Multisystemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (MEED) in a horse

Extract

A 6-year-old Thoroughbred-cross gelding was presented with ulcerative coronitis and sloughing of chestnuts and ergots. The horse was mildly lame and its faeces were soft and formless. Laboratory findings included a mild eosinophilia, mild hyperglobuli-naemia and a marked elevation of gamma glutamyl transferase and glutamate dehydrogenase. There was a general deterioration of the horse's condition over a 3-week period and the dermatitis became generalised and the diarrhoea severe. It was euthanised. At necropsy, the pancreas was pale, multinodular and firm. The liver had a lobular appearance and there was generalised thickening of the descending colon. Histologically, there was a marked, predominantly eosinophilic infiltrate of the pancreas, liver and colon. There was a superficial and deep perivascular dermatitis of the coronet, characterised by dense infiltrates of eosinophils in association with marked acanthosis and hyperkeratosis. The combination of clinical findings, haematology, serum biochemistry and gross changes in conjunction with the histology confirmed MEED. The aetiology of MEED has not been established.     

The use of diatom Skeletonema costatum on aquaculture‐produced purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) larvae and post‐larvae diet

The quality of the microalgae provided on Paracentrotus lividus larvae rearing is a primordial factor having a direct (nutritional properties) and indirect (water quality) impact on growth, competence and survival. Skeletonema costatum is a diatom commonly used in the bivalve cultivation. However, the use of this diatom in P. lividus larval cultivations is poorly known. The Rhodomonas spp. is a microalgae commonly used in sea urchin larvae culture. Three different diets were tested on P. lividus larvae and post‐larvae cultivation (D1—Rhodomonas marina, D2—S. costatum, D3—mixture of both algae). Larvae fed with the D2 diet (55.8%) and D3 (39.9%) had a survival at 15 DAH higher than D1 (5.5%). The low survival in D1 could be due to the higher microbiological load on microalgae (Vibrio alginolyticus and V. pectenicide). Larvae fed with S. costatum (D2) showed a lower development than other diets. The competency index was lower for larvae fed with the D2. These results show that microalgae diversified diets contribute to a better development of P. lividus larvae. During the settlement and post‐settlement phase, there was also a lower growth of the sea urchin fed with the D2 and a higher survival for D3.     

Liver Enzymes and Ultrastructure in Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD)

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is caused by a calicivirus infection that kills most adult rabbits 24–72 h after viral inoculation. Two liver enzymes (AST, aspartate aminotransferase, and ALT, alanine aminotransferase) were monitored in blood samples of calicivirus-infected rabbits during the short course of RHD. Values of AST were used to differentiate three stages of hepatocellular degeneration in RHD: mild (up to 20-fold increase in AST), moderate (150–200-fold elevation of AST) and severe (more than 1000-fold elevation in AST). Liver samples of rabbits from these three biochemical stages of hepatocellular degeneration of RHD were studied by transmission electron microscopy to define the fine structure of the hepatocytes. In the mild hepatocellular degeneration there was proliferation (microvesiculation) of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and swelling of mitochondria into spheroid bodies with loss of cristae. In moderate hepatocellular degeneration, vacuolization of cytoplasm and mitochondrial damage continued to be present, and there was also formation of autophagic vesicles. In the severe hepatocellular degeneration of RHD, the altered mitochondria also showed loss of density of their matrix; rupture of cytoplasmic vacuoles led to the formation of large vesicles. Marked depletion of liver glycogen was also found in this late stage of RHD. These data offer a correlation between biochemical and cytological features of the liver during the hepatocellular degeneration of RHD.     

Effect of Storage Time and Temperature of Equine Epididymis on the Viability,Motion Parameters,and Freezability of Epididymal Sperm

The recovery of sperm from the epididymal cauda may be the last chance to obtain genetic material when sudden death or serious injuries occur in valuable stallions. However, the lack of technical knowledge regarding the storage and transportation of the epididymis often prevents the preservation of the sperm. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare sperm parameters of sperm obtained immediately after orchiectomy with sperm recovered from epididymal cauda at different times after storage at 5°C and at room temperature (RT). For that, 48 stallions of different breeds were used. In group 1 (control group), eight stallions were used, and the harvest of the epididymal sperm was performed immediately after orchiectomy. In group 2, 40 stallions were used, which were divided into five groups according to the storage time of the epididymis after orchiectomy (6, 12, 18, 24, or 30 hours), making a total of eight stallions per group. One epididymis of each stallion was stored at 5°C, and the contralateral epididymis was stored at RT, both for the same period. The sperm parameters of total motility, progressive motility, progressive linear velocity, curvilinear velocity, percentage of rapid sperm, and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated in all the groups after sperm recovery, resuspension in a sperm freezing diluent, and thawing. In conclusion, the storage of the testis-epididymis complex at 5°C provided better preservation of epididymal sperm than the storage at RT, and regardless of the temperature, the progressive motility is the sperm parameter that is most sensitive to storage time.     

Toxicity in three dogs from accidental oral administration of a topical endectocide containing moxidectin and imidacloprid

Three dogs were presented with a history of oral administration of a topical endectocide containing imidacloprid and moxidectin. They were diagnosed with imidacloprid and moxidectin intoxication, having ingested doses ranging from 7.5 to 1.4 mg/kg of imidacloprid and 1.9 to 2.8 mg/kg of moxidectin. The three dogs were affected to different degrees of severity, but all displayed signs of ataxia, generalised muscle tremors, paresis, hypersalivation and disorientation. Temporary blindness occurred in two cases. The three dogs were tested for the presence of the multi-drug resistance 1 gene deletion, which can cause an increased sensitivity to the toxic effects of moxidectin, and were found to be negative. Treatment included gastrointestinal decontamination, intravenous fluid therapy and benzodiazepines to control muscle tremors. All three dogs made a complete recovery within 48 h of ingestion.     

Replacement of wheat bran with spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica Mill cv Gigante) and urea in the diets of Holstein x Gyr heifers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement effect of wheat bran with spineless cactus and urea in heifers. Twenty-four heifers with an average initial weight of 185?±?13 kg were used in this experiment. Four levels of spineless cactus corrected with urea and ammonium sulfate (9:1) were studied: 0, 33, 66, and 100 % replacement with wheat bran. Samples of feed, orts, and feces were analyzed to estimate the intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) and nutrients. Indigestible neutral detergent fiber was used as an internal marker. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrient intake demonstrated a quadratic effect (P?P?P?相似文献   

AVES POLYOMAVIRUS 1 IN ARA CHLOROPTERA AND ECLECTUS RORATUS WITH DISCLOSURE OF FULL GENOMIC SEQUENCES

Aves polyomavirus 1 (APyV) is the causative agent of acute disease in birds and causes high mortality rates in nestlings. Infections have been reported worldwide in a significant number of caged bird species, such as parrots, caiques, budgerigars, lovebirds, and macaws. However, the number of complete viral sequences available in public databases is scarce, especially those with associated clinical histories. In this study, the clinical, pathological, epidemiological, and molecular characteristics of 2 APyV strains detected in Portugal are described. In the autumn of 2015, a 2-month-old female green-winged macaw (Ara chloroptera) from a small breeder died with signs of dehydration, weight loss, and depression, raising the suspicion of polyomavirus infection. Histopathological analysis revealed lesions compatible with APyV infection, and the presence of polyomavirus in several organs was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. From the cohabitants tested (n = 14), 1 eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus), which was more than 1-year-old, was also APyV DNA-positive. The full genomic sequences of the 2 strains were obtained and found identical, suggesting a single introduction in the premises and the occurrence of subsequent infections by the same virus. When compared with sequences of other APyVs available in public databases, high nucleotide similarity percentages were obtained, confirming the close genetic relationship among polyomaviruses worldwide. Interestingly, strain APV7, detected in a white-bellied parrot in 2008 in Japan, was the closest strain to those isolated in this report. Attempts to isolate the virus in eggs and cell lines failed. Phylogenetic analysis was performed by the Bayesian method to determine the phylogenetic classification of the macaw and parrot strains. Both clustered into group V, together with other strains from different bird species with no host or spatial-temporal relationships being observed.