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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Unusual biphasic disease in domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) following experimental infection with Sarcocystis calchasi

A novel Sarcocystis species has recently been reported in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica) as intermediate host, causing severe central nervous signs similar to Paramyxovirus-1 or Salmonella Typhimurium var. cop. infection. Transmission of the parasite via the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) as definitive host has been established. Experimental infection of domestic pigeons with sporocysts excreted by experimentally infected northern goshawks reproduced the natural infection in the pigeon, proving the causative role of the parasite in the disease. Here, we describe in greater detail the course of the fulminant biphasic disease depending on the infectious dose. Pigeons infected with 10(3) or 10(4) sporocysts showed clinical signs of polyuria and apathy around 10-11 days postinfection (dpi) and sudden neurological signs 51-57 dpi as a second phase of disease. Pigeons infected with higher doses died within 7-12 dpi, also showing polyuria and apathy but without nervous signs. At necropsy, livers and spleens had multifocal necroses and infestations with parasitic stages, namely, schizonts. Moreover, lesions and schizonts were also found in the lung, bone marrow, and next to blood vessels in the connective tissue of various organs. Pigeons infected with 102 sporocysts remained symptomless until 58-65 dpi, when sudden central nervous signs occurred. Major histopathologic findings of pigeons with neurological signs were encephalitis and myositis of virtually every skeletal muscle with high infestations of sarcocysts. Only mild myocarditis and very few cysts were found in the heart muscles. Importantly, a sentinel pigeon developed identical lesions when compared to those of low-dose infected pigeons, suggesting a risk of mechanical transmission of sporocysts from freshly infected to uninfected pigeons in a flock. By contrast, chickens failed to develop any clinical signs or pathologic lesions in the same experiment. The findings further characterize the new highly pathogenic disease in domestic pigeons, which clinically mimics paramyxovirosis and salmonellosis in both phases of the disease and exclude chickens as further intermediate host species.     

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.     

Immunolocalisation of serotonin, gastrin, somatostatin and glucagon in entero-endocrine cells of the goose (Anser anser)

The processes of digestion in the avian gastrointestinal tract depend on sophisticated control systems that co-ordinate secretion of digestive juices and movement of the luminal contents. In the current study, the distribution of serotonin-, gastrin-, glucagon- and somatostatin-immunoreactive endocrine cells was investigated by immunocytochemical methods in the intestinal tract of the goose. The number of cells immunoreactive for each antiserum was evaluated in different regions of the intestinal tract. Serotonin-, glucagon- and somatostatin-immunoreactive endocrine cells were seen throughout the intestinal tract, but somatostatin-immunoreactive cells were not detected in the colon of the goose. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were detected only in the duodenum, jejunum and colon mucosa. It is concluded that the distribution pattern of the entero-endocrine cells in the goose is similar to that of most of the mammalian and other poultry species.     

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.     

Vallate papillae in the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domestica)

On the root of the tongue in the rabbit there are two symmetrically located vallate papillae, covered by nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium. The epithelium is characterized by variable thicknesses, forming epithelial streaks of different length and irregular shape. Taste buds are found both in the epithelium covering the papillae and in the epithelium of the outer walls of the papillae from the side of the furrows. The outer wall of the vallate papillae is gradually transformed with no visible boundary into the surface of the root of the tongue devoid of papillae. The surface of the vallate papillae is uneven. The connective tissue core of the papillae is formed by numerous, irregularly shaped connective tissue papillae, between which epithelial streaks are arranged. Around the connective tissue core of the papillae there is a circular connective tissue fold, with a furrow located on its circumference and the core of the outer wall of the vallate papillae. Numerous excretory ducts of the posterior serous lingual glands (Ebner's glands) open on the fundus of the circular furrow of each vallate papilla. Sometimes excretory ducts of these glands open directly onto the surface of a vallate papilla and then in their vicinity taste buds are found. The results of this study show the structure of vallate papillae on the tongue of adult rabbits, at the same time indicating differences in their structure in comparison to the vallate papillae of other animal species.     

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.     

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.     

Testicular changes observed in boars following experimental inoculation with pseudorabies (Aujeszky''s) virus.

Four boars were inoculated intranasally with pseudorabies virus to determine if microscopic testicular changes occurred as a result of infection. Testicular biopsies and semen samples were taken at two, four and six weeks postinoculation and the boars were castrated immediately after the last sample collection. Testicular samples and semen were cultured to determine if the virus was present. Pseudorabies virus was not isolated from the semen or testicular tissue. Virus was isolated from trigeminal ganglia at necropsy and from nasal swabs taken one day after castration. Consequently, a time of high risk for shed of the virus from clinically normal carrier animals is immediately following castration. Gross changes were not observed in testicular tissues and microscopic changes in the testicles were the result of biopsy. Lesions consistent with pseudorabies virus infection were observed in the central nervous system of all inoculated boars. Temporary lowered fertility may result from the effects of elevated body temperature on spermatogenesis during acute clinical disease. However, it appears that the strain of pseudorabies virus used, lacked the ability to infect and/or replicate in the boars' reproductive tracts.     

Screening of feral pigeon (Colomba livia), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and graylag goose (Anser anser) populations for Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., avian influenza virus and avian paramyxovirus

A total of 119 fresh faecal samples were collected from graylag geese migrating northwards in April. Also, cloacal swabs were taken from 100 carcasses of graylag geese shot during the hunting season in August. In addition, samples were taken from 200 feral pigeons and five mallards. The cultivation of bacteria detected Campylobacter jejuni jejuni in six of the pigeons, and in one of the mallards. Salmonella diarizona 14: k: z53 was detected in one graylag goose, while all pigeons and mallards were negative for salmonellae. No avian paramyxovirus was found in any of the samples tested. One mallard, from an Oslo river, was influenza A virus positive, confirmed by RT-PCR and by inoculation of embryonated eggs. The isolate termed A/Duck/Norway/ 1/03 was found to be of H3N8 type based on sequence analyses of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase segments, and serological tests. This is the first time an avian influenza virus has been isolated in Norway. The study demonstrates that the wild bird species examined may constitute a reservoir for important bird pathogens and zoonotic agents in Norway.     

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.     

Outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in a flock of two-year-old domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica)

This report describes an outbreak of avian mycobacteriosis in a flock of 100 two-yr-old pigeons. Over a 6-mo period, the sick pigeons showed cachexia followed by death. In Columbiformes classic tubercles rarely develop, but in these affected pigeons granulomatous nodular lesions of various sizes, containing numerous acid-fast bacilli, were found in the internal organs. The lesions were observed in the liver, spleen, intestine, bone marrow, ovary, and oviduct. Despite their breeding age, atrophy was also found in the ovary and oviduct. Microorganisms belonging to Mycobacterium avium complex were identified in the affected tissues by polymerase chain reaction.