Diagnostic radiology of pet and wild birds: a review. I. Radiographic techniques and radiographs of healthy birds.

By the radiographic examination of pet and wild birds, veterinary clinicians may relatively easily obtain additional information that can be used routinely in their everyday diagnostic and therapeutic work. The first part of the present review summarizes the basic technical conditions of radiological examinations, analyses the radiographic features of healthy birds, and describes the procedure and radiological indications of contrast radiography.     

Aldicarb poisoning of dogs and cats in Gauteng during 2003

A survey of aldicarb poisoning in companion animals was conducted by posting questionnaires to all private practitioners in Gauteng Province, South Africa. The survey was designed to determine the percentage of aldicarb cases seen, treatment regimen, clinical signs observed, proposals for preventative actions and more effective treatments. Other questions included duration of treatment, survival rate, cost to clients, post mortem findings and reasons for poisonings.     

Beacon-like immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus of domestic chick

Beacon-immunoreactive (B-ir) fibres and neurons in the hypothalamus of the domestic chick (Gallus domesticus) were studied using an immunohistochemical technique in order to verify the presence and elucidate the pattern of distribution of this novel peptide in an avian brain. B-ir neurons were seen in the n. supraopticus, pars ventralis and pars externus; n. magnocellularis preopticus, pars dorsalis, medialis and ventralis; n. preopticus periventricularis; n. suprachiasmaticus, pars medialis; n. ventrolateralis thalami. Only few B-ir cells were scattered in the most anterior part of the lateral hypothalamic area. B-ir fibres, appearing as thin punctuate structures, were seen mainly along the walls of the third ventricle and in the ventromedial hypothalamus. Labelled fibres and terminals were located in the external and internal zones of the anterior and posterior median eminence. In particular, fibre terminals were seen close to the capillary loops of the hypothalamo-hypophysial portal system. The anatomical data of the present study regarding the distribution of B-ir in the chick hypothalamus suggest that beacon may play a key role in the regulation of the neuroendocrine system by acting as a neuromodulator and/or neurotransmitter.     

Bovine herpesvirus 4-associated postpartum metritis in a Spanish dairy herd

In more than 10 Spanish dairy cows, a bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV4) associated postpartum metritis was confirmed by virus isolation, BHV4-glycoprotein B (gB) PCR and/or serology. In this study, 12 cows with, and, at the time of sampling, 3 cows without clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis from one large dairy herd in Spain were examined for bacterial and viral infections. Blood, placenta/caruncles and uterine contents were collected between day 1 and day 20 post-calving, and examined for the presence of bacteria and for viruses by virus isolation, BHV4 DNA by BHV4-gB PCR and/or BHV4 antibody titres. Bovine herpesvirus 4 was detected in 83% of the cases with clinical signs of acute postpartum metritis by virus isolation and/or BHV4-gB PCR. An increase of BHV4 antibodies was detected in all examined postpartum metritis cows and in the 3 cows without clinical metritis. Two of these 3 cows developed severe metritis a few dayss after collecting the first blood sample. A concurrent infections of BHV4 and bacteria, mainly Arcanobacterium pyogenes and Streptococcus sp., were detected in 73% of the examined uterine contents collected from postpartum metritis affected cows. This case-report study showed a clear association between BHV4 infections and acute postpartum metritis in dairy cows. In addition, the BHV4-associated postpartum metritis appeared to be an emerging syndrome in this Spanish herd.     

Endoscopic examination of snakes by access through an air sac

Sixteen boa constrictors (Boa constrictor), three royal pythons (Python regius) and 15 Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) were examined endoscopically by access through the air sac. The snakes were immobilised in a ventral position using a half-open anaesthetic system with assisted ventilation and a mixture of isoflurane and oxygen. The rigid endoscope was introduced percutaneously and the internal structure of the lungs and the air sac, and the shape, size and external surface of the liver were visible in the cranial direction. In the smaller snakes the bifurcation and caudal part of the trachea could be viewed, provided the endoscope was positioned in a retrograde orientation. The caudal orientation of the endoscope made it possible to view the gall bladder and the size, shape and surface of the spleen. In some cases, the pancreas and the surface of the stomach and colon could be monitored. Endoscopy through the air sac also made it possible to check the major veins in the coelom. The snakes were monitored for at least 30 days after the intervention and no changes in their respiratory function or general health were observed.     

A quantitative measurement of the effect of avian influenza virus on the ability of turkeys to eliminate Pasteurella multocida from the respiratory tract

The effect of avian influenza virus (AIV) infection on the ability of turkeys to eliminate Pasteurella multocida from the respiratory tract was evaluated. Four-week-old turkeys were experimentally infected with an apathogenic AIV subtype (H5N2) by the oculonasal route and subsequently superinfected with P multocida (Urbach strain) by the intranasal route three days after infection with AIV. Quantitative clearance of P multocida from the trachea and lung was determined using a pour plate technique on samples collected at intervals after infection. Samples from turkeys which had been infected with AIV were found to yield more P multocida than those from turkeys which had not been infected with AIV. The numbers of P multocida increased in infected birds to a greater extent than in birds which had not been infected with the virus. The present study suggests that AIV infection may contribute to the increased numbers and a decreased clearance of P multocida in turkeys.     

Efficacy of the immunoblot assay for cysticercosis in pigs and modulated expression of distinct IgM/IgG activities to Taenia solium antigens in experimental infections

A recently invented immunoblot assay for human cysticercosis was evaluated for efficacy in pigs. The test population consists of 45 pigs with parasitologically confirmed cysticercosis, 47 with heterologous infections, 45 SPF or concrete raised control animals. With this group of 137 animals the test performance was 100% sensitive and 100% specific. The antigen-specific responses of immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and IgM in four pigs infected with Taenia solium eggs derived from a human were quantified by immunoblot. Antigen-specific activities were observed as early as 1 week postinfection. The first antigen-specific isotypic response was IgM antibodies directed against a glycoprotein at 97 KD (GP97). This activity generally disappeared between the sixth and ninth week postinfection. Between Weeks 5 and 8, IgG activity rose as IgM activity fell. The IgG activity, however, was directed mostly towards GP50 and GP42 antigens. If the same response occurs in people with cysticercosis, identifying specific isotype activity may help to distinguish new infection from old.