Atypical multiple,papilliform, xanthomatous,cutaneous neoplasia in a goose (Anser anser)

An 18-month-old, male greylag goose was presented for assessment of multiple, semi-pedunculated cutaneous masses limited to non-feathered areas of skin. Initial biopsy and histopathology revealed a mesenchymal neoplasm suggestive of lipoblastomatosis or atypical xanthoma. Immunohistochemistry was unsuccessful in determining the tissue type of origin. Surgical resection of all masses was prevented by the mucocutaneous location of several masses. Chemotherapy using intralesion cisplatin was unsuccessful in resolving the masses but was well-tolerated by the goose. Serum lipid and lipoprotein analysis revealed a persistent hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia without biochemical evidence of an underlying metabolic disease. The persistent hyperlipidaemia may have contributed to the formation of the masses identified in this case.     

Isolation and characterization of a Neisseria sp. from the captive wild goose (Anser anser)

The present study investigated 15 dead cases of captive wild goslings (Anser anser), which were bred in a small poultry farm in Shandong Province, China. The examined cases presented diverse clinical signs accompanied with neurological manifestations and fatal outcomes. Bacterial culture identified the gram‐negative Neisseria sp. from the brain homogenate of most examined cases (10/15, 66.7%). The isolated bacteria were identified based on morphologic characteristics, biochemical tests and 16S rDNA typing. Results proved that 1 identical bacterial strain (BNO09‐3) was isolated from the positive cases. The phylogeny based on the 16S rDNA gene sequences indicated that this isolate has a close relationship with various strains of genus Neisseria sp. isolated from liver and feces of duck. This is the first report of Neisseria sp. causing fatality in captive wild geese in China.     

Tuberculosis in geese (Anser anser) in Turkey

Tuberculosis was detected in seven geese at the breeding unit of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, during 1998. In the necropsy, lesions of nodular type were seen in the liver, spleen, and lungs. Histopathologically, the lesions were characterized by central areas of caseous necrosis surrounded by epithelioid cells, multinucleated giant cells, lymphocytes, and an outer fibrous capsule. Acid-fast bacilli were visualized by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining method in paraffin sections and smears. Inoculation into Lowenstein-Jensen media with glycerin yielded Mycobacterium spp.     

The histological observations on the large intestine of the goose (Anser anser) during the pre- and post-hatching periods

The development of the cecum and colon in the goose was investigated during the period from the 15th to 28th day of the incubation and from 1 to 30 days of age after hatching by light microscopy. By day 15 of the incubation, in the cecum and colon, the lumen was surrounded by pseudostratified epithelium. The previllous ridges appeared at 15th and 17th days of the incubation in the colon and ceca, respectively. At the base of previllous ridges, the epithelium changed into a simple prismathic epithelium at 15th and 17th days of the incubation in the colon and cecum, respectively. The villi appeared at the 21st days of the incubation. The crypts and goblet cells appeared on the first day after hatching. In the pre-hatching period, the lamina muscularis mucosa was present only in the colon. The submucosa consisted of loosely aggregated connective tissue in the pre-hatching period. In the post-hatching period, it consisted of a very thin layer of connective tissue. Its presence was only obvious where the cells of the submucosal nerve plexus or occasional large blood vessels considerably increased its thickness. The nerve plexus corresponding to the Auerbach's plexus of the mammalian intestine and submucosal nerve plexus appeared by 15th days of the incubation. From the 15th to 28th day of incubation, the tunica muscularis consisted of circular smooth muscle cells in the ceca. On the 28th day of the incubation a thinner longitudinal muscle layer added to the circular muscle layer. In the colon there was an outer longitudinal and a thicker circular muscle layer.     

Use of intralipid emulsion therapy to treat suspected oleander toxicosis in a domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus)

Ingestion of toxic substances is a common event in companion animals and livestock, especially in waterfowl. Oleander (Nerium oleander) toxicosis is rarely reported in avian species, with symptoms including cardiac, neurological and gastrointestinal manifestations. A 6-month-old domestic goose (Anser anser domesticus) was presented for depression, anorexia, permanent sternal recumbency, weakness and incoordination, and the owners witnessed the ingestion of oleander leaves. Despite the absence of evident cardiac symptoms, biochemical hematological findings showed significant increase of CPK, AST, LDH, and troponin I. Therapy was set with intravenous (IV) fluid administration, antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, oral activated charcoal, and IV lipid emulsion at 15 mL/kg/h. Clinical improvement was achieved after 2 hours. The patient was discharged 3 days after admission, with complete recovery and return to normal biochemical values 10 days after initial presentation. The present work describes a suspected case of spontaneous oleander poisoning in a domestic goose, with the first use of troponin I to diagnose cardiac injury in this species, and the first report of IV lipid emulsion to successfully treat this kind of toxicosis in veterinary practice.     

Growth and development of Bohemian geese (Anser anser)

1. One hundred and twenty geese were slaughtered in groups of 10 at weekly intervals from 1-d-old until 71 d and also at 114 d and were subjected to carcase analysis. 2. The reduction in the proportion of low-value parts of the body in the period from the first to 114th d after hatching was 16.4 and 17.3% for males and females, respectively. 3. The relative proportion of weight of legs declined both with age and with body weight increase. It was described by a linear function in males and by a power function in females. 4. The relative proportion of wing weight increased from 1.2 and 1.3% on the first day after hatching in males and females, respectively, to 16.6% at the age of 50 d, and 15.2% at the age of 43 d in males and females, respectively.     

Comparative study of ovomucoid isolated from Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), domestic goose (Anser anser) and domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

1. Ovomucoids were purified from Muscovy duck, domestic duck and domestic goose.

2. Peptide maps of cyanogen bromide‐cleaved ovomucoids from Muscovy duck and domestic duck were very similar to one another, but differed from that of goose.

3. Muscovy duck ovomucoid showed the same protease inhibitory pattern as ovomucoid from domestic duck, inhibiting trypsin in the molar ratio of 1:2 and chymotrypsin 1:1.

4. Inhibitory complexes could be detected between chymotrypsin and ovomucoid from both Muscovy and domestic duck, but not from goose, by using non‐denaturing gels.

5. No complexes could be detected between DFP‐inactivated chymotrypsin and any of the ovomucoids.

6. The results show that of ovomucoid from Muscovy duck more closely resembles that from domestic duck than goose.     

New method for estimating the volume and volume fractions of the nasal structures in the goose (Anser anser domesticus) using computed tomography images

1. The conchae within the nasal cavity of poultry are important for water and energy conservation, but have not been experimentally evaluated. The aim of the present study was to determine the accuracy of volume and volume fraction estimates of the conchae, nasal septum and nasal cavity.

2. The nasal cavities of 7 adult goose heads were scanned using computed tomography (CT), with images sampled randomly at a 1/5 sampling fraction. Physical sections were obtained from the same samples, using an electric saw that had an adjustable section range, and provided 14 to 15 sections with a thickness of 2.5 mm. The section surface areas of the nasal cavity, nasal septum and conchae were estimated using the Cavalieri principle. Results obtained using the CT and physical section images were compared. Volumes and volume fractions obtained from the physical sections were accepted as the gold standard and differences in the CT images were determined.

3. Multiplication of the data obtained on the CT images with the deviation percentage of the physical sections produced normalised values. No differences were observed between the gold standard data and the CT images. While it was possible to normalise the obtained data using the gold standard values, the raw data could also be used for comparative studies because the deviations from normal would be similar for all groups.

4. Our study showed that the nasal structures could be estimated in vivo using CT images.     

Isolation of various Arcobacter species from domestic geese (Anser anser)

In this study, the prevalence and distribution of various Arcobacter spp. were investigated in samples taken from the cloacae of healthy domestic geese raised in Turkey. A membrane filtration technique with a non-selective blood agar was employed after enrichment in Arcobacter enrichment broth (AEB) to isolate a wide range of Arcobacter spp. In addition, the isolates were characterized phenotypically and identified at species level using a multiplex-PCR assay. A total of 90 cloacal swab samples taken from geese, collected on three farms (18, 25, 47 samples, respectively), were examined. Of the samples examined, 16 (18%) were found positive for Arcobacter. One Arcobacter species was isolated from each bird. Of the 16 Arcobacter isolates, 7 (44%), 7 (44%) and 2 (12.5%) were identified by m-PCR as A. cryaerophilus, A. skirrowii and A. butzleri, respectively. The present study indicates that domestic geese can harbour a variety of Arcobacter spp. in their cloacae. The presence of Arcobacter in geese may be of significance as reservoirs in their dissemination. Detailed research is needed for better understanding of the epidemiology and zoonotic potential of this emerging pathogen.     

Morphological studies on Meckel's diverticulum in geese (Anser anser domesticus)

This study was carried out to reveal the morphological features of Meckel's diverticulum (MD) in geese. For this purpose, a total of 36 adult healthy geese of both sexes, 50-52 weeks of age, were used. The mean weight of MD in male was found to be significantly larger than that of female. It was located a little distal to the midpoint of the small intestine in both sexes. It had a lot of lymphoid tissues, the simple columnar epithelium and a small number of crypts, and was a lack of villi, and its muscularis mucosae was very thin. Results from this study are thought to throw light on future studies on MD and proper diagnosis of pathological disorders related to it, and to contribute considerably to the present anatomical knowledge on MD in geese.     

Comparative pathological studies on domestic geese (Anser anser domestica) and Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) experimentally infected with parvovirus strains of goose and Muscovy duck origin

Parvovirus infection of Muscovy ducks caused by a genetically and antigenically distinct virus has been reported from Germany, France, Israel, Hungary, some Asian countries and the USA. The pathological changes include those of degenerative skeletal muscle myopathy and myocarditis, hepatitis, sciatic neuritis and polioencephalomyelitis. In the study presented here, day-old and 3-week-old goslings and Muscovy ducks were infected experimentally with three different parvovirus strains (isolates of D-216/4 from the classical form of Derzsy's disease, D-190/3 from the enteric form of Derzsy's disease, and strain FM from the parvovirus disease of Muscovy ducks). All three parvovirus strains caused severe disease in both day-old and 3-week-old Muscovy ducks but in the goslings only the two strains of goose origin (D-216/4 and D-190/3) caused disease with high (90-100%) mortality when infection was performed at day old. Strain FM (of Muscovy duck origin) did not cause any clinical signs or pathological lesions in the goslings. In the day-old goslings and Muscovy ducks the principal pathological lesions were severe enteritis with necrosis of the epithelial cells (enterocytes) of the mucous membrane and the crypts of Lieberkühn, and the formation of intranuclear inclusion bodies. Other prominent lesions included hepatitis and atrophy (lymphocyte depletion) of the lymphoid organs (bursa of Fabricius, thymus, spleen). In goslings infected with the strain originating from the classical form of Derzsy's disease mild myocarditis was also detected. After infection at three weeks of age, growth retardation, feathering disorders, myocardial lesions (degeneration of cardiac muscle cells, lympho-histiocytic infiltration) and hepatitis were the most prominent lesions in both geese and Muscovy ducks. In addition to the lesions observed in the geese, muscle fibre degeneration, mild sciatic neuritis and polioencephalomyelitis were also observed in the Muscovy ducks infected with any of the three parvovirus strains.     

Arterial vascularization of the uropygial glands (Gl. uropygialis) in geese (Anser anser) and ducks (Anas platyrhynches)

In the present study, arterial vascularization of the uropygial glands (Gl. uropygialis) of 10 adult geese (Anser anser) and 10 adult ducks (Anas platyrhynches) were studied. Takilon was injected into the median coccygeal arteries of six specimens from each species, and Latex (a natural rubber with ammonia) into those of four specimens. Takilon-injected specimens were corrosion casted, and arteries nourishing the gland were revealed via dissection. Vascularization of the uropygial glands of both the goose and the duck was observed to be the right (a. gl. uropygii dextra), left (a. gl. uropygi sinistra) and ventral (a. gl. uropygi ventralis) glandular uropygial arteries, arising from the median coccygeal (a. coccygea media) artery. Both the right and left glandular uropygial arteries were observed, divided into four branches as follows; muscular ramus (ramus muscularis), medial ramus (ramus medialis), ventral ramus (ramus ventralis) and lateral ramus (ramus lateralis). Of these, as the lateral, medial and ventral branches feed the gland, the muscular branch provides blood for the lateral coccygeal (m. coccygealis lateralis) and levator coccygeal (m. levator coccygealis) muscles, and the skin. Among the arteries mentioned above, anastomosis between the first and the second branches of the right ventral uropygial arteries in the five geese and five ducks was found.     

The Prevalence of Helminths in the Alimentary Tract of Geese (Anser anser domesticus) in Kars District,Turkey

Veterinary Research Communications -     

大雁肌肉营养成分的分析

科学地分析和评价大雁肌肉的营养成分,以期为其深加工及综合利用提供科学的参考依据。对13只体重相近、健康状况良好的大雁胸肌肉中粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗灰分、氨基酸组成及含量、矿物质及微量元素等营养成分进行测定。结果表明:大雁胸肌鲜样中,水分68.94%、粗蛋白24.10%、粗灰分1.37%、粗脂肪3.44%、能值为7 431.92 J/g。每100 g肌肉样品中含有铜0.98 mg、铁7.39 mg、钾0.38 mg、钙42.00 mg、锌2.71 mg、磷244.40mg。鲜样中17种氨基酸总量为175.20 mg/g,7种人体必需氨基酸总量64.80 mg/g,4种鲜味氨基酸总量61.04 mg/g。研究表明,大雁肌肉具有较高的营养价值和保健作用,其开发利用前景较好。     

Endemic avian toxoplasmosis on a farm in Illinois: clinical disease, diagnosis, biologic and genetic characteristics of Toxoplasma gondii isolates from chickens (Gallus domesticus), and a goose (Anser anser)

This study evaluated potential relationships between parasite egg/oocyst outputs in cow-calf beef herds located within the United States Northern Great Plains and herd longitude and latitude. Management of study herds was typical of herds from this region. Parasite egg/oocyst counts were measured from 10 cows and 5 calves selected from each herd near the end of the traditional grazing season (October 1993). The types and numbers of eggs and oocysts recovered from both cows and spring-born calves were consistent with those described in other studies. No significant relationship between fecal egg/oocyst counts and latitude was observed in calves or cows. Monezia egg output exhibited no significant correlation with longitude for calves or cows. In cows, a significant negative correlation was detected between coccidian oocyst counts and herd longitude but not between helminth egg counts and longitude. In calves, Nematodirus, trichostrongyle and Trichuris egg output and coccidian oocyst output were all negatively correlated with longitude. This negative correlation suggests that nematode populations within the study area decreased slightly from an east to west direction.