Parasites from Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) stranded in Hong Kong

Between 1993 and 1998, 28 Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphins (Sousa chinensis) and 32 finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocoenoides) stranded in Hong Kong territorial waters were examined postmortem for parasites. The nematode Halocercus pingi was discovered in the lungs of one hump-backed dolphin and in 10 finless porpoises, typically within abscesses or granulomata, and they were frequently accompanied by a catarrhal exudate and lesions characteristic of pneumonia. Seven of the 10 finless porpoises were calves with substantial lungworm infections, and three were neonates with visible fetal folds and umbilical remnants, suggesting that H pingi is transferred to the neonate before birth or during lactation. Electron micrographs of H pingi should allow the nematode to be identified by other researchers. An ectoparasitic stalked barnacle (Xenobalanus globicipitis) was recovered from a finless porpoise, the first time that this species of barnacle has been recorded in Hong Kong's territorial waters.     

Comparative anatomical study on the relationships between the vestigial pelvic bones and the surrounding structures of finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides)

Morphology of the modern cetaceans represents the results of adaptation of the ancestral terrestrial mammals to aquatic life through their evolutional processes. Some of the primitive fossil cetaceans are known to have both fore and hind limbs, whereas the pelvic bones of modern cetaceans are, in general, a pair of slender rod-like structures within the abdominal wall muscles just anterior to the anus with no articulations to the axial skeleton in both sexes. It is interesting and important to consider the causes and processes of how the hind limbs were lost and how the pelvis was reduced during the process of adaptation. In the present study, we tried to evaluate the topography and function of rudimentary pelvic bones of the finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides), one of the members of the odontocete cetaceans, with special references to the structures around the pelvic bones. Some soft tissues such as M. ischiocavernosus relating to the pelvic bone are transformed following the drastic reduction of the pelvis. This transformation tells us that the cetaceans adapted to the aquatic life during evolutional processes chose the tail flukes driven by the powerful trunk muscles for locomotion, instead of modifying the hind limbs into hind flippers as seen in pinnipeds. On the other hand, it is evident that a function of the pelvic bones of the male finless porpoise was supporting the penis as those of terrestrial mammals. It is noteworthy that the morphological features of the ancestral terrestrial mammals can be traced when they are carefully compared with those of the finless porpoise.     

Ultrastructure of the Spermatozoa of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis)

Semen sample was collected from two captive adult Yangtze finless porpoises ( Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis ) during physical examination. One individual was aged about 9 years with body length 143 cm (total length) and body weight 46.1 kg in 2003. The age of the other was unknown and its body length was 147 cm and body weight was 43 kg in 2004. Ultrastructure of their spermatozoa was examined using scanning and transmission electron microscope. The sperm concentration was 4.17 × 10⁹ spermatozoa per ml by the cytometer. The approximate dimensions of the spermatozoa were as follows: head length, 3.366 ± 0.140 μm (mean ± SE, n  = 15); head width, 1.896 ± 0.099 μm ( n  = 15); and neck length, 1.004 ± 0.074 μm ( n  = 10). The tail included midpiece, principal piece and terminal piece. The length of the midpiece was 1.882 ± 0.077 μm ( n  = 9). There is no apparent boundary between the principal piece and the terminal piece, so the length of the principal piece and the terminal piece was 44.612 ± 3.485 μm ( n  = 5). Total length of the spermatozoa was 53.314 ± 4.580 μm ( n  = 10). The acrosome covered approximately 45.8% of the anterior portion of the head.     

Postmortem findings in captive cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) in Gabon

The causes of morbidity and mortality in a population of cane rats (Thryonomys swinderianus) on an experimental farm in Gabon were monitored for 21 months; 94 of 546 animals (17.2 per cent) died and were examined postmortem, and complementary laboratory examinations were carried out on 23 of the cases together with samples from 13 other animals kept elsewhere in similar conditions. Twenty-six (28 per cent) of the deaths occurred in preweaned kits, 40 (42 per cent) in subadults and 28 (30 per cent) in adults. The average monthly mortality was 2.5 per cent. Trauma was responsible for 29 of the deaths, 12 were due to septicaemia, 10 to primary respiratory lesions, five to digestive disorders, four to urinary lesions, three to reproductive problems and three to other causes; no diagnosis could be reached in 28 cases.     

Japanese encephalitis in a racing thoroughbred gelding in Hong Kong

A horse in Hong Kong that had been vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis suffered a pyrexic episode that culminated in a hyperexcitable state and self-inflicted trauma. Japanese encephalitis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical, pathological and serological observations, and confirmed by the detection of genomic sequences of the virus in spinal cord tissue. Phylogenetic analyses of E gene and NS5-3'UTR sequences revealed divergent clustering of these segments with previously described genotypes, suggesting the possibility that the horse might have been infected with a recombinant between genotype I and genotype II viruses. Horses are considered to be dead-end hosts for the disease, but the occurrence of an infected horse in a population may have implications for the health status of the national herd. The effect that this case had on the horse industry in Hong Kong is discussed with specific reference to the movement of horses and the vaccination programme for Japanese encephalitis.     

Hound's-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) poisoning in a calf

Cynoglossum officinale was believed to be responsible for the death of one calf and possibly 5 other calves in a group of 9 calves being fed chopped hay contaminated by this plant. The plant, commonly known as hound's tongue, contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids and has been determined to be toxic to horses fed contaminated hay, but was fed to cattle at the same time with no effect.     

Unilateral granulomatous orchitis in a harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): a case report

This case report describes orchitis in a stranded adult sexually mature free-living harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Orchitis, with or without epididymitis, is a rare finding in harbour porpoises and has been reported to be associated with infection with Brucella species or fungi. This porpoise was examined as part of an ongoing investigation into causes of death in harbour porpoises stranded on the Dutch coast. At necropsy, the animal was in very poor body condition and the most significant pathological change encountered was unilateral chronic granulomatous orchitis. Histologically, the seminiferous tubules were multifocally severely distended by large numbers of macrophages and fewer neutrophils that often showed central necrosis, with intra- and extracellular rod-shaped bacteria that stained negatively with Gram stain. No acid-fast bacteria, fungal elements, or spirochetes were detected when the lesions were stained with Ziehl-Neelsen, Fite-Faraco, Warthin-Starry, and Periodic acid-Schiff stains. Culture of samples taken from the testis revealed a pure culture of a bacterium of the Alcaligenaceae family. Further analysis by biochemistry, fatty acid profiling, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques identified the bacterium as a Castellaniella species. The association of this bacterium with the observed lesions remains uncertain.     

Neosporosis in a white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) calf

A 16-day-old white rhinoceros calf died suddenly while in excellent condition and showing no obvious previous clinical signs. It was the 9th calf of a mature female kept free-ranging with 11 other rhinoceros as well as various other game species on a 2000 hectare game breeding centre adjacent to the town of Lichtenburg and outlying cattle farmlands in the Northern Province. At post mortem examination, death was ascribed to heart failure. There was marked multifocal to coalescing subacute parasitic myocarditis with numerous protozoan bradyzoite cysts and free tachyzoites present amongst the predominantly round cell inflammatory infiltrate. The coccidian was positively identified as Neospora sp. using both polyclonal and murine monoclonal Neospora caninum antibody immunohistochemistry in the avidin-biotin technique. The parasites stained poorly with Toxoplasma gondii-specific immunoperoxidase staining. Ultrastructurally, a section of a bradyzoite-containing cyst, as well as tachyzoites, were largely but not totally consistent with those described for Neospora caninum. The dam showed no sign of illness. Neosporosis affecting white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) has not previously been reported. A summarised overview of neosporosis from selected publications and a recent review is given.     

Sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann-Pick disease) in a Hereford calf

A 5-month-old Hereford calf with neurologic disease was euthanatized, and a necropsy was done. No gross lesions were seen in the brain. Microscopically, neurons throughout the brain and spinal cord had distended, foamy vacuolated cytoplasm. Ultrastructure showed clear vacuoles filling the neuronal cytoplasm. A lysosomal storage disease was suspected. Sphingomyelinase deficiency was confirmed by biochemical analysis of liver and brain.     

Bacillus piliformis infection (Tyzzer's disease) in a calf

A 1-week-old Jersey bull calf with a history of diarrhea, weakness, and lethargy was submitted for necropsy. Principal macroscopic findings were enteritis and multifocal necrotizing hepatitis. Histologically and ultrastructurally, organisms with characteristics of Bacillus piliformis were associated with the foci of necrosis in the liver.     

Double vertebral injury in a calf (case report)

A double spinal cord trauma of an eight weeks old calf is reported, born on pasture from a heifer as a premature birth at the beginning of month 9. Observations made were rupture of intervertebral disk at the crossing of cervical to thoracic vertebrae followed by syndesmosis or synchondrosis resp., as well as a comminuted fracture of the 1st lumbar vertebra including both the adjoining vertebrae, with succeeding reactive callus formation. It is concluded that this traumatization has occurred during parturition. Motoric or sensory disturbances were observed neither.     

2008年北京奥运会马术比赛（香港）及其检验检疫措施

2008年北京夏季奥运会马术比赛将于2008年8月9日-20日在香港举行。金牌本届的马术赛事共设三项颁发六枚金牌:障碍赛(个人、团体)、盛装舞步赛(个人、团体)、三日赛(个人、团体),届时将有200对骑手和马匹组合参赛。奥运会马术比赛原定在北京乡村赛马场举行,但北京现有条件很难符合奥运会马术比赛的要求,国际奥委会、北京奥组委和国际马联协商后决定将马术比赛改在香港举行。中国运动员首次在盛装舞步、三项赛和场地障碍赛全部三个小项上都获得了参赛席位。参赛马匹隔离时间将由上届的"14+14天"缩减至"7+10天",即在马匹原居地隔离7天,到港后再隔离10天后才允许参赛。     

Dietary analysis of the House Swift (Apus nipalensis) in Hong Kong using prey DNA in faecal samples

Background: To understand the dietary composition of the highly aerial swift (Apodidae), ecologists conventionally depend on the morphological identification of...     

Retrospective study of Old World screwworm fly (Chrysomya bezziana) myiasis in 59 dogs in Hong Kong over a one year period

This retrospective study examined the case records of Old World screw-worm fly myiasis in dogs in Hong Kong's New Territories. Myiasis due to OWSWF was identified and treated in 59 dogs at our clinic over a period of 1 year. Signalment, causes of initial wound, and treatments implemented, are reported. All cases recovered from myiasis with a combination of larvae removal and wound debridement, antibiotics, and topical and systemic insecticides. Whilst this parasite is currently exotic to Australia, much of the country is environmentally suitable (tropical and subtropical) for establishment of OWSWF.