Neuropathic gastric dilatation in psittaciformes

Psittacine neuropathic gastric dilatation was studied in four cockatoos (Cacatua spp.). The birds died with characteristic clinical signs, and post-mortem examination revealed a highly distended proventriculus. Upon light microscopic examination, most of the ganglia of the gastric plexus and some of the duodenal myenteric plexus appeared destroyed and replaced by round cell accumulations; the same was true for the celiac ganglion. The neuronal perikaryon of the celiac ganglion and the myenteric plexus revealed intranuclear and extranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies. The electron microscope revealed virus-like particles outside and within those inclusions. These particles were similar to particles described and identified as paramyxovirus.     

Inclusion body disease in two captive Australian pythons (Morelia spilota variegata and Morelia spilota spilota)

Two captive Australian pythons, one carpet and one diamond python, presented with signs of central nervous system dysfunction. The carpet python was agitated. Its head was tilting and it was incoordinated and had convulsions. It was treated with antibiotics and anthelmintics but was eventually euthanased after failing to respond to therapy. The diamond python had flaccid paralysis of the caudal half. It was not treated and became disoriented and died. Hepatocytes from both pythons contained irregular 2 to 10 m m eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The brain of the diamond python was not available for examination. Occasional neurones in the carpet python brain contained similar inclusion bodies and other changes suggestive of viral infection. The clinical signs and histopathological findings in both pythons were consistent with boid inclusion body disease.     

Paramyxovirus infection in caiman lizards (Draecena guianensis).

Three separate epidemics occurred in caiman lizards (Dracaena guianensis) that were imported into the USA from Peru in late 1998 and early 1999. Histologic evaluation of tissues from necropsied lizards demonstrated a proliferative pneumonia. Electron microscopic examination of lung tissue revealed a virus that was consistent with members of the family Paramyxoviridae. Using a rabbit polyclonal antibody against an isolate of ophidian (snake) paramyxovirus, an immunoperoxidase staining technique demonstrated immunoreactivity within pulmonary epithelial cells of 1 lizard. Homogenates of lung, brain, liver, or kidney from affected lizards were placed in flasks containing monolayers of either terrapene heart cells or viper heart cells. Five to 10 days later, syncytial cells formed. When Vero cells were inoculated with supernatant of infected terrapene heart cells, similar syncytial cells developed. Electron microscopic evaluation of infected terrapene heart cells revealed intracytoplasmic inclusions consisting of nucleocapsid strands. Using negative-staining electron microscopy, abundant filamentous nucleocapsid material with a herringbone structure typical of the Paramyxoviridae was observed in culture medium of infected viper heart cells. Seven months following the initial epizootic, blood samples were collected from surviving group 1 lizards, and a hemagglutination inhibition assay was performed to determine presence of specific antibody against the caiman lizard isolate. Of the 17 lizards sampled, 7 had titers of < or =1:20 and 10 had titers of >1:20 and < or =1:80. This report is only the second of a paramyxovirus identified in a lizard and is the first to snow the relationship between histologic and ultrastructural findings and virus isolation.     

重庆部分地区鹅副黏病毒的分离鉴定及血清学调查

从重庆部分地区规模化鹅场收集以肝、脾肿大瘀血,肠黏膜出血、坏死为主要病理变化的病死鹅,无菌取其肝脏、脾脏组织,进行病毒的分离培养、血清学试验和动物回归试验,分离鉴定出一株鹅副黏病毒;并做了鸡、鸭、鹅的鹅副黏病毒和鸡新城疫病毒HI抗体检测,以了解该地区鸡、鸭、鹅群中副黏病毒的流行情况,结果表明,鸡的阳性率分别为70.1%、83.9%,鸭分别为1.7%、6.8%,鹅分别为61.2%、55.4%。证实鹅副黏病毒在这些地区感染比较严重,同时与鸡新城疫病毒存在交叉免疫原性。应引起当地养鹅专业户的高度重视。     

Recovery of viral agents from the central nervous system of cats

Isolation of viruses from the central nervous system (CNS) of cats was attempted using an explant culture technique and subsequent co-cultivation with Crandell feline kidney (CRFK) or Vero cells. Feline syncytia-forming virus was isolated from the CNS of 11 of 16 cats where the initial co-cultivation was with CRFK cells. Feline panleucopaenia virus was isolated from the CNS of 2 adult cats. Co-cultured cells from the CNS of 3 cats contained eosinophilic cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions. The cytoplasmic inclusions consisted of tubular structures, 16-18 nm in diameter and up to 500 nm in length, which were similar in morphology to paramyxovirus nucleocapsids. The 3 co-cultured cells with cytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions showed haemadsorption of guinea pig erythrocytes. The possible identity of these structures, and their association with a previously described primary focal demyelinating lesion in the CNS of cats, is discussed.     

Immuno-gold labelling of turkey rhinotracheitis virus.

The morphology and morphogenesis of five viruses isolated in Great Britain, France and South Africa from turkeys with rhinotracheitis were examined. The five isolates were antigenically related by immunofluorescence and were indistinguishable by negative contrast and thin section electron microscopy. Negative contrast electron microscopy of infected Vero cell cultures revealed ortho- or paramyxovirus-like particles and helical nucleocapsids 14 nm in diameter with a pitch of 6 nm. The viral nature of these structures was confirmed by immuno-gold labelling, using a hyperimmune rabbit antiserum to TRT virus and 15 nm gold-labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG. Ultrastructural changes characteristics of paramyxovirus infection were observed in Vero cell cultures infected with each of the five TRT virus isolates. These alterations, which included areas of localised thickening of plasma membrane, associated cytoplasmic inclusions of nucleocapsids and budding virus particles also labelled specifically following immunogold staining. These observations are in accord with the suggestion that TRT virus is an avian pneumovirus.     

Virological studies of paramyxovirus type 1 infection of pigeons

Over a period of three months in 1985, paramyxovirus type 1 infection was demonstrated for the first time in Canada, in six flocks of pigeons in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. The paramyxovirus type 1 isolates did not cause clinical disease when serially passaged four times in four-to six-week-old chickens, and isolates were classified as lentogenic before and after such serial passage. Further cases of paramyxovirus type 1 clinical disease have not been reported since the last of these six outbreaks in August 1985.     

小鹅瘟－鹅副黏病毒病二联油乳剂灭活疫苗的研究

为了有效防制小鹅瘟和鹅副黏病毒病对雏鹅的危害,分别选用免疫原性良好的小鹅瘟JLDA株和鹅副黏病毒JLSY株制作抗原液,应用PALL浓缩技术进行浓缩,保证灭活病毒抗原含量足,比例均衡。选取10号白油佐剂,按油相与水相比1∶1配制成复相制备二联灭活苗,黏稠度低。结果显示,对鹅的免疫效力不低于相应单苗,两种病毒之间没有交互抑制作用,且二联灭活苗安全性能好,疫苗吸收良好。种、雏鹅产生抗体快,免疫种、雏鹅,具有产生免疫力早,保护期长等特点,于2~8 ℃至少保存12个月。     

Pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium haemophilum and M. marinum in a royal python

An adult female royal python was referred with an 18-month history of chronic respiratory tract disease. Anemia and moderate leukocytosis with heterophilia and monocytosis were detected and interpreted as evidence of a chronic inflammatory condition. Evaluation of lateral and dorsoventral radiographic views revealed multiple soft-tissue opacities within the cranial lung fields. Endoscopic evaluation revealed that the normal reticulated pattern on the surface of the lung had been largely replaced by diffuse, granulomatous tissue. Histologic examination of biopsy specimens revealed classic pyogranulomas. Ziehl-Neelsen stains revealed numerous acid-fast bacilli consistent with Mycobacterium spp. Molecular methods including polymerase chain reaction restriction assays and DNA sequencing confirmed the identification of M. haemophilum and M. marinum. The snake was euthanatized. Mycobacteriosis is an uncommon and sporadic pyogranulomatous disease of reptiles. In most cases of reptile mycobacteriosis, treatment is not advised because of the chronic nature and often advanced stage of the disease, long-term and expensive nature of potential treatment regimens, and the risk of spread to other animals, including humans.     

Respiratory disease (rhinotracheitis) of turkeys in Brittany, France. III. Interaction of multiple infecting agents

A candidate breeder flock of turkeys was studied during and after an outbreak of rhinotracheitis. Laboratory studies revealed the presence of three pathogens during the acute phase of the disease. These agents were hemorrhagic enteritis virus (HEV), paramyxovirus type 2 (PMV2), and chlamydia. Twenty-five turkeys in the flock were individually identified, and blood samples from these birds were collected for serological studies each week for 21 weeks. The serological results revealed high titers for HEV and chlamydia but very low titers for PMV2.     

鸽I型副粘病毒病的研究进展

本文就鸽Ⅰ型副粘病毒病的国内外发生历史、流行特点、病原特性、临床症状、病理变化以及免疫防治等方面的研究进展进行了综合整理，以期对该病的深入研究和防制工作起推动作用。     

Computed tomography for the diagnosis and treatment monitoring of bacterial pneumonia in Indian pythons (Python molurus)

Eight Indian pythons (Python molurus) with clinical and microbiological evidence of pneumonia were examined by computed tomography (ct) before and after treatment. The results were assessed subjectively and measurements were taken following a standard protocol. Changes in the lung tissue of all the pythons were diagnosed, and the extent of the disease could be assessed. ct examinations after treatment showed an improvement in the six pythons whose clinical condition had improved, but in the other two pythons they demonstrated the severity of the disease. The subjective assessments were superior to the evaluation of measurements of attenuation in regions of interest. However, the average and the maximum attenuation provided additional information on the extent of the disease. Except for one python with only mild clinical signs, the attenuation after successful treatment was still higher than in healthy pythons.     

Exotic Newcastle disease in a game chicken flock.

A sudden increase in mortality, preceded by a short history of respiratory signs and diarrhea, occurred in a backyard flock of 48 game chickens in the Central Valley of California. Necropsy findings included severe generalized linear hemorrhages and/or ulcers in the digestive tract, larynx, and trachea. Histology revealed severe multifocal hemorrhages and necrosis in the mucosa of the respiratory and digestive tracts, vasculitis, and necrosis of lymphoid tissue. The birds were serologically negative to Newcastle disease virus; this was consistent with an acute infection. The avian paramyxovirus type 1 isolated was characterized as velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus. A thorough epidemiologic investigation was carried out, and no other premises were found to have birds with clinical signs or evidence of exposure. The entire outbreak was limited to the original backyard flock and resolved within 14 days of the onset of clinical signs.     

Avian paramyxovirus type I infection in pigeons: clinical observations

An outbreak of a neurological disease in pigeons caused by avian paramyxovirus type I occurred in the New York metropolitan area in 1984. It was characterized clinically by head tremors, paresis of the wings and legs, ataxia, torticollis, and loose droppings. Clinical pathologic evaluation revealed anemia and elevated plasma transaminase enzymes. Mortality was virtually 100% in juvenile pigeons, whereas the adults generally experienced much lower morbidity and mortality.     

鸭副黏病毒和鸭圆环病毒二重荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

根据鸭副黏病毒(DPMV)和鸭圆环病毒(DuCV)保守基因序列,设计了2对针对鸭副黏病毒和鸭圆环病毒的特异性引物和2条不同荧光基团标记的TaqMan探针,建立了鸭副黏病毒和鸭圆环病毒的二重荧光定量PCR检测方法。该方法敏感性好,对鸭副黏病毒和鸭圆环病毒的检测敏感性分别达到160和140个拷贝数;该方法特异性强,对鸭肝炎病毒、番鸭细小病毒、鸭瘟病毒和H9型禽流感病毒等病原体的检测全为阴性;应用该方法对118份临床病料进行检测,结果检出鸭副黏病毒和鸭圆环病毒阳性感染率分别为0.85%和8.47%,无混合感染。本试验建立的二重荧光定量PCR具有快速、特异、敏感和重复性好等优点,适用于鸭副黏病毒和鸭圆环病毒的快速诊断和监测。     

A SURVEY OF VIRUS INFECTION IN SUB-ANTARCTIC PENGUINS ON MACQUARIE ISLAND, SOUTHERN OCEAN

SUMMARY Serums from 1002 penguins of 4 species on Macquarie Island, a sub-antarctic island in the Southern Ocean, were examined for antibody to Newcastle disease virus (NDV), influenza A virus, avian paramyxovirus, alphavirus and flavivirus. No evidence of haemagglutination-inhibition antibody to influenza A virus or alphavirus was detected. Serums from 6% of royal penguins sampled gave positive reactions to NDV while the other 3 species were negative. Antibody to a flavivirus and an avian paramyxovirus, other than NDV, was detected in 3 of the 4 penguin species. Cloacal swabs from 831 penguins of 4 species were examined for the presence of viruses. Six isolates of paramyxovirus, other than NDV, were obtained from swabs taken from royal and king penguins at 2 widely separated sites on the island.     

水禽新现疾病的发生概况和防制思路

介绍了目前水禽新出现疾病水禽流感、鸭病毒性肝炎、禽副粘病毒、呼肠孤病毒病、圆环病毒、鸭传染性浆膜炎的发生概况和病原学特点,提出了防制策略。     

A hitherto unreported paramyxovirus of turkeys

A newly isolated avian virus is described which was obtained from a flock of laying turkey hens with respiratory disease and accompanying egg production drop. Characterisation of the virus indicated it to be of the paramyxovirus group and to be related through antigenic crossing with Newcastle disease virus. Examination of turkey sera from five separate flocks indicated natural infection with the paramyxovirus to be relatively widespread. Experimental infection of turkeys produced only mild respiratory disease.     

Characterization of a pigeon paramyxovirus (PPMV-1) isolated from chickens in South Africa

A paramyxovirus with a thermostability of 60 min (typical of velogenic viruses) and a mean death time of > 90 h (typical of lentogenic viruses) was isolated from layers near Mooi River, South Africa. Our results, based on comparative nucleotide sequence data indicated that the virus is pigeon paramyxovirus 1 (PPMV-1), a variant of Newcastle disease virus. The F0 cleavage site contains a 112RRKKRF117 motif, and the virus had 98% sequence identity with PPMV-1 strains from the Far East. PPMV-1 was last reported in South Africa during the 1980s, with this being the first report of PPMV-1 isolated from chickens in South Africa.     

Paramyxovirus and reovirus infections in wild-caught Mexican lizards (Xenosaurus and Abronia spp.).

Virus isolation attempts were carried out on wild-caught Xenosaurus grandis, X. platyceps, and Abronia graminea from Mexico. These animals were also tested for exposure to paramyxoviruses and reoviruses. Pharyngeal and cloacal swabs were collected from 30 lizards, and blood was collected from 23 lizards. A cytopathogenic virus was isolated from the cloacal swab of one of the X. platyceps. The isolate was identified as a paramyxovirus on the basis of its sensitivity to chloroform, resistance to 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine, size and morphology of the viral particles, hemagglutination of chicken erythrocytes, and serologic reaction with paramyxovirus-specific antisera. Antibodies against the paramyxovirus isolated in this study were found in four animals from three species. Antibodies against a different paramyxovirus isolated from a monitor lizard were found in seven animals from three species, showing that all the species tested are susceptible to paramyxovirus infections. Antibodies to a reptilian reovirus were found in three of the X. grandis.