White liver disease in goats

Three field cases of ill-thrift, hepatic lipodystrophy and low tissue levels of vitamin B12 in young angora cross goats are reported. The cases meet the criteria for the diagnosis of white liver disease (WLD) described for sheep. The hypothesis that WLD is a metabolic consequence of cobalt/vit B12 deficiency in sheep and goats on a diet rich in propionate is developed, together with possible reasons for its occurrence in these species but not in cattle or red deer.     

Hydatid disease in goats in Bangladesh

A total of 12 344 goats of different ages from various localities of Bangladesh were examined for the presence of hydatid disease and 1024 (8.29%) were found to be infected. The incidence of infection by organ was: liver 36.72%, lungs 32.03%, spleen 4.69%, heart 3.13%, kidney 1.56%, omentum 0.78%, and both liver and lungs 21.09%. The severity of infection was: weak (84.56% and 86.55%), medium (13.32% and 11.87%) and heavy (2.12 and 1.58%) in the liver and lungs respectively. Of the 1792 cysts examined, 175 (9.76%) were fertile, 1342 (74.89%) were sterile, 206 (11.50%) were calcified, 47 (2.62%) were supporative and 22 (1.23%) were undeveloped. The incidence of infection by age of host was: 0.63% between 0 and 1 year, 2.48% between 1 and 2 years, 5.53% between 2 and 3 years, 16.80% between 3 and 5 years and 21.64% for 5 years old and above.     

吉林省部分地区羊泰勒虫病流行病学调查及分类鉴定

为了解吉林省部分地区羊泰勒虫病的流行情况,试验采用PCR方法对采自吉林省部分地区羊血液样本235份进行羊泰勒虫检测,并对部分阳性样本进行测序分析,建立系统发育树。结果显示,羊泰勒虫阳性率为28.08%,为吕氏泰勒虫单独感染,没有检测到尤氏泰勒虫和绵羊泰勒虫感染。系统发育树分析表明,吉林省吕氏泰勒虫与青海分离株分布于同一分支,亲缘关系最近,与绵羊泰勒虫、尤氏泰勒虫亲缘关系较远。此次调查为吉林省羊泰勒虫病的综合防治提供了理论依据。     

Abscess disease in goats in the Sudan

The "abscess disease" was described in naturally infected goats for the first time in Sudan. An anaerobic respiratory deficient staphylococcus was isolated in pure form. The biochemical properties were studied. The disease was successfully reproduced in experimental goats.     

CT features of malignant tubular genital tract tumors in seven goats

Neoplasia of the tubular genital tract in goats, while rarely described, is most commonly reported as uterine adenocarcinoma, leiomyoma, or leiomyosarcoma. In this retrospective, single-center, case series, medical records were searched for goats with a computed tomography (CT) diagnosis of tubular genital mass and a definitive histologic (surgical biopsy or necropsy) diagnosis of malignant neoplasia. Data recorded from CT images were presence of peritoneal/retroperitoneal fluid, urinary tract obstruction, abdominal lymphadenomegaly, additional abdominal nodules/masses, and pulmonary nodules. For masses, maximum cross-sectional area, contrast enhancement, and uterine luminal fluid accumulation were also recorded. Seven goats met the inclusion criteria (leiomyosarcoma n = 5, adenocarcinoma n = 2). Both goats with adenocarcinoma had upper urinary tract obstruction, moderate to severe regional lymphadenopathy, peritoneal fluid, and peritoneal or hepatic nodules/masses; one goat with adenocarcinoma was discharged and subsequently euthanized, and the other had palliative mass debulking and was lost to follow up. Goats with leiomyosarcoma had infrequent, mild peritoneal fluid and mild sublumbar lymphadenopathy. Of the goats with leiomyosarcoma, two were euthanized at or near the time of CT imaging, two were euthanized at the time of surgery due to perceived mass non-resectability, and one had mass regression approximately four months post ovariohysterectomy but was subsequently lost to follow up. Five goats had pulmonary nodules, three of which had pathologic confirmation (pulmonary metastasis in a single patient with adenocarcinoma, and lungworm granulomas in two goats with leiomyosarcoma). Severe sublumbar lymphadenopathy and obstructive uropathy were sequelae in the two caprine patients with genital adenocarcinoma, and in none with leiomyosarcoma.     

Epidemiological features of 5009 cases of equine cryptorchism

Data from 16 North American veterinary university teaching facilities, 5009 cryptorchid horses, were analysed using relative risk methodology. In five breeds (Thoroughbred, Standardbred, Morgan, Tennessee Walking horse and Arabian), cryptorchism was diagnosed significantly (P less than 0.05) less frequently than expected by their representation in the hospital population. Three breeds, (Percheron, American Saddle horse and American Quarterhorse), plus ponies (as a group) and crossbred horses were significantly over-represented within the series. The over-representation of Quarter-horses was evident at each veterinary teaching facility. Other developmental defects and testicular tumours diagnosed in cryptorchid horses were presented. Analysis of the frequency of diagnosis of second anomalies among cryptorchids showed testicular hypoplasia to occur significantly more often, and inguinal and umbilical hernias less often, than expected (P less than 0.05).     

内毒素血症山羊体征变化及氨基胍对其影响

将22只山羊随机分为5组，即对照组、内毒素血症模型组（内毒素LPS1800EU／kg）、内毒素血症氨基胍组（AG25mg／kg）、大剂量内毒素血症模型组（内毒素LPS5400EU／kg）和大剂量内毒素血症氨基胍组。肉眼观察动物精神状态和粪便的变化；用体温计检测直肠体温；用听诊器记录呼吸频率。结果表明：实验后1～9h，大、小剂量的内毒素（LPS）均使山羊表现出不同程度的精神不振、腹泻、食欲废绝。体温显著升高（P〈0．05），24h后体温恢复正常（P〉0．05）；但氨基胍对内毒素血症时体温的变化无调理作用（P〉0．05）。小剂量LPS和氨基胍对呼吸频率无影响（P〉0．05）；大剂量LPS却显著增加了山羊呼吸频率（P〈0．05），同时氨基胍也显著阻止了呼吸频率的升高（P〈0．05）。揭示体温、呼吸与内毒素剂量存在依赖关系；小剂量的氨基胍（25mg／kg）对内毒素血症时体温变化没有影响，但可明显减少呼吸频率。     

Foot and mouth disease in sheep and goats

Small ruminants play an important role in the epidemiology and transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The main reasons therefore are: FMD is difficult to diagnose as infected sheep not always show typical clinical symptoms or as the cardinal signs mimicked other diseases. Sheep and goats may be carriers. Infected herds which practice transhumance or are nomadic can spread the infection to other herds long before diagnose of the disease is established. Shipping and trade with live sheep and goats is much more common world wide than in other FMD susceptible species. Lack of registration of all sheep and goat herds (especially of small hobby herds) and lack of individual identifications signs (ear tags) may result in incomplete control measurements under FMD conditions. Basing on published experiences with the actual FMD epidemic in the UK and basing on the own experiences with the restrictions to prevent from spreading of the FMD from the UK to Germany suggestions for future disease control are made.     

Morphologic features of Sertoli cells in the intra-abdominal testes of cryptorchid dwarf goats

Light and electron microscopy revealed an age-related progression of alterations of Sertoli cells in the intra-abdominal and scrotal testes of unilaterally cryptorchid West African dwarf goats between the ages of 1 and 30 months. Alterations in the scrotal testis were, however, maturational and included differentiation of Sertoli-to-Sertoli cell junctional specializations, profusion of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, convolution of nuclear profiles, development of vacuolar components of the nucleolus, and an overall change in cell shape in response to proliferation of germinal cells. Corresponding features were observed in Sertoli cells of the contralateral intra-abdominal testis, but the cytoplasmic features were transient because the cells degenerated progressively. Early changes included segregation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum into compact masses composed of dense, narrow cisternae, dilatation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae into large, irregular profiles, atrophy of the Golgi complex, and accumulation of lipid droplets and lipofuscin granules. Many of these organelles and inclusions no longer were obvious in Sertoli cells of 12- to 15-month-old goats; rather, intracellular vacuoles and dilated intercellular spaces had become common. In the 24- to 30-month-old goats, Sertoli cells in the intra-abdominal testis contained mostly microfilaments and basally located mitochondria with circular cristae in dense matrices. The Sertoli-to-Sertoli cell junctional specializations were structurally intact. These results indicated that, in spite of the unfavorable intra-abdominal environment, Sertoli cells of the intra-abdominal testis, before their degeneration, had developed features similar to those of the scrotal testis.     

Epidemiological examples of infectious disease spread

The globalisation of trade with animals and animal products and increase of travel transports are very important issues with respect to prevent and control animal diseases or epizootics respectively. The disease control concepts as a complex manner should be established on scientific basis and must be permanently evaluated and updated. Outbreak investigations in order to clarify the source of infection and/or the spread of animal diseases including zoonoses are important fields of activities of veterinary epidemiologists. The application of modern epidemiological methods is the precondition of a successful disease control. On selected examples of animal diseases, the use of these methods is demonstrated. It is urgently necessary to intensify the epidemiological work in applied research and practice.     

山东省新城疫流行病学调查

鸡新城疫是由鸡新城疫病毒引起禽类的一种急性、高度接触性传染病。该病在临床上的主要特征是呼吸困难、腹泻、神经机能紊乱 ,呈急性败血症经过 ,全身黏膜、浆膜出血。本病发病率和死亡率高 ,可达1 0 0 % ,是养禽业的两大重要疫病之一 ,因此国际兽医局将其定为 A类传染病。鸡新     

Epidemiological, bacteriological and molecular studies on caseous lymphadenitis in Sirohi goats of Rajasthan, India

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CL), a chronic debilitating disease of goats. In the present study, a total of 575 goats of Sirohi breed on an organized farm situated in the semi-arid tropical region of Rajasthan, India were clinically examined. Pus samples from superficial lymph nodes of 27 (4.7%) adult goats presenting clinical lesions suggestive of CL were collected for bacteriological and molecular analyses. Of these goats, 51.9% yielded C. pseudotuberculosis on the basis of morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting proline iminopeptidase gene specific to C. pseudotuberculosis was developed that confirmed all 14 bacterial isolates. The specificity of the PCR product was confirmed by sequencing of the 551-bp amplicon in both senses, showing 98-100% homology with published sequences. Thus, overall prevalence rate based on clinical, bacterial culture and PCR assay were found to be 4.7%, 2.4% and 2.4%, respectively. The PCR assay developed in this study was found to be specific and rapid, and could be used for confirmation of CL in goats as an alternative method to generally cumbersome, time-consuming and less reliable conventional methods.     

Canine parvovirus in New Zealand: Epidemiological features and diagnostic methods

Data from 763 cases of clinical canine parvovirus disease confirmed at the Ruakura Animal Health Laboratory were examined. The largest number of cases were seen in spring and summer months with the peak incidence in February 1981. The morbidity and mortality rates were highest in young dogs. Sixty-nine percent of all cases occurred in dogs less than six months of age, and 63 percent of dogs seven weeks of age or younger died. The laboratory methods used to diagnose canine parvovirus disease are compared and discussed.