Epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of blastomycosis in dogs and cats

Blastomycosis is one of the most common systemic fungal diseases in dogs in North America, but it is rarely diagnosed in cats. The typical route of infection is inhalation of aerosolized conidia of Blastomyces dermatitidis. From the respiratory tract, the developing yeast form may disseminate throughout the body and affect multiple organ systems, most commonly the lymphatic, skeletal and central nervous systems, eyes and skin. Disseminated disease often is associated with nonspecific signs of illness including lethargy, inappetence and fever, as well as signs referable to specific organ systems like chronic cough and dyspnea, peripheral lymphadenopathy, endophthalmitis, and central nervous signs. Diagnosis is typically made by detection of Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast in affected tissues by fine-needle aspiration cytology or histopathology. The treatment of choice is itraconazole. Prognosis is fair in dogs without central nervous disease and guarded in cats.     

An oculo-cerebellar syndrome caused by congenital bovine viral diarrhoea virus-infection

An epizootic characterized by birth of calves severly ataxic and blind were encountered in 3 herds 7–8 months after outbreaks of bovine virus diarrhoea. Serological and virological investigations indicated introduction of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) into previously virus-free herds, followed by transplacental virus infection of the fetuses of cows in the first trimester. Clinical, pathological, serological, and microbiological examinations were performed on 10 calves. Pathological findings included microcephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia, ocular malformations, and thymic hypoplasia. BVDV was isolated from tissue and blood of 7 calves, and 4 calves, 1 of which had not received colostrum, had virus-specific neutralizing antibodies.This is the first report on natural occurrence of congenital bovine infection with BVDV among Danish cattle herds resulting in abortion and birth of calves with severe debilitating congenital anomalies. It draws attention to the importance of this virus for bovines of all age groups.     

Detection of Brucella species in the milk of infected cattle,sheep, goats and camels by PCR

One hundred and three milk samples were collected from 52 cows, 21 ewes, 18 goats and 12 camels. The animals tested positive to at least one of the following: (1) standard tube agglutination test (SAT); (2) Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT); (3) milk ring test (MRT). All milk samples were examined by culture and single-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for detection of Brucella species. The PCR assay amplified Brucella-DNA from 29 bovine milk samples, 10 from sheep, 13 from goats and one from a camel. The direct culture method detected Brucella organisms from 24 samples of cows' milk, 12 from sheep, 10 from goats and failed to detect any Brucella organisms from camels' milk. PCR detected up to 100 colony forming units (CFU) of B. abortus per millilitre of milk in 100% of diluted milk samples, and 1000 CFU of B. melitensis from 70% of milk samples. Although the overall sensitivity of the PCR was higher than the culture method, it should be possible to increase the sensitivity to detect lower numbers of Brucella organisms in field samples. The speed and sensitivity of the PCR assay suggest that this technique could be useful for detection of Brucella organisms in bovine milk, as well as in sheep, goat, and camels milk.     

牛结核病的防控

牛结核病是由结核分枝杆菌引起的一种人畜共患慢性传染病.为有效控制和净化牛结核病,切实保障畜牧业生产安全、动物产品质量安全和公共卫生安全,必须坚持预防为主、因地制宜、分类指导、逐步净化的防控方针和策略,把养殖场(户)作为防控本病的主体,不断完善奶牛养殖场生物安全体系,严格落实监测净化、检疫监管、无害化处理、应急处置等综合...     

Nucleotide sequence homology to bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 (BVDV 2) in the 5′ untranslated region of BVDVs from cattle with mucosal disease or persistent infection in Japan

Cytopathogenic and non-cytopathogenic bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDVs) were isolated from cattle with mucosal disease or persistent infection in Japan. These isolates were compared for antigenic properties by cross-neutralization tests with Japanese reference strains of BVDV belonging to classical type 1. Significantly low cross-reactivity to reference strains was noted, indicating the viruses to possibly represent a new serotype in Japan. Thus, to determine the genotype of the isolates, nucleotide sequences of the 5′ untranslated region were determined and compared with those of previously reported BVDV 1 and 2. The isolates were clearly shown to belong to BVDV 2, not to BVDV 1.     

牛病毒性腹泻病毒致病机制研究进展

牛病毒性腹泻（bovine viral diarrhea,BVD）和黏膜病（mucosal disease,MD）均是由牛病毒性腹泻病毒（bovine viral diarrhea virus,BVDV）感染引发的传染病,严重威胁世界养牛业的发展。文章概述了BVDV分型及其分子生物学特征,并从急性感染、经胎盘或子宫感染、持续性感染和黏膜病4个方面总结了近期国内外BVDV致病机制的研究进展。根据序列保守性及是否致细胞病变可将BVDV分为两种基因型和两种生物型,其中,新发现的"HoBi"株归类为瘟病毒属。BVDV基因进化很快,基因组编码4种结构蛋白和8种非结构蛋白,编码蛋白在病毒的复制、翻译及在宿主致病过程中发挥重要作用。BVDV致病机制复杂,急性感染会造成病毒血症、繁殖障碍、免疫抑制等,急性感染牛发生腹泻的原因与BVDV感染胃肠道的肌层、黏膜下层并干扰肠道神经的正常功能相关,非致细胞病变型（NCP）BVDV是造成急性感染的病因。胚胎感染BVDV取决于病毒首次侵袭时胎儿在子宫内的生长阶段。NCP型BVDV具有抑制胎儿体内产生Ⅰ型干扰素的能力,致使该病毒在宿主中得以生存并形成持续性感染牛,当持续性感染牛再次感染与NCP型BVDV高度同源的致细胞病变型（CP）毒株时直接诱发黏膜病。两种生物型的产生是发生持续性感染和黏膜病的重要因素,NCP型可向CP型BVDV进行转化。本综述有助于发现控制BVD-MD传播的新途径,为消灭该病和新型疫苗的研制提供参考。     

Experimental infection and cross protection tests in calves with cytopathic strains of bovine rotavirus

Four cytopathic strains (81/32F, 81/36F, 81/40F, 82/80F) of bovine rotavirus were shown to be pathogenic for conventionally reared newborn calves. Calves were infected orally, using 3 calves for each isolate. All became febrile, were depressed and diarrhoeic. Two calves, one of which in the group of those infected with 81/36F isolate, and the other infected with strain 81/40F, were killed when moribund. A 3rd calf from the 81/36F infected group, died. At necropsy localized lesions of the small intestines, which are considered to be typical of rotavirus infection, were found. Virus was consistently isolated from the fecal samples of the inoculated calves up to 13 days post-inoculation. It was speculated that some differences existed in the virulence of the bovine rotaviruses tested. The cross protection tests revealed that 1 strain (81/36F) might be antigenically more complex than the others.     

Oral endoscopy as an aid to diagnosis of equine cheek tooth infections in the absence of gross oral pathological changes: 17 cases

Reasons for performing study: Removal of cheek teeth in all but the aged horse or pony is a serious undertaking with potentially deleterious sequellae. Rigid endoscopy permits detailed examination of the oral cavity and erupted dental tissues and has the potential to assist in the correct identification of the diseased tooth. Objectives: To document oral endoscopic findings associated with infected equine cheek teeth in cases without gross oral pathological changes and thereby determine the usefulness of rigid oral endoscopy as an aid to diagnosis of such infections. Methods: Records of all cases of equine cheek tooth removal attempted under standing sedation over a 38 month period were examined. Cases were excluded from the study if apical infection was associated with gross dental fracture, malalignment, diastema/periodontal pocketing or supernumerary teeth. Endoscopic and radiographic findings were analysed and correlated to diseased tooth location. Results: Seventeen cases of apical dental infection fitting the inclusion criteria (nonresponsive to antibiotics and with no gross oral abnormality of the affected arcade) were identified in which oral endoscopy was used as an aid to diagnosis. In 15 (88%) of the 17 cases, oral endoscopy revealed abnormalities specific to the infected tooth. Focal gingival recession (10/17 cases) was the most common visible abnormality associated with infected teeth. Conclusions: In the majority of cases of apical infection of equine cheek teeth there is visible intraoral evidence implicating the affected tooth. Potential relevance: Oral endoscopy facilitates detailed examination of the mouth and should be considered along with radiography as an important aid to diagnosis in cases of equine dental infection.     

茎基腐亚洲镰孢菌侵染抗感小麦品种的组织病理学观察

小麦茎基腐是由多种镰孢菌侵染的世界性土传病害,亚洲镰孢菌(Fusarium asiaticum)是我国冬小麦主产区茎基腐镰孢菌的优势种群,对小麦生产造成巨大损失。本研究利用绿色荧光蛋白报告基因标记亚洲镰孢菌,研究其侵染抗感小麦的病理组织学过程,建立了茎基腐病菌与寄主互作的直观性的研究体系,对病害防治及抗病育种具有重要意义。基于PEG-CaCl_2介导原生质体转化法将gfp导入亚洲镰孢菌株CF0915,对转化子进行荧光表达、PCR验证、遗传稳定性、生长特性及致病力分析,选取与野生型表现相近的转化子进行侵染分析。结果表明,绿色荧光蛋白基因(gfp)与潮霉素基因(hyg)PCR扩增表明gfp已整合入真菌基因组中,转化子菌丝与分生孢子表现强烈绿色荧光信号,gfp能够在转化子中稳定遗传,菌落形态、生长速度及致病力与野生型菌株无显著差异;将gfp标记病菌分生孢子接种感病品种1 d后,大量孢子附着于根毛及根表皮细胞开始萌发,接种2 d后观察到抗性品种分生孢子萌发;感病品种接种3 d后,菌丝直接侵入表皮细胞或沿表皮细胞间层定殖生长,扩展至皮层组织,8 d后菌丝从根部迅速扩展至茎基部,至第10 d大量菌丝充塞根皮层细胞,叶鞘维管束也被菌丝侵染,并产生大量大型分生孢子,植株表现褐色病斑,14 d后根部及茎维管束被大量菌丝体填充,而后产生大量厚垣孢子,至25 d大部分感病品种幼苗萎蔫死亡;与感病品种相比,抗性品种在整个侵染过程中表现时间滞后。本研究对引起茎基腐病的亚洲镰孢菌侵染小麦的组织学过程观察,为病菌致病机理的阐释及抗病资源的利用提供了重要理论依据。