A Survey of Zoo Mammals for Antibody to Rotavirus

The prevalence of rotavirus antibody in zoo animals was examined. A wide range of animals were found to be seropositive, indicating a widespread susceptibility to rotavirus infection.     

Serum Biochemical and Hematological Parameters of Sinclair(S-1) Miniature Sows During Gestation and Lactation

Venous blood samples were collected from 29 Sinclair(S-1) miniature sows at 14, ten, six and two weeks prior to parturition and two, four and six weeks postpartum to determine the effect of pregnancy and lactation upon 19 serum biochemical and 12 hematological parameters. During gestation, the levels of serum cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen and alpha₁-globulin, as well as packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration, decreased; whereas, the level of serum beta-globulin increased. During lactation, the concentrations of serum glucose, total protein, albumin, beta-globulin, calcium, sodium and hemoglobin, as well as packed cell volume, decreased; whereas, the concentration of serum cholesterol and the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase increased.     

Biological activity of serotonin conjugates from the seeds of Centaurea nigra

Two serotonin conjugates, N-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-serotonin (1) and N-(trans-feruloyl)-serotonin (maoschamine, 2), isolated from the methanol extract of the seeds of Centaurea nigra, have been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities. The general toxicity of 1 and 2 has also been determined by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay.     

Management strategies to decrease the prevalence of mastitis caused by one strain of Staphylococcus aureus in a dairy herd

The dairy herd at Washington State University had an outbreak of mastitis caused by a single strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The outbreak strain, termed novel, could not be controlled with routine contagious mastitis pathogen control procedures (incidence, 3.4 infections/100 cow months; peak prevalence > 22%). Our objective was to implement mastitis control measures that would decrease the incidence and prevalence of intramammary infection (IMI) caused by S aureus in the herd. The following intervention strategies were successfully implemented: strict segregation of cattle with IMI caused by S aureus, intensified culling of cattle with multiple-quarter IMI caused by S aureus, and inducing cessation of lactation of infected quarters in single-mammary-quarter infected cattle. One year after implementation of these control measures, incidence of IMI caused by S aureus was 0.35 infections/100 cow months, and prevalence had decreased from 20 to 8%.     

In vivo and in vitro colonization patterns of AIDA-I-positive Escherichia coli isolates from piglets with diarrhea.

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the colonization patterns of 3 pathogenic Escherichia coli strains: PD58 and PD149 of the AIDA-I/STb/EAST1 pathotype, serogroup O: ND (not determined), and PD31 of the LT/STb/EAST1 pathotype, serogroup O149. These strains were isolated from diseased piglets and caused diarrhea in experimentally inoculated, newborn, colostrum-deprived pigs. In this study, intestinal tissues from newborn pigs experimentally infected with a high inoculum (20 ml containing 10(10) cfu) were harvested and examined for bacterial colonization using light microscopy. A nonaqueous perfluorocarbon fixation method was used to preserve the glycocalyx of the microvillus border in tissues collected for TEM. Transmission electron micrographs revealed that E. coli strain PD149 displayed long flexible fimbria-like structures that intimately attached the bacteria both to the microvillus border of the upper colon and to adjacent bacteria. In vitro, this strain demonstrated the localized adherence pattern to HEp-2 cells characteristic of enteroaggregative E. coli (EAggEC). Both PD58 and PD31 strains colonized the upper colon through the formation of a biofilm, also characteristic of EAggEC. Strains PD58 and PD31 adhered poorly to HEp-2 cells in vitro, although these demonstrated a colonization pattern suggestive of diffuse and aggregative adherence, respectively. These findings suggest that strains PD58 and PD149, expressing the AIDA-I, factor and strain PD31 represents hybrid pathotypes of diarrheagenic E. coli and that they probably cause diarrhea in piglets through differing mechanisms.     

An outbreak of sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever in bison (Bison bison) after exposure to sheep at a public auction sale.

An outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) among bison sold at an auction market was studied for an 18-month period. Forty-five of 163 bison submitted for sale from 8 different bison farms died on 7 other destination farms. The outbreak began on day 50 after the sale, peaked between days 60 and 70, and ended on day 220. Twenty-one dead bison were confirmed to be MCF cases by clinical histories, pathology, and detection of ovine herpesvirus-2 DNA in their tissues with polymerase chain reaction assays. Twenty-four dead bison were classified as suspect MCF cases from clinical histories. No cases of MCF were observed among bison remaining on originating farms or resident bison mixed with sale bison on destination farms. There were no sheep reported within 3 km of originating or destination farms, limiting bison exposure to sheep to the auction facility, where sheep were present for less than 1 day. The outbreak provides an illustration of the temporal distribution of MCF mortality expected in bison and an estimate of the time from exposure until death from MCF after a single short exposure to sheep. The study provides evidence that bison with MCF do not transmit MCF to other bison.     

ACANTHOMATOUS AMELOBLASTOMA OF THE MAXILLA OF AN ADULT ALPACA

An adult alpaca presented with a large maxillary swelling. Facial trauma or a tooth root abscess was suspected. Radiographically there was a large expansile lesion displacing the right maxillary teeth. An ameloblastoma was diagnosed histologically and palliative radiation therapy was attempted. Because of poor response to therapy and anorexia the animal was euthanized. Necropsy findings confirmed an ameloblastoma of acanthomatous type.     

Longitudinal assessment of the impact of aging on wastage,productivity and welfare of ewes

Retention of aging ewes is a strategy producers may use to maintain or increase flock size. Older ewes can have a higher risk of mortality and health issues, but these may be minimised with early intervention and culling. This retrospective study examined the incidence and causes of mortality and culling in a flock of Merino ewes as they aged from 4.5 to 5.5 until 9.5 to 10.5 years. The annual rate of ewe mortality ranged from 6.2% to 9.9%, with lambing complications being the major source of reported loss. Annual culling rates ranged from 1.6% to 42.8%, the larger rates reflecting opportunistic replacement with younger ewes rather than essential culling to maintain welfare and productivity. The major reasons for culling were low condition score, worn or missing teeth or faulty udders. The incidence of other faults was low. Only 18.3% of ewes remained when aged 9.5–10.5 years and these were fertile (89% pregnant) with a high proportion of multiple fetuses (52%) in their final year, although fleece weight had declined. Younger ewes born in 2004/2005 tended to have lower annual mortality rates than the aged ewes, but 8%–12% were still culled annually. It is concluded that an annual inspection pre-joining of all ewes and preventative culling for health issues is necessary to minimise any increase in mortality and risk to ewe welfare from retaining aging ewes. More frequent inspection will be required as potential health issues develop during the year, as these may not be evident pre-joining.     

Brucella suis in three dogs: presentation,diagnosis and clinical management

Brucella suis is an emerging, zoonotic disease predominantly affecting dogs and humans that engage in feral pig hunting in Australia and other countries. Although B. suis infection in dogs shares some clinical similarities to the host-adapted species (B. canis), B. suis remains an incompletely understood pathogen in dogs with limited published data on its pathogenesis and clinical features. This case series describes the presentations, diagnosis, and clinical management of B. suis infection in three dogs: (1) a bitch with dystocia, abortion and mastitis; (2) an entire male dog with septic arthritis and presumptive osteomyelitis; and (3) a castrated male dog with lymphadenitis. Unique features of these cases are reported including the first documented detection of B. suis from milk and isolation from lymph nodes of canine patients, as well as the follow-up of pups born to a B. suis-infected bitch. Consistent with previous reports, all three dogs showed a favourable clinical response to combination antibiotic therapy with rifampicin and doxycycline. Individually tailored drug regimens were required based on the clinical presentation and other factors, including owner expectations and compliance with therapy as well as a zoonotic risk assessment (generally considered low, except around time of whelping). The authors include their recommendations for the clinical management of dogs that are at-risk or seropositive for B. suis with or without clinical signs or laboratory-confirmed infection.