Subcutaneous Botryomycosis Due to Bibersteinia trehalosi in a Texas Longhorn Steer

A 3-year-old Texas Longhorn steer had a long history of progressive swelling of the soft tissues of the jaw and neck. At necropsy, multifocal to coalescing dermal and subcutaneous pyogranulomas were surrounded by fibrous tissue. Microscopically, the pyogranulomas contained aggregates of gram-negative coccobacilli surrounded by Splendore-Hoeppli material and were separated by bands of fibrovascular tissue (botryomycosis). Phylogenetic analysis of multilocus sequence-typing data revealed that the bacteria recovered in pure culture from swabs of submandibular tissue were most closely related to Bibersteinia [Pasteurella] trehalosi. The bacterial colonies were immunohistochemically reactive with a rabbit polyclonal anti-Pasteurella class C acid phosphatase antibody. Botryomycosis is a pyogranulomatous inflammation caused by a variety of nonbranching, nonfilamentous bacteria that elicit the formation of Splendore-Hoeppli material. This case of botryomycosis is unique for its association with Bibersteinia trehalosi.     

A case of nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism in a Siberian tiger cub

A three-month-old female Siberian tiger cub with hindlimb ataxia was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital of Konkuk University. The patient was fed only beef without supplementation of calcium and vitamins after weaning. The tiger was presented with ataxia and back pain on digital palpation. In addition, abnormal gait, reluctance to move, and depressed withdrawal reflex were noted at the neurological examination. The overall osteodystrophic change of the lumbosacral vertebrae was observed on the lateral and ventrodorsal view of radiographic examination. And also PTH level was increased in hormonal assay when compared to that of cat reference range. Based on the results of examinations, nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed. Clinical signs of this patient were improved after administration of vitamin D and calcium. This case demonstrates that nutritional hyperparathyroidism could be occurred in wild animals raised on a meat diet containing imbalanced calcium and phosphate.     

One year's study of dynamic and evolution of types I and II PRRSV in a swine farm

This study was to investigate dynamic and evolution of PRRSV in a seed-stock farm by monitoring PRRSV status from 11 June 2009 to 4 August 2010. For laboratory test, around 18-24 umbilical cords from farrowed sows and 5-95 sera from nursery and grow/finish pigs were submitted around every 2 weeks interval during the study. The submitted samples were tested for PRRSV using IDEXX PRRS 2XR ELISA kit, RT-nested PCR. The PRRSV-positive samples were further sequences based on ORF5 and analyzed using MEGA 3.1 program and Beast 1.5.4 package. The surveyed farm was first infected with type II PRRSV but it was infected newly with type I PRRSV of unknown origin, showing rapid substitution to type I PRRSV as a dominant strain in 2 weeks. The type I PRRSV was first detected from umbilical cord of a farrowed sow in 12 January 2010, and secondly from nursery pigs in 26 January 2010. Although sudden increase of mean S/P ratio was found in grow/finish pigs around 2 months earlier than first type I PRRSV detection, no type I PRRSV viremia was found. Thirty three ORF5 full sequences from 14 type II to 19 type I PRRSVs were obtained chronologically in this farm and the genetic characteristics and evolution rates of those sequences were analyzed. The substitution rates (/site/day) of two types were 4.03×10(-5) (type I), 3.09×10(-5) (type II), respectively, which was more frequent than previous reports. The calculated divergence time of type I PRRSV was consistent with the time when the sudden elevation of serum IgG in grow/finish barn was first observed. This study provided fundamental data for type I PRRSV dynamic in a previously type II PRRSV-infected farm and suggested grow/finisher barn could be a primary site for PRRSV introduction.     

Lysine restriction and realimentation affected growth,blood profiles and expression of genes related to protein and fat metabolism in weaned pigs

To investigate the effects of lysine restriction and subsequent realimentation on growth performance, blood profiles and gene expression of leptin and myostatin, 128 weaned pigs [initial body weight (BW) 6.96 ± 1.07 kg, 26 ± 2 days of age] were randomly allotted to four treatments. The starter diets during the first 2 weeks (P1) contained 100%, 80%, 70% or 60% of recommended lysine levels ( National Research Council, 1998 ). Then, common grower 1 and 2 diets were offered for 2 weeks (P2 and P3) each. During P1, average daily gain (ADG) was linearly reduced (p < 0.05) with the increasing levels of lysine restriction. Growth rate was greater in pigs previously fed lysine‐restricted diets than well‐fed pigs although it did not reach a significant level during realimentation. However, the final BW and overall ADG were the lowest (p < 0.05) and F/G was poor in pigs fed 60% lysine diet. Relative visceral organ weights and composition of skeletal muscle were similar (p > 0.05) among the treatment. Blood triglyceride and glucose levels were increased (p < 0.05) during P1, while blood urine nitrogen, total protein and albumin levels were decreased (p < 0.05) during P2 with the reduction in dietary lysine levels. The abundance of myostatin mRNA in skeletal muscle and leptin mRNA in subcutaneous adipose tissue were lower (p < 0.05) in lysine‐restricted pigs than in pigs fed non‐restricted diets. In conclusion, 80% and 70% lysine restriction of starter diets resulted in inferior growth and compensatory growth effect was noted during realimentation, while 60% lysine restriction had a negative influence on growth performance. Moreover, the changes in myostatin and leptin mRNA abundance caused by nutritional manipulations may be involved in the regulation of protein and fat deposition in young pigs.     

Therapeutic effect of hyaluronic acid on experimental osteoarthrosis of ovine temporomandibular joint.

A symptomatic relief by hyaluronic acid (HA, MW: 3.5 x 10(6)), which is synthesized by Streptococcus spp, was investigated in experimental ovine osteoarthrosis. Bilateral osteoarthrosis (OA) of the temporo-mandibular joints (TMJs) was induced by perforating discs and by scrapping subchondral condylar surface. HA was intra-articularly injected into the left joints of 6 sheep on 7, 10, 14, 17 and 21 days after the operation and physiological saline as the control was injected into the contralateral (right) joints on the same day. Three sheep were killed at I month post-operation (MPO) and the remaining three sheep were killed at 3 MPO. Various responses such as proliferation of fibrous tissue, denudation, erosion, osteophyte formation, subcortical cyst formation and ankylosis were observed radiographically and histopathologically. The treatment of HA ameliorated the degenerative changes and lowered the osteoarthrotic score in the left joints at I MPO (9.96 vs 5.81) and 3 MPO (10.86 vs 5.29) compared to the right joints. These results indicate that a repeated intra-articular injection of HA inhibits the progression of OA in ovine TMJs by inducing the development of articular cartilage and by reducing the proliferation of fibrotic tissue.     

GC/MS analysis of high-performance liquid chromatography fractions from Sophora flavescens and Torilis japonica extracts and their in vitro anti-neosporal effects on Neospora caninum

We analyzed alcoholic extracts of herbs possessing anti-neosporal activity against Neospora (N.) caninum. To identify the chemical components of Sophora (S.) flavescens and Torilis (T.) japonica associated with anti-neosporal activity, specific fractions were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro activity of the fractions against N. caninum was then assessed. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify and quantify specific anti-neosporal molecules in the herbal extracts. Almost all HPLC fractions of S. flavescens and T. japonica had higher levels of anti-neosporal activity compared to the not treated control. Active constituents of the extracts were sophoridane, furosardonin A, and tetraisopropylidene-cyclobutane in S. flavescens; 5,17-β-dihydroxy-de-A-estra-5,7,9,14-tetraene, furanodiene, and 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-(CAS,1) in T. japonica.