Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in Afghan pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens)

Lung lesions of 60 Afghan pikas (Ochotona rufescens rufescens) were examined histologically; 38 cases of pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis were found. Neither sex was predominantly affected, and there was no predilection for age.     

Morphological Study on the Nasal Turbinates (Conchae) of the Pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens) and the Valcano Rabbit (Romerolagus diazi)

The nasal conchae of the pika and volcano rabbit were studied by gross examination and by serial histological sections stained with hematoxylin. The organization of the nasal conchae were compared with those of the domestic rabbit, with the goal of providing data for the determination of taxonomic relationship of the pika and the volcano rabbit to the domestic rabbit. This relationship is of interest because of a recent classification of these animals as Lagomorphs.     

Neural angiostrongylosis in three captive rufous bettongs (Aepyprymnus rufescens)

Neurological disease attributed to migration of the rat lungworm ( Angiostrongylus cantonensis ), is described in three captive rufous bettongs ( Aepyprymnus rufescens ). Clinical signs, including ascending paralysis and multifocal neurological deficits, were similar to those seen in other species. Histologically, the severity of meningoencephalomyelitis ranged from mild to moderate. In one animal cerebrospinal fluid contained a high percentage of eosinophils but peripheral blood cell counts were within normal limits. Treatment with dexamethasone, diazepam and vitamin E was unsuccessful. The prognosis for bettongs with this disease is poor. The susceptibility of this species to this disease has implications for enclosure design.     

Antibody response to Newcastle disease vaccination in a flock of young partridges (Rhynchotus rufescens).

Ten young partridges (Rhynchotus rufescens) were vaccinated with the lentogenic strain of Newcastle disease virus. Another eight unvaccinated birds were kept in close contact with the treated flock. Antibodies levels were measured over the course of 3 mo in all birds using the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test and the liquid-phase blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (LPB-ELISA). The LPB-ELISA was standardized, and the results were compared with those obtained with the HI test. Antibodies increased after 23 days postvaccination in 16 birds with no side effects as determined by both the HI test and the LPB-ELISA.     

Light and scanning electron microscopy of the olfactory mucosa in the rufous sengi (Elephantulus rufescens)

Sengis are eutherian insectivores belonging to superorder Afrotheria, a recently defined clade of mammals that diverged from other placentals over 100 million years ago. In this study, a histological and ultrastructural analysis was carried out on the olfactory mucosa (OM) of the rufous sengi (Elephantulus rufescens) and the data were compared with those reported earlier in the dog (Canis familiaris) and the sheep (Ovis aries), whose dietary lifestyles are carnivorous and herbivorous, respectively. Qualitatively, the microstructure of the sengi's OM was basically similar to that of the other eutherian mammals except for differences in the pattern of cilia projection from the dendritic knobs of the olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and distribution of Bowman's glands within the lamina propria of the OM. On morphometry, significant differences (p < .05) were recorded with respect to olfactory epithelial (OE) thickness between the sengi (65.4 ± 2.6 μm) and the other species. ORN packing density and cilia number/ORN knob varied markedly only between the sengi (73.8 ± 5.4 mm^?2 × 10³ and 15 ± 4, respectively) and the sheep. No remarkable differences were noted in regard to ORN bundle diameters between sengis (62.7 ± 12.5 μm) and the other species. The observed differences in OM structural refinement may be attributed to olfactory function demand levels related to feeding lifestyles and ecology. Myrmecophagous insectivory, social monogamy, absentee maternal care and exposed sheltering habits are behavioural features that may warrant substantial OM modification in sengis.     

Genetic parameters for tonic immobility,body weight,and morphological traits of the red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens)

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study was carried out to estimate genetic parameters for morphology, body weight, and tonic immobility traits in the red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus...     

An epizootic of avian pox in endemic short-toed larks (Calandrella rufescens) and Berthelot's pipits (Anthus berthelotti) in the Canary Islands, Spain

Between January 2002 and November 2003, 50% (n = 395) of short-toed larks (Calandrella rufescens) and 28% (n = 139) of Berthelot's pipits (Anthus berthelotti) examined on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, Canary Islands, had gross lesions compatible with avian pox. However, Spanish sparrows (Passer hispaniolensis, n = 128) and trumpeter finches (Bucanetes githagineus, n = 228), which inhabit the same steppe habitats associated with goat husbandry, did not have poxlike lesions. Histopathology and electron microscopy confirmed poxvirus in the lesions, whereas serology using standard, fowl poxvirus-and pigeon poxvirus-based diagnostic agar gel immunodiffusion techniques was negative, likely because of the limited (74.6% pipit; 74.9% lark) similarity between the viruses in our species and fowlpox virus on which the serologic tests rely. On the basis of polymerase chain reaction analyses, the virus isolated from dried lesions of C. rufescens has 80.5% similarity with the virus isolated from A. berthelotti and 91.3% similarity with canarypox, whereas A. berthelotti poxvirus has only 80% similarity with canarypox. We have two distinct and possibly new avian poxviruses. Both poultry and the wild birds on the farms were heavily infested by fleas, which may have acted as vectors in transmission of poxvirus. Disease prevalence in these Canary Island passerines is higher than that described in song birds in Hawaii that are now threatened, endangered, or extinct. Environmental and biological factors contributing to increased disease susceptibility of these isolated populations must be investigated.