Hair follicle dystrophy in a litter of domestic cats resembling lanceolate hair mutant mice.

BACKGROUND: A new congenital hair-shaft abnormality resembling the lanceolate hair phenotype of rodents is described in a litter of four domestic short hair (DSH) cats. Data relating to hair shaft and follicle disorders remain scarce in veterinary medicine. OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare structural abnormalities in these cats with other hair dystrophies in cats and other mammals. ANIMALS: A DSH cat litter with progressive noninflammatory alopecia. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Histopathological evaluation, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray based element analysis defined the hair and skin changes in cats born with alopecia. Findings were compared to archival data from normal cats and lanceolate hair (Dsg4lahJ ) and Keratin 75 (Krt75tm1Der ) mutant mice. RESULTS: Light and scanning electron microscopy of the hairs revealed lance- or spear-head shaped defects of the hair tip. Histological findings were swollen hair shafts, initially above the hair bulb matrix and later found in the distal parts of the telogen hair follicles, similar to those observed in Dsg4lahJ Krt75tm1Der mutant mice. Transmission electron microscopy of the hair shaft and hair follicles showed a loss in the normal structure of the guard hairs in the alopecic cats. There was a statistically significant decrease in sulfur content just below the defects in the hair shafts (trichothiodystrophy). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A rare form of congenital alopecia resulting in follicular dystrophy is described in cats which is similar to hair follicle and hair-shaft changes reported in several mutant mouse strains with single gene mutations in adhesion molecules or keratin genes.

Critical role of perforin-dependent CD8+ T cell immunity for rapid protective vaccination in a murine model for human smallpox.

Vaccination is highly effective in preventing various infectious diseases, whereas the constant threat of new emerging pathogens necessitates the development of innovative vaccination principles that also confer rapid protection in a case of emergency. Although increasing evidence points to T cell immunity playing a critical role in vaccination against viral diseases, vaccine efficacy is mostly associated with the induction of antibody responses. Here we analyze the immunological mechanism(s) of rapidly protective vaccinia virus immunization using mousepox as surrogate model for human smallpox. We found that fast protection against lethal systemic poxvirus disease solely depended on CD4 and CD8 T cell responses induced by vaccination with highly attenuated modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) or conventional vaccinia virus. Of note, CD4 T cells were critically required to allow for MVA induced CD8 T cell expansion and perforin-mediated cytotoxicity was a key mechanism of MVA induced protection. In contrast, selected components of the innate immune system and B cell-mediated responses were fully dispensable for prevention of fatal disease by immunization given two days before challenge. In conclusion, our data clearly demonstrate that perforin-dependent CD8 T cell immunity plays a key role in MVA conferred short term protection against lethal mousepox. Rapid induction of T cell immunity might serve as a new paradigm for treatments that need to fit into a scenario of protective emergency vaccination.

N1L is an ectromelia virus virulence factor and essential for in vivo spread upon respiratory infection.

The emergence of zoonotic orthopoxvirus infections and the threat of possible intentional release of pathogenic orthopoxviruses have stimulated renewed interest in understanding orthopoxvirus infections and the resulting diseases. Ectromelia virus (ECTV), the causative agent of mousepox, offers an excellent model system to study an orthopoxvirus infection in its natural host. Here, we investigated the role of the vaccinia virus ortholog N1L in ECTV infection. Respiratory infection of mice with an N1L deletion mutant virus (ECTVΔN1L) demonstrated profound attenuation of the mutant virus, confirming N1 as an orthopoxvirus virulence factor. Upon analysis of virus dissemination in vivo, we observed a striking deficiency of ECTVΔN1L spreading from the lungs to the livers or spleens of infected mice. Investigating the immunological mechanism controlling ECTVΔN1L infection, we found the attenuated phenotype to be unaltered in mice deficient in Toll-like receptor (TLR) or RIG-I-like RNA helicase (RLH) signaling as well as in those missing the type I interferon receptor or lacking B cells. However, in RAG-1(-/-) mice lacking mature B and T cells, ECTVΔN1L regained virulence, as shown by increasing morbidity and virus spread to the liver and spleen. Moreover, T cell depletion experiments revealed that ECTVΔN1L attenuation was reversed only by removing both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, so the presence of either cell subset was still sufficient to control the infection. Thus, the orthopoxvirus virulence factor N1 may allow efficient ECTV infection in mice by interfering with host T cell function.

Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma with dissemination to the liver in an eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus).

Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma with liver metastasis was diagnosed in a 10-year-old eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). Physical findings included intracutaneous swellings, ulcerated plaques and nodules, hypotrichosis and erythema of the skin. Fine needle aspiration from the skin lesions showed a population of large lymphocytes and lymphoblasts, and was helpful in establishing the diagnosis antemortem. The post-mortem examination revealed epitheliotropic lymphoma with liver metastasis. Immunohistochemistry proved the T-cell origin both in the liver and skin tumours. Electron microscopy did not reveal any viral particles within the tumour. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first case of lymphoma described in this species.

Bovine besnoitiosis in Germany.

This paper reports a case of natural occurring bovine besnoitiosis in Germany. The skin lesions consisted of multifocal hypotrichosis and alopecia, lichenification, erythema and seborrhoea. Histopathologic findings revealed characteristic cysts of Besnoitia spp. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology and the species Besnoitia besnoiti was identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Systemic Acremonium species infection in a dog.

A 2-year-old female Magyar Viszla was referred with fever, lethargy, polyuria/polydipsia, and suspected systemic cryptococcosis. At presentation increased rectal temperature and enlarged lymph nodes were detected. Main laboratory abnormalities included lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, and mildly reduced urine specific gravity. Abdominal ultrasound was unremarkable. Lymph node cytology revealed mycotic infection. Acremonium species was isolated from urine as well as from a popliteal lymph node by fungal culture. Therapy with itraconazol (10 mg/kg p. o. q 12 h) was initiated based on susceptibility testing, but dosage had to be reduced by half due to adverse effects. Despite treatment, the dog developed progressive azotemia. Four months after initial presentation, the patient showed anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, diarrhea, vomitus, neurological signs, and severe azotemia and was euthanized. Acremonium species are emerging opportunistic mould fungi that can represent a potential threat for immunocompromised humans. In dogs, only two cases of systemic infection with this fungal species have been reported so far. This case highlights the fact that systemic fungal infections should be considered as a differential in cases of fever and lymphadenopathy.

Isolation of canine Anaplasma phagocytophilum strains from clinical blood samples using the Ixodes ricinus cell line IRE/CTVM20.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an intracellular tick-borne rickettsial pathogen, which causes granulocytic anaplasmosis in various species of livestock and companion animals and also in humans. Previously A. phagocytophilum has been isolated and propagated in cell lines derived from the tick Ixodes scapularis and in the human promyelocytic cell line HL60. In this study we used the Ixodes ricinus-derived cell line IRE/CTVM20 to isolate and propagate two new canine strains of A. phagocytophilum. Blood samples were collected by veterinarians from two dogs, one from Germany and the other from Austria. Suspicion of clinical canine granulocytic anaplasmosis was raised by the treating veterinarians and after confirmation of A. phagocytophilum infection by real-time PCR, buffy coat cells were isolated and co-cultivated with IRE/CTVM20 cells maintained at 28 °C in L15/L15B medium. In the tick cells, rickettsial inclusions were first recognised after 86 days of incubation. Electron microscopic examination of tick cells infected with one of the isolates revealed cytoplasmic vacuoles containing pleomorphic organisms with individual bacteria enveloped by a bilayer membrane. Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes confirmed the isolation of A. phagocytophilum and showed the highest identity to the A. phagocytophilum human HZ strain. The two A. phagocytophilum isolates were passaged several times in IRE/CTVM20 cells and transferred to the I. scapularis cell line ISE6. This confirms for the first time the successful establishment and continuous cultivation of this pathogen in I. ricinus cells as well as infectivity of these canine strains for I. scapularis cells.

Influence of systemic antibiotics on the treatment of dogs with generalized demodicosis.

Canine generalized demodicosis (CGD) is a skin disease with distinct breed predispositions. Secondary bacterial infections are common. Dogs typically receive miticidal therapy in combination with antibacterial treatment. Whether antibiotics influence the duration of acaricidal therapy is unknown at the moment. There is also debate over how common short-tailed Demodex mites occur in demodicosis. This study evaluated the influence of systemic antibiotics on the course of CGD, the occurrence of short-tailed Demodex mites in demodectic dogs and the influence of furunculosis on treatment outcome. Breed predispositions for CGD in Moscow were identified. Fifty-eight dogs were randomly distributed in two groups. Both were treated with ivermectin 600 mcg/kg q24h orally and benzoyl peroxide shampoo weekly. The dogs in one group (AB) were additionally treated with systemic antibiotics for at least 1 month, dogs in the other group (NAB) were not. Monthly examinations, skin scrapings and impression smears were performed. Prior to the study there was no difference in clinical severity, presence of pyoderma and mite numbers between groups. There was no significant difference in duration until first negative skin scrapings and resolution of bacterial infection. In dogs with furunculosis the number of the mites was significantly higher than in dogs without furunculosis but the duration until microscopic remission albeit longer, was not significantly different. Short-tailed Demodex mites were found in 25% of the cases. Pugs and English Bulldogs were predisposed. Based on these results, systemic antibiotics may not impact as much as previously thought on the actual success of CGD treatment.

Two outbreaks of virulent systemic feline calicivirus infection in cats in Germany.

Over the last years, several outbreaks of virulent systemic feline calicivirus (VS-FCV) infection have been described in the USA and several European countries. The paper describes two outbreaks of VS-FCV infection in cats in Germany. Data concerning clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features ofVS-FCV infection were collected from two outbreaks affecting 55 and 4 cats, respectively. Presence of feline calicivirus was confirmed by PCR followed by sequencing of the PCR-products. Clinical signs were variable, including severe upper respiratory tract infection, dyspnoea, oral and footpad ulceration, facial oedema, enteritis, pneumonia, bleeding disorder, high fever, and icterus. Both outbreaks were characterized by a high mortality rate.The present report describes the first documented outbreaks of VS-FCV infection in cats in Germany. Clinical and histopathological features are comparable to outbreaks described in the USA and Europe. However, phylogenetic analysis of the virus genome suggests that virus strains involved in these outbreaks were different from each other and from virulent strains isolated before, confirming the known genetic variability of FCV.

Incidence of persistent viraemia and latent feline leukaemia virus infection in cats with lymphoma.

In the past, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) infection, and also latent FeLV infection, were commonly associated with lymphoma and leukaemia. In this study, the prevalence of FeLV provirus in tumour tissue and bone marrow in FeLV antigen-negative cats with these tumours was assessed. Seventy-seven diseased cats were surveyed (61 antigen-negative, 16 antigen-positive). Blood, bone marrow, and tumour samples were investigated by two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays detecting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences of the long terminal repeats (LTR) and the envelope (env) region of the FeLV genome. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed in bone marrow and tumour tissue. None of the antigen-negative cats with lymphoma was detectably infected with latent FeLV. The prevalence of FeLV viraemia in cats with lymphoma was 20.8%. This suggests that causes other than FeLV play a role in tumorigenesis, and that latent FeLV infection is unlikely to be responsible for most feline lymphomas and leukaemias.

[Frequency of occurrence of pneumonia associated agents and their correlation with clinical and pathological-anatomical findings in pigs]. / Häufigkeit des Vorkommens pneumonie-assoziierter Erreger und deren Korrelation mit klinischen und pathologisch-anatomischen Befunden bei Schweinen.

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and influence of different causative organisms involved in the development of pneumonia and bronchopneumonia in pigs. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 339 pigs was examined molecular-biologically and culturally. The evaluation considered the following pathogens: Mycoplasma (M.) hyopneumoniae, Mycoplasma (M.) hyorhinis, PRRSV (US-Type), PRRSV (EU-Type), PCV-2, Influenzavirus Type A, alpha-haemolytic Streptococci, beta-haemolytic Streptococci, Pasteurella (P.) multocida, Bordetella (B.) bronchiseptica, Haemophilus (H.) parasuis and Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae. This was followed by a pathological-anatomical examination in 168 pigs. Pathological-anatomical examination was evaluated for possible interstitial pneumonia, catarrhal-purulent bronchopneumonia and pleuritis. alpha-haemolytic Streptococci, PCV-2, H. parasuis, M. hyorhinis, M. hyopneumoniae, B. bronchiseptica, PRRSV (US-Type), P. multocida, PRRSV (EU-Type) and Influenzavirus Type A were evident in descending incidence in the BALF. A. pleuropneumoniae were only isolated culturally in two cases in the BALF. The frequency and semiquantitative detection rate in the bacteriological culture of alpha-haemolytic Steptococci, M. hyopneumoniae, P. multocida and B. bronchiseptica correlated significantly with the ascertained clinical evaluation score and the pathological-anatomical examination score. M. hyorhinis and Influenzavirus Type A only correlated with the severity degree of clinical appearance, while PCV-2 and PRRSV (US-Type) correlated with the frequency of pathological-anatomical changes. The higher the clinical score, the higher was the number of animals ascertained with five or more different pathogens. The more different causal agents were isolated in the BALF of one animal, the higher was the average pathological-anatomical examination score. For the diagnosis of pneumonia, especially when analysing facultative pathogens or secondary pathogens, a useful interpretation of analysis results is only possible in connection with a clinical and pathological evaluation.