Clinical and pathological aspects of 'going light' in exhibition budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus)

'Going light' is a chronic but eventually fatal disease of budgerigars. Clinically the only consistent features are weight loss while maintaining a good food intake. The signs are caused by enteritis typified by lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration and associated villous atrophy leading to a malabsorption syndrome.     

Trichomonas gallinae in budgerigars and columbid birds in Perth, Western Australia

Objective To estimate the prevalence of infection with Trichomonas gallinae and other parasites of the alimentary tract in psittacine and columbid birds in Perth and to determine in vitro the effectiveness of drugs commonly recommended for treating trichomoniasis.
Design and procedures Samples of crop contents were collected from aviary flocks of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and other psittacine and columbid birds in both private and commercial collections in Perth. Similar samples from wild Senegal doves (Streptopelia senegalensis) also were collected. Crop contents were examined and cultured for Trichomonas gallinae and in vitro studies were conducted on the susceptibility of isolates to several drugs used commonly. Other parasites also were detected by faecal examination and/or necropsy.
Results T gallinae was recovered from birds in 1 of 13 private collections of budgerigars (2/289 birds in total). Direct wetmount examination of crop fluid identified 36.4% of samples at four commercial bird dealers which were later determined by culture to contain T gallinae . The prevalence of T gallinae infection ranged from 0 to 11.4% in budgerigars. The prevalence of T gallinae infection in wild Senegal doves was 46% and from one flock of racing pigeons was 59%. The in vitro minimum lethal concentrations of metronidazole, dimetridazole and ronidazole ranged from 40 to 96, 30 to 80 and 40 to 92 μg/mL respectively for six isolates of T gallinae . Other alimentary parasites detected during the survey included Spironucleus sp (syn Hexamita sp), coccidia, Ascaridia platycerci and Raillietina sp.
Conclusions Thirteen budgerigar flocks belonging to members of avicultural societies in Perth had a low prevalence of trichomoniasis and other parasitic infections. The dose rate currently recommended for ronidazole may not result in complete protozoacidal activity against T gallinae infection.     

Haematological and biochemical findings in cats in Australia with lymphosarcoma

OBJECTIVE: To describe, for the first time, haematological and serum biochemical findings in cases of lymphosarcoma in Australian cats. DESIGN: A prospective multi-institutional study. PROCEDURE: Of 118 affected cats presented to the authors over a 18-month period, 97 were evaluated haematologically and 87 biochemically. Haematological analysis usually included determination of packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, red blood cell and leukocyte counts, differential leukcocyte count, reticulocyte count and examination of buffycoat smears for neoplastic cells. Serum biochemical analysis was done primarily with a discrete analyser and included a panel of commonly used analytes. RESULTS: Nonregenerative anaemia was present in 54% (52/97) of cats. Neutrophilia, present in 65% (59/91) of cats, was commonly associated with lymphocytopaenia, eosinopaenia and monocytosis. Of the 13 cats with a secondary leukaemic manifestation, only five had distinct lymphocytosis. Serum biochemical abnormalities either were nonspecific, such as hypoglycaemia in 37% (32/87) of cats, or related to specific tissue involvement, such as hypoalbuminaemia in 76% (31/41) of cats with alimentary involvement and azotaemia in 60% (15/25) of cats with renal involvement. CONCLUSION: It was shown for the first time that haematological and serum biochemical findings are of limited value in diagnosing lymphosarcoma in Australian cats, except if they are leukaemic. Although clinical pathological changes were common, they were nonspecific or related to specific tissue involvement. Their value in assessing response to therapy needs to be examined further. Patient characteristics such as age, breed and sex also had limited effect on laboratory findings and those observed were of little consequence. Additionally, histological and immunophenotypical variations in tumour type had little effect on laboratory findings.     

Haematological findings in captive dolphins and whales

Objective To examine haematological features in five species of healthy, captive marine mammals.
Animals Twenty bottlenose dolphins ( Tursips truncatus ), seven Pacific white-sided dolphins ( Lagenorhynchus obliquidens ), five Risso dolphins ( Grampus griseus ) and five false killer whales ( Pseudorca crassidens ).
Results and conclusion The red blood cell count was 4.21 × 10¹²/L in bottlenose dolphins, 5.32 × 10¹²/L in Pacific white-sided dolphins, 4.35 × 10¹²/L in Risso dolphins and 4.43 × 10¹²/L in false killer whales. The haemoglobin concentration was 1.51 g/L and packed cell volume 44.7% in bottlenose dolphins; the corresponding values were 1.71 g/L and 48.9% in Pacific white-sided dolphins, 1.72 g/L and 49.4% in Risso dolphins, and 1.52 g/L and 47.8% in false killer whales. The white blood cell count was 7.097 × 10⁹/L in bottlenose dolphins, 5.928 × 10⁹/L in Pacific white-sided dolphins, 5.001 × 10⁹/L in Risso dolphins and 7.921 × 10⁹/L in false killer whales. There were no significant differences in these values among bottlenose dolphins and Pacific white-sided dolphins. The proportion of eosinophils in the differential leukocyte count ranged from 10.3% to 11.5% in bottlenose dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins and false killer whales, but was only 0.4% in Risso dolphins. The eosinophilic granules were larger in Risso dolphins and false killer whales than in bottlenose and Pacific white-sided dolphins.     

Haematological and biochemical findings in cattle with dilatation and torsion of the caecum

A biochemical examination was made of the blood and rumen fluid of 111 heifers and cows suffering from caecal dilatation, with or without torsion. Haematological values were normal in the majority of cattle. Concentrations of chloride were normal in the rumen fluid of 83 per cent of the animals and higher in the remainder. Nine cows that had to be slaughtered had higher bile concentrations than those which recovered. Twenty-eight per cent had increased blood urea concentrations probably due to dehydration.     

Haematological and histopathological findings after ovariectomy in Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice

The aim of this study was to investigate the influences of ovariectomy on histopathological and hematological parameters during the course of Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Hematological and immunological homeostasis is influenced by gonadal steroid hormones. Ovariectomy exerts profound influences on parasitic diseases including T. cruzi infection through modulation of the host's immune response. Three groups of female Mus musculus were infected with 4000 blood trypomastigotes of the Y strain of T. cruzi. One group was subjected to ovariectomy, another to simulated surgery before the infection, and a third group of unoperated animals were used as controls. Marked differences were detected in the responses of blood and tissue parasites. On day 9, post-infection parasitism was significantly higher in ovariectomized animals (P<0.05). These results were confirmed by histopathological studies, in which ovariectomized animals displayed hearts with higher number of amastigote burdens, increased inflammatory infiltrate, enhanced tissue fibers disorganization and decreased lytic antibody percentage, when compared to their counterparts. On day 9 the hematological changes were more apparent, with a decrease in erythrocytes, platelets and leucocytes for ovariectomized infected animals. Simulated surgery, as a stressful agent, did not cause any imbalance in parasitism or in the hemogram profile. The results confirm the importance of the female steroids in resistance against T. cruzi infection.     

Radiographic findings in cats with mycobacterial infections

This study describes radiographic changes associated with mycobacterial infection in 33 domestic cats confirmed by culture or interferon-gamma testing. Infection was seen most frequently in adult (average age 5.7 years; range 1.5-12 years), non-pedigree (87%; 27/31), neutered male cats (69%; 22/32). The most common infections were Mycobacterium microti (60%; 18/30) and Mycobacterium bovis (37%; 11/30); Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium malmoense were infrequently cultured (3% of each; 1/30). Radiographs were available for the thorax (24 cats), abdomen (eight), appendicular skeleton (11) and head (three). Radiographic changes affected the thorax most commonly, consisting of bronchial (46%; 11/24), alveolar (38%; 9/24), nodular unstructured interstitial (38%; 9/24) or unstructured interstitial (25%; 6/24) lung patterns, which were often mixed. Perihilar or sternal lymphadenopathy were common (42%; 10/24), particularly perihilar lymphadenopathy (25%; 6/24). Skeletal changes were found in the distal antebrachium (three), pes (two), maxilla, scapula, spine, manus, femur, and tarsus (one each). Changes were typically osteolytic (73%; 8/11), often permeative osteolytic (64%; 7/11). Osteoproliferative changes were seen in three cats and soft tissue swelling in five cats, which were adjacent to the bony abnormality in four cats. Other changes included submandibular soft tissue swelling, marked aortic, aortic root and brachiocephalic trunk calcification, and soft tissue swelling with calcification in the distal antebranchium which was not involving bone. Abdominal changes were uncommon (seen in 2/8 cats) and consisted of hepatomegaly and hepatosplenomegaly. In summary, radiographic changes were varied, no lesion was pathognomic for mycobacterial infection, and pathology was seen most commonly in the thorax.     

Haematological and histological findings in Leghorn chickens infected with infectious bursal disease virus strain 73688

In the present study, specific-pathogen-free, 2-week-old Leghorn chickens were experimentally infected with strain 73688 of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) in order to evaluate haematological and histological changes that might suggest a pathomechanism for haemorrhages in this disease. At 96 hours post infection (hpi) a significant increase in prothrombin time was detected in the absence of visible lesions in myeloid bone marrow tissue and of significant thrombocytopenia. The aforementioned findings suggest alteration of the secondary coagulation mechanisms and not a direct effect of virus on thrombocytes or its precursors.     

Haematological changes in two thoroughbred horses in training with confirmed equine herpesvirus 1 infections

An outbreak of respiratory disease among thoroughbred horses in training in Hong Kong was caused by equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) subtype 1 (abortion strain). Two of the horses affected by EHV-1 were serially blood sampled over a period of several weeks and their haematological values measured. There was an increase in monocyte count in the first few days which steadily decreased in one horse, but the other had a second monocyte peak after a period of exercise, thus demonstrating the importance of not working animals in the early stages of the disease.     

Haematological and biochemical findings in bovine post-parturient haemoglobinuria and the accompanying Heinz-body anaemia

Sarcocysts morphologically similar to Sarcocystis muris were observed in the skeletal muscles of mice dosed with free isosporan sporocysts recovered from the faeces of naturally infected cats. Kittens fed these mice shed similar sporocysts measuring 8.7 ±0.1 x 10.8 ±0.1 μm in their faeces five to six days later. Feeding these sporocysts to mice and rats resulted in the formation of identical sarcocysts in mice, but not rats. Attempts to induce similar infections in mice using naturally acquired isolates of I. felis were unsuccessful.     

Haematological and histopathological findings in young broilers reared in poorly and well ventilated environments

Two strains of broilers, a modern commercial strain and a strain which has not recently been selected for economic traits, were reared in adjacent rooms which were identical except that one had good ventilation and the other poor ventilation. Mean cell volume (MCV) of erythrocytes was studied in relation to plasma viscosity and the incidence of lung nodules. Poor ventilation was associated with an increased incidence of lung nodules and increased plasma viscosity but there was no correlation between MCV and the number of nodules. Although environmental factors may influence MCV the genotype of the bird appears to be of major importance.