Extreme eosinophilia with disseminated eosinophilic granulomatous disease in a horse

Extreme eosinophilia with disseminated eosinophilic granulomatous disease is described in a 4-year-old Arabian mare. Clinical signs included weight loss, coughing, jugular distention, and ventral edema. Cutaneous lesions were not observed. Eosinophilic inflammation was observed in cytologic specimens from the respiratory tract, body cavities, and lymph nodes. At necropsy, a 20-cm diameter intrathoracic mass was observed. Smaller nodules were present in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, adrenal glands, pancreas, and skeletal muscle. Histologically, these masses and nodules were characterized by infiltrates of eosinophils, macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells, reactive fibroplasia; and multifocal eosinophilic coagula. Microscopically, mild eosinophilic infiltrates were observed in sections of stomach, small intestine, colon, and pleura; however, gross lesions were not observed in these tissues at necropsy. The etiology of the extreme eosinophilia and disseminated eosinophilic granulomatous disease in this horse was not determined.     

大菱鲆内脏结节病病原的分离与鉴定

2017年8月,天津市滨海新区某养殖场大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)发生病害,累计死亡率约为25%,患病鱼体表无明显症状。通过肉眼和病理组织切片观察发现,患病鱼肾脏、脾脏、肝脏和肠道存在大量圆形结节,肾脏、肝脏和脾脏组织病变明显,肾小管坏死,肝细胞脂肪变性,脾脏中存在大量的坏死细胞。此外,在脾脏和肾脏组织中发现大量的抗酸杆菌。利用传统病原菌分离方法,从具有典型症状的濒死大菱鲆肾脏组织分离到优势菌株myco-10,利用该菌株注射攻毒能导致健康大菱鲆66.7%的死亡率,且表现出与自然发病鱼相同的症状。采用16S rDNA、Hsp65、ropB基因序列分析,构建系统发育树并结合细菌形态特征、生理生化测试对菌株myco-10进行鉴定,结果显示,菌株myco-10的16SrDNA、Hsp65、ropB基因序列与分枝杆菌属细菌(Mycobacteriumspp.)相似度最高,且在系统发育树中与海分枝杆菌(Mycobacteriummarinum)和溃疡分枝杆菌(Mycobacteriumulcerans)聚为一簇,生理生化反应与海分枝杆菌一致。综合生理生化特征和基因序列分析结果,将菌株myco-10鉴定为海分枝杆菌。这是中国首例分枝杆菌引起大菱鲆病害的报道,可为大菱鲆内脏结节病的防治提供参考资料。     

抗独特型抗体和吡喹酮协同预防绵羊日本血吸虫病的研究——Ⅰ.抗独特型抗体疫苗和吡喹酮对绵羊肝脏虫卵肉芽肿形成的影响

本研究将日本血吸虫单克隆抗独特型抗体（抗－Ｉｄ）结合佐剂ＦＣＡ／ＦＩＡ免疫的绵羊设为抗－Ｉｄ免疫组，将在攻击感染日本血吸虫尾蚴前２小时肌注低剂量吡喹酮（ＰＺＱ）的绵羊设为ＰＺＱ组，将既用抗－Ｉｄ免疫又在攻击感染前肌注ＰＺＱ的绵羊设为协同组，同时设空白和ＦＣＡ对照组。在攻击感染血吸虫后的第１２周，剖杀各组绵羊，收集肝脏病理组织块，经切片和染色后，用显微镜测量各组肝脏单个虫卵肉芽肿直径。结果发现，抗－Ｉｄ组、ＰＺＱ组和协同组的肉芽肿直径分别为０．４１、０．４２和０．４０ｍｍ，均明显小于空白对照组（０．５１ｍｍ，Ｐ＜０．０５），也小于ＦＣＡ对照组。组织病理观察结果表明，试验组虫卵周围的多核巨细胞数量明显高于对照组。实验结果提示，抗－Ｉｄ免疫和预防性注射ＰＺＱ均能直接影响虫卵肉芽肿的形成，并且二者存在协同作用，对探讨血吸虫病免疫预防机理的研究具有一定的意义。     

Francisella sp., an emerging pathogen of tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), in Costa Rica

Francisella sp. is an emergent bacterial pathogen that causes acute to chronic disease in warm and cold water cultured and wild fish species. During the past 3 years, the bacterium has been detected in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus , cultured in Costa Rica. Infected fish presented non-specific clinical signs, such as erratic swimming, anorexia, anaemia, exophthalmia and high mortality. Upon macroscopic and microscopic examination, several internal organs (mainly spleen and kidney) were enlarged and contained white nodules. Histological examination revealed the presence of multifocal granulomatous lesions, with the presence of numerous small, pleomorphic, cocco-bacilli. The bacteria were isolated from infected tilapia on selective media and grown on several media with and without antibiotics. Specific PCR primers to the Francisella genus were used to confirm the preliminary diagnoses. In comparison with several bacterial 16S rRNA sequences, our isolate was found to share 99% identity with other Fransicella spp. isolated from fish, and more than 97% identity to the human pathogen Francisella tularensis . Koch's postulates were fulfilled after experimental intraperitoneal and gill exposure challenges.     

Mycobacterial nodular granulomas affecting the subcutis and skin of dogs (canine leproid granuloma syndrome)

Objective To obtain a better understanding of a disease affecting dogs in which nodular mycobacterial granulomas are present in the subcutis or skin. Design Retrospective survey Procedure A diagnosis of an unidentified mycobacterial infection was made in 45 dogs following detection of acid-fast bacilli surrounded by granulomatous or pyogranulomatous inflammation in tissue sections. Eight cases were identified from the records of our diagnostic laboratory. In all cases culture for mycobacteria was unsuccessful. Another 37 cases were identified by practitioners and veterinary pathologists in response to a survey mailed to veterinary clinics throughout Australia. Data from these 45 cases were entered into a data base. The data set was incomplete, as some respondents did not answer all questions. Results Over 90% of affected dogs had short coats and about half were Boxers or Boxer-cross dogs. A weak seasonal trend for the development of primary lesions in autumn and winter was identified. Cases were recorded from New South Wales (35 dogs), Western Australia (4), Queensland (4), Tasmania (1) and New Zealand (1). The subcutis and skin of the ears and head (including the ears) were involved in 64% and 85% of cases, respectively, for which lesion site was recorded. Culture was attempted but was unsuccessful in 19 cases, including 11 cases where material was submitted to our laboratory and/or a Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory. Lymph node enlargement, internal organ involvement or constitutional signs were not a feature of the syndrome, and most lesions did not worry the dogs. Although many practitioners recorded a favourable response to therapy with doxycycline (response rate 57%) or amoxycillin-clavulanate (63%), spontaneous resolution of infection was thought to have occurred in six of seven dogs (86%) not given systemic antimicrobials, and three dogs where antimicrobials had failed previously. A minority of cases failed to respond to antimicrobial therapy and continued to have chronic lesions. There was no discernible trend for dogs of a particular age or sex to be affected. Conclusion This syndrome is caused by saprophytic mycobacteria of limited pathogenicity that give rise to lesions restricted principally but not exclusively to the subcutis and skin of body extremities. Fastidious growth requirements have prevented their isolation on synthetic media used for culture of mycobacteria. Organisms presumably enter the subcutis following a breach in integrity of the epidermal barrier and produce self-limiting disease in immunocompetent dogs. Lesions tend to resolve spontaneously. The possibility of a public health threat from affected dogs is highly unlikely.     

Pulmonary and hepatic eosinophilic granulomas and epistaxis in a horse suggestive of multi‐systemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease

Multi‐systemic eosinophilic epitheliotropic disease (MEED) is a relatively uncommon disease characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of more than one organ system, with the skin and gastrointestinal tract most commonly affected. This case report describes a gelding that presented for weight loss, increased respiratory rate and effort and chronic intermittent epistaxis. During post mortem examination diffuse eosinophilic granulomatous lesions were identified in the lung and liver, leading to a diagnosis of MEED. Veno‐occlusive pulmonary remodelling was also discovered, believed to be the cause of the chronic epistaxis and a result of the pulmonary fibrosis and eosinophilic granulomas.     

Cytology and histopathology of canine leproid granuloma syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To describe the histopathology of canine leproid granuloma syndrome. DESIGN: Histological examination of biopsy specimens taken from dogs with leproid granuloma syndrome. Biopsies were acquired from four veterinary pathology practices after initial examination showed acid-fast bacilli or lesions suggestive of a mycobacterial aetiology. Tissue from 30 cases formed part of a retrospective survey while a further 7 cases were obtained prospectively. PROCEDURE: Tissue samples were fixed in formalin and paraffin embedded. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen stains. Slides were evaluated for the type of inflammatory response and the number of bacteria. In a few cases smears made from crush preparations and needle aspirates were stained with DiffQuik and acid-fast stains. RESULTS: The common cytological feature seen in DiffQuik stained smears was numerous, often spindle-shaped, macrophages with variable numbers of lymphocytes and plasma cells and lower numbers of neutrophils. Usually few to moderate numbers of medium length bacilli were detected within macrophages or extracellularly. Histologically, lesions were chiefly pyogranulomatous within the subcutis and dermis. Pyogranulomas were composed chiefly of epithelioid macrophages and neutrophils but plasma cells and small lymphocytes were scattered throughout the lesions in which giant cells were seen. Lesions were pyogranulomatous in 36 cases and granulomatous with small suppurative foci in one. The numbers of acid-fast bacilli present were very low to low in 22 cases, moderate in 6 and regionally numerous to numerous in 9. Bacteria were pleomorphic, ranging from long, slender filaments in parallel sheaves to short and variably-beaded bacilli or highly beaded to coccoid organisms. The morphology was more uniform in DiffQuik stained smears than in fixed tissue sections. CONCLUSION: The pathology of canine leproid granuloma syndrome is highly uniform and is suggestive of saprophytic mycobacterial involvement. The morphological diversity of acid-fast bacilli probably results from differences in staining characteristics rather than indicating different species of Mycobacterium. While approximately half of the cases had only few organisms present, the veterinary practitioner using a Romanovsky stain such as DiffQuik on aspirated material might expect to obtain a rapid diagnosis in many cases. This would allow differentiation of the syndrome from neoplastic and other diseases of the skin and direct appropriate treatment at the initial presentation.