Chytridiomycosis in amphibians--first report in Europe

Declining of amphibian populations is a worldwide phenomenon. A cutaneous mycosis as a cause of death in free-living amphibians as well as in captive ones due to an chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) was reported at first in 1998. This infections were reported hitherto from Australia, North, Central and South America. This is the first report on chytrid infections in captive anurans from Europe. Dendrobates auratus and D. pumilo imported from Costa Rica and P. vittatus imported from French Guayana died with chytridiomycosis within a week after arrival in Europe. Batrachocytrium was also found on captive bred frogs in Germany and Belgium. Clinical signs, diagnosis and conclusions for protecting free-living amphibian populations and captive frogs are discussed.     

Detection of clade 2 equine influenza virus in an adult horse recently imported to the USA

A 4‐year‐old Warmblood mare presented to the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis with bilateral mucoid nasal discharge and pyrexia. The mare had recently been imported from Germany, arriving at a quarantine holding facility 72 h prior to presentation. Based on clinical presentation and culture results of tracheal fluid, the mare was diagnosed with bacterial bronchopneumonia secondary to equine influenza. The equine influenza virus (EIV) identified in the imported mare displayed 99.1% nucleotide homology of the HA1 gene to the prototype Florida sublineage clade 2 isolate A/equine/Richmond/1/2007 (H3N8). This case illustrates the risk of introducing a clade 2 EIV in North America.     

Importation of parasites by tourism and animal trading

International transport of animals is associated with an enhanced risk of import of a number of parasite species that are not endemic in Germany. Pets accompany tourists on journeys all over the world, but in particular to southern Europe, and dogs are increasingly imported from (sub-)tropical countries for reasons of animal welfare. Veterinary practitioners are thus confronted with parasites that are unusual in their patients. The specific transmission routes determine whether an imported parasite is able to become endemic. Although parasites eradicated in Germany such as Trypanosoma equiperdum and Tritrichomonas foetus may be principally imported they are unlikely to re-establish due to the current epidemiological conditions. Imported animals that harbour parasites which may occur naturally but are currently rare in Germany are a potential source of increased infection risk. Certain areas in Germany have probably become endemic for Babesia canis and the respective vector tick Dermacentor reticulatus has been found. Whether other vector borne parasitic diseases such as leishmaniosis or heartworm disease have the potential to spread into Germany is still a matter of debate.     

Autochthonous and imported Trichinella isolates in Germany

The study of Trichinella isolates from wildlife in Germany revealed the presence of Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi in wild boars and foxes. T spiralis was detected in meat products imported from Spain, which is one of the two endemic areas of domestic trichinellosis in the European Union: It was also detected in meat from a grizzly bear marketed in Alaska, and Trichinella nativa was detected in a polar bear from the Berlin Zoo. These results stress the importance of examining for Trichinella live animals and meat products imported to Germany from both EU and non-EU countries. Furthermore, carnivores from Arctic regions that are born in the wild and placed in zoos can represent a risk for the introduction of the freeze-resistant species of Trichinella in a new region if, once the animal dies, the carcass is not properly destroyed.     

新型A型H1N1猪流感疫情动态及防控措施

2009年3月18日由墨西哥发端的人类大流行性甲型(A型)H1N1流感疫情迅速在全球蔓延,并已扩散到中国。新型A型H1N1流感突破种间屏障由人传染给猪、禽,并相继在北美、南美、大洋洲出现疫情。2009年4月21日,新型A型H1N1猪流感疫情首次在北美的加拿大发生;2009年6月24日,在南美的阿根廷发生猪流感疫情;2009年7月24日,远在大洋洲的澳大利亚也出现猪流感疫情;更糟糕的是在2009年7月23日,在南美紧邻阿根廷的智利的禽类(火鸡)首次发生A型流感疫情。此次新型A型H1N1流感疫情呈现大流行病学显著变化:①突破种间屏障由人传染给猪、禽;②突破地理屏障,在三大洲先后暴发规模不等、强度不一的多起疫情。因此,我国卫生主管部门、兽医主管部门和出入境检验检疫部门应高度戒备,密切关注,采取严格的生物安全措施,严防疫情疫病跨越国境,特别是防止新型A型H1N1流感疫情在人群、猪群、禽群之间相互传播,避免疫情在人类和动物进一步扩散。     

Isolation of a Mycobacterium microti-like organism from a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) in a Canadian zoo

A Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex organism was isolated from a zoo resident rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) imported into Canada from South Africa. The strain was identified biochemically as Mycobacterium microti. The spoligotype pattern obtained for this isolate was found to be rare. This represents the first report of isolation and spoligotyping of M. microti in North America.     

Import of dogs by public animal shelters and private animal protection societies

Every year thousands of dogs from EU Member States and third countries are brought to Germany by private animal protectionists, animal protection societies and public animal shelters offering them for an average charge of 250,00 Euro each. In addition to violations of current legal regulations, there might also be real crime offence behind the matter. Moreover, people, especially children, are increasingly endangered by various infectious diseases imported to Germany and spreading throughout the country as well as by dogs suffering from bad deprivation damage. The fact that the new owners are often not told the truth about the dogs'foreign origin is another problem.They are often marked with a chip after being brought to Germany and only then they are provided with a national vaccination record or a German pet passport. Finally the question arises whether the "rescue" of dogs and finding a place for them in Germany is just "big business"--for animal protection societies, practitioners, dog shelters, dog psychologists and the media.     

Myxobolus cyprini Doflein, 1898, in Peamouth: First Report of This Myxosporean in the Western Hemisphere

Abstract

A survey of 3–8-year-old peamouths Mylocheilus caurinus collected from the lower Fraser River, British Columbia, revealed 100%, infection by a myxosporean identified as Myxobolus cyprini based on spore morphology, site of infection, and associated pathological changes. Myxobolus cyprini is a common myxosporean parasite of several species of cyprinid fishes (family Cyprinidae) in Europe, the former USSR, and China, but this is the first report of this myxosporean in the Western Hemisphere. The source of the infection in peamouths—whether the parasite is endemic to North America or has been imported with exotic cyprinids from Europe or Asia—is unknown. It is also possible that the myxosporean from peamouths is very closely related to, but a distinct species from, M. cyprini of Eurasia. As reported from European cyprinid fishes, the myxosporean in peamouths developed in the skeletal muscle, and disseminated spores were found associated with chronic inflammation in the visceral organs.     

Isolation of antibacteriologically active compounds from species of the Cottidae family

Antibacteriologically active compounds were isolated from the skin of several species of the fish family Cottidae. Suitable samples were obtained from species living in the Pacific, lakes in North America and the Fenno-Scandinavian peninsula as well as the Baltic sea. The compounds isolated from the skin of Triglops quadricornis (fourhorn sculpin) from the Baltic sea were particularly studied. The activity was partially characterised by chemical and biochemical investigations and the susceptibility of several human and fish pathogens described. The substance or substance(s) are of a high molecular mass, resist proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes, are heat and pH sensitive and water soluble.     

Agar gel immunodiffusion test for the detection of bovine leukemia virus antibodies: lack of trans-Atlantic standardization.

Two agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) kits for the serodiagnosis of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were imported from Europe and were compared with North American kits. The BLV AGID kits from North America and from Europe differed significantly. The punches were different, as were the pattern distribution in the agar of the reference and the test sera, resulting in differences in the reading of the immunoprecipitation lines. Based on the testing of 1200 serum samples from cattle, the European kits gave a good correlation with the American kits, as indicated by their respective kappa values. However, the European kits were found to be less sensitive when evaluated against weakly positive samples from field specimens or following a dilution trial. Only 65% and 50% of the weakly positive samples detected by the American kit #1 were detected by the European kits #2 and #3, respectively. The American kit was also capable of detecting BLV antibodies in 45% of strongly positive samples diluted 1/50 in negative sera, while antibodies were detected in only 15% of the samples with the European kit #2 and in none of the samples with the European kit #3. False negatives were also detected with the European kits. Among the false negatives, the degree of expected reactions was weak (European kit #2) or of varying degrees of positivity (European kit #3). Besides the differences in format and performance, the BLV-AGID kits in Europe are evaluated with the National Standard Serum E4 while a proficiency panel composed of a quadruplicate set of 10 reference sera is used in Canada to monitor the kits. Based on the overall observations, we noted a lack of standardization between the BLV-AGID kits used in North America and in Europe.     

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis in the Netherlands? An overview

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) was diagnosed in a Dutch Warmblood gelding a few months after its export to the United States. The horse came back and was treated here. Additionally, an overview of the disease complex 'EPM' is given. Mode of infection, diagnosis of disease and its differential diagnoses, and general therapeutic options are presented. Although EPM due to infection with Sarcocystis neurona in Europe seems restricted to those horses that return or are imported from North America, the possibility of future cases of EPM caused by an infection with Neospora spp. is briefly discussed.     

Dysautonomia in a six‐year‐old mule in the United States

Equine dysautonomia, also known as equine grass sickness (EGS), is a well documented disease in several countries. To the authors’ knowledge, EGS has not been reported previously in North America. This report describes EGS in a 6‐year‐old female mule in the USA. Failure initially to consider EGS resulted in a delayed diagnosis. EGS should be considered as a differential diagnosis and appropriate diagnostic tests performed in similar cases in North America.     

Therapeutics in ferrets.

The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) continues to grow in popularity as a pet species in North America as well as many countries around the world. With this rapid growth comes an increased potential for small and exotic animal practitioners to expand their ferret clientele. This article reviews the commonly used therapeutics in ferrets, as well as the general principles and guidelines for their use.     

Efficacy of Flectron-eartags (cypermethrin) for control of midges (Culicoides) as the vectors of bluetongue virus in cattle: field studies and biossays

When in 2006 infection with bluetongue for the first time occurred in Germany the registered and already against flies and tabanids in cattle proofed Flectron ear tags were used against the blood feeding vector midges (Culicoides) also. However, the efficacy against gnats was not yet proofed. The efficacy of 1 and 2 ear tags (1,067 g cypermethrin per ear tag) per animal was investigated in North Germany with 237 heifers and dairy cows. Midges were caught in suction light traps close to the cattle on pasture or became trapped by mouth operated aspirators directly at the skin of the animal bodies. Within 12,051 specimens of midges 12 species of Culicoides could be identified. On grasslands 3 species, C. obsoletus, C. pulicaris and C. dewulfi were found to be dominant. These 3 species are also known to be vectors of BTV. The toxic efficacy was found for 14 days with 1 ear tag and up to 21 days with 2 ear tags. This duration of efficacy was confirmed in the laboratory with hair clippings from the dorsal line and the ventral abdomen (bioassay). In accordance with workers in the U.S.A. it is concluded that insecticide-impregnated ear tags will reduce the number of biting midges, and by this way the risk of infection with BTV in herds of treated cattle will be reduced as well as in other cattle of a particular region. It is concluded that ear tags are of considerable value as part of an integrated control program for BT, e.g. vaccination.     

West Nile virus: North American experience

West Nile virus, a mosquito‐vectored flavivirus of the Japanese encephalitis serogroup, was first detected in North America following an epizootic in the New York City area in 1999. In the intervening 11 years since the arrival of the virus in North America, it has crossed the contiguous USA, entered the Canadian provinces bordering the USA, and has been reported in the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Central America and, more recently, South America. West Nile virus has been reported in over 300 species of birds in the USA and has caused the deaths of thousands of birds, local population declines of some avian species, the clinical illness and deaths of thousands of domestic horses, and the clinical disease in over 30 000 Americans and the deaths of over 1000. Prior to the emergence of West Nile virus in North America, St. Louis encephalitis virus and Dengue virus were the only other known mosquito‐transmitted flaviviruses in North America capable of causing human disease. This review will discuss the North American experience with mosquito‐borne flavivirus prior to the arrival of West Nile virus, the entry and spread of West Nile virus in North America, effects on wild bird populations, genetic changes in the virus, and the current state of West Nile virus transmission.     

Past climate change and recent anthropogenic activities affect genetic structure and population demography of the greater long‐tailed hamster in northern China

The genetic diversity and the spatial structure of a species are likely consequences of both past and recent evolutionary processes, but relevant studies are still rare in East Asia where the Pleistocene climate has unique influences. In this study, we examined the impact of past climate change and recent anthropogenic activities on the genetic structure and population size of the greater long‐tailed hamster (Tscherskia triton), an agricultural rodent pest species in northern China. DNA sequence data of 2 mitochondrial genes and genotypic data of 11 microsatellite DNA loci from 41 populations (545 individuals) were gathered. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses, as well as species distribution modeling and coalescent simulations, were conducted to infer its historical and demographic patterns and processes. Two deeply diverged mitochondrial clades were recovered. A small one was restricted to the Shandong Peninsula while the main clade was further divided into 3 geographic clusters by their microsatellite DNA genotypes: Northwest, North‐center and Northeast. Divergence dating indicated a Middle‐to‐Late Pleistocene divergence between the 2 clades. Demographic analysis indicated that all 3 and pooled populations showed consistent long‐period expansions during last glacial period; but not during the Holocene, probably due to the impact of climate warming and human disturbances. Conflicting patterns between mtDNA and microsatellite markers imply an anthropogenic impact on North‐center populations due to intensified agricultural cultivation in this region. Our study demonstrated that the impact of past glaciation on organisms in East Asia significantly differs from that of Europe and North America, and human activity is an important factor in determining the genetic diversity of a species, as well as its spatial structure.     

Genetic diversity of Hungarian canine distemper virus strains

To achieve proper diagnosis of dogs based on acute clinical symptoms and poorly preserved field samples taken from animals that died due to canine distemper (CD), a new differential diagnostic test has been developed based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, more than 150 samples collected from dogs showing respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological signs suggesting canine distemper virus (CDV) infection were examined. The samples consisted of urine, blood and nasal swabs collected from clinically ill patients, sent to our laboratory by clinicians from various veterinary clinics throughout Hungary. Various organs collected during the necropsy of dogs with pathological changes that suggested CDV infection were also included. Three distinct PCRs were designed. For diagnostic purposes, a primer pair specific to a 409 bases-long segment within the conservative part of the large polymerase region (L) of the CDV genome was designed. Using this test, out of the 150 analyzed samples, 46 (30.66%) proved to be positive for CDV, indicating that CDV still represents a high risk to the canine population in Hungary. For the phylogenetical analysis, a primer pair that completely encompasses the hemagglutinin (H) gene of the CDV genome was designed. The amplicons of this region were sequenced in both directions using the appropriate primers. Our results indicate that several different CDV genotypes are currently present in Hungary. Nine of the analyzed Hungarian strains turned out to belong to the so-called Arctic group of CDVs, and were most closely related to non-European strains from North America, China and Greenland, as well as to the phocine distemper virus 2 (PDV-2) isolated from Baikal seals (Phoca sibirica). One of the Hungarian strains showed high similarity to other European isolates from Denmark, Germany, Italy and Turkey, as well as to other isolates from geographically more distant regions, such as the USA. Three Hungarian strains seem to join a new cluster that is formed by only a couple of strains, one isolated from a mink in Denmark, and another from a dog in North America. Using a third set of primers, a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay has also been designed for the fast and reliable differentiation of the wild-type CDVs from the vaccine strains.     

Resistance to Invasion and Resilience to Fire in Desert Shrublands of North America

Settlement by Anglo-Americans in the desert shrublands of North America resulted in the introduction and subsequent invasion of multiple nonnative grass species. These invasions have altered presettlement fire regimes, resulted in conversion of native perennial shrublands to nonnative annual grasslands, and placed many native desert species at risk. Effective management of these ecosystems requires an understanding of their ecological resistance to invasion and resilience to fire. Resistance and resilience differ among the cold and hot desert shrublands of the Great Basin, Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts in North America. These differences are largely determined by spatial and temporal patterns of productivity but also are affected by ecological memory, severity and frequency of disturbance, and feedbacks among invasive species and disturbance regimes. Strategies for preventing or managing invasive plant/fire regimes cycles in desert shrublands include: 1) conducting periodic resource assessments to evaluate the probability of establishment of an altered fire regime; 2) developing an understanding of ecological thresholds associate within invasion resistance and fire resilience that characterize transitions from desirable to undesirable fire regimes; and 3) prioritizing management activities based on resistance of areas to invasion and resilience to fire.     

Waterfowl rehabilitation: A primer for veterinarians

Ducks, geese, and swans are an easily recognized group of birds. There are approximately 50 native species in North America, all of which are considered migratory. Despite being a legally hunted family of birds, native waterfowl are federally protected, and there are federal laws associated with their rehabilitation, disposition of nonreleasable animals, and disposal of carcasses. In the United States, there are several nonnative species found with increasing frequency that many don’t realize are feral exotics. There also are state laws dealing with owning exotic waterfowl and prohibition of their release. Native waterfowl occupy a variety of wet habitats, have unique feeding requirements, have specific enclosure and substrate needs, and should be treated by someone with expertise to ensure recovery sufficient for return to the wild. If a practitioner is going to accept wild waterfowl as patients, it is important they know the laws, identify species, understand species natural history, and learn about associated common problems. This article discusses legalities, basic husbandry issues, common presentations, and basic veterinary/rehabilitation matters of waterfowl commonly found by the public. It also covers some common problems seen with feral exotic waterfowl as well.     

全球马流感发生的风险状况研究

目的开展在全球尺度上的马流行性感冒(马流感)发生状况的分析。方法基于数据挖掘方法,借鉴地理风险分析和Kolmogorov-Smirnov统计检验的方法,开展对全球马流感发生态势的分析。结果统计分析认为:(1)全球马流感近十年以来发生涉及范围和区域扩大,发病数量增多,发病频次高,发病态势严重。(2)全球马流感发生的区域特征显著,美洲和欧洲是全球马流感发病态势比较严重的区域,而亚洲相对较美欧的发病态势为弱。(3)在近十年以来,全球尺度上马流感的发生在空间和时间上保持较强的连续性和比较平稳的发展态势,但局部时段的马流感的发生呈现较大的跳跃性。结论美洲和欧洲是目前马流行性感冒发生和流行的主要区域,从该区域输入马匹等马属动物及其产品会带来一定的释放风险.