Cryptosporidium sp. infection in the proventriculus of an Australian diamond firetail finch (Staganoplura bella: Passeriformes, Estrildidae)

An Australian diamond firetail finch died following the acute onset and development of severe diarrhea. The bird was purchased from a wholesaler and was housed in a pet store aviary with 12 other birds. Necropsy, histologic evaluation, and electron microscopic evaluation revealed organisms in the proventriculus (surface, ductal, and glandular epithelium) compatible in site of development, size, and morphology with Cryptosporidium spp. Lesions in the proventriculus were focal cuboidal metaplasia of glandular epithelial cells and deposition of amyloid in the perivascular interstitial tissues at the base of the glands. Amyloid also was present in the duodenum, liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidney. Inability to recover other organisms suggested that Cryptosporidium was the primary cause of diarrhea and death. The affected bird likely suffered dehydration as a result of acute gastrointestinal disturbance, concomitant with renal amyloidosis and urate nephrosis.     

Viral and bacterial agents associated with experimental transmission of infectious proventriculitis of broiler chickens.

Proventriculitis of broilers can be reproduced by oral inoculation of day-old chicks with a proventricular homogenate from affected 3-wk-old broilers. The objective of the following studies was to isolate from this homogenate viral and bacterial isolates that could produce proventriculitis. A monoclonal antibody to infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was used to precipitate virus from the homogenate. A primary chicken digestive tract cell culture system was also used to isolate virus from a 0.2-microm filtrate of the homogenate, and a bacterium was also isolated from the homogenate. In trial 1, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either proventriculus homogenate or monoclonal antibody immunoprecipitated IBDV (MAB-IBDV). At 4, 7, 14, and 21 days postinfection (PI), 12 birds from each treatment group were subjected to necropsy. In trial 2, day-old birds were orally inoculated with either infectious proventriculus homogenate, suspect virus isolated in cell culture and propagated in embryo livers and spleens, or a bacterial isolate. Twelve birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at days 7, 14, 21, and 28 PI. In trial 3, treatments were maintained in negative pressure isolation chambers, and an additional treatment included virus plus bacterial isolate. Twenty-four birds from each treatment were subjected to necropsy at day 21 PI. In trial 1, infectious homogenate decreased body weight and relative gizzard weights at 4, 7, 14, and 21 days PI. Proventriculus relative weight was increased at days 7, 14, and 21 PI, and proventriculus lesion scores were increased at days 14 and 21 PI. Bursa/spleen weight ratios were decreased at day 14, and feed conversion was increased at days 4 and 21. The MAB-IBDV treatment decreased proventriculus and gizzard relative weights at day 4 PI, increased proventriculus lesion scores and bursa/spleen weight ratios at day 14, and decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratios at day 21. In trial 2, all infected birds had significantly higher mean relative proventriculus weights at 21 days PI and had higher 4-wk mean proventriculus scores as compared with both control groups. In trial 3, birds treated with homogenate and birds treated with both suspect virus and the bacterial isolate had significantly higher proventriculus lesion scores; higher relative weights of proventriculus, gizzard, liver, and heart; lower body weights; and lower relative bursa weights compared with the saline control group. These studies suggest that infectious proventriculitis has a complex etiology involving both viral and bacterial infection.     

Microstructure Features of Proventriculus and Ultrastructure of the Gastric Gland Cells in Chinese Taihe Black‐bone Silky Fowl (Gallus gallus domesticus Brisson)

To investigate microstructure of proventriculus and ultrastructure of the gastric gland cells from Chinese Taihe black‐bone silky fowl (BSF), the proventriculus of 4‐week‐old BSF was sampled. Conventional histological and transmission electron microscope (TEM) methods were used in this study. The wall of the Taihe BSF proventriculus was consisted of four layers, the mucous, submucosa, muscularis externa and the serosa as others birds. The muscularis externa of the birds' proventriculus contained three layers. Much of the melanin was present in loose connective tissue of lamina propria, submucosa, and muscularis externa unlike others. In addition, the ultrastructure of the gastric gland cells was observed by TEM. There was only one kind of gland cell, for example oxynticopeptic cell in proventriculus of Taihe BSF. The oxynticopeptic cells contained numerous mitochondria, cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (CRER), intracellular canaliculi (IC) that secrete hydrochloric acid and small amounts of pepsinogen granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) was irregular cisternae with ribosomes and surrounded tightly the mitochondria along their configuration. The electron‐dense pepsinogen granules were round with various sizes. The neighbouring oxynticopeptic cells were closed up with tight junction and gap junction. The inter‐space between the neighbouring oxynticopeptic cells was stenosis or was filled with electron‐dense extracellular substance. In conclusion, the gastric gland cells of Chinese Taihe BSF proventriculus were only oxynticopeptic cells that secrete hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen, but no parietal cells and chief cells of mammal. The gastric gland cells of proventriculus were underdeveloped compared with those of mammals.     

Baylisascariosis—Infections of animals and humans with ‘unusual’ roundworms

The nematode genus Baylisascaris (order Ascaridida, superfamily Ascaridoidea) contains nine relatively host-specific, parasite species of carnivores, omnivores, herbivores, carnivorous marsupials or rodents. They have a facultative heteroxenous life cycle, at least under experimental conditions. Eggs passed in faeces embryonate in the environment and the second-stage larva infective for both definitive and intermediate hosts develops. In intermediate hosts larvae migrate extensively through tissues, where they grow and moult to the third-stage, causing extensive damage. All Baylisascaris spp. are considered a potential cause of visceral, ocular and/or neural larval migrans in mammals including humans and in birds. This paper summarises our current knowledge on the prevalence, biology, pathogenicity and zoonotic significance of three Baylisascaris species: B. transfuga, B. schroederi and B. procyonis which have as definitive hosts bears, giant pandas and raccoons (occasionally dogs), respectively.     

The Distribution of Gastrin,Somatostatin and Glucagon Immunoreactive (IR) Cells in Ostrich Stomach During the Pre‐ and Post‐hatching Period

Peptides of the gastrointestinal tract play a significant role in the digestive processes and the development of the body; therefore, it is important to have an understanding of location and distribution of gastrin, somatostatin and glucagon immunoreactive (IR) cells in the stomach mucosa of growing birds. For this purpose, 6 embryos and 37 chicks from an ostrich farm in Latvia were used. Tissue samples were collected from the proventriculus – superficial and deep glandular region and from the ventriculus – side wall and pyloric region. The number of cells was determined in 10 mucosal fields of each tissue sample. For statistical analysis, the one‐way anova method was used. Gastrin IR cells regarding the stomach mucosa were found only in the pyloric region. Somatostatin IR cells were most densely located in the pyloric region too, but some cells were also discovered in the mucosa of proventriculus and ventriculus. Glucagon IR cells were found in the epithelium of the deep glands of the proventriculus and only some cells of the superficial glands of the proventriculus, and the ventriculus side wall mucosa. Gastrin and somatostatin IR cells were present in a comparatively large quantity in the ostrich chicks' ventriculus – pyloric region yet not long before hatching. They were located deep in the mucosa of pyloric glands, and their number tended to increase with birds advancing in age.     

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.     

Multinucleate parietal cells and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the gastric epithelium of callitrichids

Inclusion bodies (IBs) and multinucleate cells can be associated with viral infections; however, IBs and multinucleate cells have been described in normal tissue and with non-viral disease processes in multiple species. We examined fundic stomach from 50 callitrichids histologically for bi- and multinucleate parietal cells and cytoplasmic IBs in gastric epithelial cells. Callitrichids represented included 6 genera: Saguinus (4 spp.), Leontopithecus (1 sp.), Mico (3 spp.), Cebuella (1 sp.), Callithrix (1 sp.), Callimico (1 sp.), and 13 unspecified marmosets. Gastric epithelial IBs were present in 46 of 47 (98%) of the callitrichids from which the stomach was sufficiently well preserved to identify IBs. Cytoplasmic IBs were identified in gastric surface pit epithelial cells (43 of 44, 98%), mucous neck cells (43 of 44, 98%), parietal cells (43 of 44, 98%), and chief cells (43 of 44, 98%). The IBs were eosinophilic, ovoid, round, elongate, or variably indented, sometimes slightly refractile, and 1–6 × 1–13 µm. IBs were sometimes perinuclear and molded around the nucleus. Electron microscopy of the gastric epithelium of one marmoset indicated that IBs were composed of intermediate filaments. The IBs did not stain with immunohistochemical markers for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 or vimentin. Binucleate parietal cells were found in 49 of 50 (98%) callitrichids, and multinucleate parietal cells were observed in 40 of 49 (82%) callitrichids. Gastric epithelial cytoplasmic IBs and bi- and multinucleate parietal cells are likely a normal finding in callitrichids, and, to our knowledge, have not been reported previously.     

鸡腺胃病变型传染性支气管炎病毒感染试验

本文采用腺胃病变型传染性支气管炎患病鸡的腺胃病料和H95株分离株尿囊液毒,对不同品种、不同日龄的易感鸡,采用不同的感染途径进行感染,对其增重、死亡等数据进行统计分析,结果表明:供试不同品种的鸡在不同的感染途径下,采用腺胃病料和鸡胚尿囊液毒分别感染,均可引起不同程度的感染发病,并出现和自然病例相同的症状和典型的病理变化。随日龄的增长,其易感率和死亡率呈下降趋势。从感染死亡鸡中可重新回收到相应的病毒,发病耐过的鸡可产生特异性抗体。     

Treatment of lead poisoning in wild geese.

Twenty-seven wild geese (Anser albifrons) suffering from lead poisoning caused by ingestion of lead shot were treated with disodium calcium ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The concentration of lead in blood ranged from 0.4 to 23.0 micrograms/ml, with a mean concentration of 5.6 micrograms/ml. In 22 of the birds, 1 to 48 lead pellets (mean, 10.5 pellets/bird) were seen on radiographs of their gizzards. Eleven of 27 birds recovered 3 to 8 weeks after the initiation of treatment. In the birds that recovered, the lead pellets were rapidly eroded as the birds recovered their appetites in response to treatment, and disappeared radiographically between treatment days 17 and 52. The birds that did not survive died within 4 weeks, despite decreased concentrations of lead in blood. Of these 16 birds, 15 had radiographic evidence of impaction of the proventriculus at the first examination and no evidence of resolution of the impaction at the time of death. In contrast, only 2 of the 11 geese that recovered had impaction of the proventriculus at the time of admission. Thus, the condition of the proventriculus seems to be the first consideration to evaluate in the prognosis of lead poisoning in geese.     

Proventricular dilatation syndrome in large psittacine birds

Proventricular dilatation was diagnosed in 16 psittacine birds. Signs included anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, and intermittent vomiting. The proventriculus in all birds was thin-walled and impacted with ingesta and occupied most of the body cavity. Microscopic changes in the proventriculus varied from none to an infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and heterophils. There was no evidence of viral or bacterial infection or lead toxicity.     

Naturally occurring tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis in brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula): II. Pathology

The gross and microscopic lesions due to Mycobacterium bovis infection are described in 73 brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpeculu) from population studies and from 11 terminally ill possums. Subcutaneous lesions were suppurative in nature, often discharging through sinuses to the exterior. Histologically, the smallest lesions comprised focal aggregations of macrophages with angulated cytoplasmic boundaries occasionally containing acid-fast organisms. Larger lesions were pyogranulomatous, with extensive necrosis, caseation and large numbers of intra- and extra-cellular acid-fast organisms. Few multinucleate giant cells were seen and fibroplasia was rare. Mineralisation was recorded in tuberculous lymph nodes from only two possums. Histological evidence of haematogenous and lymphatic spread was seen in some cases.     

Comparative anatomical studies on the glandular stomach of the rock pigeon (Columba livia targia) and the Egyptian laughing dove (Streptopelia senegalensis aegyptiaca)

The rock pigeon (RP) and the laughing dove (LD) are common and widely distributed species in African countries, including Egypt. The present work was carried out to characterize the comparative features of the glandular stomach (proventriculus) in these two birds, which share diets and habitats. In both species, the proventriculus is an elongated spindle obliquely situated in the cranial two‐thirds of the body cavity. The length and weight of the proventriculus in the RP were about one and half times greater than that of the LD. Histologically, the proventricular wall generally consisted of the mucosa (thickest), submucosa, muscular and serosa layers. The proventricular glands occupied most of the wall of the proventriculus within the lamina propria of the mucosa. The glands are tubuloalveolar in type, consist of variable shaped lobules and are more condensed in LD than in RP. At the proventricular‐gizzard junction (PGJ), the proventricular glands were observed external to the tubular glands of the gizzard in the RP, whereas in LD, these glands end abruptly and are separated from the tubular glands of the gizzard by a short distance. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the proventricular lumen in RP revealed that the openings of the proventricular glands have an irregular outline surrounded by concentrically arranged mucosal folds that resemble a rosette shape. In the LD, these openings have a regular outline surrounded by thinner, widely spaced mucosal folds. To our knowledge, these results identified the structure of the proventriculus in RP and LD for the first time.     

EFFECT OF ANESTHESIA,POSITIONING, TIME,AND FEEDING ON THE PROVENTRICULUS: KEEL RATIO OF CLINICALLY HEALTHY PARROTS

Healthy, adult Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) were imaged on three occasions to determine the effects of anesthesia, patient rotation, feeding, and short/long‐term temporal factors on the proventriculus:keel ratio. Increasing rotation up to 15° from right lateral resulted in increased inability to measure the proventriculus in up to 44% of birds, meaning that the proventriculus:keel ratio could not be calculated from those radiographs. There was a significant difference between the proventriculus:keel ratio for individual parrots when quantified 3 weeks apart. Despite this difference, all ratios remained within normal limits. No significant effect was identified due to anesthesia, feeding, fasting, or repeated imaging through an 8‐h period. Interobserver agreement for measurability and correlation for the proventriculus:keel ratio values was high. It is recommended that the proventriculus:keel ratio be calculated from anesthetized parrots to attain images in true lateral recumbency. Ratio fluctuations within the normal range between radiographs obtained on different dates may be observed in normal parrots.     

Feather-picking psittacines: histopathology and species trends

Histologic findings are described for 408 feather-picking or self-mutilating psittacines with the use of biopsies from clinically affected and unaffected skin. Inflammatory skin disease was diagnosed in 210 birds, and traumatic skin disease was diagnosed in 198 birds. Criteria used for the diagnosis of inflammatory skin disease included the presence of perivascular inflammation in the superficial or deep dermis of clinically affected and unaffected sites. The primary histologic criteria for the diagnosis of traumatic skin disease were superficial dermal scarring with or without inflammation in the affected sites and an absence of inflammation in the unaffected sites. The inflammatory cells associated with the lesions were typically lymphocytes and occasionally plasma cells, histiocytes, and granulocytes. A preponderance of inflammatory skin disease was seen in macaws (Ara spp.) and Amazon parrots (Amazona spp.). A preponderance of traumatic skin disease was seen in cockatoos (Cacatua spp.) and African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). The prevalence of each was approximately equal in several other species, including conures (Aratinga and Pyrrhura spp.), eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus), quaker parrots (Myiopsitta monachus), cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus), parakeets (Cyanorhamphus and Psittacula spp.), and caiques (Pionites spp.). No geographic or gender-based trends were identified. These findings could be helpful for identifying and treating birds with feather-picking disorders.     

Molecular identification of Anisakis spp. from fishes collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean)

The accurate identification of anisakid nematodes at any life cycle stage is important both to deepen the knowledge on their taxonomy, ecology, epidemiology and for diagnosis and control, as larval stages cause a clinical disease in humans known as anisakidosis. With the aim to investigate the presence of anisakid larvae, specimens of horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus, 1758), silver scabbardfish, Lepidopus caudatus (Euphrasen, 1788), European anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758) and opah fish, Lampris guttatus (Brunnich, 1788), were collected by trawling at depths ranging from 50 to 400 m. A molecular approach based on restriction profiles obtained after digestion of the nuclear ribosomal ITS region was used to identify Anisakis spp. larvae recovered in fish samples. Restriction profiles showed three banding patterns, corresponding to Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis physeteris and to heterozygote pattern between A. pegreffii and Anisakis simplex s.s. Specimens showing the heterozygote restriction pattern were also analyzed by sequencing of the entire ITS region, to confirm the heterozygote status.     

Disease patterns in the Detroit Zoo: a study of the avian population from 1973 through 1983

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate disease patterns in birds at the Detroit Zoo from 1973 through 1983. Data were derived from the zoo's medical and animal census records; the mean (+/- SD) population of birds during the study period was 469 +/- 42. Overall annual morbidity rates were 12.5% to 21.5%, with spring months having the highest morbidity rates. Annual mortality rates were 3.1% to 15.2%; 23.9% of the deaths were caused by microbial agents (particularly Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, hemolytic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, Aeromonas spp and Proteus spp), 15.4% by trauma, and 42.5% by nondetermined causes. The mute swan (Cygnus olor), mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), common gallinule (Gallinula chloropus), common rhea (Rhea americana), and red-billed hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus) were the 5 species most frequently affected of the 1,032 deaths from 1973 through 1983. The most frequently isolated parasites were Microtetramere spp, coccidian species, Diplotriaena spp, and Trichomonia spp.     

Outbreak of salmonellosis in a zoologic collection of lorikeets and lories (Trichoglossus,Lorius, and Eos spp.)

During August 2001, a syndrome characterized by acute lethargy and dyspnea was observed in a population of 45 lorikeets and lories in an open-air zoologic exhibit. The first death occurred on August 10, and within the next 12 days, nine more birds died (22% mortality rate). Hepatomegaly, reddening and congestion of the lungs, and injection of the serosal surface of the intestines were the common gross findings. Histologic changes, including fibrinonecrotic hepatitis and splenitis, bacterial emboli (liver, spleen, lung, kidney, proventriculus), pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage, and enteritis, were indicative of an acute, overwhelming bacterial septicemia. Salmonella typhimurium, with the same antibiogram, was isolated from four birds. Several birds had attacked and killed a snake on July 24, and Salmonella serogroup B (untypeable) was isolated from intestine and kidney samples of a garter snake caught in the open-air exhibit on August 28. Salmonella was also isolated from environmental samples of the exhibit but not from food preparation areas. After antimicrobial therapy, Salmonella spp. was not isolated from the surviving birds. The source of Salmonella in this outbreak remains unknown, but infection either directly or indirectly from snakes in the exhibit is possible. Contact between captive psittacine populations and reptiles should be avoided to prevent the risk of salmonellosis.     

用POR和POR-RFLP方法检测和鉴定进口海鱼中的异尖线虫幼虫

应用PeR和PCR—RFLP方法对厦门口岸进口的各种海鱼中的异尖线虫幼虫进行检测鉴定。结果在带鱼、竹荚鱼、金线鱼、大眼鲷和白姑鱼等海鱼中发现了简单异尖线虫、典型异尖线虫、对盲囊线虫和针回线虫等4种异尖线虫。带鱼和竹荚鱼的异尖线虫感染率达100％,竹荚鱼异尖线虫感染强度最高,白姑鱼感染率和感染强度相对较低。少数海鱼同时感染2种以上异尖线虫,从带鱼中同时检出简单异尖线虫和针蛔线虫,从竹荚鱼中检出简单异尖线虫、对盲囊线虫和典型异尖线虫。内切酶实验结果表明,应用限制性内切酶UinfI有效鉴别上述4种异尖线虫。     

用PCR和PCR-RFLP方法检测和鉴定进口海鱼中的异尖线虫幼虫

应用PCR和PCR-RFLP方法对厦门口岸进口的各种海鱼中的异尖线虫幼虫进行检测鉴定。结果在带鱼、竹荚鱼、金线鱼、大眼鲷和白姑鱼等海鱼中发现了简单异尖线虫、典型异尖线虫、对盲囊线虫和针回线虫等4种异尖线虫。带鱼和竹荚鱼的异尖线虫感染率达100%,竹荚鱼异尖线虫感染强度最高,白姑鱼感染率和感染强度相对较低。少数海鱼同时感染2种以上异尖线虫,从带鱼中同时检出简单异尖线虫和针蛔线虫,从竹荚鱼中检出简单异尖线虫、对盲囊线虫和典型异尖线虫。内切酶实验结果表明,应用限制性内切酶HinfI有效鉴别上述4种异尖线虫。     

Giant cell tumor of soft parts. A report of an equine and a feline case.

Masses removed from the superficial fascia of the jugular groove of a 12-year-old Arabian mare and from the femoral canal of a 7 1/2-year-old female cat appeared to be counterparts of the human malignant giant cell tumor of soft parts, even recapitulating the clinical behavior of the respective subgroups. Histologically, both neoplasms contained the characteristic features of the malignant giant cell tumor of soft parts: large multinucleate giant cells, pleomorphic mononuclear giant cells, histiocytes, fibroblasts and fibrocytes that were sometimes sarcomatous, and foci of hemorrhage and necrosis. Ultrastructural characteristics of the giant cells suggest mesenchymal origin with osteoblastic or chondroblastic differentiation.