelium, lamina propria, and intestinal glands of the distal one-half of the small intestine, cecum, and colon. It was concluded that infection was due to an unidentified coccidium with oocysts structurally similar to those of I ohioensis.     

Ultrasonographic diagnosis and surgical management of double intestinal intussusception in 3 dogs

The diagnosis and treatment of double intestinal intussusception in 3 pups with persistent vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, anemia, leucocytosis, and electrolyte imbalance are described. Ultrasonography confirmed intussusception and laparotomy revealed double intussusceptions. Intussusceptions were corrected by manual reduction in 1 pup and intestinal resection and anastomosis in 2 pups. Two pups survived and 1 pup died on the 4th day after surgery.     

Inoculation of neonatal gnotobiotic dogs with a canine rotavirus

Neonatal gnotobiotic dogs were inoculated orally with a rotavirus isolated from a pup with fatal diarrhea, and in the gnotobiotic dogs, diarrhea was observed between postinoculation hours (PIH) 20 and 24. The diarrhea persisted through PIH 154, and inoculated pups had clinical signs of dehydration after PIH 24. Negative-contrast electron microscopy of the feces from inoculated pups revealed rotavirus particles from PIH 12 through 154. Using an indirect-fluorescent antibody test, serum rotavirus antibody was detected in inoculated pups by PIH 96. In the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of inoculated pups, group-specific rotaviral antigen was observed within absorptive villus epithelial cells and mononuclear cells in the villus lamina propria with an indirect-fluorescent antibody test. Fluorescence was seen in the small intestine of inoculated pups killed by PIH 12 and was present in intestines of pups killed through PIH 154. Rotaviral antigen was also seen in the mesenteric lymph nodes of a few inoculated pups killed at PIH 48.     

Sporadic cryptosporidiosis in a rural population is asymptomatic and associated with contact to cattle

Fecal samples each followed by a completed questionnaire were obtained from 233 persons representing 80 households. Using the formalinether concentration method combined with the acid-fast staining oocysts of Cryptosporidium were found in 7 (3 %) persons. 63 persons had contact to cattle, and asymptomatic cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in 6 of them. Cryptosporidiosis was not found in any of the 51 persons with contact to some other animal but not cattle, and none of the 7 Cryptosporidium positive persons had been traveling abroad. We also obtained fecal samples from 15 calves from 7 households. Six of the calves (40 %) harbored Cryptosporidia and manifest enteritis was detected in those under age of 1 month. Five out of 14 farms had problems of neonatal calf diarrhea. Human cryptosporidiosis was more frequent on such problem farms. The results indicate that in rural population, human cryptosporidiosis is mainly asymptomatic and occurs mainly in residents of cattle-rearing farms.     

Virological and molecular characterization of a mammalian orthoreovirus type 3 strain isolated from a dog in Italy

A mammalian orthoreovirus (MRV) strain was isolated from a pup with fatal diarrhea, which had a concurrent infection by canine parvovirus type 2. The reovirus isolate showed an atypical hemagglutination pattern and a retarded electrophoretic mobility of the S1 segment, which is characteristic of MRV type 3 (MRV-3). Assignment of the isolated virus to MRV-3 was confirmed by type-specific RT-PCR assays, targeting the S1 gene, and by subsequent sequence analysis of the PCR product. By phylogeny based on the S1 gene of several MRVs, the isolate fell into lineage E, along with the murine strain T3C9/61 and the bovine strains T3C18/61 and T3C31/59. Conversely, L1 sequences were found to segregate regardless of the viral type. A total of 110 fecal samples, 56 nasal and 31 ocular swabs from dogs with diarrhea or nasal/ocular discharge were tested by a nested-PCR assay specific for reoviruses, and no sample was found to contain MRV RNA, a finding that is apparently in contrast with the seroprevalence (25.77%) observed in dogs.     

Cryptosporidiosis in People: It's Not Just About the Cows

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most common causes of infectious diarrhea in people. Although dairy calves are high-risk hosts, the role of other livestock, pets, and humans in the disease should not be underestimated. Some Cryptosporidium species and strains are specific to people, others are specific to animals while some are zoonotic pathogens. Cryptosporidium hominis is the species responsible for the majority of human cases in the United States, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia, while Cryptosporidium parvum accounts for more human cases in Europe and particularly in the United Kingdom. A deeper understanding of Cryptosporidium host range, reservoirs, and transmission is needed to develop preventive strategies to protect the general public.     

Electron microscopic identification and subsequent isolation of a rotavirus from a dog with fatal neonatal diarrhea

Negative contrast electron microscopic examination of intestinal contents from a 3-day-old pup with fatal diarrhea exhibited numerous rotavirus-like particles. Rotavirus was subsequently recovered, using MDCK cells, and was carried through 11 sub-passages; rotavirus-like particles were identified in each passage by negative contrast electron microscopic examination. Experimental inoculation of two 6-month-old Beagle dogs with purified intestinal contents did not result in clinical signs or virus shedding.     

Cryptosporidiosis in 20 alpaca crias

CASE DESCRIPTION: 20 alpaca crias (13 females and 7 males) were examined for diarrhea (n=20), weight loss (15), and poor appetite (5). Fourteen crias were between 8 and 18 days of age at time of admission. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in all crias. Common biochemical abnormalities included acidemia, hyperlactemia, azotemia, and hyperglycemia and increases in aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities. Serum sodium and chloride concentrations were high or low. Other potential gastrointestinal tract pathogens were identified in only 7 crias. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Supportive care was instituted, including i.v. administration of fluids with partial parenteral administration of nutrients (n=19 crias), antimicrobials (19), supplemental orally administered nutrients (11), administration of plasma (10), and insulin treatment (9). Other palliative treatments used by attending clinicians were sucralfate, flunixin meglumine, vitamin A/D/E/B complex, antiparasitic agents, antidiarrheal agents, and azithromycin. Three crias with inadequate urine production and severe azotemia were treated with furosemide administered i.v. as a bolus or as a constant-rate infusion. Treatment resulted in a successful outcome in 16 of 20 crias. Weight loss and refractory azotemia were common in nonsurvivors but not in surviving crias. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings suggested that Cryptosporidium spp may be a diarrheal pathogen of unweaned alpaca crias that may be more widespread than has been recognized and can become endemic on some farms. Metabolic derangements were unpredictable and should be determined by biochemical analysis before fluid and electrolyte replacement is initiated. Cryptosporidiosis has zoonotic potential, and the infection can be self-limiting in alpacas receiving supportive treatment.     

Congenital alopecia in a Bichon Frise

A Bichon Frise pup had congenital alopecia. Histologic evaluation revealed the absence of hair follicles, arector pili muscles, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. Unlike previously described cases of congenital ectodermal defect, this alopecia was not associated with any color pattern; the pup was white until it was 4 months old, at which time normal black and brown pigmentation developed independently of the alopecic pattern.     

Cryptosporidium parvum infection and management-based risk factors of dairy calves in Taiwan

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the major causes of diarrhea in calves. Cryptosporidium parvum is considered the most important calf diarrhea pathogen in the Cryptosporidium species. Not only could infected calves spread C. parvum, but infected adult cattle could also shed oocysts. The objectives of this study were (1) to investigate the prevalence of C. parvum in dairy herds in Taiwan, including calves, the dams in delivery enclosure, the floor, and the drinking water; (2) to clarify the relationship of diarrhea, management, and C. parvum infection. Twenty dairy herds in Taiwan were selected by random sampling, including 226 calves and 198 dams, and other environmental samples were collected. A questionnaire was filled out by the farm owners to collect information regarding the management of calves and the delivery enclosure. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for C. parvum infection. The prevalence of C. parvum infection in calves was 26.5% (60/226), while in dams, it was 19.7% (39/198). The C. parvum infection in calves increased with environmental contamination of C. parvum and clinical signs of diarrhea, while it decreased with a yard provided in the delivery enclosure. In conclusion, the management of the delivery enclosure appears to be more important for preventing cryptosporidiosis in calves in Taiwan.     

Triploidy (117,XXX) in a stillborn canine pup conceived with frozen semen

Analysis of skin fibroblast cultures from a deformed stillborn female Alaskan Malamute pup revealed a 3n = 117,XXX (normal, 2n = 78,XX) chromosome count. The triploid pup was delivered by cesarean section 5 days after estimated date of parturition, because the bitch failed to start labor. The bitch had been inseminated with thawed frozen semen deposited into the lumen of the uterus approximately 4 days after ovulation. Gross anatomic abnormalities of the pup included omphalocele, diaphragmatic hernia, persistent right aortic arch, atresia ani, and no right forelimb distal to the scapula. The pup also had arthrogryposis of the left carpus, kyphosis of the thoracic vertebrae, widely separated cranial sutures, open fontanelles, hydrocephalus, and cleft palate. Suspected cause of the triploidy was dispermy of an aged oocyte after intrauterine deposition of the thawed frozen semen. Numeric chromosome abnormalities may be causes of fetal deformity or death that can be detected by fetal karyotype.     

The intra-uterine position of canine foetuses and their sequence of expulsion at birth

In 14 bitches, laparotomy was performed between the 45th day and 54th day of gestation. In total, 89 foetuses were marked individually by means of transuterine injections of a radiopaque substance. After expulsion, each pup was provided with a colour code. By radiographs one day after birth, all pups of a litter could be identified by the radiopaque markings. In this way the order and presentation at birth of each pup could be compared with the uterine position and presentation at laparotomy. When after expulsion of a pup, one or more were left in each uterine horn, the next pup was produced by the contralateral horn in 43 cases (78·2%) and by the ipsilateral horn in 12 cases (21·8%). One horn was never observed to be completely empty before the other horn started expelling pups. In six of eight bitches in which each two uterine horns did not contain an equal number of foetuses, the first pup was born from the horn containing most pups. The presentation at birth has been observed in 73 pups. For five of these (6·9%), the presentation differed from the one observed at laparotomy; in all five cases the original posterior presentation had changed into an anterior one.