Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. XXXVIII. Ixodid ticks collected from 23 wild carnivore species

Ixodid ticks were collected from 104 wild carnivores belonging to 23 species in various nature reserves and on several farms in all nine provinces of South Africa. Seven feral cats in a nature reserve were also examined. Twenty-four tick species belonging to seven genera were recovered and identified. Amongst these ticks we consider the adults of Haemaphysalis leachi, Haemaphysalis spinulosa, Haemaphysalis zumpti, Ixodes rubicundus, Rhipicentor nuttalli, Rhipicephalus simus and Rhipicephalus turanicus to be true parasites of wild carnivores. Although numerous adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus zambeziensis were collected from some lions these were either sick or old animals. The immature stages of seven species regularly utilized wild carnivores as hosts on an opportunistic basis.     

The distribution of tsetse (Diptera: Glossinidae) and bovine trypanosomosis in the Matutuine District, Maputo Province, Mozambique

A tsetse and bovine trypanosomosis survey was conducted during 1998 and 1999 in the Matutuine District of Maputo Province (Mozambique). A total of 59 Glossina brevipalpis and 17 Glossina austeni were captured throughout the district. Survey results suggest that Glossina brevipalpis is mainly concentrated in dense vegetation along the Maputo River and in the wetlands east of the river. G. austeni, on the other hand, was captured mainly in dense thickets in drier areas. Both tsetse species are suspected to be vectors of bovine trypanosomosis. Bovine trypanosomosis (75,5% Trypanosoma congolense) was diagnosed in 53 animals (13,9%) from seven sampling sites distributed throughout the district. The prevalence of cattle with anti-trypanosomal antibodies was high (29,9%).The incidence of trypanosomal infections in sentinel cattle was also high. The widespread distribution of bovine trypanosomosis and the high prevalence of infection are likely to have a significant impact on cattle production and, hence, the cattle restocking exercise in the district.     

Diagnostic features, confirmation and disease progression in 28 cases of lethal acrodermatitis of bull terriers

Lethal acrodermatitis (LAD) is a genetically determined metabolic disease of bull terriers first described in the USA in the 1980s. In this study, the largest so far reported, 28 bull terriers born in the UK were diagnosed as suffering from LAD, and the clinical findings and the progression of the disease with time are described. The main characteristics of LAD are stunting, splayed digits, eating difficulties, skin disease of the face and feet, and increased susceptibility to microbial infections. In older dogs, paronychia, nail disease and hyperkeratosis of the footpads develops, becoming severe in dogs over six months of age. A diagnosis of LAD can be strongly suspected in any bull terrier showing a combination of the aforementioned signs from an early age. Dermatohistopathological demonstration of marked parakeratotic hyperkeratosis is strongly supportive of the diagnosis of LAD and, in association with the typical clinical findings, is sufficient to confirm a diagnosis. Although many of the clinical signs and the pathology of this condition suggest zinc deficiency, the measurement of blood zinc levels as a diagnostic aid is of limited value.     

Regulation of atrial fibrillation in horses with oral quinidine sulfate. Discussion of the disease picture in a typical case

Atrial fibrillation is a disorder of cardiac rhythmicity, and its importance in the horse depends on the underlying cause and the function of the horse. Before the decision is taken to start treatment, it has first to be ascertained whether treatment is worthwhile and whether the horse is an appropriate candidate for treatment. This article gives a short overview of current opinion on the cause and treatment of atrial fibrillation in the horse. The most used treatment at the moment, oral chinidine sulphate, is discussed. The hemodynamic consequences of atrial fibrillation and the response of a patient to treatment with chinidine sulphate are also discussed.     

Effects of short-term exposure to condensed tannins on adult Trichostrongylus colubriformis

Twelve parasite-naive sheep were used to study the possible direct anthelmintic effect of a condensed tannin extract (quebracho) on the population and fecundity of the intestinal nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The sheep were infected with a single dose of 20,000 L3 of T colubriformis. Twenty-eight days later, six of them were drenched daily for a week with quebracho extract at 8 per cent by weight of their food intake. All lambs were then slaughtered, and their small intestines removed to estimate the worm burdens and the numbers of eggs in utero. Two days after the first drench with tannin extract the faecal egg counts of the treated sheep were approximately 50 per cent of those of the control sheep (P<0.01), but there was no further reduction with continued drenching. In the treated sheep the worm burdens and number of eggs per gram faeces per worm were reduced by 30 per cent compared with the controls (P<0.05), but the sex ratios, the number of eggs in utero and length of the worms were not affected by drenching with tannin.