Tumors of the hypophysis as the cause of both Cushing's syndrome and diabetes insipidus in dogs]

Invasive tumors of the pituitary gland associated with Cushing's disease and diabetes insipidus are described in ten dogs. All patients showed typical clinical symptoms including polyuria/polydipsia and acanthosis nigricans. All tumors led to compression und partial destruction of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and the infundibular stalk; two of them infiltrated the hypothalamic region. All tumors produced ACTH and caused hyperadrenocorticism. In six cases, additional expression of beta-lipoprotein and MSH were found: in pars intermedia adenomas many cells stained strongly for MSH and/or beta-lipoprotein, whereas in tumors of the pars distalis only occasional cells stained positive. The purpose of the present study was to describe the neuropathological findings and the immunohistochemistry of hormone excretion in pituitary tumors in dogs resulting in Cushing's disease associated with D.i., to review the literature and to discuss the pathogenesis.     

Testing of a pond‐side molecular diagnostic tool for the detection of white spot syndrome virus in shrimp aquaculture

White spot disease in penaeid shrimp is caused by the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). It is the most economically important disease of farmed warm‐water shrimp, causing extensive economic losses estimated from $8 to $15 billion since its emergence in the 1990s. Early diagnosis of disease is critical in the management of outbreaks and to avoid crop losses. Diagnosis of white spot disease is generally carried out in centralized laboratory settings using molecular biology approaches. However, this mode of testing can be expensive and time consuming, requiring laboratory equipment, highly trained laboratory personnel, dedicated laboratory space, and long‐distance transportation of samples from field to lab. In‐field diagnostics are gaining credence as tools for rapid and early animal disease detection, allowing diagnosticians and farmers to potentially manage disease outbreaks from the pond side. In the present study, we describe the development and application of a new in‐field point‐of‐need diagnostic test and platform for the diagnosis of WSSV in remote settings (shrimp farms). We report its performance in laboratory and field settings and compare it with current gold‐standard diagnostic approaches. We discuss the potential benefits (and barriers to uptake) of applying such testing in the global shrimp farming sector.     

Cardinal symptoms of polydipsia/polyuria in birds

The relatively nonspecific symptom complex of polydipsia/polyuria can be based on a large number of causes either infectious or non-infectious in nature. These causes are listed and described in more detail. In addition, diagnostic methods and possible forms of therapy are discussed.     

大鲵感染虹彩病毒的诊断和治疗

2013年7月,陕西省汉中某大鲵养殖场发生以大鲵体表和四肢多处溃烂并伴有出血为特征的疾病,染病大鲵大量死亡。经临床观察、病理解剖及实验室检测,最后确诊病原为大鲵虹彩病毒。通过采取综合防治措施,养殖场大鲵疫情得到有效控制。     

Fructosamine as a valuable criterion for the evaluation of diabetic animals and its photometric determination

The new photometrical kit fructosamine is tested for its use with canine, feline and equine blood. Normal values of fructosamine in nondiabetic animals as well as adequately and inadequately stabilized patients are given. The measurement of fructosamine is an excellent new tool for diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus and should become an essential part of the control of the course of diabetes mellitus in animals.     

Diagnosis of liver diseases in dogs, cats and horses

Clinical symptoms of hepatopathies are not specific and must be verified by further investigation. Laboratory diagnosis is a very useful method to decide if liver disease is present or not. In individual cases laboratory methods can give hints as to the aetiology of the illness. If necessary, biopsy, angiography or/and cholecystography can be carried out for further clarification of the diagnosis.     

Changes in laboratories in small animal practice

Economical considerations have led to a reduction of laboratory analysis. In particular, photometric examinations are rarely carried out in private practice because of its high level of personal labour intensive quality controls and the rapid decay of reagents. Nowadays, analyses are more and more carried out in commercial laboratories which can operate at considerably lower costs. Especially the loss of time until results can be obtained is an intolerable disadvantage which is particularly serious in emergency cases. Often too much time passes before an equivalent therapy can be started. Instead of the diagnosis in presence, i.e. direct sequence of anamnese, clinical investigation and laboratory diagnostic should be aimed at. The most common types of laboratory tests are instant semiquantitative methods with dry reagent strips for measuring blood sugar and urea. Very recently on the market are reflectance photometers which allow to determine blood parameters with dry chemical carriers. The systems Ektachem DT60, Reflotron and Seralyzer are presented. The use of this dry chemistry could reestablish the laboratory in the private small animal practice again.     

Pathologic X-ray signs in tuberculosis of ornamental birds and birds of prey

Tuberculosis is still important as a disease of birds kept as pets and in zoos, and as a zoonosis. In living birds the diagnosis is difficult. In combination with the clinical and laboratory examination, radiology may help to lead to the diagnosis "generalised mycobacterial infection". Eight cases of tuberculosis seen in the clinic of our institute showed the different radiographic signs which may occur in the course of a mycobacterial infection. The specificity of the x-rays in combination with clinical and laboratory results is discussed.     

Diagnosis of liver diseases in the horse

This abstract gives a survey of the clinical signs and the currently used methods for the diagnosis of liver diseases in horses. The laboratory diagnostic procedures are related with emphasis on the analysis of enzyme activities as a primary diagnostic aid and in addition to the evaluation of substrates. The diagnostic procedures are completed by liver biopsy and sonography.     

Clinical chemistry. Use of clinical chemistry as an aid in the diagnosis of diseases of small pets

This abstract gives a survey of the currently used methods in clinical chemistry for the diagnosis of diseases in dog and cat. The laboratory diagnostic methods are presented with emphasis on diseases of liver, kidney, exocrine and endocrine pancreas, thyroid, adrenal gland, muscles, bones and joints and the water and electrolyte metabolism.     

Foot-and-mouth disease: the nature and importance of the disease

The Federal Republic of Germany is at present free from Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). In many countries of the world, however, FMD is still an enzootic disease. Therefore, countries free from FMD have to be constantly on guard against importing the disease. The plurality of the agent as well as ways of transfer of the disease are described. In particular, clinical signs and pathological injuries are described and illustrated by photographs. Methods of preparing specimens from infected animals for laboratory diagnosis are pointed out.     

Diseases of the prostate in the dog

BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) is frequently observed in male dogs older than five years. Uncomplicated BPH is therefore regarded as a normal aging process. Only 1-2% of the males develop malign tumors, furthermore acute or chronic prostatitis, abscesses or cysts. The diagnosis of prostatic diseases requires special physical and laboratory examinations. For the treatment hormonal effective substances, antibiotics, antiphlogistics, analgesics and surgical procedures (prostatectomy, castration) are recommended. The author successfully uses a therapy in two phases starting with an intensive medication (Tardack plus antibiotics s.c./p.o. and local) for at least 10, up to 30 days, followed by surgery. Particularities in diagnosis and therapy are pointed out.     

The determination of blood parameters by Reflotron

In this paper, the practicability of a quick diagnostic laboratory test to perform blood analysis in healthy pigeons was tested. The Reflotron manufactured by Boehringer Mannheim, works on a dry chemical basis, consists of a reflectance photometer and the accompanying test strips, is easy to use, and yields the result of the desired parameter in a maximum of three minutes. As test material plasma and serum were used. At the time the equipment was tested, test strips for glucose, cholesterol, hemoglobin, triglycerides, urea, uric acid, GOT, GPT and G-GT were available on the market. The usual laboratory "wet chemical" analysis procedures were used to compare the results. The obtained measurements were analyzed using describing and concluding statistics. The influence of gender, feed and time of day on the nine parameters was also considered.     

Evaluation of the AQUARAPID-Va, AQUAEIA-Va and dot-blot assays for the detection of Vibrio anguillarum in fish tissues

The comparative accuracy of the serological assays AQUARAPID-Va, AQUAEIA-Va (BIONOR AS), and dot-blot for a rapid diagnosis of vibriosis in fish was evaluated. Twenty-one Vibrio anguillarum strains, representative of pathogenic and environmental serotypes, and 13 strains of other fish pathogenic bacteria were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the detection methods. The serological assays tested detected all the strains of V. anguillarum serotypes O1 and O2. The dot-blot assay was the most specific and sensitive method, detecting almost all isolates from serotypes O1, O2 and O3, with an average sensitivity of 1 x 10(6) bacteria g(-1) of fish tissue. The AQUARAPID-Va and the AQUAEIA-Va systems were able to detect 5 x 10(6) and 5 x 10(7) bacteria g(-1) of fish tissue, respectively. The simplicity, effectiveness and speed of the AQUARAPID-Va system confirmed this method as the most suitable serological test for the detection of V. anguillarum in field analysis and small-scale laboratory studies.     

广西鸡巨型艾美尔球虫的分离鉴定

为了了解广西鸡球虫病的流行种类,对一起疑似鸡巨型艾美耳球虫病例进行了临床诊断和实验室检测,并对分离到的球虫卵囊进行鉴定,从病例的病理变化和球虫卵囊形态特征等鉴定为鸡巨型艾美耳球虫。     

猪圆环病毒与附红细胞体混合感染的诊治

猪圆环病毒病是一种危害猪群的免疫抑制性疾病。近来我国各地猪场广泛发生该病,同时病猪容易继发和混合感染其他传染病已经成为猪病流行的重要特点,大大增加了确诊和治疗的难度,给我国养猪业造成巨大的经济损失。对重庆地区某规模化养猪场的育肥猪发生的高热、呼吸困难、皮肤上有圆形或不规则黑色斑块状丘疹病例,进行临床诊断、病理剖解、实验室检查,初步确定该场本次爆发的疫病为猪圆环病毒-2型与附红细胞体混合感染。全部猪只注射黄芪多糖,并使用强力霉素、贝尼尔、咪唑苯脲等药物辅助治疗,配合加强营养,猪场消毒,3d后猪只发病数量减少,10d后逐渐恢复。     

Atopic dermatitis in dogs. Symptomatology and diagnosis

The immunological backgrounds of canine atopy, and in particular of atopic dermatitis, are described in the present review. The significance of the history, the intradermal allergic test and the determination of allergen-specific antibodies in the diagnosis of canine atopy are discussed.     

Detection and antigenic characterization of salmonid alphavirus isolates from sera obtained from farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., and farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

A simple method of detecting the presence of the salmonid alphaviruses (SAVs), salmon pancreas disease virus (SPDV) and sleeping disease virus (SDV), from serum samples is described. Using a 96-well tissue-culture plate format, test sera are diluted in medium and added to chinook salmon embryo (CHSE-214) cells. After incubation for 3 days at 15 degrees C, plates are fixed and stained using a monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based immunoperoxidase (IPX) detection system, and virus-infected cells are observed microscopically by white light. Application of this screening test, which is now used routinely in our laboratory in conjunction with an IPX-based virus neutralization (IPX-VN) test for detecting antibodies to SAVs, has resulted in the recovery of 12 additional isolates from salmon sera and four additional isolates from trout sera. A low level of antigenic variation was detected when these SAV isolates were investigated by indirect immunofluorescence using a panel of mAbs raised to reference SPDV and SDV isolates.     

Diagnosis and treatment of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis (MbM) in dairy cows

The diagnosis of Mycoplasma bovis mastitis (MbM) usually comes too late. Consequently the capital early symptoms are described for a probable diagnosis in order to enable prophylactic measures and to prevent ineffective expensive treatments and loss of time. Following a definite diagnosis of MbM by culture, a repeated application of the CMT milk test combined with bacteriological culture detects infected cows and they should be culled. All cows of exceptional breeding value can be treated by repeated intramammary infusions of specific antimycoplasma antibiotics with a fair chance of healing, by preference during the dryudder period.