Histopathologic and immunocytochemical studies of distemper in harbor porpoises

During 1988 thousands of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) died in European seas as a result of morbillivirus infection. Six harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) found stranded on the coast of Northern Ireland in late 1988 were submitted to our laboratory for necropsy. Pneumonia was the main necropsy finding in three of these animals. Microscopic lung lesions characterized by necrosis of bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium and infiltration of alveoli with leukocytes, lymphoid cells, macrophages, and multinucleate syncytia were seen in all six porpoises. Cytoplasmic and nuclear acidophilic inclusions characteristic of morbillivirus infection were common in bronchial and bronchiolar epithelial cells and in alveolar macrophages and syncytia. Brain alterations included degeneration and necrosis of neurons, microglial infiltration, and perivascular cuffing. There were cytoplasmic and nuclear acidophilic inclusions in many neurons. Immunoperoxidase staining of morbillivirus antigen was seen in many tissues including lung, brain, spleen, and urinary bladder. Alterations in our porpoises were similar to those seen in distemper in seals and many species of terrestrial mammals. Systemic viral disease has not previously been documented in Cetacea.     

Norepinephrine in chronic paranoid schizophrenia: above-normal levels in limbic forebrain

In postmortem examination of brains of four patients with chronic paranoid schizophrenia, above-normal norepinephrine levels were measured in the ventral septum, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the nucleus accumbens, and the mammillary bodies. No changes were detected in other limbic forebrain regions, including the hypothalamus and the medial olfactory (preoptic) area. The results point to the possibility of a malfunction of limbic noradrenergic mechanisms in schizophrenia, especially the paranoid variety.     

Physical Properties of Composted Materials Mixed with Sand

? The end product from the Portage, Wisconsin cocomposting facility is a loose, dark brown, organic material containing small fragments of glass, rubber, metal, plastics, and other materials that are resistant to decomposition. A research program was completed to determine the suitability of the compost for use in highway embankments or other engineered fills. Standard Proctor tests were conducted to determine the maximum density and optimum water content of the compost-sand mixtures. Direct shear tests were conducted on specimens compacted at maximum density and optimum water content. The cocomposted material mixed with sand proved to have sufficient shear strength for use in embankment construction.     

Combined preputial advancement and phallopexy as a revision technique for treating paraphimosis in a dog

A 7‐year‐old neutered male Jack Russell terrier‐cross was presented for signs of recurrent paraphimosis, despite previous surgical enlargement of the preputial ostium. Revision surgery was performed using a combination of preputial advancement and phallopexy, which resulted in complete and permanent coverage of the glans penis by the prepuce, and at 1 year postoperatively, no recurrence of paraphimosis had been observed. The combined techniques allow preservation of the normal penile anatomy, are relatively simple to perform and provide a cosmetic result. We recommend this combination for the treatment of paraphimosis in the dog, particularly when other techniques have failed.     

Author Index to Volume 4 (2001)

Authors Index

Author Index to Volume 4 (2001)     

Development of a Multiplex PCR for the Identification of Major Pathogenic Bacteria of Post‐Partum Endometritis in Dairy Cows

Post‐partum period has an important role in cows' breeding due to its effects on reproductive efficiency and subsequent pregnancy. Escherichia coli, Trueperella pyogenes (Arcanobacterium pyogenes), Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella melaninogenicus are recognized as major pathogens associated with uterine endometrial lesions. The objective of this study was to identify these pathogens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a culture‐independent sensitive method. A total of 172 cows were examined 25–35 days post‐partum, and 128 cows were examined at 2 weeks later (39–49 days post‐partum). Uterine discharges were collected by covered plastic infusion pipettes. The prevalence of endometritis was greater in the first examination than the second (35.5% vs. 16%). E. coli was detected in eight of the samples, T. pyogenes was detected in 13 of the samples and F. necrophorum was detected in 11 of the samples. There was no positive sample of P. melaninogenicus. Uterine contamination by T. pyogenes and F. necrophorum in the first examination was higher than the second examination. T. pyogenes affected as a tendency the prevalence of clinical endometritis in first examination. Primiparous cows showed 4.02 times higher odds of clinical endometritis compared with second‐parity cows in first examination. A multiplex PCR protocol as a simple, less expensive, fast assay was introduced to identify E. coli, T. pyogenes and F. necrophorum.     

Indigofera spicata (creeping indigo) poisoning of three ponies

Three ponies continuously grazed a pasture containing an estimated 24% Indigofera spicata (wet weight basis) for 4–6 weeks in April and May 2004. They developed ataxia, paresis, depression, muscle fasciculations, dysphagia, ptyalism and halitosis. Two also developed corneal opacity. One pony recovered with supportive treatment, but the other two were euthanased and necropsied. Neuropathology was not present in either case, but both livers had periacinar and periportal lymphocytic infiltrations and hydropic degeneration of mid‐zonal hepatocytes, with mild to moderate periacinar necrosis also evident in one. The I. spicata contained 2.66 mg 3‐nitropropionic acid (3‐NPA)/g dry matter and 1.5 mg indospicine/g dry matter. Indospicine, but not 3‐NPA, was detected in serum from both of the euthanased ponies and indospicine was detected in heart, liver and muscle from the one pony in which this assay was performed. The clinical syndrome closely resembled ‘Birdsville horse disease’ caused by I. linnaei and was similar to that reported in horses poisoned by the closely related species I. hendecaphylla and to 3‐NPA poisoning of other animals, including humans. 3‐NPA is thought to cause this neurological syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first authenticated report of I. spicata poisoning in grazing animals. We also report here the first published evidence that 3‐NPA and indospicine exist in naturalised I. spicata in Australia and of the formation of indospicine residues in tissues of animals grazing paddocks infested with I. spicata.     

Canine gastrinoma: A case study and literature review of therapeutic options

CASE HISTORY: A 6.2 kg, 8-year-old, spayed female Australian Terrier was presented with weight loss, inappetence, lethargy and a 2-day history of intermittent vomiting.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: The dog had cranial abdominal pain and there was melaena present on digital rectal examination. Haematology revealed a marked, acute leucogram.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: Fasting serum gastrin levels were markedly elevated and gastrinoma was suspected. Treatment was initiated with omeprazole, ranitidine and sucralfate. The dog remained clinically normal for 26 months, at which time exploratory surgery was undertaken and the dog subsequently euthanised due to extensive metastases. Histopathology and immunocytochemistry confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic gastrinoma.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is a rare condition infrequently reported. Although the number of cases treated with omeprazole are too few to draw firm conclusions, it would appear that proton pump inhibitors are useful and should be considered for cases of gastrinoma managed medically. Long-term prognosis is poor, and survival times range from 1 to 147 weeks. Many treatment options are discussed in the medical literature though not all are feasible in veterinary patients.     

Efficacy of omeprazole for the prevention of exercise-induced gastritis in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Exercise-induced gastritis and gastric ulcers are common in humans and horses, and recently have been described in racing sled dogs. The cause of exercise-induced gastric disease is not completely understood in any species, but pharmacologic suppression of acid secretion is an effective treatment in humans and horses. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that omeprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor shown to reduce gastric acid secretion in dogs, would reduce the severity of exercise-induced gastric disease. Three teams of 16 dogs each competing in the 2002 Iditarod Sled Dog Race were recruited for participation. Within each team, dogs were randomly assigned to either treatment (20 mg omeprazole PO q24h) or placebo. Treatments were administered until either completion of the race or withdrawal of an individual dog from competition. Gastric endoscopy was performed in all dogs 24 hours after completion or withdrawal, and the gastric mucosa was scored by using a subjective severity score (0 = normal, 3 = numerous bleeding ulcers). Treatment with omeprazole significantly reduced mean gastricseverity score compared to placebo (omeprazole: 0.65 +/- 0.17, placebo: 1.09 +/- 0.18; P = .028), but also was associated with increased frequency of diarrhea during the race (omeprazole 54%, placebo 21%; P = .017). Examination of our data suggests that omeprazole may be an effective treatment for exercise-induced gastric disease in racing sled dogs. However, further investigation regarding the cause and clinical relevance of diarrhea associated with omeprazole treatment must be conducted before omeprazole can be recommended for routine prophylactic treatment in these athletes.     

Serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) and leptin concentrations in pigs selected for components of efficient lean growth

Responses in log transformed serum neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration and leptin concentration after six generations of divergent selection on components of efficient lean growth in pigs were measured. From an animal breeding perspective, serum NPY and/or leptin concentrations could be used as physiological predictors of genetic merit if there were significant responses to selection. At 90 kg liveweight, log transformed serum NPY concentrations were increased with divergent selection for low food conversion ratio (LFC) (6.31 versus 5.72, SED 0.09 log(pmol/L)) or for high lean growth rate (LGA) (5.80 versus 5.37 log(pmol/L)) but not with selection on daily food intake (DFI) (6.26 versus 6.14 log(pmol/L)). Selection for high DFI was associated with increased serum leptin concentration (3.06 versus 2.45, SED 0.21 ng/mL human equivalent (HE)) as was selection for low LFC (3.04 versus 2.46 ng/mL HE). Correlations between leptin and predicted lipid weight increased with stage of test (0.13, 0.34 and 0.43, SE 0.08 at 30, 50 and 75 kg). The high correlations between successive serum NPY concentrations (0.80, SE 0.11) suggest that changes in body composition with time would not be reflected in serum NPY concentrations. Serum NPY and, to a lesser extent, serum leptin concentrations were insensitive to dietary differences in total lysine: energy and indicated that studies using a genetic resource population of animals may be more powerful than nutritional studies using isoenergetic diets differing in lysine content to examine aspects of function of serum concentrations of NPY and leptin in pigs.