Prospective determination of the specificity of a commercial snake venom detection kit in urine samples from dogs and cats

Objective To determine the specificity of a snake venom detection kit in urine samples from dogs and cats presenting to a referral centre for diseases unrelated to snake envenomation. Design Urine was collected from 50 dog and 25 cats presented for investigation and treatment of diseases unrelated to snake envenomation. Urine was collected as a voided sample, by cystocentesis or by catheterisation, and routine urinanalysis was performed. Snake venom testing was performed within 2 h of collection using a commercially available snake venom detection kit, which was observed continuously during the 10-min colour reaction phase for evidence of a visible colour indicating a positive test. Results No false-positive reactions occurred in any sample analysed. Conclusion The snake venom detection kit appears to have 100% specificity for using urine as a test sample.     

Mega allantoic vesicles of the equine placenta

An ultrasound examination of a pregnant 12‐year‐old Palomino mare's abdomen revealed multiple, variably sized, round, polypoid, cystic structures within the allantois. These cystic areas had clear hypoechoic centres and were surrounded by thin, irregular hyperechoic regions. The foaling was unremarkable. Grossly, the allantois was multifocally expanded by variably sized, 1–15 cm diameter, balloon‐like allantoic vesicles containing clear watery or gelatinous fluid. Histological examination demonstrated marked separation of the allantoic surface from the chorionic surface by oedema fluid or gelatinous stroma. No other lesions were observed in the placenta. Similar lesions were observed in 2 other mares. No clinical complications were observed with the foals, fillies and mares after parturition. This is the first report of such large allantoic vesicles in the equine placenta.     

Disseminated histoplasmosis in an African pygmy hedgehog

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 2-year-old captive-bred sexually intact female African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) was evaluated because of vague signs of illness including inappetence, weakness, lethargy, and weight loss over a 20-day period. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Abnormalities detected via initial clinicopathologic analyses included anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, hypoproteinemia, and hypoglycemia. Results of a fecal flotation test were negative. Three weeks after the initial evaluation, splenomegaly was detected via palpation and ultrasonography. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The hedgehog was treated with broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, resulting in an initially favorable response. Fenbendazole was also administered against possible occult parasitic infestation. After 3 weeks of illness, the hedgehog's condition had worsened and supportive care and administration of additional antibacterial agents were instituted. The hedgehog died, and pathologic examinations revealed severe splenomegaly; granulomatous infiltrates were evident in multiple organs, and Histoplasma capsulatum yeasts were detected intralesionally. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Histoplasmosis can develop in a wide range of mammalian species. African pygmy hedgehogs are becoming increasingly popular as exotic pets, and vague signs of illness and splenomegaly are often attributed to hemolymphatic malignancies, which are somewhat common in this species. Practitioners should be aware that similar clinical signs may be associated with histoplasmosis in these animals. Although the hedgehog of this report was confined indoors, it originated from an area where histoplasmosis was endemic; this indicates that the disease should be included as a differential diagnosis for hedgehogs that develop vague signs of illness and are known to originate from such geographic regions.     

Plasma pepsinogen,inhibited larval development,and abomasal lesions in experimental infections of calves with Ostertagia ostertagi

Single doses of Ostertagia ostertagi, followed in 42 days by multiple increasing doses in calves, were monitored by fecal egg counts and plasma pepsinogen. The level of plasma pepsinogen increase was related to the increase in graded levels of inoculation and to the fecal egg counts. Plasma pepsinogen in uninfected controls remained below 1 IU/L. Plasma pepsinogen in all calves reached levels greater than 5 IU/L at 48 days of the extended inoculation period, although fecal egg counts remained low in the previously inoculated calves. The previously infected calves had a higher proportion of early fourth-stage larvae, while larger adult worm burdens were found in the previously uninfected calves. Early fourth-stage larvae were observed in extra-glandular sites, notably between the glandular epithelium and basement membrane or within the lamina propria. An immunological response of the host was suggested by the lymphoid cell infiltration in the mucosa. This host immune response may account for the greater larval inhibition exhibited by the previously infected calves.     

Effect of neonatal thymectomy and antilymphocyte globulin on non-specific mitogen stimulation in Holstein-Friesian calves

Nine of seventeen neonatal Holstein-Friesian calves were thymectomized, treated with antilymphocyte globulin, and monitored for immunologic functional ability for 4 to 6 months. The thymus weights for 4 to 10-day-old calves and 4 to 6-month-old calves indicated a continued increase in total weight. This indicated significant thymic involution had not occurred at 4 to 6 months. Following thymectomy a wasting syndrome was not observed although an increased incidence of a lowly virulent virus infection did occur. A significant decrease in circulating lymphocytes was observed.Peripheral blood lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro by non-specific mitogens, phytohemagglutinin, bacterial lipopolysaccharide and pokeweed mitogen using the whole blood culture method. Observations included a greater response to phytohemagglutinin and pokeweed mitogen in summer months and variable age related response to all mitogens. Lipopolysaccharide stimulation results were inconclusive. It was concluded that neonatal thymectomy was not a satisfactory experimental procedure for the production of selective immunosuppression in the bovine species.     

Repeating deep earthquakes: evidence for fault reactivation at great depth

We have identified three groups of deep earthquakes showing nearly identical waveforms in the Tonga slab. Relocation with a cross-correlation method shows that each cluster is composed of 10 to 30 earthquakes along a plane 10 to 30 kilometers in length. Some of the earthquakes are colocated, demonstrating repeated rupture of the same fault, and one pair of events shows identical rupture complexity, suggesting that the temporal and spatial rupture pattern was repeated. Recurrence intervals show an inverse time distribution, indicating a strong temporal control over fault reactivation. Runaway thermal shear instabilities may explain temporally clustered earthquakes with similar waveforms located along slip zones weakened by shear heating. Earthquake doublets that occur within a few hours are consistent with events recurring before the thermal energy of the initial rupture can diffuse away.     

Echinococcus granulosus in the Northern Territory,Australia: hydatid disease reported in beef cattle from the region

Hydatid disease in beef cattle has been reported to be widespread throughout Australia, but cattle bred and raised in the Northern Territory were previously believed to be free of the disease. Between 2010 and 2016, 1061 cattle from the Northern Territory were slaughtered at a New South Wales abattoir and inspected for hydatid disease. The proportion of cattle reported infected with hydatid disease was 3.5%. Individual cattle identification numbers indicated that the cattle included in the study had most likely remained within the Northern Territory from birth until immediately prior to slaughter, so were assumed to have become infected within the region. We suspect that the sylvatic cycle of Echinococcus granulosus transmission could be responsible for infection of cattle in this region.     

Severe anemia associated with Mycoplasma wenyonii infection in a mature cow

The clinical findings, diagnostic tests, and treatment of clinical anemia in a mature Angus cow infected with the hemoplasma Mycoplasma wenyonii are described. Mycoplasma wenyonii has been previously reported to cause clinical anemia in young or splenectomized cattle; however, infection has not been associated with severe anemia in mature animals.