Follicular Dysplasia of the Portuguese Water Dog

Résumé— Une étude clinique et histologique a été conduite chez 27 chiens d'eau portugais présentant des dépilations cycliques, focales et non inflammatoires. Les observations histologiques ont été comparées aux biopsies réalisées sur 6 adultes normaux et 25 chiots normaux de la même race, sans histoire familiale de dépilations. La chute du poil chez les chiens alopéciques est dûe à une dysplacie folliculaire avec mélanisation anormale des unités pilo-sébacées. Les observations histopathologiques particulières consistent en une apoptose proéminente des kératinocytes des gaines épithéliales internes et externes, et une dissolution de la matrice pilaire des follicules anagènes. L'observation d'une tendance familiale avec apparition précoce suggère un mécanisme héréditaire pour cette dysplasie. [Miller, W.H., Jr., Scott, D.W. Follicular dysplasia of the Portuguese Water Dog (Displasie folliculaire du chien d'eau portugais). Resumen— Se llevó a cabo un estudio en 27 Perros de Agua Portugués con pérdida de pelo ciclica, no-inflamatoria y regionalizada. Los hallazgos histológicos se compararon con biopsias de 6 adultos normales y de 25 carchorros de la misma raza sin antecedentes familiares de pérdida de pelo. La pérdida de pelo en el grupo de animales alopécicos era debida a una displasia folicular con melanización anormal de los complejos pilosebáceos. Como hallazgos histológicos únicos cabe destacar la presencia de un notable número de queratinocitos apoptóticos en la vaina folicular interna y externa asi como la disolución de la matriz del pelo en los foliculos en anagen. Se detectó una tendencia familiar la aparición de esta displasia a temprana edad, lo que sugiere una base herediteria. [Miller, W.H., Jr., Scott, D.W. Follicular dysplasia of the Portuguese Water Dog (Displasia folicular en el Perro de Aguas Portugués). Abstract— A clinical and histologic study was conducted on 27 Portuguese water dogs with non-inflammatory, regionalized, cyclic hair loss. Histologic findings were compared with biopsies from six normal adult and 25 normal puppy Portuguese water dogs with no known relatives with hair loss. The hair loss in the alopecic dogs was due to a follicular dysplasia with abnormal melanization of the pilosebaceous units. Unique histopathologic findings included prominent apoptosis of keratinocytes in the inner and outer root sheath, and dissolution of the hair matrix of anagen hair follicles. A familial tendency with an early age at onset was noted, suggesting an inherited basis for the dysplasia.     

Seroprevalence of equine herpesvirus 1 in Thoroughbred foals before and after weaning

Objective To investigate the seroprevalence of equine herpesvirus 1 in foals around weaning and after weaning on two large Thoroughbred farms using a type-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine exposure to infection.
Design A longitudinal population study in groups of Thoroughbred weanling foals.
Study population Two hundred weanling Thoroughbred foals from a population of about 380 foals were enrolled on two adjacent stud farms in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. Foals on both farms were weaned from February to May 1995 into randomly selected groups of 10 to 15 foals. Farms were selected because of their willingness to cooperate in the survey and because their detailed records of foals and their movements. They were representative of well-managed large Thoroughbred stud farms in New South Wales. Both studs had upper respiratory tract disease among weanling foals around weaning each year although the sero-prevalence of viral respiratory disease on either farm was not known before the study.
Procedure Serum was collected from foals within each group at fortnightly intervals from 9th February until 1st June 1995, and at a single follow-up period in August 1995. Each sample was tested in triplicate using an antibody-detection ELISA which is type-specific for EHV-1 and EHV-4 antibodies.
Results and conclusions There was serological evidence of EHV-1 infection both before and after weaning. The prevalence of EHV-1 antibody in the sample population increased during the study and individual cases of EHV-1 infection were identified. The increase was caused both by the seroconversion of foals within the groups and by the recruitment into the study of foals with pre-existing EHV-1 antibody. Evidence of EHV-1 infection in Thoroughbred foals after weaning has not been reported previously in Australia and this has implications for vaccination regimens.     

Morphology of Reproductive Organs,Semen Quality and Sexual Behaviour of the Male Rabbit Exposed to a Soy‐containing Diet and Soy‐derived Isoflavones during Gestation and Lactation

Placental and breastfeeding transfer of soy isoflavones are potential routes for animal and human exposure to phytoestrogens, and reproductive dysfunctions have been linked to early exposure to these compounds. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of perinatal (intrauterine and lactational) exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy‐derived isoflavones on the reproductive parameters of male rabbits. For this purpose, 12 female rabbits were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet (control diet); (2) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet supplemented with 10 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; (3) a soy‐ and alfalfa‐free diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg body wt/day of soy isoflavones; and (4) a diet containing 18% of soy meal, throughout gestation and lactation. Weight and morphology of the reproductive organs of some of the male offspring were evaluated at weaning (between days 29 and 31). The remaining males were placed on the control diet from weaning to adulthood (gestational and lactational exposure only). Sexual behaviour, semen quality and reproductive organs’ morphology were evaluated after puberty. There were no significant differences in litter size and gestation duration between control and treatment groups. Perinatal exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy isoflavones did not alter testis, epididymides, proprostate and prostate weight and gross morphology. After puberty, sexual behaviour and semen parameters did not differ significantly from the control group. These results indicate that intrauterine and lactational exposure to soy‐containing diet and soy‐derived isoflavones may not adversely affect reproductive development and function of male rabbits.     

Auricular chondrosis in a horse

A 4-year-old crossbred, Welsh Mountain Pony gelding was presented with multiple, thick, round, raised, 3 to 8 mm diameter nodular lesions on the medial aspects of both ears. The nodules did not involve the epidermis and were observed to develop over several months. Punch biopsies were taken and histopathological examination returned a diagnosis of auricular chondrosis. Neither auricular chondrosis nor auricular chondritis has been reported in horses, although it has been recorded in cats, dogs, laboratory animals and humans.     

Poult malabsorption syndrome. I. Malabsorption in poult enteritis.

One-day-old poults were placed on littler on which poults had previously developed diarrhea, increased mortality, and stunting. Small intestines, pancreas, and liver were evaluated histologically. Morphometric evaluations were conducted to determine villous length and crypt depth. Poults were evaluated for malabsorption utilizing D-xylose and lipid absorption tests. Compared with controls, the gastrointestinal tract of affected birds was grossly distended, was fluid-filled, and had thin, flaccid walls on days 5 and 8. Ceca were distended with brown watery fluid and gas on days 5, 8, and 12. No histologic lesions were present in the liver, pancreas, or pancreatic ducts, and only mild inflammatory changes were present in the small intestine. Villous atrophy and crypt hypertrophy were present in the small intestine on days 5, 8, 12, 16, and 21. Morphometry revealed significant decreases in villous lengths and increases in crypt depth throughout the trial. D-Xylose and lipid absorption were significantly decreased on days 8 and 11. Intestinal epithelial damage by infectious agents with subsequent villous atrophy is postulated to have produced malabsorptive diarrhea.