Recurrent localised cutaneous parapoxvirus infection in three cats

CASE HISTORY: Three cats were presented with single proliferative lesions affecting one foot, which failed to heal after medical treatment, and recurred despite surgical resection. PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Histologically, the lesions were proliferative and papillary. There was marked acanthosis, rete peg formation, and compact orthokeratosis, with large numbers of bacteria in the orthokeratotic scale. Some biopsies had multifocal keratinocyte swelling of the stratum granulosum, and amphophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions were present in some of the swollen cells. The dermis consisted of a light fibrous stroma with marked capillary proliferation. Parapoxviruses were detected in the lesions of all cats by electron microscopic examination. PCR analysis detected orf virus (contagious ecthyma virus) in two cats, and orf virus was cultured from one cat. DIAGNOSIS: Parapoxvirus infection in cats. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Parapoxvirus infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis when dealing with proliferative, non-healing lesions on the feet of cats, especially cats in rural areas. The recovery of orf virus from a cat with typical poxvirus lesions extends the range of species affected by this virus.     

The Queensland Poisonous Plants Committee: its history and functions

SUMMARY The Queensland Poisonous Plants Committee was established in 1937 with Professor HR Seddon as chairman. It has functioned since that year, interrupted by two periods of inactivity in 1951–9 and 1962–8. Professor Seddon, first Dean of the Queensland Veterinary School, and Dr Selwyn Everist, Queensland Government Botanist after the Second World War, provided the main impetus for committee activities in its early and middle years, respectively. The strength of the body has been its multi-disciplinary approach using contributions from veterinarians, chemists and botanists. The research work of the committee members and their associates has provided most of our current knowledge of the toxins and effects of poisonous plants in Queensland. Much of the information generated is of international significance. In equal partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture, the committee initiated a series of international symposia on plant poisoning of animals, hosting the second. This group held its 4th gathering of world authorities in the field in 1993. The committee's activities have long influenced the veterinary profession in Australia through the close involvement of its members in undergraduate and post-graduate teaching in the Queensland Veterinary School since 1951. The present committee has members from the Departments of Primary Industries, Health, and Environment and Heritage, CSIRO and the University of Queensland.     

Efficacy of ivermectin in a controlled-release capsule for the control of breech strike in sheep

Objective To investigate the efficacy of ivermectin in an intraruminal controlled-release capsule (CRC) against blowfly strike.
Design Pen and field trials with controls.
Animals Pen studies: Two breech strike trials involving 60 Romney and 60 Merino sheep. One body strike trial using 100 Merino sheep.
Field trials: Eight trials in New Zealand used 1000 Romney and Romney-cross sheep. Fifty Merino lambs in one trial in Australia.
Procedure Pen studies: Sheep were allocated to two equal groups. One was not treated, the other sheep received a CRC that delivered ivermectin at 20 μg/kg/day for 100 days. In the breech strike trials, each animal was given an oral laxative 2 days before exposure to adult Lucilia cuprina . In the body-strike trial, the sheep sheep were kept wet to increase susceptibility prior to the release of blowflies.
Field trials: Fifty or 200 sheep allocated to equal groups of nontreated or treated with the CRC and grazed at pasture exposed to natural blowfly challenge.
Results Pen studies: Breech strikes developed in 24 of 60 controls but in none of 60 CRC-treated sheep. There was a 35% reduction in the number of CRC-treated sheep struck on the body.
Field trials: The average number of breech strikes in CRC-treated sheep was reduced by 86% (P < 0.001). The number of body strikes in the treated groups was a reduced by 27% (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The ivermectin CRC is a useful aid in controlling breech strike, but provides only moderate reduction in the incidence of body strike.     

Dealing with plant poisoning of livestock: the challenge in Queensland

The current and possible future situation of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of plant poisoning of livestock in Queensland is reviewed. Topics discussed are livestock producers' perceptions, field investigation, plant identification, veterinary laboratory techniques and prevention through knowledge of poisonous species and the circumstances of poisoning. Also considered are management strategies for prevention including the manipulation of rumen flora and epidemiological approaches, therapies including immunisation, plant control and sources of information on poisonous plants and poisoning.     

The efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid for control of blowfly strike on sheep under field conditions

SUMMARY Seventeen trials involving 5737 sheep were conducted to test the efficacy of ivermectin jetting fluid (30 ppm in water) for the control of blowfly strike when applied to sheep either by standard hand jetting or through an automatic jetting race. Sheep were observed for up to 14 weeks after treatment and all strikes recorded. The level of fly challenge varied between trials, resulting in strike rates in untreated sheep ranging between 0 and 94%. At 12 weeks after treatment there were 93% fewer strikes in hand jetted sheep and 84% fewer strikes in machine jetted sheep when compared with untreated sheep. At this time point there was a 90%, 86% and 93% reduction in poll, body and breech strikes, respectively, when hand jetting was used, whereas machine jetting reduced poll, body, breech and pizzle strikes by 84%, 81%, 79% and 100%, respectively.     

Pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis of cattle associated with Senecio lautu

Summary Serious incidents of pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis of cattle in 10 herds exposed to the Australian native plant, Senecio lautus (Asteraceae), were seen in central Queensland during 1988–1992. The deaths of 226 cattle were recorded. A mean of 8% of cattle died in affected groups (range 2 to 58%). Sickness and deaths usually occurred some months after access to S lautus. Typically, affected cattle lost body condition to the point of emaciation before dying and had persistent diarrhoea. Some animals developed abnormal behaviour and died after a shorter illness. Liver specimens from affected cattle in all herds contained lesions consistent with pyrrolizidine alkaloidosis. Thin layer chromatography of extracts of blood and liver samples from cattle from 5 herds detected pyrrolic metabolites. The identity of these was confirmed by mass spectroscopy on samples from one herd. Unseasonal autumn and winter rain after a dry summer appeared to favour growth of S lautus at the expense of other pasture species. A subsequent dry period promoted consumption of S lautus and was followed by a cluster of poisoning incidents.     

Differential Expression of IGF Family Members in Heat‐Stressed Embryos Produced In Vitro from OPU‐Derived Oocytes of Nelore (Bos indicus) and Holstein (Bos taurus) Cows

The IGF system is related to embryo quality. We aim to determine the effect of the heat stress on the mRNA expression of IGF1 and IGF2, IGFR1 and IGFR2, IGFBP2 and IGFBP4, and PAPPA in in vitro production (IVP) blastocysts from Nelore and Holstein after ovum pick up (OPU) to better understand the differences between these breeds. Oocytes from four Nelore and seven Holstein were collected in six OPU sessions. Following in vitro maturation and fertilization using six Nelore or Holstein sires, embryos were divided into control (cultured at 39°C) and heat stress (HS; exposed to 41°C for 9 h). Blastocysts were submitted to RNA extraction. The IGF1 expression was higher in blastocysts under HS in both breeds, and the expression of IGFBP2 and IGFBP4 was higher in Holstein blastocysts under HS. The high PAPPA expression and the low expression of IGFBP2 and IGFBP4 are associated with a more efficient degradation of IGFBPs, which results in greater IGF bioavailability in Nelore blastocysts and may contribute to the superior HS tolerance in Nelore, when compared to Holstein.