Swinepox--skin disease with sporadic occurrence

Swinepox virus infection results in an acute, mild or subclinical course and is characterised by typical poxvirus skin lesions in affected pigs. Additionally, sporadic vertical swinepox virus transmission leads to congenital generalised infection and subsequent abortion or stillbirth. The present report describes the occurrence of epidermal efflorescences in two piglets after intrauterine natural suipoxvirus infection. No clinical abnormalities of the gilt and littermates as well as in other pigs from this herd were present. One of the affected piglets was stillborn and submitted for necropsy, the other animal was alive at birth, but died 3 days later. Histologically, a proliferative to ulcerative dermatitis with epithelial ballooning degeneration and characteristic intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies was observed. The pathomorphological and histopathological suspected diagnosis of a poxvirus infection was confirmed by electron microscopy. Furthermore, the agent was identified as suipoxvirus by polymerase chain reaction. As demonstrated here, obvious skin lesions in suipoxvirus infection leads to a suspected diagnosis in newborn piglets on macroscopic examination. However, further post mortem examinations, including electron microscopy as well as molecular techniques are essential for the identification of the aetiology and the exclusion of differential diagnoses. Because the disease only affected two pigs there was only a small economic loss. A valid diagnostic plays an important role in advising farmers and for herd health monitoring.     

Embryo vaccination with infectious bursal disease virus alone or in combination with Marek's disease vaccine

Studies with specific-pathogen-free chickens revealed that chicks hatching from eggs inoculated at the 18th day of embryonation with infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine viruses of low virulence (isolates TC-IBDV and BVM-IBDV) developed antibody against IBD virus (IBDV) and resisted challenge with virulent IBDV at 3 weeks of age or older. Embryo vaccination did not adversely affect hatchability of chicks or survival of hatched chicks. Chicks embryonally vaccinated with TC-IBDV had transient histologic lesions in the bursa of Fabricius at hatch. Similar but milder lesions were also noted in chickens that received TC-IBDV at hatch. The level of protection following embryo vaccination with TC-IBDV and BVM-IBDV was similar to that following vaccination with the same vaccines at hatch. Vaccine viruses of moderate virulence (isolates BV-IBDV and 2512-IBDV) were not suitable as vaccines in embryos lacking maternal antibody to IBDV, because the vaccinated chicks developed acute IBD after hatch. Isolate 2512-IBDV was not pathogenic for embryos bearing maternal antibody to IBDV. Maternal antibody against IBDV interfered with efficacy of embryo vaccination with BVM-IBDV but not with 2512-IBDV. Embryo vaccination with a mixture of vaccines against IBD and Marek's disease resulted in protection of hatched chicks against challenge with virulent IBDV and Marek's disease virus.     

Markers of Borna disease virus infection in cats with staggering disease

Borna disease virus (BDV) is a RNA-virus causing neurological disorders in a wide range of mammals. In cats, BDV infection may cause staggering disease. Presently, staggering disease is a tentative clinical diagnosis, only confirmed at necropsy. In this study, cats with staggering disease were investigated to study markers of BDV infection aiming for improvement of current diagnostics. Nineteen cats fulfilled the inclusion criteria based on neurological signs and pathological findings. In 17/19 cats, BDV infection markers (BDV-specific antibodies and/or BDV-RNA) were found, and antibodies in serum (13/16, 81%) were the most common marker. BDV-RNA was found in 11/19 cats (58%). In a reference population without neurological signs, 4/25 cats were seropositive (16%). The clinical history and neurological signs in combination with presence of BDV infection markers, where serology and rRT-PCR on blood can be helpful tools, improve the diagnostic accuracy in the living cat.     

Evaluation of disease activity markers in dogs with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical utility of serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein and microalbuminuria as disease activity markers in canine idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS: Dogs with chronic gastrointestinal disease for which no underlying cause could be identified were considered to have idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease and were included in the study. Serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha was assessed using a canine-specific ELISA, C-reactive protein by immunoturbidometric assay and quantitative microalbuminuria was analysed using a monoclonal antibody directed against canine albumin. The canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index and histopathologic grade were used to assess disease severity; biologic markers were then compared with the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index and histopathologic grade. RESULTS: Sixteen dogs were included in the study. C-reactive protein level was mildly elevated in 15 dogs. Microalbuminuria was elevated in two of 15 dogs, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha was not detected in any dog tested. No correlation was found between the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index and C-reactive protein or microalbuminuria or between histopathologic grade and C-reactive protein or microalbuminuria. There was no correlation between histopathologic grade and the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although only a small number of dogs were evaluated, this study does not support the use of serum tumour necrosis factor-alpha measured by canine-specific ELISA or microalbuminuria in the evaluation of disease activity in dogs with idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Although mildly elevated in most dogs, C-reactive protein did not reflect disease severity as assessed by the canine inflammatory bowel disease activity index or histopathologic grade.     

Hemorrhagic syndrome-like disease in calves with bovine viral diarrhea and mucosal disease complex

BACKGROUND: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection is one of the causes of hemorrhagic diathesis in cattle but there have been limited field studies about that condition. HYPOTHESIS: To identify the cause of hemorrhagic diathesis in calves and describe its clinical findings. ANIMALS: Five calves from a farm with 150 dairy cows. METHODS: Clinical examination of the calves was performed. After blood samples were obtained from 2 calves, whole blood, sera, and leukocyte samples were used for hematologic and hemostatic examinations, neutralization tests, virus isolation, and viral genome sequencing. RESULTS: The calves had moderate pyrexia, dullness, serous or mucous nasal discharge, and petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages on mucosal surfaces. Severe thrombocytopenia and anemia were identified on hematologic examinations. All calves died within 10 days of the onset of clinical signs. Virologic examinations identified BVDV as the causative agent of the disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This paper identifies a hemorrhagic syndrome-like disease in calves with bovine viral diarrhea and mucosal disease complex in Turkey.     

Locomotor characteristics of horses with navicular disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether force-plate evaluation of horses with navicular disease would reveal an abnormal gait that persists despite loss of sensation to the palmar foot region, which may predispose such horses to navicular disease. ANIMALS: 17 clinically normal Thoroughbreds and 8 Thoroughbreds with navicular disease. PROCEDURE: Data on ground reaction forces were obtained in trotting horses, using a force plate. Force-time curve variables for clinically normal horses were derived from 4 points at the beginning and 4 points at the end of the vertical and craniocaudal horizontal plots. Principal component analysis was undertaken separately on beginning-of-stride and end-of-stride data, and the first 2 components were represented graphically. Rotation matrices were applied to equivalent data for horses with navicular disease before and after disruption of sensation by administration of a palmar digital nerve blockade. RESULTS: Prior to nerve block, horses with navicular disease differed significantly from normal horses for beginning-of-stance phase and end-of-stance phase variables. After nerve block, horses with navicular disease maintained the same significant differences from clinically normal horses only for variables at the beginning-of-stance phase. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Horses with navicular disease have abnormal limb-loading force patterns that are not altered by loss of sensation in the palmar region. These abnormal patterns were detected in a horse without navicular disease. Some horses are predisposed to navicular disease as a result of an inherent abnormal gait pattern. Analysis of gait patterns could be used for detection and appropriate management of horses susceptible to development of navicular disease.     

Diagnostic ultrasonography in cattle with thoracic disease

The pleura and lungs were evaluated by means of sonography in 55 bovine patients with diseases of the thoracic cavity. For these ultrasound examinations, a range of transducers was used. As the lung surface was most often involved in cases of pulmonary disease, it was possible to detect ultrasonographically bronchopneumonia, consolidation, pleural effusion, pulmonary emphysema and pleuritis. Determination of the amount of lung tissue affected provided prognostic information. It was not possible to visualise lesions located deeper within the lungs where peripheral tissue was not affected. A diagnosis of thoracic disease was made on the basis of clinical and ultrasonographic findings and confirmed in 33 cases at necropsy.     

Thrombelastography in horses with acute gastrointestinal disease

Background: Coagulopathies in horses with gastrointestinal disease are frequently identified and associated with morbidity and fatality. Objective: Determine if thrombelastography (TEG) identifies abnormalities associated with lesion type, presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), morbidity, and fatality more consistently than traditional coagulation testing. Animals: One‐hundred and one horses examined for gastrointestinal disease and 20 healthy horses. Methods: TEG, tissue factor (TF)‐TEG, and traditional coagulation panels parameters and percentages of horses with coagulopathies were compared for lesion type, presence of SIRS, complications, and survival. Results: Changes in individual parameters and increased incidence of coagulopathies were associated with fatality (R, P= .007; k‐value [K], P= .004; clot lysis [CL]30, P= .037; CL60, P= .050; angle [Ang], P= .0003; maximum amplitude [MA], P= .006; lysis [Ly]30, P= .042; Ly60, P= .027; CI, P= .0004; ≥ 2 TEG coagulopathies, P= .013; ≥ 3 TEG coagulopathies, P= .038; TF‐R, P= .037; TF‐K, P= .004; TF‐CL30, P < .0001; TF‐CL60, P < .0001; TF‐Ang, P= .005; TF‐Ly30, P= .0002; TF‐Ly60, P < .0001; TF‐CI, P= .043; ≥ 1 TF‐TEG coagulopathies, P= .003; ≥ 2 TF‐TEG coagulopathies, P= .0004; prothrombin tme [PT], P < .0001; activated partial throboplastin time [aPTT], P= .021), inflammatory lesions (MA, P= .013; TF‐CL30, P= .033; TF‐CL60, P= .010; TF‐Ly60, P= .011; ≥ 1 TF‐TEG coagulopathy, P= .036; ≥ 2 TF‐TEG coagulopathy, P= .0007; PT, P= .0005; fibrinogen, P= .019), SIRS (MA, P= .004; TF‐CL30, P= .019; TF‐CL60, P= .013; TF‐Ly30, P= .020; TF‐Ly60, P= .010; PT, P < .0001; aPTT, P= .032; disseminated intravascular coagulation, P= .005), and complications (ileus: aPTT, P= .020; diarrhea: TF‐CL30, P= .040; TF‐Ly30, P= .041; thrombophlebitis: ≥ 1 TF‐TEG coagulopathy, P= .018; laminitis: MA, P= .004; CL60, P= .045; CI, P= .036; TF‐MA, P= .019; TF‐TEG CI, P= .019). Abnormalities in TEG and TF‐TEG parameters were indicative of hypocoagulation and hypofibrinolysis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: TEG identifies changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis associated with lesion type, SIRS, morbidity, and fatality in horses with gastrointestinal disease.     

Radiographic signs in cats with nasal disease

Radiographic signs in 64 cats that had radiography as part of the diagnostic work-up for suspected nasal disease were reviewed in a blinded fashion. Final diagnoses in these cats were rhinitis in 27, primary nasal neoplasia in 21 and non-nasal disease in 16. The signs with highest predictive value for nasal neoplasia were displacement of midline structures (73%), unilateral generalised soft tissue opacity (70%), unilateral generalised loss of turbinate detail (69%) and evidence of bone invasion (64%). The only radiographic finding that occurred more frequently in cats with rhinitis was a nasal cavity within normal limits, and the predictive value of this sign was only 38%. Radiographic signs in cats with nasal neoplasia are similar to those reported in dogs, whereas the radiographic signs in cats with rhinitis are variable and non-specific, and may be absent.