An outbreak of Newcastle disease in free-living pheasants (Phasianus colchicus).

The epidemiology of an outbreak of Newcastle disease in a population of approximately 12,000 free-living pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) on the island of Faen? in Denmark in 1996 is described. The mortality during the epizootic was 56%. The spread of the disease between 7 groups of pheasants could be demonstrated over an observation period of 3 weeks. A total of 70 avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1) isolates was made from the flock. The intra cerebral pathogenicity indices of the 4 isolates tested were in the range 1.78-1.88. By means of immunoperoxidase monolayer assay with murine monoclonal antibodies and sequence analysis of an RT-PCR amplified segment of the F0 viral protein it was found, that the virus belonged to the highly virulent C1 antigenic group and that the amino acid sequence at the F0 cleavage site corresponded with the sequences of virulent APMV-1 strains. Based on the epidemiological circumstances it is believed that the virus was transmitted to the pheasants by feral birds.     

Expression of recombinant feline serum amyloid A (SAA) protein.

Feline serum amyloid A (SAA) cDNA clone was isolated from a hepatic mRNA of a mixed-breed cat. The feline SAA cDNA clone contains 333 nucleotides and deduced amino acid sequence shows 87.4%, 73.9%, and 65.8% homology with dog, human and mouse SAA respectively. Relative to the human and mouse SAA proteins, an additional peptide of eight amino acids is specified in the feline cDNA clone. Recombinant feline SAA (rfSAA) was expressed at high levels using pGEX bacterial expression system. Cleavage from the fusion moiety, and purification using glutathione-sepharose yielded pure soluble form of rfSAA. Antibodies generated against rfSAA were specific for feline SAA and showed no cross-reactivity with human SAA. Furthermore, antibodies against human SAA did not react with feline SAA. These results indicate that antigenicity of feline SAA is totally different from human SAA.     

Lymphocyte beta -adrenoceptor downregulation in great danes with occult dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and with DCM and heart failure.

The importance of the adrenergic nervous system in supporting the failing heart has long been known. The adrenergic drive on cardiac structure and function has however some adverse effects, which include myocardial beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) downregulation and decreased beta-adrenergic responsiveness to cathecolamines. In dog lymphocytes, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR populations are almost equally represented (with a slight prevalence of beta(2)) and a significant correlation between cardiac and lymphocytic adrenoceptors has been found. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible differences between the concentration of lymphocytic beta-AR in healthy dogs, dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and dogs with occult DCM. Three groups of great danes were considered: a control group (n =10), dogs with DCM (n =9) and dogs with occult DCM (n =4). Lymphocytic beta-AR populations were determined in all dogs. A substantial and significant decrease (P<0.05) in total-AR, beta(1)-AR and beta(2)-AR concentrations in the lymphocytes of dogs with symptomatic DCM and occult DCM compared to the control group was found. Although the mean value of the lymphocyte beta(1)-AR number in the asymptomatic group was double compared to the DCM group, this difference was not statistically significant. We conclude that in dogs beta-AR downregulation occurs early in the course of dilated cardiomyopathy. This finding may suggest the value of early use of a beta-blocker in the therapeutic regimen. Moreover, the continuous monitoring of lymphocytic beta-AR may represent a useful tool for the development of a more effective individual therapy.     

Coxsackievirus B4 myocarditis in an orangutan.

A 37-year-old female orangutan died at the zoological garden. Autopsy examination demonstrated severe coxsackievirus B4 myocarditis immunohistochemically as a cause of the death. Apoptosis of the cardiac muscle cells was observed using the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick endo labeling method and was considered to play a role in the myocarditis. Congestion of the liver and both lungs due to cardiac failure was also observed. Coxsackievirus infection is found frequently in the Okinawan human population. The present orangutan's infection might have come from visitors who were allowed to go near the orangutan. Malignant tumors, severe suppurative infections, and intestinal parasite infections were not observed. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was detected in lymph nodes, but there was no Burkitt's lymphoma.     

Isolation of group eugonic fermenter-4 bacteria from a cat with multifocal suppurative pneumonia

A pure growth of Group Eugonic Fermenter-4 bacteria (gram-negative) was isolated from the lungs of an 11-year-old male domestic cat that had been ill for 2 days before death. Clinical signs included anorexia, severe dyspnea, and salivation. The lungs contained several firm, slightly raised, yellowish-gray, spherical nodules of various sizes. Purulent exudate was found in the pericardial sac and left pleural cavity. Histologic evaluation revealed multifocal suppurative pneumonia.     

Effects of marginal selenium deficiency and winter protein supplementation on growth, reproduction and selenium status of beef cattle

Seventy-two Hereford X Simmental cows, averaging 498 kg in body weight and 5.2 yr of age, were used in a 2-yr study to ascertain if selenium (Se)-vitamin E (E) injections and winter protein supplementation would affect growth, reproduction and health of beef cattle maintained year-round on feedstuffs marginally deficient in Se (.03 to .05 mg/kg). Cows received either no injection or a mixture of 30 mg Se (as sodium selenite) and 408 IU E injected subcutaneously beginning 3 to 4 mo prepartum and at 60-d intervals throughout the 2-yr period. Calves born to Se-E treated cows were injected with 5.5 mg Se and 75 IU E/100 kg body weight at 60-d intervals beginning at 1 mo of age. Calves were born between December 30 and February 20 and cows were bred between March 20 and May 20. Cattle grazed pasture (.05 mg Se/kg) that consisted of orchardgrass, bluegrass and white clover during the fall, spring and summer. During winter (December 15 to May 2), cattle were fed corn silage (.03 mg Se/kg) supplemented with either: no protein supplement (control), soybean meal or a urea-corn mixture. Cows and calves receiving Se-E had higher (P less than .01) whole blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and plasma Se concentrations than controls. Selenium-E injections reduced (P less than .05) calf death losses from 15.3% to 4.2% and slightly increased (P less than .10) adjusted calf weaning weights. Hemoglobin concentrations were higher (P less than .05) in Se-E-injected supplemented calves at 1 mo of age but not at 5 or 7 mo of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Efficacy of ivermectin against Dirofilaria immitis larvae in dogs 30 and 45 days after induced infection

Forty-two Beagles, 14 to 15 weeks of age, were injected subcutaneously with 50 infective larvae of Dirofilaria immitis and were allotted by weight, within sex, to 6 treatment groups. Group 1 served as nonmedicated vehicle-treated controls; groups 2 through 5 were given an oral tablet form of ivermectin at dosages of 0.3 micrograms/kg, 1.0 micrograms/kg, 2.0 micrograms/kg, and 3.3 micrograms/kg at 30 days after inoculation; group 6 was given the 2.0 micrograms/kg dosage at 45 days after inoculation. Dogs were euthanatized and necropsied 154 days after treatment (day 139 for dogs in group 6) and examined for heartworms. On the numerical bases of helminths recovered in the groups, the efficacies for preventing heartworm maturation were 0% (group 2), 53.2% (group 3), 97.2% (group 4), 98.1% (group 5), and 63.8% (group 6). Drug-related adverse reactions were not detected.