Malignant seminoma with metastasis, Sertoli cell tumor, and pheochromocytoma in a spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and malignant seminoma with metastasis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Seminoma with metastasis was diagnosed in a spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Sertoli cell tumor and pheochromocytoma were also diagnosed in the spotted dolphin. The spotted and bottlenose dolphins were adult males that stranded and died on the coasts of northwest Florida and southeast North Carolina, respectively. Neoplasia is infrequently reported in cetaceans. This is the first report of seminoma, Sertoli cell tumor, and pheochromocytoma in a dolphin, the first report of three distinct neoplasms in a dolphin, and one of the few reports of malignant neoplasia in dolphins.     

Stress reactions of cattle undergoing ritual slaughter using two methods of restraint

Studies were made of the behavioural and physiological reactions of cattle undergoing ritual slaughter in the Weinberg holding pen, in which the animal is inverted, and in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) pen, in which the animal is standing. Behaviour was analysed with reference to the duration of the slaughter procedures by recording activities on an ethogram. Blood samples taken at slaughter were analysed for cortisol levels and haematocrit, and intramuscular pH was measured 45 minutes and 24 hours after slaughter. A wide range of activities was displayed in the ritually slaughtered cattle and these were particularly pronounced in the Weinberg pen. The mean time spent in the Weinberg pen was eight times longer than the time spent in the ASPCA pen. The cortisol and haematocrit values of cattle slaughtered in the Weinberg pen were significantly greater than those of cattle slaughtered in the ASPCA pen or cattle slaughtered conventionally. The results indicate that animals in the Weinberg pen experienced more stress than those in the ASPCA pen.     

Relationship between early post-mortem muscle pH and shortening-induced toughness in the Pectoralis major muscle of processed broilers air-chilled at 0 degrees C and -12 degrees C

1. An experiment was conducted to investigate the development of shortening-induced toughness in the Pectoralis major (PM) muscles of commercially processed broilers, air-chilled at 0 degrees C and -12 degrees C, as a function of muscle pH early post-mortem. Electrical stimulation was used immediately after stunning and neck cutting to provide carcases with pH values 15 min post-mortem (pH15 min) ranging between 6.79 and 5.85. 2. The deep PM muscle temperatures of carcases chilled at -12 degrees C were lower (cooler) after primary chilling and at 215 min post-mortem than those chilled at 0 degrees C, although chilling regimen had no major effect on pH values over the 24 h post-mortem period. However, carcases chilled at -12 degrees C had longer sarcomeres, lower cooking losses and lower shear force values than those chilled at 0 degrees C. 3. Correlation analysis of the results for both chilling regimens clearly demonstrated that over the pH15min range 6.79 to 5.85, carcases with the lowest pH15min values had the shortest sarcomeres, the highest cooking losses and the toughest meat. In addition, there was no evidence to support the occurrence of cold shortening within this population. This suggests that an early onset of rigor at higher temperatures in broiler carcases, as well as inducing rigor shortening and toughness, might also induce greater protein denaturation and subsequent loss of water holding capacity as manifested in increased cooking losses. 4. Quadratic regression curves showed that over the pH15min range 6.80 to 6.30, only the fast chilling regimen at -12 degrees C could inhibit rigor shortening and minimise changes in cooking loss and shear force values. However, neither chilling regimen was effective in preventing severe rigor shortening, increased cooking losses and adverse toughness in carcases with pH15min values below 6.30. 5. The benefits of fast chilling carcases with pH15min values above 6.3 can also be quantified in terms of carcases exceeding a 4.00 kg/cm2 toughness threshold. Only 1.9% of these carcases chilled at -12 degrees C exceeded this limit (maximum shear force value of 4.72 kg/cm2) compared to 34.9% of the carcases chilled at 0 degrees C (maximum shear force value of 8.46 kg/cm2), further emphasising the considerable reduction in textural variability and improvement in tenderness gained by fast air-chilling at -12 degrees C.     

Fibrosarcoma of the brood pouch in an aquarium-reared lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus).

An adult, male, captive lined seahorse (Hippocampus erectus) was presented with weight loss, anorexia, and brood pouch distention. Initial treatments included manual expression of the brood pouch followed by saline flushes and enrofloxacin infusions. Radiographs and physical examination identified a nodular swelling in the brood pouch wall. The mass was excised, but the seahorse died. Necropsy and histopathology revealed a malignant mesenchymal tumor with a collagenous stroma, and a brood pouch fibrosarcoma was diagnosed.     

Evidence of Brucella sp. infection in marine mammals stranded along the coast of southern New England.

After recent isolations of Brucella sp. from pinnipeds and cetaceans, a survey was initiated to investigate the prevalence of Brucella sp. infections and serologic evidence of exposure in marine mammals stranded along the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island. One hundred and nineteen serum samples from four species of cetaceans and four species of pinnipeds were collected from 1985 to 2000 and tested for antibodies to Brucella sp. using the brucellosis card test, buffered acidified plate antigen test, and rivanol test. In addition, 20 of these were necropsied between 1998 and 2000, with lymphoid and visceral tissues cultured for Brucella sp. Three of 21 (14%) harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and four of 53 (8%) harp seals (Phoca groenlandica) were seropositive. Brucella sp. was isolated from two of four (50%) harbor seals and three of nine (33%) harp seals. Of the five animals with positive cultures, two were seropositive and three seronegative. Brucella sp. was most frequently cultured from the lung and axillary, inguinal, and prescapular lymph nodes. Tissues from which Brucella sp. was isolated showed no gross or histopathologic changes. These results indicate that marine mammals stranded along the coast of southern New England can be exposed to and infected with Brucella sp.     

Investigation of H7N2 avian influenza outbreaks in two broiler breeder flocks in Pennsylvania, 2001-02

An avian influenza (AI) outbreak occurred in meat-type chickens in central Pennsylvania from December 2001 to January 2002. Two broiler breeder flocks were initially infected almost simultaneously in early December. Avian influenza virus (AIV), H7N2 subtype, was isolated from the two premises in our laboratory. The H7N2 isolates were characterized as a low pathogenic strain at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories based on molecular sequencing of the virus hemagglutinin cleavage site and virus challenge studies in specific-pathogen-free leghorn chickens. However, clinical observations and pathologic findings indicated that this H7N2 virus appeared to be significantly pathogenic in meat-type chickens under field conditions. Follow-up investigation indicated that this H7N2 virus spread rapidly within each flock. Within 7 days of the recognized start of the outbreak, over 90% seroconversion was observed in the birds by the hemagglutination inhibition test. A diagnosis of AI was made within 24 hr of bird submission during this outbreak using a combination of virus detection by a same-day dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and virus isolation in embryonating chicken eggs. Follow-up investigation revealed that heavy virus shedding (90%-100% of birds shedding AIV) occurred between 4 and 7 days after disease onset, and a few birds (15%) continued to shed virus at 13 days post-disease onset, as detected by virus isolation on tracheal and cloacal swabs. AIV was not detected in or on eggs laid by the breeders during the testing phase of the outbreak. The two flocks were depopulated at 14 days after disease onset, and AIV was not detected on the two premises 23 days after depopulation.     

Plateletworks: A screening assay for clopidogrel therapy monitoring in healthy cats

Plateletworks is a screening assay used in human medicine to monitor platelet-inhibiting drugs. As arterial thromboembolism is a common complication in cats suffering from cardiomyopathy, they are often treated with anti-platelet medication. Clopidogrel (Plavix), an anti-platelet aggregation drug, has recently been evaluated in healthy cats. The purpose of this study was to determine if the Plateletworks method can detect a decrease in platelet aggregation in cats receiving clopidogrel. Nine healthy adult cats were used for this study. Platelet aggregation was measured before and after a 3-day clopidogrel treatment (18.75 mg SID). Platelet aggregation after the clopidogrel treatment was significantly lower (P < 0.01). The Plateletworks method appears to be a promising test to monitor clopidogrel therapy in cats.     

Bioluminescent and red-fluorescent lures in a deep-sea siphonophore

Bioluminescence (light production) and fluorescence (re-emission of absorbed radiation as light) are found in an unaccountably diverse array of marine organisms, where their functions are largely unknown. Here we report a deep-sea siphonophore that twitches glowing lures to attract fish. This is rare evidence of bioluminescence used for prey attraction among nonvisual marine organisms. The lures also contain red fluorescent material that shifts the wavelength of emitted light. The existence of a red-luminescent invertebrate suggests that long-wavelength light plays a greater role in marine interactions than previously suspected.