Aspects of transition cow metabolomics-Part II: Histomorphologic changes in the liver parenchyma throughout the transition period, in cows with different liver metabotypes and effects of a metaphylactic butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin treatment.

The aims of this study were to evaluate histopathologic changes during the transition period, describe the histopathological features of the metabotypes identified in Part I (Schären et al., 2021b), and investigate effects of a metaphylactic treatment with butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin (BCC) on the liver parenchyma. Eighty German Holstein cows (mean 305-d production: 10,957 kg, range: 6,480-15,193 kg; mean lactation number: 3.9, range: 2-9) from a commercial dairy farm in Saxony, Germany, were enrolled in a randomized, prospective, triple-blinded study. Two groups received a treatment with BCC (5 or 10 mL/100 kg of body weight 10% butaphosphan and 0.005% cyanocobalamin, Catosal, Bayer Animal Health, n = 20 each) and one group a placebo treatment (NaCl 0.9%, n = 40). Liver biopsy specimens were collected 14 d antepartum (AP) and 7, 28, and 42 d postpartum (PP), routinely processed for histologic examination, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Sudan III, periodic acid-Schiff, and picrosirius red stains. The sections were assessed for fat and glycogen content and degenerative, inflammatory, fibrotic, and proliferative changes. The statistical analysis included the effects of the sampling day, the lactation number, the treatment, and the metabotype (A = medium, B = minor, C = large alterations in the liver metabolome profile between AP and PP status). There was mild to moderate fat infiltration in the liver of 37% of cows in the last 2 wk AP, and moderate to severe fat infiltration in 66% of cows in the first days PP. The degree of fat infiltration increased from 2 wk AP until the end of the first week PP, and then decreased until the end of the study period, at which time about 25% of cows had moderate to severe fatty infiltration. Lipidosis was positively correlated with the severity of liver cell degeneration, and negatively correlated with the degree of glycogen deposits. Complete glycogen depletion of hepatocytes was not observed in cows, even in the presence of severe hepatic lipidosis. Moderate to severe lymphocytic hepatitis was seen in 39% of cows throughout the study period, and cows with lactation numbers 5 or greater had perisinusoidal fibrosis more often than younger cows. Severe fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver did not occur. Metabotype B animals exhibited a higher chance of fatty infiltration, lower glycogen storage, and perisinusoidal fibrosis and for this metabotype positive correlations were calculated between increased fat deposition in the liver and marked glycogen depletion, and increased degenerative, inflammatory, fibrotic, and proliferative changes of hepatic tissue. For the treatment with BCC, no significant effect was observed. In summary, during the transition period, the liver of dairy cows is characterized by fat accumulation and glycogen depletion and histologic signs of hepatitis and hepatocyte degeneration. These histomorphologic changes were accentuated in animals exhibiting little alterations in their liver metabolome profile across the transition period (metabotype B) and support the assumption of a decreased grass silage quality as a causative factor.

Management and outcome of vagus nerve stimulator implantation: experience of an otolaryngeal/neuropediatric cooperation.

OBJECTIVE: Vagus nerve stimulator (VNS) implantation is an established therapy for pharmacoresistant epilepsy that is not amenable to curative epilepsy surgery. Historically, VNS implantation has been performed by neurosurgeons, but otolaryngologist involvement is increasingly common. In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of VNS implantation in children and adolescents from the otolaryngologists' perspective. METHODS: This study included children and adolescents who had undergone VNS implantation at the study center between 2014 and 2018. Patient files were analyzed with regards to the durations of device implantation and hospitalization, postoperative complications, and clinical outcome, including seizure frequency, clinical global impression of improvement (CGI-I) score, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: A total of 73 children underwent VNS surgery. The median age at implantation was 9.3 ± 4.6 years, and median epilepsy duration before VNS surgery was 6 ± 4 years. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was the most common syndrome diagnosis (62.3%), and structural abnormalities (49.3%) the most frequent etiology. Operation times ranged from 30 to 200 min, and median postoperative hospitalization length was 2 ± 0.9 days. No complications occurred, except for four revisions and two explantations due to local infections (2.7%). Among our patients, 76.7% were responders (≥ 50% reduction in seizure frequency), 72.1% showed improved CGI-I scores, and 18.6-60.5% exhibited considerable improvements in the QoL categories energy, emotional health, and cognitive functions. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that VNS implantation is a highly effective and safe treatment option for children and adolescents with AED-refractory epilepsies who are not candidates for curative epilepsy surgery.

An investigation into the development of right displaced abomasum by rolling 268 dairy cows with left displaced abomasum.

Right displaced abomasum (RDA) and abomasal volvulus (AV) are common diseases in cattle. However, presently there is no consensus regarding the pathogenesis and nomenclature of the different positions that the abomasum can adopt in the right side of the cow. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe the etiopathogenesis of the right displaced abomasum according to the description of the features observed in 268 cows with left displaced abomasum (LDA), which were rolled to induce the movement of the abomasum from the left side to the right (in fact, inducing an RDA in 44% of cases), to facilitate the surgical approach, and immediately surgically treated (abomasal omentopexy from the right side). The observed RDA positions matched previously published descriptions and names, and the authors propose a holistic and simpler nomenclature and a clear hypothesis on RDA etiopathogenesis. In 54.1% of the cases, the abomasum moved to a normal position after rolling. The most common RDA position observed was caudal displacement of the RDA (CdRDA; 70 out of 119 RDA cases; 26.1% of the total number of cows), followed by lateral displacement (LRDA; 32 of 119; 11.9% of all cases), cranial displacement (CrRDA; 8 of 119; 3% of the total), medial displacement (MRDA; 4 of 119; 1.5% of the total), and finally, displacement lateral to the omasum (LORDA; 3 of 119; 1.1% of the total). Adverse events directly due to the rolling procedure were mesenteric root volvulus (3 of 268), cecocolic volvulus (2 of 268) and torsion (1 of 268), and uterus torsion (2 of 10 pregnant cows); 1 abortion (1 of 10 pregnant cows) was also observed. We suggest that CdRDA is the first stage of an RDA that can become an LRDA with increasing pressure. An LRDA can become an AV if rotating counterclockwise, viewed from above. An LDA, CdRDA, or LRDA could be initial forms of LORDA and CrRDA, and occur when forestomachs are empty or when the animal stands up on its front legs first. The LORDA and CrRDA forms can lead to an omasum-abomasum volvulus (OAV) or to a reticulum-omasum-abomasum volvulus (ROAV) when pressure increases. With this study we establish, for the first time, the sequence and incidence of each RDA form and its complications, increasing knowledge of this syndrome and its pathogenesis. This understanding critically aids the surgeon's ability to accurately assess and correct this disease and to predict prognosis.

Signals for identifying cows at risk of subacute ruminal acidosis in dairy veterinary practice.

Controlling rumen disorders is critical to ensure successful dairy herd health management. Lactation diets of dairy cows are commonly rich in concentrates and low in physically effective fibre. Feeding of these diets increases the risk of rumen disorders with far-reaching consequences for cattle health, welfare and sustainability of dairy production. The term subacute ruminal acidosis or SARA is often used as a synonym for poor rumen health. Being subclinical, SARA lacks of clear symptoms and is therefore difficult to diagnose and to control in the practice. This review article summarises common and identifies new direct and indirect cow signals related to SARA. We have performed a scientific evaluation and interpretation of each of these cow signals by highlighting their advantages and disadvantages from the practitioner's point of view. The gold standard of SARA cow signals still remains direct measurement of ruminal pH. However, continuous pH monitoring is cost-intensive and often biased by sensor drift. Single-point ruminal pH measurements by oral stomach tubing or rumenocentesis have strong limitations. Therefore, there is a need for reliable and robust markers of SARA that are easily accessible and inexpensive. Such indirect parameters are the observation of chewing and feeding activities, as well as the monitoring of milk, faecal, urine and blood variables. Also, novel technologies that allow rapid and non-invasive measurement of the rumen mucosa thickness and ruminal motility patterns might provide advantages in SARA diagnosis. Due to several constraints of these indirect diagnostic tools, such as limited specificity and sensitivity, we strongly recommend using a combination of the signals to reliably identify cows at risk of SARA in a dairy herd.

Histomorphometric evaluation of MMP-9 and CD31 expression during healing under Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in dogs.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the molecular and histological effects of negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) on vascularisation in clinical cases of open wound treatment in dogs. Open wounds (n=10) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: NPWT treatment (n=5) or foam treatment (polyurethane-foam dressing, n=5). Wounds were matched based on age and underlying cause and analysed with respect to neovascularisation (CD31) and matrix proteinase changes (MMP-9). Histological slides were blinded and analysis was performed using automated histomorphometric software. Values determined at day zero after debridement were used as a reference and wound development at day six was evaluated using linear mixed models. Signalment, pre-treatment time and underlying cause were similar between groups. NPWT resulted in a highly significant increase of vascularisation (p.

INTRODUCTION: Le but de ce travail était de relever les effets moléculaires et histologiques de la thérapie des plaies par pression négative (NPWT) au cours du traitement de plaies ouvertes en clinique chez le chien. Des plaies ouvertes (n=10) ont été répartie de manière randomisée en deux groupes : NPWT (n=5) ou recouvrement au moyen d'un pansement en polyuréthane (n=5). Les plaies ont été appariées en tenant compte de leur âge ainsi que de leur cause et examinées quant à leur néo vascularisation (CD31) et aux variations de l'activité des métalloprotéases matricielles (MMP-9). L'appréciation des divers échantillons histologiques a été faite à l'aveugle, au moyen d'un logiciel d'histomorphométrie automatisé. Les valeurs obtenues au jour 0 après débridement servaient de référence pour l'évolution des plaies au jour 6, évolution analysée avec un modèle mixte. Le signalement, la durée du traitement préalable ainsi que les causes étaient comparables entre les groupes. La NPWT amenait, comparativement au contrôle, à une augmentation significative de la vascularisation (p.

Investigation into diseases in free-ranging ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in northwestern Germany during population decline with special reference to infectious pathogens.

The population of ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) is decreasing all over Germany since the years 2008/2009. Besides impacts of habitat changes caused by current rates of land conversion, climatic influences or predators, a contribution of infectious pathogens needs also to be considered. Infectious and non-infectious diseases in free-living populations of ring-necked pheasants have been scarcely investigated so far. In the present study, carcasses of 258 deceased free-ranging pheasants of different age groups, predominantly adult pheasants, collected over a period of 4 years in the states of Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, were examined pathomorphologically, parasitologically, virologically and bacteriologically, with a focus set on infectious pathogens. A periocular and perinasal dermatitis of unknown origin was present in 62.3% of the pheasants. Additional alterations included protozoal cysts in the skeletal musculature (19.0%), hepatitis (21.7%), enteritis (18.7%), gastritis (12.6%), and pneumonia (11.7%). In single cases, neoplasms (2.6%) and mycobacteriosis (1.7%) occurred. Further findings included identification of coronaviral DNA from trachea or caecal tonsils (16.8%), siadenoviral DNA (7.6%), avian metapneumoviral RNA (6.6%), and infectious bursal disease viral RNA (3.7%). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on herpesvirus, avian influenza virus (AIV), paramyxovirus type 1 (PMV-1), avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV), and chlamydia were negative. Based on the present results, there is no indication of a specific pathogen as a sole cause for population decline in adult pheasants. However, an infectious disease can still not be completely excluded as it may only affect reproduction effectivity or a certain age group of pheasants (e.g., chicks) which were not presented in the study.

Canine Central Nervous System Neoplasm Phenotyping Using Tissue Microarray Technique.

Tissue microarrays (TMAs) represent a useful technique for the simultaneous phenotyping of large sample numbers and are particularly suitable for histopathologic tumor research. In this study, TMAs were used to evaluate semiquantitatively the expression of multiple antigens in various canine central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms and to identify markers with potential discriminative diagnostic relevance. Ninety-seven canine CNS neoplasms, previously diagnosed on hematoxylin and eosin sections according to the World Health Organization classification, were investigated on TMAs, with each tumor consisting of 2 cylindrical samples from the center and the periphery of the neoplasm. Tumor cells were phenotyped using a panel of 28 monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, and hierarchical clustering analysis was applied to group neoplasms according to similarities in their expression profiles. Hierarchical clustering generally grouped cases with similar histologic diagnoses; however, gliomas especially exhibited a considerable heterogeneity in their positivity scores. Multiple tumor groups, such as astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, significantly differed in the proportion of positive immunoreaction for certain markers such as p75NTR, AQP4, GFAP, and S100 protein. The study highlights AQP4 and p75NTR as novel markers, helping to discriminate between canine astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma. Furthermore, the results suggest that p75NTR and proteolipid protein may represent useful markers, whose expression inversely correlates with malignant transformation in canine astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, respectively. Tissue microarray was demonstrated to be a useful and time-saving tool for the simultaneous immunohistochemical characterization of multiple canine CNS neoplasms. The present study provides a detailed overview of the expression patterns of different types of canine CNS neoplasms.

New host record and molecular characterization of Dicauda atherinoidi Hoffman & Walker (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae): a parasite of the emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque, 1818 and mimic shiner Notropis vollucellus Cope, 1865.

Updated morphological and histopathological descriptions for Dicauda atherinoidi (Bivalvulida:Myxobolidae) and an expanded host range are supplemented with the first molecular data and phylogenetic analyses of the genus. Plasmodia were located on the head, ventrum/body and fins of infected emerald shiner Notropis atherinoides Rafinesque, 1818 and mimic shiner Notropis vollucellus Cope, 1865, a new host species. Myxospores were spherical, ranging 9.3-11.4 µm (10.5 ± 0.4) in length, 9.0-11.0 µm (9.7 ± 0.4) in width and 6.6-7.0 µm (6.8 ± 0.2) thick in sutural view, and possessed 2-3 caudal processes (5.3-68.3 µm, 31.1 ± 13.6) connected to the spore body at the sutural groove, all of which are consistent with the genus Dicauda. In the absence of available Dicauda sequence data, the 18S rDNA sequences from Michigan isolates were most similar to Myxobolus spp. Phylogenetic analyses clustered these isolates with myxobolid species from cyprinid fish, suggesting these parasites may represent an underpopulated group of cyprinid-infecting myxozoans. Histopathology revealed thin-walled plasmodial pseudocysts in the dermis and associated connective tissue, where granulomatous inflammation and focal scale atrophy were also present. Further sampling/sequencing of myxobolids from Notropis spp. should expand these underrepresented myxozoans and offer further insight into Myxobolidae host family tropisms.

Coagulology, biochemical profile and muscle pathology in calves diagnosed with nutritional muscular dystrophy.

The aim of this study was to explain the correlations between selenium deficiency, hemostatic and biochemical disorders, and the progression of pathological changes in calves diagnosed with nutritional muscular dystrophy (NMD). The study was performed on 20 calves with supplementation of 8 ml selenium and vitamin E preparation and 20 calves with symptoms of NMD. Blood was sampled from calves aged 5, 12 and 19 days. On day 19, samples of the biceps femoris muscle were collected from 6 animals in each group for histopathological analysis. The following blood parameters were determined: PLT, PT, TT, APTT, fibrinogen and D-dimer concentrations, antithrombin III activity, glucose, selenium and vitamin E concentrations, activity of CK, LDH and GSH-Px. Muscle sections were stained with H&E and HBFP. Platelet counts were significantly lower in calves with symptoms of NMD. No significant differences in coagulation parameters were observed between the groups. Sick calves were diagnosed with hyperglycemia and elevation of CK and LDH activity. Selenium and vitamin E concentrations in the blood serum were significantly lower in the experimental group together with significant drop in GSH-Px activity. Changes characteristic of Zenker's necrosis were observed in a muscle of the sick animals. To our best knowledge this is the first study in which the attempt was made to explain the relationship between selenium deficiency and changes in the coagulation system in ruminants.

Thromboelastographic profile of goat blood after the experimental injury of the femoral artery and use of QuikClot gauze and Celox gauze dressings.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of thromboelastometry for the analysis of blood test results in goats after the use of hemostatic dressings to control massive bleeding. The study was carried out on 12 goats, 6 animals in each of two subgroups. In all experimental animals incision of the femoral artery was performed, and bleeding was controlled with QuikClot gauze in the first group and Celox gauze in the second group. Dressings were applied for 60 minutes. Blood samples for thromboelastometry were collected from the jugular vein before the incision and 60 min after the application of a dressing. Clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), maximum clot firmness (MCF) and α angle (°) were measured in three standard ROTEM assays (system with generation of reaction curve, numerical parameters and size of the blood clot): intrinsic coagulation pathway (INTEM), extrinsic coagulation pathway (EXTEM) and functional fibrinogen (FIBTEM). Complete hemostasis of the injured femoral artery was found in all goats. No significant differences between pre- and post-incision thromboelastometric parameters were found in any tests in any of the groups, which indicates that the use of dressings was not associated with blood coagulation disorders. This study is the first to describe the use of thromboelastometry in goats for the assessment of clot formation and hemostatic disorders.

Electrical Injuries in Animals: Causes, Pathogenesis, and Morphological Findings.

Electrical injuries in animals occur most often accidentally. They comprise contact to various forms of currents, including alternating, rotary, or direct currents. Depending on various parameters of the current (including the type of circuit, voltage, current and duration of exposure) and conditions of the animal (such as wet or dry hair coat and pathway of current through the body), lesions may be absent or may include early or localized development of rigor mortis, signs of acute circulatory failure, or severe thermoelectrical burns. Such burns may present as external current marks, singed hair or feathers, metallization of the skin, or occasionally internal electroporation injury resulting in muscle necrosis, hemolysis, vascular damage with thrombosis, injury to brain and spinal cord, or skeletal fractures. Furthermore, lightning strikes occur regularly in grazing animals, which have greater risk of death from step potentials (ground current) in addition to direct strike and contact injury. Such cases may have no lesions, external signs of linear or punctate burns, keraunographic markings, or exit burns on the soles of the hooves or the coronary bands. Besides detailed information about the circumstances at the location where the animal was found, electrical injuries in animals require a thorough morphological workup, including additional investigations in conjunction with certain knowledge about the possible lesion spectrum.

Thermal Injuries in Veterinary Forensic Pathology.

Localized thermal injuries in animals may be caused by exposure to fire and radiant heat, contact with hot items including hot liquids or steam, inhalation of hot air, and exposure to cold temperatures. In addition, animal fire victims may have intoxications caused by smoke gas. This article reviews the causes, pathogenetic aspects, morphological findings, additional investigations, differential diagnoses, and causes of death in various forms of thermal injuries. Since these cases do not occur frequently in diagnostic pathology, they represent a challenging task in general but also with respect to forensic or criminal aspects, such as whether a lesion represents an accidental or nonaccidental effect. Besides detailed information about the circumstances at the location, thermal injuries in animals require a thorough morphological evaluation, including additional investigations in conjunction with a profound knowledge about the possible lesion spectrum and suitable additional investigations.

Polycystic kidneys and GM2 gangliosidosis-like disease in neonatal springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis).

Clinical, gross, histopathologic, electron microscopic findings and enzymatic analysis of 4 captive, juvenile springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis) showing both polycystic kidneys and a storage disease are described. Springbok offspring (4 of 34; 12%) were affected by either one or both disorders in a German zoo within a period of 5 years (2008-2013). Macroscopic findings included bilaterally severely enlarged kidneys displaying numerous cysts in 4 animals and superior brachygnathism in 2 animals. Histopathologically, kidneys of 4 animals displayed cystic dilation of the renal tubules. In addition, abundant cytoplasmic vacuoles with a diameter ranging from 2 to 10 µm in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system, hepatocytes, thyroid follicular epithelial cells, pancreatic islets of Langerhans and renal tubular cells were found in 2 springbok neonates indicative of an additional storage disease. Ultrastructurally, round electron-lucent vacuoles, up to 4 µm in diameter, were present in neurons. Enzymatic analysis of liver and kidney tissue of 1 affected springbok revealed a reduced activity of total hexosaminidase (Hex) with relatively increased HexA activity at the same level of total Hex, suggesting a hexosaminidase defect. Pedigree analysis suggested a monogenic autosomal recessive inheritance for both diseases. In summary, related springboks showed 2 different changes resembling both polycystic kidney and a GM2 gangliosidosis similar to the human Sandhoff disease. Whether the simultaneous occurrence of these 2 entities represents an incidental finding or has a genetic link needs to be investigated in future studies.

Nonlesions, unusual cell types, and postmortem artifacts in the central nervous system of domestic animals.

In the central nervous system (CNS) of domestic animals, numerous specialized normal structures, unusual cell types, findings of uncertain or no significance, artifacts, and various postmortem alterations can be observed. They may cause confusion for inexperienced pathologists and those not specialized in neuropathology, leading to misinterpretations and wrong diagnoses. Alternatively, changes may mask underlying neuropathological processes. "Specialized structures" comprising the hippocampus and the circumventricular organs, including the vascular organ of the lamina terminalis, subfornical organ, subcommissural organ, pineal gland, median eminence/neurohypophyseal complex, choroid plexus, and area postrema, are displayed. Unusual cell types, including cerebellar external germinal cells, CNS progenitor cells, and Kolmer cells, are presented. In addition, some newly recognized cell types as of yet incompletely understood significance and functionality, such as synantocytes and aldynoglia, are introduced and described. Unusual reactive astrocytes in cats, central chromatolysis, neuronal vacuolation, spheroids, spongiosis, satellitosis, melanosis, neuromelanin, lipofuscin, polyglucosan bodies, and psammoma bodies may represent incidental findings of uncertain or no significance and should not be confused with significant microscopic changes. Auto- and heterolysis as well as handling and histotechnological processing may cause postmortem morphological changes of the CNS, including vacuolization, cerebellar conglutination, dark neurons, Buscaino bodies, freezing, and shrinkage artifacts, all of which have to be differentiated from genuine lesions. Postmortem invasion of micro-organisms should not be confused with intravital infections. Awareness of these different changes and their recognition are a prerequisite for identifying genuine lesions and may help to formulate a professional morphological and etiological diagnosis.

Long-term detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in individual and bulk tank milk from a dairy herd with a low prevalence of Johne's disease.

Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) causes Johne's disease (JD) in ruminants and is shed into the milk of infected cows, which contributes to the controversial discussion about a possible link between MAP and Crohn's disease in humans. The aim of the study was to investigate the risk for the entry of MAP in the food chain via milk from dairy farms with subclinical JD. Therefore, the occurrence of MAP in the milk of a dairy herd with a low prevalence of JD was studied in single and bulk tank milk samples over a period of 23 mo and compared with MAP shedding into feces. Milk, fecal, and blood samples were taken from all cows older than 1.5 yr of age at the beginning and the end of the trial and analyzed for MAP or specific antibodies. In addition, 63 cows (33 MAP infected and 30 MAP noninfected) were selected for monthly sampling. Raw and pasteurized bulk tank milk samples were collected on a monthly basis. The milk samples were tested for MAP by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), and the fecal samples were tested for bacterial shedding by qPCR or solid culture. Based on the results of the herd investigations, the prevalence of cows shedding MAP was around 5%; no cases of clinical JD were observed during the study period. The results of the ELISA showed high variation, with 2.1 to 5.1% positive milk samples and 14.9 to 18.8% ELISA-positive blood samples. Monthly milk sampling revealed low levels of MAP shedding into the individual milk samples of both MAP-infected and noninfected cows, with only 13 cows shedding the bacterium into milk during the study period. Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis was not detected by qPCR in any raw or pasteurized bulk tank milk sample throughout the study. A significant positive association could be found between MAP shedding into milk and feces. From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that MAP is only shed via milk in a small proportion of cows with subclinical JD for a limited period of time and is diluted below the detection level of qPCR within the bulk tank milk of these herds. These findings indicate that dairy herds subclinically infected with JD pose only a minor source for human MAP consumption with milk and milk products.

Hippocampal expression of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 in canine epilepsy.

Canine drug-resistant epilepsy is a prevailing issue in veterinary neurology. Alternative or additional treatment with cannabinoids is showing promising results in seizure management. A crucial component of the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), is heavily involved in the control of neurotransmitter release. Knowledge of its distribution in the epileptic brain would serve a better understanding of disease pathology and application of cannabinoids in dogs with epilepsy. CB1R distribution was assessed in sub-regions of hippocampus of dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, structural epilepsy and without cerebral pathology. In dogs with idiopathic epilepsy, significantly decreased CB1R expression compared to control animals was observed in CA1. In dogs with structural epilepsy, a significant increase in CB1R signal intensity in comparison to controls was observed. CB1R expression was higher in the structural group as compared to the idiopathic. Double immunofluorescence showed co-localization between CB1R and an astrocytic marker in about 50% of cells, regardless of the diagnosis. In summary, CB1R expression in canine hippocampus undergoes modification by the epileptic process and the direction of this change depends on the etiology of the disease. The distinct disease-associated CB1R expression needs to be considered in new treatment development for dogs with epilepsy.

Porcine Forebrain Vacuolization Associated with Wasting in Pigs: A Novel Pathological Outcome Associated with Vitamin-Mineral Deficiency?

The term wasting refers to a clinical sign used to describe a physical condition characterized by growth retardation, usually of multifactorial origin. The objective of the present study was to describe for the first time a pathological process characterized by forebrain neuropil vacuolization in pigs showing wasting without conspicuous neurological signs. To characterize the lesions pathologically, affected and non-affected pigs from eight of these farms were investigated. Histologically, the most consistent lesion was neuropil vacuolization of the prosencephalon, mainly located in the thalamic nuclei and in the transition between the white and grey matter of the neocortex (40/56 in sick and 4/30 in healthy pigs). In the most severe cases, the vacuolation also involved the midbrain, cerebellar nuclei and, to a lesser extent, the medulla oblongata. Vacuolization of the forebrain was associated with pigs experiencing marked emaciation and growth retardation. Although the specific cause of the present case remained unknown, the preventive use of multivitamin and mineral complexes in drinking water ameliorated the condition, strongly suggesting a metabolic origin of the observed condition.

Are biters sick? Health status of tail biters in comparison to control pigs.

BACKGROUND: Tail biting is a multifactorial problem. As the health status is one of the factors commonly linked to tail biting, this study focuses on the health of identified biters. 30 (obsessive) biters are compared to 30 control animals by clinical and pathological examination as well as blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples. In that way, altogether 174 variables are compared between the groups. Moreover, connections between the variables are analysed. RESULTS: In the clinical examination, 6 biters, but only 2 controls (P = 0.019) were noticeably agitated in the evaluation of general behaviour, while 8 controls were noticeably calmer (2 biters, P = 0.02). Biters had a lower body weight (P = 0.0007) and 13 biters had overlong bristles (4 controls, P = 0.008). In the pathological examination, 5 biters, but none of the controls had a hyperceratosis or inflammation of the pars proventricularis of the stomach (P = 0.018). However, 7 controls and only 3 biters were affected by gut inflammation (P = 0.03). In the blood sample, protein and albumin levels were below normal range for biters (protein: 51.6 g/l, albumin: 25.4 g/l), but not for controls (protein: 53.7 g/l, albumin: 27.4 g/l), (protein: P = 0.05, albumin: P = 0.02). Moreover, 14 biters, but only 8 controls had poikilocytosis (P = 0.05). Although not statistically different between groups, many animals (36/60) were affected by hypoproteinemia and hyponatremia as well as by hypokalemia (53/60) and almost all animals (58/60) had hypomagnesemia. For hypomagnesemia, significant connections with variables linked to tail damage and ear necrosis were detected (rs/V/ρ ≥ 0.4, P ≤ 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that behavioural tests might be helpful in identifying biters. Moreover, cornification and inflammation of the pars proventricularis is linked to becoming a biter. Furthermore, the results highlight the need for appropriate and adjusted nutrient and mineral supply, especially with regard to magnesium.

Impact of Theiler's virus infection on hippocampal neuronal progenitor cells: differential effects in two mouse strains.

AIMS: Disease-associated alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis are discussed as an important factor contributing to long-term consequences of central nervous system diseases. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the impact of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection on hippocampal cell proliferation, neuronal progenitor cells and neurogenesis as well as the influence of microglia on respective disease-associated alterations. METHODS: The impact of the infection was evaluated in two mouse strains which differ in the disease course, with an acute polioencephalitis followed by virus elimination in C57BL/6 mice and a chronic demyelinating disease in SJL/J mice. RESULTS: Infection with the low neurovirulent BeAn strain did not exert significant acute effects regardless of the mouse strain. In the chronic phase, the number of neuronal progenitor cells and early postmitotic neurones was significantly reduced in infected SJL/J mice, whereas no long-term alterations were observed in C57BL/6 mice. A contrasting course of microglia activation was observed in the two mouse strains, with an early increase in the number of activated microglia cells in SJL/J mice and a delayed increase in C57BL/6 mice. Quantitative analysis did not confirm a correlation between the number of activated microglia and the number of neuronal progenitor cells and early postmitotic neurones. However, flow cytometric analyses revealed alterations in the functional state of microglial cells which might have affected the generation of neuronal progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection can exert delayed effects on the hippocampal neuronal progenitor population with long-term alterations evident 3 months following infection. These alterations proved to depend on strain susceptibility and might contribute to detrimental consequences of virus encephalitis such as cognitive impairment.

Distemper virus encephalitis exerts detrimental effects on hippocampal neurogenesis.

AIMS: Despite knowledge about the impact of brain inflammation on hippocampal neurogenesis, data on the influence of virus encephalitis on dentate granule cell neurogenesis are so far limited. Canine distemper is considered an interesting model of virus encephalitis, which can be associated with a chronic progressing disease course and can cause symptomatic seizures. METHODS: To determine the impact of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection on hippocampal neurogenesis, we compared post-mortem tissue from dogs with infection with and without seizures, from epileptic dogs with non-viral aetiology and from dogs without central nervous system diseases. RESULTS: The majority of animals with infection and with epilepsy of non-viral aetiology exhibited neuronal progenitor numbers below the age average in controls. Virus infection with and without seizures significantly decreased the mean number of neuronal progenitor cells by 43% and 76% as compared to age-matched controls. Ki-67 labelling demonstrated that hippocampal cell proliferation was neither affected by infection nor by epilepsy of non-viral aetiology. Analysis of CDV infection in cells expressing caspase-3, doublecortin or Ki-67 indicated that infection of neuronal progenitor cells is extremely rare and suggests that infection might damage non-differentiated progenitor cells, hamper neuronal differentiation and promote glial differentiation. A high inter-individual variance in the number of lectin-reactive microglial cells was evident in dogs with distemper infection. Statistical analyses did not reveal a correlation between the number of lectin-reactive microglia cells and neuronal progenitor cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that virus encephalitis with and without seizures can exert detrimental effects on hippocampal neurogenesis, which might contribute to long-term consequences of the disease. The lack of a significant impact of distemper virus on Ki-67-labelled cells indicates that the infection affected neuronal differentiation and survival of newborn cells rather than hippocampal cell proliferation.