Pathology of spontaneous tuberculosis and pseudotuberculosis in fish

Abstract. The pathology of two infectious granulomatous diseases of aquarium-maintained fish are described. Two fish showed widespread occurrences of hard and soft tubercles which contained clumps of acid-fast bacilli, confirming the diagnosis of fish tuberculosis. Four other fish showed predominantly large soft tubercles containing peripheral arrangement of Gram-negative, non-acid fast bacilli diagnosed as flavobacterium. The various features are described and discussed with emphasis on differential diagnosis.     

Long-term survival of four dogs with disseminated Aspergillus terreus infection treated with itraconazole

SUMMARY Four dogs with disseminated aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus terreus were treated with oral itraconazole for 190 to 1095 days. Infection was eliminated in 1 dog. Two dogs were treated for 1000 and 1095 days but were eventually euthanased 572 and 485 days after treatment was stopped. At necropsy both dogs had widespread aspergillosis. The fourth dog was euthanased for other reasons after 190 days of treatment when it was showing a good clinical response although there was radiographic evidence that the disease was progressing.     

An outbreak of white spot disease (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) in young fingerling rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri Richardson)

An outbreak of white spot disease (‘Ich’) in fingerling rainbow trout is reported. Approximately 3,000 fish died or were killed in extremis in a period of 5 weeks. Post mortem examinations were carried out on 12 fish, all of which showed thickened whitish foci on the skin. One fish showed skin ulceration and another gill ulcerations. The gill infestation was more severe than the skin. Pathological results are described and discussed.     

The effect of different combinations of lignocaine,ketoprofen, xylazine and tolazoline on the acute cortisol response to dehorning in calves

AIMS: The aims of this study were (a) to evaluate the effect of xylazine and tolazoline, with and without lignocaine, on the cortisol response of calves following amputation dehorning and (b) to assess the effect of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ketoprofen) and local anaesthesia on the cortisol response of calves to amputation dehorning.

METHODS: Plasma cortisol concentrations were measured in 100 dehorned or non-dehorned 3-month-old calves over an 8-h period following five different sedative/analgesic or control treatments. Sedative/analgesic treatments were: control (no anaesthesia); local anaesthesia and ketoprofen; local anaesthesia and xylazine; local anaesthesia, xylazine and tolazoline; and xylazine only. Within each sedative/analgesic treatment group, half the calves (n=10 per group) were amputation dehorned and half were not dehorned.

RESULTS: The change in plasma cortisol concentrations in calves dehorned after being given ketoprofen and local anaesthesia did not differ significantly from that of non-dehorned control calves for at least 8 h. In contrast, the cortisol response of dehorned calves not given analgesic drugs peaked 30 min after dehorning and lasted >4 h. Xylazine injected before dehorning significantly reduced but did not eliminate the peak of the cortisol response. When both xylazine and local anaesthesia were administered before dehorning the peak in the cortisol response was virtually eliminated. In the dehorned calves that received xylazine with or without local anaesthesia, cortisol concentration increased significantly 3 h after dehorning and did not return to baseline until at least 5 h later. When tolazoline was administered shortly after xylazine, it caused a marked cortisol response, higher than the response to any other treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Combining ketoprofen and local anaesthesia minimised the cortisol response, and by inference the pain- induced distress, following amputation dehorning in calves. Xylazine reduced the initial cortisol response to dehorning but not as much as when local anaesthesia was also given. The increase in cortisol concentration from 3–8 h after dehorning in calves given xylazine alone or in combination with local anaesthesia suggests that calves experienced pain-induced distress during this time and that xylazine had no long-term analgesic effect. Tolazoline, used to reverse the sedative effects of xylazine, caused a marked cortisol response in calves via a mechanism which remains unclear.     

Dexamethasone‐Induced Eosinopenia is Associated with Lower Progesterone Production in Cattle

Eosinophilic cells accumulate in the capillaries of the bovine Graafian follicle shortly before ovulation and in the early developing corpus luteum (CL). Suppressing the migration of these eosinophilic cells by dexamethasone allowed us to evaluate their possible function in the CL development. Brown Swiss cows (n = 10) were randomly subdivided into two groups (n = 5). Every group was used once as control group and once as experimental group with two oestrous cycles between each treatment. Eighteen hours (h) after oestrus synchronization, dexamethasone or saline was given. Ovulation was induced 24 h later with gonadotropin‐releasing hormone. Another injection of dexamethasone or saline was given 12 h later. Eosinophilic cells in the blood were counted daily until day 7 after the first dexamethasone injection. The collection of ovaries took place at days 1, 2 and 5. Gene expression, protein concentration and location of angiogenic factors, chemokines, insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF1) and eosinophilic cells were studied. No eosinophilic cells were found in the CL of the treatment group. Blood progesterone decreased significantly in the dexamethasone group from day 8 to 17. The protein concentration of FGF2 increased significantly in CL tissue at day 2 and VEGFA decreased. Local IGF1 gene expression in the CL was not regulated. We assume from our data that the migration of eosinophilic cells into the early CL is not an essential, but an important stimulus for angiogenesis during early CL development in cattle.     

高效液相色谱法测定伊维菌素脂质体药物的含量及包封率

本试验旨在建立伊维菌素脂质体载体药物含量及包封率测定的高效液相色谱法。Waters surfire C18柱(150 mm×2.1 mm,5 μm),流动相为乙腈—甲醇—水(62∶30∶8),流速1 mL/min,检测波长245 nm,进样量10 μL,柱温30 ℃。采用凝胶过滤法、透析法、冷冻超速离心法、超滤离心法4种方法对脂质体与药物进行分离。结果表明,在优化色谱条件下伊维菌素与辅料及溶剂峰均得到良好分离,伊维菌素在1～50 μg/mL浓度范围内线性关系良好(r=0.9998,n=5),最终采用超速冷冻离心法可将脂质体与药物很好的分离,伊维菌素脂质载体的包封率可达98.54%±1.6%。该方法准确可靠、简单快速,可用于伊维菌素脂质体载体药物含量及包封率的测定。