Endotoxemia following experimental intestinal strangulation obstruction in ponies.

Experimental small intestinal strangulation obstruction was produced in anesthetized ponies. The limulus amoebocyte lysate test demonstrated the presence of endotoxin in the general circulation 60 and 120 minutes following restoration of mesenteric blood flow. Mucosal degeneration, with loss of villus epithelial cells, was demonstrated coincident with endotoxemia. The findings were consistent with an ischemia-mediated alteration in the intestinal barrier to endotoxin.     

Ear temperatures in the horse during recovery from anesthesia

Ear temperatures were measured during and after halothane anesthesia in 16 horses and ponies. Aural hypothermia developed during recovery and persisted for more than one hour following standing. The decreased ear temperature was attributed to decreased peripheral perfusion and was considered to be related to other cardio-pulmonary and neuro-endocrine derangements that occur during recovery.     

Meningoencephalitis in a Boelen's python (Morelia boeleni) associated with paramyxovirus infection.

An adult male Boelen's python, Morelia boeleni, presented with acute neurologic disease and was euthanatized. Histologic examination revealed nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis. Occasional eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions were noted in glial cells. On the basis of clinical signs and histopathology, inclusion body disease of boid snakes was suspected, but inclusions were not seen in other organs commonly affected with the disease. Moreover, electron microscopy revealed that the inclusions contained stacks of filaments 13-14 nm wide. With the use of a generic paramyxovirus cDNA probe, sections of brain and esophageal ganglion demonstrated hybridization. The findings indicate that paramyxovirus was the likely cause of the encephalomyelitis in this python, and this virus should be included in the differential diagnosis of pythons exhibiting central nervous system disease.     

Serosurvey of selected zoonotic agents in polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

Between 1982 and 1999 blood samples were collected from 500 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) captured in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, to determine the seroprevalence of Brucella species, Toxoplasma gondii, and Trichinella species infections. The bears were classified into four age groups, cubs, yearlings, subadults and adults. Brucella and Toxoplasma antibodies were detected by agglutination (a buffered acidified card antigen and rapid automated presumptive test for brucellosis and a commercial latex agglutination test for toxoplasmosis); an ELISA was used to detect Trichinella antibodies. The overall seroprevalence of Brucella species was 5 per cent, and subadults and yearlings were 2-62 times (95 per cent confidence interval 1.02 to 6.82) more likely to be seropositive for Brucella species than adults and their cubs. The antibody prevalence for Toxoplasma gondii was 6 per cent, and for Trichinella species 55.6 per cent. The prevalence of antibodies to Trichinella species increased with age (P<0.001).