Neosporosis in a young dog presenting with dermatitis and neuromuscular signs

A 16-week-old, male boxer dog developed multifocal nodular dermatitis followed by rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease. Protozoal tachyzoites were demonstrated by aspiration and biopsy of dermal lesions. Necropsy and histology revealed necrotising inflammation associated with intralesional protozoal organisms in various organs including the brain, heart, skeletal muscle and skin. Serology suggested active infection with Neospora caninum. Immunohistochemistry provided a definitive diagnosis. Dermatitis is a finding rarely associated with juvenile neosporosis. The possible role of immunosuppression is discussed.     

Oxidative and nitrosative responses of the chicken macrophage cell line MQ-NCSU to experimental Salmonella infection

Phagocytes limit replication or kill ingested organisms by producing toxic reactive oxygen and nitrogen species via NADPH oxidase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The present experiments were to investigate the production and the possible roles of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO) in the MQ-NCSU chicken macrophage cell line infected with Salmonella in vitro. After infection, intracellular Salmonella viable counts remained constant until 24 h post infection (PI) and started to decline from 48 h PI. Infection of cells with S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis and S. Gallinarum, as well as exposure to S. Enteritidis LPS induced low, but significant concentrations of superoxide 1 to 2 h PI, as determined by reduction of ferricytochrome c. There was no difference in superoxide production in infected cells and control cells after 4 h. Increased H2O2 was observed from cells infected with all the different Salmonella species between 2 and 3 h of infection. Nitrite was always greater in infected cells compared to uninfected cells at all times. However, Salmonella was not completely eliminated from the cells though these cells are capable of eliciting a noticeable oxidative burst response and great nitrosative responses, indicating that a strong oxidative burst (and other mechanism/s) is essential for the elimination of intracellular Salmonella.     

Molecular discrimination of Campylobacter coli serogroup 20 biotype I (Lior) strains.

Plasmid, protein and restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) profiles and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis were used to effect a molecular discrimination of twenty-seven Campylobacter coli serogroup 20, biotype 1 (Lior) strains. These strains were not outbreak-associated but were isolated from a number of different countries and different animal and environmental sources. Each of the techniques was able to discriminate, to various degrees, between the serogroup 20, biotype 1 strains. The choice of a particular technique depends to a large extent on the level of discrimination desired, the previous experiences of the investigator and on the laboratory facilities at hand. REA profiles demonstrated the greatest degree of discrimination between these strains. Plasmid and protein profiles could discriminate reasonably well. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (allozyme typing) and protein profiles may prove effective in subgrouping serogroup 20, biotype 1 strains.     

Water intake of weaned piglets from three to seven weeks old

One hundred and two large white cross landrace piglets weaned at 21 (+/- 1) days old were randomly allocated to one of two commercial early weaning diets for a four week growth trial. The piglets were housed in groups of between six and 10. After initial moderate restriction the piglets were fed ad libitum. Food intakes and weight gains were recorded weekly. Water consumption of individual pens of piglets was recorded daily. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on mean daily feed intake, daily liveweight gain or food conversion ratio. The relationship between water and food intake, piglet weight and daily gain was examined using regression and multiple regression analyses. Water intake was related to all these parameters, with daily feed intake being the best single predictor of water intake. The relationship was described by the equation: water intake (litres/day) = 0.149 + 3.053 feed intake (kg/day).     

Toxicity of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) to adult females of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) is a natural component of soil flora world-wide and is a causal agent of the green muscardine diseases of insects. The use of this pathogen as a potential biocontrol agent against adult females of the blowfly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) was considered. The blowfly L sericata is an economically important agent of cutaneous myiasis of sheep, particularly in northern Europe. Exposure of flies to suspensions of fungal spores by immersion, topical application or tarsal contact with treated surfaces all resulted in high levels of fatal infection. Spores suspended in silicone oil resulted in higher levels of infection (50-70%) than those formulated in a 0.3 glitre(-1) solution of the detergent Tween 80 (10-20%). Spore concentration had a significant effect on levels of infection of flies, with the highest levels of mortality (64%) resulting from a suspension of 1 x 10(7) conidia ml(-1). The duration of tarsal contact had a significant effect on levels of infection. Mean infection levels of 30% were observed following exposure of free-flying adults to a single spore-treated, 5 x 15 cm2 cloth surface suspended from the roof of a cage (30 cm cube). The implications of the results for the potential use of M anisopliae in the biocontrol of blowflies are discussed.     

Morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelium of Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) using scanning electron microscopy

The objective of this study was to examine the endothelial surface morphology and to perform morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelial cells of Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) using scanning electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis with regard to polygonality, mean cell area, cell density and coefficient of variation of mean cell area was performed. Cell areas were measured using image analysis software. The normal corneal endothelium of Yacare caiman consisted of polygonal cells of uniform size and shape with interdigitations of the cell borders. Microvilli appeared as protrusions on the cellular surface. The average cell area was 270 +/- 24 microm(2) and the endothelial cell density was 3704 +/- 324 cells/mm(2). The coefficient of variation of cell area was 0.22. This study demonstrates that the Yacare caiman corneal endothelium is similar to those described in other vertebrates.     

Time-specific intraocular pressure curves in Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with laser-induced ocular hypertension

Objective To detect and categorize time‐specific variations in daytime intraocular pressure (IOP) found in Rhesus monkeys with laser‐induced ocular hypertension. Procedures Ten male monkeys with argon laser‐induced ocular hypertension in one eye were anesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride, and the IOP measured in both eyes at 7 a.m., 7.30 a.m., and then hourly until 1 p.m. with a Tonopen? XL applanation tonometer. Intraocular pressure time profiles for both eyes in each animal were developed. The means ± SD of the IOPs for both eyes were calculated for the whole 6‐h study period, and the values compared statistically. The difference between the lasered eye mean IOP standard deviation and the normal eye mean IOP standard deviation for each animal during the 6‐h follow‐up was also calculated and compared. Results Mean IOP (± SD) in the glaucoma and normal eyes for the 10 animals during the 6‐h study was 32.6 ± 2.5 and 14.9 ± 2.5 mmHg, respectively. The IOP was significantly higher in the experimental eye than in the normal eye (P = 0.0008). The mean IOP in the lasered eye did not significantly change during the study period, whereas a slight but significant increase in IOP of the normal eye over the study period was recorded (P = 0.003). The variance in IOP in the hypertensive eyes was considerably greater than that in the untreated control eyes. From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. the IOP declined in five eyes and increased in the other five eyes with laser‐induced ocular hypertension. Conclusions The time‐specific IOP variation pattern in the daytime in the laser treated eyes is significantly greater than the variation in the normotensive eyes. This shows that in order to detect statistical differences between IOP variations induced by an IOP‐reducing drug, and the exaggerated spontaneous IOP variations present in the laser‐induced hypertensive eye, sufficient animals should be included in any study. Understanding the time‐specific IOP variation present in a group of monkeys with laser‐induced ocular hypertension is essential prior to using the model for the evaluation of IOP‐reducing drugs.     

Evaluation of platelet aggregation using a point-of-care instrument in retired racing Greyhounds

Veterinarians involved in Greyhound rescue have anecdotally observed that 10-15% of Greyhounds bleed profusely after simple surgical procedures. In most patients, platelet counts and hemostasis profiles are normal; therefore, it is possible that these dogs have platelet dysfunction. The PFA-100 is a novel point-of-care platelet function analyzer that has recently been evaluated as a rapid method to assess platelet function in dogs. The objectives of this study were to characterize platelet function in a group of healthy Greyhounds by means of the PFA-100. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein from 30 healthy Greyhounds. CBC, biochemical profile, PFA-100 assay with collagen/epinephrine (COL-EPI) and collagen/ adenosindiphosphate (COL-ADP), plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration (vWF:Ag), and vWF collagen-binding assay (vWF:CBA) were performed. PFA-100 closure times (CTs) with COL/ADP ranged from 63 to 92 seconds (mean +/- SD, 74.7 +/- 7.9 seconds) and with COL/EPI from 87 to 238 seconds (138 +/- 41 seconds); vWF: Ag ranged from 22 to 120% (87.52 +/- 25.5%) and vWF: CBA ranged from 36 to 102% (77.4 +/- 17.3%); and platelet counts ranged from 147 to 265 x 10(9)/L (194.6 +/- 31.64 x 10(9)/L). Greyhound CTs were significantly shorter than CTs in a mixed population of 50 healthy non-Greyhound dogs, in which the COL/ADP CTs ranged from 61 to 172 seconds (mean +/- SD, 87 +/- 21.6 seconds), and the COL/ EPI CTs ranged from 81 to 300 seconds (mean +/- SD, 183 +/- 67.6 seconds; P = 0.005 for COL/ADP CT; P = 0.001 for COL/ EPI CT). Also, platelet counts were significantly lower (P = 0.001) and packed cell volume was significantly higher (P = 0.001) in the Greyhound than in the non-Greyhound group. The PFA-100 is a reproducible method that can be used in the clinical setting to assess platelet function in Greyhounds; however, normal CTs in healthy Greyhounds are shorter than in other breeds. The results obtained in this study will be used to screen for abnormal platelet function in Greyhounds with postoperative bleeding.     

Fell Pony syndrome in a pony in North America

A 5-week-old Fell Pony colt was examined for fever, lethargy, and anemia. The colt had been lethargic for 1 week before examination, had continued to nurse, had a temperature of 104°F (40°C), and was treated with ceftiofur (5 mg/kg IM q12h). Approximately 36 hours before examination, the colt developed watery diarrhea. Blood work performed by the referring veterinarian on the day of admission revealed a PCV of 10%.