Genetic background of CTX‐M‐15‐producing Enterobacter hormaechei ST114 and Citrobacter freundii ST265 co‐infecting a free‐living green turtle (Chelonia mydas)

CTX‐M‐type extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing Enterobacteriaceae have become identified in marine ecosystem constituting a serious ecological issue. In this respect, although contamination of coastal waters and seafood, and even colonization of seabirds and fishes have been increasingly reported, molecular data are lacking to elucidate the clinical impact of ESBL producers in infected marine animals. In this study, using a genomic approach, we have analysed the genetic background of CTX‐M‐15‐producing Enterobacter hormaechei (belonging to the international human clone ST114) and Citrobacter freundii (ST265) co‐infecting a free‐living green turtle (Chelonia mydas) suffering from septic arthritis, which progressed to generalized coelomitis and death. Wide resistome of these pathogens contributed to treatment failure and death of the animal.     

Evaluation of Nociception,Sedation, and Cardiorespiratory Effects of a Constant Rate Infusion of Xylazine Alone or in Combination with Lidocaine in Horses

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of xylazine or xylazine in combination with lidocaine on nociception, sedation, and physiologic values in horses. Six horses were given intravenous (IV) administration of a loading dose (LD) of 0.55 mg/kg of xylazine followed by a CRI of 1.1 mg/kg/hr. The horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments, on different occasions, administered 10 minutes after initiation of the xylazine CRI, as follows: control, physiologic saline; lidocaine low CRI (LLCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.025 mg/kg/min); and lidocaine high CRI (LHCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.05 mg/kg/min). A blinded observer assessed objective and subjective data for 50 minutes during the CRIs. In all treatments, heart and respiratory rates decreased, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration increased, and moderate to intense sedation was observed, but no significant treatment effect was detected in these variables. Ataxia was significantly higher in LHCRI than in the control treatment at 20 minutes of infusion. Compared with baseline values, nociceptive threshold increased to as much as 79% in the control, 190% in LLCRI, and 158% in LHCRI. Nociceptive threshold was significantly higher in LLCRI (at 10 and 50 minutes) and in LHCRI (at 30 minutes) than in the control treatment. The combination of CRIs of lidocaine with xylazine produced greater increases in nociceptive threshold compared with xylazine alone. The effects of xylazine on sedation and cardiorespiratory variables were not enhanced by the coadministration of lidocaine. The potential to increase ataxia may contraindicate the clinical use of LHCRI, in combination with xylazine, in standing horses.     

Measurement of corneal sensitivity in 20 ophthalmologically normal alpacas

Objective To determine corneal sensitivity in 20 healthy adult alpacas (40 eyes) in order to establish reference values. Design Prospective study. Animals Twenty healthy, adult alpacas. Procedures Corneal sensitivity was determined by the corneal touch threshold (CTT) using a Cochet‐Bonnet esthesiometer. Five different regions of the cornea were evaluated (nasal, ventral, lateral, dorsal, and central). Results Corneal touch threshold values (in mm filament length) obtained from five corneal regions demonstrated varying corneal sensitivities. The central region (34.5 ± 7.1 mm) was the most sensitive, followed by the ventral (29.5 ± 7.2 mm), medial (29.3 ± 7.3 mm), dorsal (25.6 ± 6.3 mm), and lateral (21.8 ± 5.7 mm) regions. All pairwise comparisons of regional differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05), except for the comparison between the ventral and medial regions (P = 0.88). Evaluation of the CCT while controlling for age (2–5 years vs. 6–10 years) demonstrated an increased CTT with an increasing age for the central, ventral, medial and lateral regions. A decrease in the CTT of the dorsal region was noted with increasing age. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Corneal touch threshold values in 40 eyes of 20 healthy adult alpacas were determined using a Cochet‐Bonnet esthesiometer. This study demonstrated the central corneal region to be most sensitive. Values obtained may serve as reference values in subsequent studies.     

Long-term effect of toltrazuril on growth performances of dairy heifers and beef calves exposed to natural Eimeria zuernii and Eimeria bovis infections

The long-term effects of a toltrazuril treatment against natural Eimeria bovis and/or Eimeria zuernii infections were investigated in comparison with diclazuril and untreated controls on two dairy (Italian Friesian breed) and two beef (Chianina breed) farms. At each trial site, 30 calves were allocated into three groups of 10 calves each: T (treated with toltrazuril), D (treated with diclazuril) and C (left untreated). For 40 weeks post-treatment, the calves were weighed and examined clinically and parasitologically. The oocyst counts as well as the number of scour days were significantly lower in the T group than in the D and C groups. Final bodyweights and body condition scores of the T group exceeded those of groups C and D. The results confirmed that toltrazuril was highly efficacious, safe and provided productive benefits in dairy and beef calves.     

Metastatic pericardial tumors in a dog with equivocal pericardial cytological findings

A metastatic tumor associated with pericardial effusion was diagnosed in a 6-year-old, female, mixed-breed dog. Echocardiography identified multiple echogenic masses adherent to both visceral and parietal pericardium, while results of pericardial fluid cytology were non-diagnostic. The distribution pattern of the masses is remarkable in that they protruded from both pericardial surfaces, rather than one, and demonstrated an oscillatory motion during the cardiac cycle. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of multiple metastatic tumors of the pericardium, with the primary tumor being an anaplastic gastric adenocarcinoma.     

Occurrence of fatal canine Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in Italy

A total of 469 fecal samples were collected from American minks (Mustela vison) on a farm in Hebei Province in China and examined for Cryptosporidium by Sheather's sugar flotation technique and 8 Cryptosporidim isolates were obtained. The partial 18S rRNA, 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) and actin genes of six isolates were sequenced. Sequence data were analyzed together with known Cryptosporidium spp. and genotypes. Results of this multi-locus genetic characterization indicated that the six Cryptosporidium isolates in this study shared the same sequences of the genes studied and were different from known Cryptosporidium species and genotypes. The closest relative was Cryptosporidium ferret genotype with 7, 22, 2 and 2 nucleotide differences in the 18S rRNA, HSP70, COWP and actin genes, respectively. The homology to ferret genotype at the 18S rRNA locus was 99.1%, which is comparable to that between C. parvum and C. hominis (99.2%), or between C. muris and C. andersoni (99.4%). Therefore, the Cryptosporidium in minks in this study is considered a new genotype, the Cryptosporidium mink genotype.     

A PCR technique for the detection of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in the blood suitable for the screening of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in field conditions

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a naturally occurring contagious lung neoplasia caused by jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). Although no specific circulating antibodies against the virus can be detected in infected sheep, JSRV proviral DNA sequences can be found in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) in clinically affected and in a proportion of in contact animals. In this study, existing hemi-nested PCR procedure is compared with a new one-step PCR technique that was developed to minimise potential DNA contamination and reduce sample and reagent handling. Different blood preparations were assessed and the best results were achieved on DNA prepared from buffy coat. The sensitivity of this PCR was lower in JSRV infected sheep without lesions of OPA than in clinically affected sheep, which indicate that this PCR may not be not fully appropriate for screening of individual sheep, but rather to provide results at flock level. This PCR is the only currently available blood test for detection of JSRV infected sheep and may be useful in epidemiological studies and in control programmes of OPA.