Epidemic nodular facial myxomatous dermatitis in juvenile Cranwell's horned frogs Ceratophrys cranwelli.

In 2017, approximately 40 out of 100 captive Cranwell's horned frogs Ceratophrys cranwelli from several facilities in Japan exhibited protruding facial lesions. Histopathological examination was performed on 6 specimens with such lesions randomly selected from 2 facilities. Lesions consisted of scattered stellate to spindle-shaped cells without atypia in an abundant myxoid matrix and occasional lymphocytic infiltrates. Maxillary bone was resorbed. No etiological organisms were detected using light microscopy or metagenomic analysis of the lesions. Macroscopic and histological assessments indicate that the lesions are associated with nodular facial myxomatous dermatitis, which has never been reported in amphibians.

Dembo polymerase chain reaction technique for detection of bovine abortion, diarrhea, and respiratory disease complex infectious agents in potential vectors and reservoirs

Bovine abortion, diarrhea, and respiratory disease complexes, caused by infectious agents, result in high and significant economic losses for the cattle industry. These pathogens are likely transmitted by various vectors and reservoirs including insects, birds, and rodents. However, experimental data supporting this possibility are scarce. We collected 117 samples and screened them for 44 bovine abortive, diarrheal, and respiratory disease complex pathogens by using Dembo polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is based on TaqMan real-time PCR. Fifty-seven samples were positive for at least one pathogen, including bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine enterovirus, Salmonella enterica ser. Dublin, Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, and Neospora caninum; some samples were positive for multiple pathogens. Bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine enterovirus were the most frequently detected pathogens, especially in flies, suggesting an important role of flies in the transmission of these viruses. Additionally, we detected the N. caninum genome from a cockroach sample for the first time. Our data suggest that insects (particularly flies), birds, and rodents are potential vectors and reservoirs of abortion, diarrhea, and respiratory infectious agents, and that they may transmit more than one pathogen at the same time.