Influence of environmental temperature on experimental infection of redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus, an Australian iridovirus

SUMMARY Experimental transmission of epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) to adult redfin perch Perca fluviatilis and juvenile rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss was undertaken at different water temperatures using intraperitoneal (IP) and bath inoculation. Redfin perch were highly susceptible to EHNV by both routes of infection. Bath inoculation with as few as 0.08 TCID₅₀. _mL^-1 was lethal. The incubation period in redfin perch was about 11 days at a water temperature of 19–21°C but was longer at colder temperatures and disease did not occur at temperatures below 12°C. The longest incubation period recorded in redfin perch was 28 days. Rainbow trout were not susceptible to infection by bath inoculation but the disease was reproduced after IP inoculation with 10^5.6 TCID₅₀ at water temperatures ranging from 8–21°C. The incubation period was 3–10 days at 19–21°C, but was up to 32 days at 8–10°C. Persistent infection with EHNV was detected by virus isolation in a clinically unaffected rainbow trout after 63 days. The implications of these findings in the understanding of the epidemiology of EHNV infection are discussed.     

Retropharyngeal lymph node infection in horses: 46 cases (1977–1992)

SUMMARY A retrospective study of 46 horses with retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) infection presented to the Rural Veterinary Centre between 1977 and 1992 was undertaken. Horses aged less than one year were most commonly represented (46%). Thirty-nine percent of cases had been exposed to horses with confirmed or suspected strangles (Streptococcus equi subsp equi infection) within the previous 8 weeks. Most frequent signs were unilateral or bilateral swelling of the throat region (65%), respiratory stertor/dyspnoea (35%), purulent nasal discharge (20%), inappetence and signs of depression (15%), and dysphagia (9%). All horses had a soft tissue density in the retropharyngeal region on radiographs. Rhinopharyngoscopy, ultrasonography, haematology as well as cytological and microbial analysis of material aspirated from the soft tissue swelling facilitated diagnosis in some horses. Fifteen horses (33%) were treated with procaine penicillin intramuscularly for 4 to 7 days followed by oral trimethoprim-sulphadimidine for 7 to 14 days. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered to 6 horses. Four required tracheostomy for severe respiratory distress. The 15 horses treated medically responded to treatment and were discharged from hospital. Three horses (6%) with mild signs received no treatment and recovered uneventfully. Twenty-eight horses (61%) underwent general anaesthesia and surgical drainage of a RPLN abscess. Nineteen received procaine penicillin G for 4 to 7 days. Four of the nine horses that did not receive antibiotic treatment after surgery required further surgical drainage 10 days to 7 weeks after the initial surgery . Limited follow-up information was available for 37 horses. Thirty-two horses were considered to have made complete recovery, 3 horses had died through misadventure and 2 had been euthanased because of chronic ill-thrift .     

Salmonella Dublin infection in Queensland dairy cattle

Objective: To investigate the presence of Salmonella Dublin in Queensland cattle.
Design: An epidemiological study using diagnostic laboratory information and farm records.
Procedure: Outbreaks of gastroenteritis or pneumonia in calves, and abortions and enteritis in cows were routinely investigated for the presence of salmonellae. Where S Dublin was isolated, attempts were made to gather further epidemiological information.
Results: Prior to 1983 only two outbreaks of S Dublin have been recorded in Queensland dairy cattle. In 1983 S Dublin abortions were diagnosed in dairy heifers introduced from southern Australia to south-east Queensland. Sampling indicated that at least 10% of the 500 introduced heifers were faecal excretors of S Dublin. On 3 of the 7 farms from which S Dublin was recorded, infection spread to other cattle that were in contact. From February 1985 to February 1996, 29 outbreaks of S Dublin in cattle occurred on 29 farms (28 in south east Queensland and 1 in north Queensland). Calves were primarily affected. Continuing outbreaks were confirmed on only 4 of these 29 farms. On 15 farms S Dublin infections were associated with the purchase of infected calves or cows, while another farm adjoined 2 previously infected farms. No source of S Dublin was evident for the other 13 farms, where histories were often inadequate.
Conclusion: There has been a marked increase in S Dublin outbreaks in Queensland dairy cattle since 1983. Introduction of S Dublin carrier and aborting dairy heifers from southern Australia, where S Dublin is not uncommon, was associated with the initial outbreaks.     

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.     

Anthelmintic resistance in the field: Changes in resistance status of parasitic populations in response to anthelmintic treatment

Changes in anthelmintic resistance in nematode parasites were monitored in sheep grazing on 2 separate farms, but with the same anthelmintic treatment program, over 16 years. High levels of benzimidazole resistance emerged in Ostertagia and Trichostrongylus spp populations on both farms following 9 years of continuous use of this class of drug. Subsequently, variations in the levels of resistance occurred for the same species between farms and between species on the same farm. A change to levamisole for 2 years resulted in a significant reversion towards benzimidazole susceptibility, but a concomitant rise in levamisole resistance, in Ostertagia on one farm. However, benzimidazole resistance increased rapidly following the re-introduction of oxfendazole into the anthelmintic treatment program. Results from both farms illustrate the pitfalls of using one anthelmintic class for an extended period and provide indirect support for the alternation of anthelmintic classes at approximately yearly intervals.