Malignant catarrhal fever-like disease in sheep after intranasal inoculation with ovine herpesvirus-2.

A malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)-like disease was induced experimentally in 3 sheep after aerosol inoculation with ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2). Each of 3 OvHV-2-negative sheep was nebulized with 2 ml of nasal secretions containing approximately 3.07 X 10(9) OvHV-2 DNA copies from a sheep experiencing an intensive viral-shedding episode. Ovine herpesvirus-2 DNA became detectable by polymerase chain reaction in the peripheral blood leukocytes of all 3 sheep within 3 days, and all 3 seroconverted between 6 and 8 days postinfection (PI). The sheep developed clinical signs, with copious mucopurulent nasal discharge and fever around 14 days PI. One of the 3 clinically affected sheep was euthanized at 18 days PI. Major lesions at necropsy were multifocal linear erosions and ulcers in mucosa of the cheeks, tongue, pharynx, and proximal esophagus and mild disseminated pneumonia. Microscopically, there was extensive moderate superficial histiocytic-lymphocytic rhinitis with epithelial dissociation and degeneration. Moderate multifocal histiocytic bronchointerstitial pneumonia was associated with loss of terminal bronchiolar epithelium. Lymphocytic vasculitis was present only in the lung. The remaining 2 sheep recovered clinically, approximately 25 days PI. The study revealed that clinical signs and lesions resembling MCF can develop when uninfected sheep are exposed to a high dose of aerosolized OvHV-2.     

Relationship of blood corticosterone, immunoglobulin and haematological values in young crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) to water temperature, clutch of origin and body weight

Objective To examine whether sub-optimal temperature induced stress and immunosuppression in farmed saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) hatchlings. Design A clinico-pathological study. Animals A total of 140 hatchlings were used. Procedure Body weight and length, plasma corticosterone and immunoglobulin concentrations and total and differential white blood cell counts were measured in 140 hatchlings from five clutches divided between five water temperature treatment groups. Initially all groups were housed at 32°C for 10 weeks, then two groups (L, LC) were changed to low temperature (28°C) and two groups (H, HC) to high temperature (36°C), while one group (C) remained at 32°C. The LC and HC groups were maintained at these temperatures for 10 days, after which the water temperature of both groups was returned to 32°C. Blood samples were collected twice (at 6 and 9 weeks of age) before the initial temperature change, and at 10 days and 4 weeks after the initial temperature change (at 11.5 and 14 weeks of age). Results Except for an increase in plasma corticosterone in the HC group and a decrease in the L group when the temperature change was first introduced, changes in plasma corticosterone were not significant. There were no significant changes in immunoglobulin concentrations. There were, however, significant decreases in the total white cell and lymphocyte counts in the LC group after the temperature was decreased to 28°C, and an increase in these counts after water temperature was returned to 32°C. Clutch of origin had significant effects on body weight and length gains, and there were negative relationships between body weight and corticosterone concentrations and between body weight and immunoglobulin concentrations. Conclusions As haematological changes indicative of stress were not associated with significant changes in serum corticosterone, immunosuppression in young crocodiles may be independent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortical axis.     

Evaluation of a simple technique for characterizing rice root systems in relation to drought resistance

Summary Drought is a constraint to rice yields in much of Asia's rainfed rice crop. Although genotypic variation for root system characteristics is well documented in this semiaquatic species, little improvement of rice for drought resistance has been attempted. No simple method to evaluate root systems exists. In this paper we report the development and testing of a simple device to measure the pulling force required to uproot rice seedlings. The force required to pull rice seedlings from the paddy soil was correlated with root weight, root branching and thick root number. The capability to separate rice cultivars by this technique and relationship of the root pulling force to other drought screening methods are illustrated.     

Genital pathology of feral male goats

Genitalia from 1000 feral male goats derived from western Queensland and New South Wales were examined after slaughter at an abattoir and the prevalence of abnormalities determined. Ulcerative balanoposthitis, considered due to caprine herpesvirus infection, was observed in 11 animals (1.1%); acidophilic intranuclear inclusions were found in 7 of these. Other conditions included focal hypoplasia of seminiferous tubules in 2 bucks (0.2%), segmental aplasia of the epididymis (one buck, 0.1%), bulbourethral gland cysts with contained aggregations (33 bucks, 3.3%) and haemangiosarcoma of the bulbourethral gland in one animal. The low prevalence of several conditions such as spermatic granuloma, cryptorchidism, and testicular hypoplasia, was attributed largely to the fact that the bucks examined were horned so that the recognised association between genital abnormalities and polledness did not apply.     

Acanthocephalan infection and sparganosis in a green tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata)

Acanthocephalan and spargana parasites were identified within a body wall mass during exploratory surgery in a wild green tree snake. Acanthocephalan parasites have not previously been reported in this species. Surgical excision, the treatment of choice, could not be achieved because of the extensive infiltration of the coelomic cavity.