Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a dog: identifying the causative agent using PCR.

A diagnosis of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection was confirmed in a two-year-old male golden retriever displaying few clinical and haematological abnormalities. This was achieved by demonstrating ehrlichial organisms in circulating neutrophils, by indirect immunofluorescence assay using A phagocytophilum as an antigen, and by detecting DNA specific for the 16S rRNA gene of granulocytic Anaplasma by PCR. After treatment with doxycycline for 10 days the dog showed improvement and the laboratory values returned to normal.

Screening for West Nile virus infections of susceptible animal species in Austria.

Avian mortality and encephalomyelitis in equines are considered good indicators for West Nile virus (WNV) activity. We retrospectively tested 385 horse sera for WNV antibodies and looked for WNV nucleic acid and/or WNV antigen in paraffin embedded tissues from 12 horses with aetiologically unresolved encephalomyelitis and 102 free-living birds of different species which had been found dead. With the exception of four horses originating from eastern European countries investigated on the occasion of transit through Austria, all horse sera were negative. Nested RT-PCR of the horse tissues yielded no amplification of WNV-RNA. Also, all bird samples, examined by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization and nested RT-PCR were negative for WNV. These results indicate that currently WNV cannot be considered a significant pathogen in Austria.

Ultrastructural study of unidentified inclusions in the cornea and iridocorneal angle of dogs with pannus.

The corneas and/or the iridocorneal angles of 13 dogs were examined morphologically by use of transmission electron microscopy. Virologic identification techniques also were used for tissue from 2 dogs. Four dogs had clinical signs of chronic superficial keratitis or pannus, 9 dogs had normal eyes. In the tissue from 7 dogs (4 German Shepherd Dogs with chronic superficial keratitis; 2 German Shepherd Dogs and 1 mixed-breed dog with normal eyes) we found unusual cytoplasmic inclusions. Inclusions were not found in dogs of other breeds with normal eyes. The inclusions were observed in corneal fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells, and macrophages, as well as in trabecular cells and fibroblasts of the iridocorneal angle. They were often grouped within the rough endoplasmic reticulum or found free in the cytoplasm. The cylindrical particles had a helical substructure, measuring 20 nm in diameter and up to 400 nm long, with a distance of 10 nm for the repeating turns. Results of virologic culturing on canine and seal kidney cells were negative, as was staining with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled antibodies against canine distemper virus, canine herpesvirus, canine parvovirus, and canine adenovirus. Relevance of the inclusion bodies described is discussed. Because our results seem to hint at a correlation between presence of the rod shaped particles and German Shepherd Dogs with pannus, we suggest that an etiologic or pathogenic connection exists that merits further examination.

[The effectiveness of paramunization for the control of feline coryza]. / Untersuchungen über die Wirksamkeit der Paramunisierung zur Bekämpfung des Katzenschnupfens.

20 cats in a cat home were treated prophylactically and therapeutically with Baypamun HK. The animals were allocated into three groups as described. 7 freshly admitted clinically healthy cats were treated prophylactically on day 1, 2 and 9 with 1 ml Baypamun HK (group I). 7 cats, who already were allocated for one year in the home and were sick of the feline respiratory disease complex were treated as described for group I (group II). 6 further cats, who also showed symptoms of the feline respiratory disease complex and had stayed for one year in the home were treated with physiol.saline solution according to group I (group III). From all cats blood samples were taken at day 1, 3, 10 and 17. The blood samples were checked for antibodies against feline calicivirus (FCV), feline herpesvirus (FHV), panleukopenia virus (PLV), feline peritonitis virus (FIPV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Also the occurrence of the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) was evaluated. The cellular immunity was evaluated by means of the lymphocyte transformations test (LTT), nitroblue-tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) and cytochrome C-reduction test (CRT). Mean value and standard deviation was calculated from the results. The significance was determined by the t-test. The animals were examined clinically daily for 20 days for the feline respiratory disease complex. When necessary, the animals were treated by homeopathic and antibiotic products. At the time of admission to the home all cats were or had been treated with an attenuated panleukopenia vaccine. The serologic parameters were not influenced in the cats of group I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Serological studies of the recent infections of Austrian horses with the equine arteritis virus]. / Serologische Untersuchungen zur aktuellen Verseuchung österreichischer Pferde mit dem Virus der Equinen Arteritis.

944 serum samples of horses, collected in 1988 and 1989, were examined for the occurrence of antibodies against equine arteritis virus by a microneutralizations test. In 10.9% of all sera reactors could be found. The distribution of seropositive horses varied from 4.6% (Salzburg) to 15.7% (Lower Austria). From Tyrol and Vorarlberg no samples could be obtained. It was not possible, to correlate clinical symptoms (infertility, respiratory symptoms, fever and edema) with the infection. It is assumed, that the disease appears in Austria only in a clinical inapparent form.

[The first appearance of infectious hemorrhagic disease of rabbits in Austria]. / Erstes Auftreten der infektiösen hämorrhagischen Krankheit der Kaninchen in Osterreich.

In three Austrian rabbit units (two in the west, one in the east) heavy losses occurred in April/May 1989. The clinical course (deaths in adult animals, haemorrhagic diathesis) of the disease was indicative for an infection with the RHD-virus. Necropsy confirmed the suggestive clinical diagnosis as bleeding of the nostrils, hyperaemia in the respiratory tract, spleen tumor, partly decolorized livers, hyperaemia of kidneys with rare petechias could be observed. Histologic examination revealed centrolobular liver necrosis, lung bleeding and edema, tumor of spleen and atrophy of spleen follicles. Rabbits infected with organ suspensions died within 48 hours. The organ suspensions and the suspensions of the already necropsied animals showed a haemagglutination titer for above 1:100. This reaction could be inhibited with a specific RHD-antiserum. The intramuscular application of a RHD-reference strain in one hare, two wild rabbits and a rabbit did not induce clinical disease or death of the leporids during a six week observation period. The rabbit died within 48 hours post infection. However the hare and wild rabbits showed high antibody titers by ELISA at the end of the observation period. Before infection the two wild rabbits were serologically negative.

[Comparison of the diagnostic methods for studying parvovirus and rotavirus infections of dogs]. / Vergleich von diagnostischen Verfahren zur Untersuchung auf Parvo- und Rotavirusinfektionen des Hundes.

79 feces samples of dogs between 7 weeks till 13.5 years of age, showing clinical signs of a hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, were tested by a commercial ELISA (DiaSystems Canine Parvo, Tech-America) for Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and by two Latex-Agglutination tests for Rotavirus (30 probes were tested by Rota Screen, 49 samples by Slidex Rota-Kit 2, both tests from BioMerieux). All samples were also examined by electron microscopy. The results of the simultaneous investigations showed 28 times positive and 28 times negative for CPV (70.9%). In 93.7% the investigations for Rotavirus-infection showed identical results by the Latex-Agglutination and electron microscopy: 73 samples were negative, one case showed a positive reaction. In 4 feces samples Rotavirus could only be detected by the Latex-test. In one sample a double-infection (CPV/Rotavirus) could be observed by all methods, in two cases the double-infection was only found by using the Latex-Agglutination. No other viruses could be found by the electron microscope than those described above. The results and the performance of the methods are discussed and compared with the data of other authors.

[Distemper as the cause of death in badgers in Austria]. / Staupeinfektion als Todesursache bei Dachsen in Osterreich.

A canine distemper virus infection of badgers in a hunting range in Austria is described. A badger which was shot after showing symptoms of rabies infection and one which was found dead were examined by gross pathology and parasitological, histological, bacteriological and virological methods. The examination for rabies was negative in both cases. The badger which was found dead histologically showed signs of a non purulent panencephalitis, the shot animal showed hyperaemia and oedema of the brain. No cytoplasmatic or nuclear inclusion bodies could be observed. The aetiologic viral diagnosis was achieved by immunofluorescence. Using two canine distemper-specific conjugates a typical granular fluorescence of different strength could be observed in organ sections. The bacterial examination showed in both cases a secondary infection with opportunistic pathogenic bacteria (haem. E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

[Serologic progression studies using CF and ELISA for the detection of antibodies against Eperythrozoon suis infection of swine]. / Serologische Verlaufsuntersuchungen mittels KBR und ELISA zum Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen die Eperythrozoon-suis-Infektion des Schweines.

Serological studies by means of a CF-Test and Elisa were undertaken for evaluation of antibody titers against Eperythrozoon suis infection in swine. The animals were partly splenectomized and underwent artificial infection. It could be shown that the splenectomized animals showed higher and longer lasting antibody titers than the non splenectomized swine. It is stated, that the above mentioned tests can be used in diagnosis on a herd basis but not on a single animal basis.

[Hepatitis contagiosa canis (H.c.c.)--2 cases in Austria]. / Hepatitis contagiosa canis (H.c.c.)--2 Fälle in Osterreich.

Two cases of H.c.c. which occurred in winter 1987 in Vienna are described. Case one was a female Chow-Chow, 8 weeks of age, that died from the peracute form of the disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by histology and direct immunofluorescence. Case two, a 9-month old female Kuvacz, showed clinical signs of the subacute form of H.c.c. She was hospitalized and therapy was successful. The disease was diagnosed by the typical clinical signs and the raise of antibodies in paired serum samples. Etiology, clinical signs and immunology of H.c.c. are discussed.

[Biomechanical analysis of movement using stroboscopy]. / Biomechanische Bewegungsanalysen mittels Stroboskopie.

In cases when violence has occurred in some form and its associated forces are subject to expert evaluation. For a mathematical assessment of the intensity of the acting forces there is often a lack of confident basis data, which is why an experimental study is necessary. A simple testing arrangement with a photocamera and flashlight in stroboscopic mode provides a convincing pictorial representation of movement and velocity. The method is described with some examples of applications by experts.

[Biomechanical and morphologic reconstruction of a questionable case of child abuse]. / Biomechanische und morphologische Rekonstruktion einer fraglichen Kindesmisshandlung.

A 3-month-old baby died 8 days after admission to the hospital as a result of injuries received under unknown circumstances. The forensic autopsy revealed a fracture of the scull and a severe blunt injury to the head and brain. Histological investigation of the reactive changes at and around the edges of the fracture showed that the trauma could not possibly have been congenital. According to the defendant, the baby boy had been lying on the table used for changing his nappy and almost fell off it. The defendant moved "instinctively" to catch him, and this "reflex movement" caused the injuries observed. The event was then reconstructed by the criminal investigators and this reconstruction, coupled with the authors' biomechanical experiments using stroboscopic recording, revealed that the defendant's statement could not be true, as the force necessary to inflict the injuries was much greater than could be explained by an attempt to catch the baby.