Sudden death of two horses associated with pulmonary aspergillosis.

The sudden death of two horses was attributed to the rapid and acute development of pulmonary aspergillosis. One horse was making excellent postoperative progress after a jejunal resection and anastomosis for intestinal adhesions. The other horse was being treated routinely for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Signs of fever and an increased respiratory rate were detected shortly before death in the first horse, but no premonitory clinical signs characteristic of pulmonary infection were detected in the horse being treated for EPM. Both horses developed rapidly debilitating, acute pulmonary mycosis and died unexpectedly.     

Clinical anti-inflammatory efficacy of arofylline, a new selective phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Forty atopic dogs were studied for 28 days after the oral administration of four randomised treatments: (A) arofylline (1 mg/kg) twice daily for four weeks; (B) prednisone (0.5 mg/kg) twice daily for the first week, once a day during the second week and every 48 hours for the remaining two weeks; (C) prednisone following the same protocol but at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg; or (D) arofylline (1 mg/kg) twice daily for four weeks plus prednisone (0.25 mg/kg) following the same protocol as in (B) and (C). The degree of pruritus and skin lesions and the side effects were evaluated and graded from 0 to 3 before and weekly during the treatments. In all cases there was a progressive clinical improvement in the clinical signs, with no statistical differences among the four treatments. However, many of the dogs treated with arofylline vomited and had adverse gastrointestinal signs.     

Canine X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency.

Canine X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) is due to mutations in the common gamma (gamma c) subunit of the IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 receptors. The most striking clinical feature is a failure to thrive or 'stunted' growth. Recurrent or chronic infections begin at the time of decline of maternal antibody, usually between six and eight weeks of age. Affected dogs rarely survive past three to four months of age. The major pathologic feature of canine XSCID is a small, dysplastic thymus. Grossly identifiable lymph nodes, tonsils, and Peyer's patches are absent in XSCID dogs. During the neonatal period, XSCID dogs have few, if any, peripheral T cells and increased number of peripheral B cells. Some XSCID dogs do develop phenotypically mature, nonfunctional T cells with age, however, the absolute number of peripheral T cells remain significantly decreased compared to age-matched normal dogs. An interesting finding is that as soon as T cells begin to appear in XSCID dogs they rapidly switch from a CD45RA+ (naive) phenotype to a CD45RA- (activated or memory phenotype). One of the characteristic findings in XSCID dogs is an absent or markedly depressed blastogenic response of T cells in response to stimulation through the T cell receptor and when the necessary second messengers for cellular proliferation are directly provided that by-pass signals delivered through ligand-receptor interaction. The proliferative defect is due to the inability of T cells to express a functional IL-2 receptor. Canine XSCID B cells do not proliferate following stimulation with T cell-dependent B cell mitogens, however, they proliferate normally in response to T cell-independent B cell mitogens. Canine XSCID B cells are capable of producing IgM but are incapable of class-switching to IgG antibody production following immunization with the T cell-dependent neoantigen, bacteriophage phiX174. The number of thymocytes in the XSCID thymus is approximately 0.3% of the thymocytes present in the thymus of age-matched normal dogs. The proportion of CD4-CD8- thymocytes in XSCID dogs is increased 3.5-fold and the CD4+CD8+ population is decreased 2.3-fold. These findings demonstrate that (1) a functional gamma c is required for normal B and T cell function, (2) early T cell development is highly dependent upon a functional gamma c, and (3) B cell development can occur through a gamma c-independent pathway.     

Analgesic effects of butorphanol and buprenorphine in conscious African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus and Psittacus erithacus timneh)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of butorphanol tartrate and buprenorphine hydrochloride on withdrawal threshold to a noxious stimulus in conscious African grey parrots. ANIMALS: 29 African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus erithacus and Psittacus erithacus timneh). PROCEDURE: Birds were fitted with an electrode on the medial metatarsal region of the right leg, placed into a test box, and allowed to acclimate. An electrical stimulus (range, 0.0 to 1.46 mA) was delivered to each bird's foot through an aluminum perch. A withdrawal response was recorded when the bird lifted its foot from the perch or vigorously flinched its wings. Baseline threshold to a noxious electrical stimulus was determined. Birds then were randomly assigned to receive an i.m. injection of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, butorphanol (1.0 mg/kg of body weight), or buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg), and threshold values were determined again. RESULTS: Butorphanol significantly increased threshold value, but saline solution or buprenorphine did not significantly change threshold values. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Butorphanol had an analgesic effect, significantly increasing the threshold to electrical stimuli in African grey parrots. Buprenorphine at the dosage used did not change the threshold to electrical stimulus. Butorphanol provided an analgesic response in half of the birds tested. Butorphanol would be expected to provide analgesia to African grey parrots in a clinical setting.     

Development of a polyclonal-antibody-based immunohistochemical method for the detection of type 2 porcine circovirus in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.

An immunohistochemical method for the detection of type 2 porcine circovirus (PCV2) in paraffin-embedded tissue was developed. Rabbits were inoculated with purified PCV2 to obtain a polyclonal antiserum. Antiserum was applied to sections of porcine tissue that contained lesions consistent with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome and in which PCV2 genome had been demonstrated by in situ hybridization. In all cases (18/18), the density and distribution of positive cells detected by in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry were identical. The immunohistochemical method is more rapid and less expensive than in situ hybridization and is thus more suitable for routine diagnostic use.     

Application of the polymerase chain reaction to detect fowl adenoviruses.

The possibility of using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of fowl adenoviruses (FAdV) was tested. The optimal reaction parameters were evaluated and defined for purified genomic DNA of type 8 fowl adenovirus (FAdV-8), and then the same conditions were applied for nucleic acid extracted from infected cells. One hundred picograms of purified viral DNA, or 250 FAdV-8-infected cells, were detected by ethidium bromide staining of the PCR products in agarose gels. The sensitivity was increased to 10 pg purified viral DNA, or 25 infected cells, when the PCR products were hybridized with a specific labeled probe. Several field isolates of FAdV and the CELO virus (FAdV serotype 1) could be amplified by the same primers and conditions, but the size of the amplicons was smaller than that for the FAdV-8 PCR product. Other avian viruses and uninfected cell cultures tested negative.     

Nonsurgical periodontal therapy

The primary etiology of periodontal disease is bacterial infection. Bacteria exist as a biofilm (plaque) on the tooth and soft-tissue surfaces of the mouth. Biofilm is extremely resistant to antimicrobial activity. To effectively treat periodontal disease, the bacterial load must be reduced to allow healing of the inflamed tissues. Reduction of the bacterial load can be accomplished by surgical methods, nonsurgical methods, or a combination of the two. This article focuses on the nonsurgical treatment of periodontal disease. A thorough oral examination, which includes visual inspection and the use of a periodontal probe, is needed to determine the best therapy. Supragingival cleaning with power and hand scalers is the first step in the therapy process. The next step, subgingival scaling, is necessary to remove bacteria that are in direct contact with the periodontium. Effective subgingival plaque removal is time intensive and requires motivation, manual dexterity, and meticulous technique. Most veterinarians and veterinary technicians lack the training, instruments, and time to remove subgingival plaque effectively. To improve therapeutic results, adjunctive therapy in the form of oral systemic antibiotics or a locally applied doxycycline-containing polymer may be used. The success of periodontal therapy also is dependent on dental home care that takes place after professional treatment. The veterinarian and staff must be willing to educate and reinforce the dental home care efforts of the pet owner.     

Theileriosis in a Missouri beef herd caused by Theileria buffeli: case report, herd investigation, ultrastructure, phylogenetic analysis, and experimental transmission

A 6-year-old Simmental cow infected with Theileria buffeli had a clinical disease characterized by theilerial parasitemia, macrocytic normochromic anemia with acanthocytosis and spherocytosis, lymphoid hyperplasia (lymphocytosis, edematous lymphadenomegaly), dysproteinemia, evidence of liver disease, and a low serum antibody titer against T. buffeli. The cow was in a herd in which all cattle originated in Missouri; 22/75 (29%) of cattle had a theilerial parasitemia and 26/75 (35%) had titers to T. buffeli of > or =1:160. Classification of the Missouri bovine organism as T. buffeli was based on DNA sequencing and comparison to sequences for T. buffeli and Theileria sp. type A obtained from GenBank. Intraerythrocytic veils and piroplasms were seen during transmission electron microscopy. The organism was successfully transmitted to two splenectomized calves, which developed mild anemias while parasitemic. Blood from the second calf was used as the source of T. buffeli antigen for an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Theilerial isolates from a Missouri white-tailed deer were also sequenced and resembled Theileria sp. types F and G and were not consistent with the bovine organism.     

Influences of diet and vaccination on colonisation of pigs by the intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli

The purpose of this study was to determine whether methods used to control swine dysentery (SD), caused by the intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae, would also be effective in controlling porcine intestinal spirochaetosis (PIS) caused by the related spirochaete Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli. Weaner pigs in Groups I (n=8) and II (n=6) received a standard weaner pig diet based on wheat and lupins, whilst Group III (n=6) received an experimental diet based on cooked white rice and animal protein. Pigs in Group II were vaccinated intramuscularly twice at a 3-week-interval with a formalinised bacterin made from B. pilosicoli porcine strain 95/1000 resuspended in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Eleven days later pigs in all groups were infected orally with 10(10) cells of strain 95/1000 on three successive days. One control pig in Group I developed acute diarrhoea, and at post-mortem had a severe erosive colitis with end-on attachment of spirochaetes to the colonic epithelium. All other pigs developed transient mild diarrhoea and had moderate patchy colitis at post-mortem 3 weeks later. B. pilosicoli was isolated from the faeces of all pigs, except for one fed rice, and was isolated from the mesenteric nodes of three pigs from Group I and from one vaccinated pig in Group II. Consumption of the rice-based diet, but not vaccination, delayed and significantly (p<0.001) reduced the onset of faecal excretion of B. pilosicoli after experimental challenge. Vaccination induced a primary and secondary serological response to B. pilosicoli, as measured using sonicated whole cells of strain 95/1000 as an ELISA plate coating antigen. Antibody titres in the vaccinated pigs then declined, despite intestinal colonisation by B. pilosicoli. Both groups of unvaccinated animals also failed to develop a post-infection increase in circulating antibody titres.