Malignant catarrhal fever virus specific secretory IgA in nasal secretions of wildebeest calves.

Wildebeest IgA was isolated from nasal secretions and precolostrum. It was identified by cross-reaction with anti-human and anti-bovine IgA sera. Nasal secretions collected from wildebeest calves over 3 months old had malignant catarrhal fever virus neutralizing antibody activity. They also contained specific IgA to the virus as detected by indirect immunofluorescence. It is suggested that production of malignant catarrhal fever virus specific IgA in the nasal cavity, contributes to the elimination and cessation of the virus shed in the nasal secretions of wildebeest calves over 3 months. old.

Antibodies in carrier wildebeest to the lymphoproliferative herpesvirus of malignant catarrhal fever.

Six types of antibody to malignant catarrhal fever virus (MCFV) were measured in 132 sera collected from Wildebeest in Kenya Masailand. The titre of all types of antibody declined slowly with increasing age of the wildebeest. A significantly greater proportion of wildebeest calves had higher titres of antibodies to MCFV early antigens, IgM antibodies to MCFV late antigens and complement-fixing antibodies, than did older animals. One seronegative calf, reared in isolation without colostrum, became seropositive 4 1/2 weeks after birth but did not show any clinical signs indicative of MCFV infection. Similarities between MCFV infection of wildebeest calves and other inapparent infections with lymphoproliferative herpesviruses are discussed.

Isolation of bovine malignant catarrhal fever virus from ocular and nasal secretions of wildebeest calves.

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) virus was isolated from ocular secretions of four out of nine free-ranging wildebeest calves, while four out of 11 animals had the virus in nasal secretions. The mean infectivity of virus in ocular and nasal secretions was 10(2.25)TCID50/ml and 10(2.5)TCID50/ml respectively but infectivity of more than 10(3.2)TCID50/ml was found in some ocular and nasal secretions. Thus it appears that MCF virus is excreted via the ocular and nasal routes from wildebeest calves, and the presence of high titre virus supports the suggestion that MCF virus is disseminated by these secretions. This virus was not recovered from urine or saliva.

Antibodies to malignant catarrhal fever virus antigens in the sera of normal and naturally infected cattle in Kenya.

Six different serological tests were used to examine Kenyan cattle sera for antibodies to the herpesvirus of malignant catarrhal fever. Significantly higher levels of indirect immunofluorescent antibody to early and late virus antigens and of complement fixing antibody were found in the sera of 13 naturally infected cattle than in 482 sera collected from four different groups of normal cattle. Virus neutralising and immunoprecipitating antibodies were also found in some infected cattle sera but not in normal cattle sera. Many non-specific reactions occurred using counterimmunoelectrophoresis. These preliminary results indicate that the serological diagnosis of wildebeest-associated malignant catarrhal fever may be possible.

Fatal theileriosis in eland (Taurotragus oryx): pathology of natural and experimental cases.

Clinical, parasitological and pathological studies were made on five eland infected with Theileria. Three were natural Theileria infections while the other two were experimental cases. All eland died. Generalised lymph node enlargement was a common feature. Wasting occurred in the more prolonged cases and in two of the field cases severe terminal diarrhoea developed. The third field case died in severe respiratory distress. In all cases, up to 50 per cent piroplasm parasitaemia was wound and schizonts were seen in lymph node biopsy samples and in lymphoid smears prepared at necropsy. These parasites showed the morphological characteristics of Theileria taurotragi. The cells parasitised by schizonts had the morphological features of large lymphoid cells. These were infiltrated widely throughout the tissues and organs examined including the lymphoid organs, the gastrointestinal tract (in two cases this was the cause of death), adrenal glands, liver, lungs and to a lesser extent the heart and kidneys. In the one case in which the brain was examined, it was found to be involved. The severely affected organs were diffusely infiltrated with parasitised cells both intravascularly and extravascularly. Lymphocytolysis, necrosis, thrombosis and haemorrhage were frequently encountered in association with parasitised cells. All eland involved except one were males despite the fact that there were more females in the herds.

Cytomegalic inclusion disease in the east African headgehog.

Cytomegaly with intranuclear inclusion bodies was found in the duct epithelium of the salivary glands of five of ten hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris). Cytomegalovirus infection was presumed to be the cause.

Antibodies to Brucella spp. among blue wildebeest and African buffalo in Kenya.

A serologic survey of blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus Burchell) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman) in the Masai Mara area was conducted. Antibodies to Brucella spp. were found in 18% of the blue wildebeest and 30% of the African buffalo examined. There were titers in all age groups and in both sexes. Hygromata were seen in both species. The increase in numbers of blue wildebeest and African buffalo which share grazing and watering areas with cattle of the Masai people, makes the presence of infections by Brucella spp. in wildlife an important consideration in any program for control of brucellosis.

Free-living jackals (Canis mesomelas)-potential reservoir hosts for Ehrlichia canis in Kenya.

Using a modified cell culture test, Ehrlichia canis was found in eight of 15 free-living jackals (Canis mesomelas) and 14 of 31 dogs owned by pastoral communities in the same areas of Kenya. Two cross-bred puppies inoculated with blood from infected jackals developed mild, transient clinical disease, and E. canis was recovered from the puppies. Tick species found on the jackals were similar to those found on the infected dogs. Ehrlichia canis was not found in eight spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) from these areas.

Experimental infection of wildebeest with the herpesvirus of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis.

Intravaginal inoculation of a wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) with a wildebeest strain of the infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis herpesvirus induced only mild vulvovaginitis. The same virus did not produce any disease in another wildebeest exposed intranasally. A wildebeest bull which was inoculated by preputial instillation developed mild posthitis. The virus was reisolated only from the sites of inoculation. A carrier state was initiated in a wildebeest inoculated only once, intravaginally. The presence of this virus in the various secretions is a potential source for venereal transmission.

Cardiovascular calcification associated with nephritis in a badger.

Calcification of the endocardium of the left artrium, and to a lesser extent the media of the pulmonary artery and aorta, was found associated with nephritis in a badger (Taxidea taxus).

Hepatozoon sp. infection in mink from southwestern Ontario.

Schizonts of Hepatozoon sp. were found in the lungs of 10 of 18 (56%) mink (Mustela vison). Schizonts were located in microgranulomas within the pulmonary parenchyma, occasionally in peribronchiolar or perivascular sites.

Skin papillomas in an impala (Aepyceros melampus) and a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis).

Viral particles, typical of the papovavirus family, were demonstrated by electronmicroscopy in small papillomas found on the feet of an impala (Aepyceros melampus) and on the face of a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Kenya. Histologically the tissues proved to be typical papillomas. The viral particles measured 38 nm and 40 nm in diameter in all tissue sections from the impala and giraffe respectively.

Experience with drugs for capture and restraint of wildebeest, impala, eland and hartebeest in Kenya.

Two hundred and sixteen wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), 111 impala (Aepyceros melampus), 39 eland (Taurotragus oryx) and 9 hartebeest (Alcelaphlus buselaphus cokii) were drug-immobilized for capture or for handling in captivity. Drugs used for capture were combinations of xylazine, etorphine and acepromazine, or xylazine and fentanyl, with or without the addition of azaperone. For restraint in captivity, xylazine alone proved to be satisfactory in most instances. Drugs were injected with projectile syringes. Recommendation on dosage are given.

The prevalence of antibody of antibody to contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (Mycoplasma strain F38) in some wild herbivores and camels in Kenya.

Sera of 11 species of wild herbivores were tested for antibody to Mycoplasma strain F38 which causes contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in Kenya. Antibodies were found in buffalo (Syncerus caffer) (32%), impala (Aepyceros melampus) (10%) and camels (Camelus dromedarius) (49%) but not in bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), eland (Taurotragus oryx), Grant's gazelle (Gazella granti), kongoni (Alcelaphus buselaphus cokei), oryx (Oryx beisa), Thomson's gazelle (Gazella thomsonii), waterbuck (Kobus defassa) and wildebeest (Connochaetus taurinus).

Tuberculosis in lesser flamingoes in Kenya.

Four cases of tuberculosis are recorded in lesser flamingoes (Phoeniconaias minor) from Lake Nakuru, Kenya. The clinical, pathological and microbiological findings are given and the possible significance of the infection in this species is discussed.

Pasteurella anatipestifer as a cause of mortality in captive wild waterfowl.

An outbreak of Pasteurella anatipestifer infection in young wild waterfowl at the Niska Waterfowl Research Center resulted in losses of approximately 100 Blue and Snow Geese, one White-fronted Goose, five Mandarin Ducks, one Black Duck and one Wood Duck. Clinical signs included diarrhea, paralysis and tremors. Gross lesions were fibrin deposits on serosal surfaces, hemorrhages on the epicardium, consolidation of the lungs, cloudy or flaky deposits on the air sacs, and dark, swollen spleens. Microscopic lesions included fibrinous meningitis, pneumonitis, air saculitis and serositis. Swollen leg and foot joints were seen in some cases. Chloramphenicol treatment seemed to be of benefit in controlling the outbreak.

Serologic evidence of toxoplasmosis in captive and free-living wild mammals in Kenya.

Sera from 27 captive and 132 free-living mammals in Kenya were tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma by the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Of these 8 of 8 (100%) captive carnivores, 14 of 19 (74%) captive herbivores, 11 of 14 (79%) free-living carnivores and 97 of 118 (82%) free-living herbivores were found to have Toxoplasma antibodies. The feeding and drinking habits of the various herbivore species were considered as possibly facilitating exposure to Toxoplasma oocysts; also the feeding on prey in the wild and on meat in captivity as favoring exposure to the cyst form of Toxoplasma.

Experimental transmission of gastro-intestinal nematodes between sheep (Ovis aries) and Thomson's gazelles (Gazella thomsonii).

Experimental cross-transmission of gastro-intestinal nematodes between Merino sheep (Ovis aries) and Thomson's gazelles (Gazella thomsonii) from similar but separate grazing habitats in Kenya was studied. Cross-transmission did occur with some species but the faecal egg counts of sheep were higher than the gazelles' following infection with larvae isolated from either sheep or gazelles. Of the 11 gastro-intestinal nematodes which became established in gazelles following infection with larvae cultured from nematodes in gazelles, only Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus probolurus and Cooperia hungi were infective for sheep. Following infection with larvae of either sheep or gazelle origin, the H. contortus recovered from the sheep at necropsy were more numerous and had greater average weights, lengths and spicule lengths than those recovered from the gazelles. This would suggest that H. contortus is primarily a sheep parasite. It is concluded that Thomson's gazelles probably would not contribute significantly to the problem of haemonchosis in sheep in areas of shared grazing, unless efforts were being made to eradicate the parasite from sheep, in which case the gazelles would act as a continuing reservoir of infection.

Hepatitis in skunks caused by the virus of infectious canine hepatitis.

Two cases of acute, fatal, hepatitis occurred in young, striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) trapped in southern Ontario. Histologically, lesions in the liver were similar to infectious canine hepatitis. A virus was isolated which produced large intranuclear inclusions in dog kidney cell cultures. These inclusions were Feulgen-positive and fluoresced green with acridine orange stain. The skunk hepatitis isolate was identified as the virus of infectious canine hepatitis by virus neutralization tests.

Observations on the epidemiology of the herpesvirus of infectous bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis in wildebeest.

Spontaneous vulvovaginitis erupted in wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) after betamethasone inoculation. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IBR/IPV) is probably a venereal disease because virgin wildebeest did not develop vulvovaginitis after betamethasone injections, nor was the virus transmitted to these virgin wildebeest and steers which were in pen contact with the affected animals. A domestic bovine heifer developed mild IPV and became a virus carrier, when exposed to the wildebeest IPV virus by vaginal instillation.