Polyarteritis in a beagle

A 13-month-old Beagle became anorectic and had fever, stiff gait, and tenderness in the inguinal region. Clinical signs of disease were associated with neutrophilia and a decrease in the albumin-to-globulin ratio. The dog became clinically normal for 5 days after 3 days of treatment with penicillin G and dihydrostreptomycin. Clinical signs of disease recurred, and the dog was euthanatized after failing to respond to administration of a trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination for 9 days. Disseminated arteritis was seen in the testes, epididymides, mesentery, coronary arteries, aorta, and thyroid gland. Lesions were seen in large and medium-sized arteries and varied from acute necrotizing arteries to a chronic lesion with organization and recanalization of thrombi. The clinical signs of disease resembled those of Beagle pain syndrome, described in laboratory Beagles.     

Comparative infectivity for axenic and specific-pathogen-free chickens of O2 Escherichia coli strains with or without virulence factors

Adhesion to epithelial respiratory cells, iron acquisition, and production of K1 polysaccharide capsules have been proposed as potential virulence factors of avian Escherichia coli. These factors were studied by inoculating groups of axenic or specific-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens intratracheally with O2 E. coli strains after previous challenge with a wild strain of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). In all experiments, the association between IBV and an E. coli strain endowed with the three virulence factors previously mentioned resulted in the most severe pathological effects, as measured by mortality, weight gains, lesions, and reisolation of E. coli from internal organs. An E. coli strain devoid of virulence factors was able only to induce mild pathological effects restricted to the respiratory tract when combined with IBV. Both E. coli strains were more invasive in axenic chickens than in SPF chickens. These results confirm the probable involvement of the three factors studied in the pathogenic properties of avian E. coli. This model can be used to assess the role of virulence factors, by comparing pairs of positive and negative isogenic strains.     

Prediction of digestibility and energy concentration of winter pasture forage and herbage of low-input grassland--a comparison of methods.

Regarding the estimation of the energy concentration or digestibility of herb-dominated forage and plant samples from winter pastures, it could be expected that the estimation is only reliable when in vitro methods with rumen fluid as inoculum (= gas production techniques) are used. For the verification of this thesis based on logical reflections, an in vitro-method with rumen fluid added as inoculum, as well as chemical, and enzymatic methods were applied under consideration of existing estimating functions. As a possible reason for the observed divergence of the methods, effects of fungal infections or, respectively, secondary compounds in herbs are discussed. At the present state of knowledge, it is adequate to estimate the energy concentration in vitro by gas tests, as far as fattening types like suckler cows and beef cattle are concerned, maybe in contrast to the forage evaluation for dairy cows.     

Incidence of Salmonellae in Captive and Wild Free‐Living Raptorial Birds in Central Spain

A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free‐living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free‐living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.