Ultrasonographic evaluation of the supramammary lymph nodes and udder's tissue in Saanen goat and its relation with subclinical mastitis.

Background: Precise and on-time diagnosis of the udder's diseases is important, because of their economic importance. Udder structures like teat, parenchyma, and supramammary lymph nodes can be evaluated by ultrasonography. Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the ultrasonographic technique for imaging the supramammary lymph nodes and udder's tissue in Saanen goats and the relation between the findings of ultrasonography and subclinical mastitis. Methods: Thirty milking Saanen goats were evaluated in the study. Milk sampling from each teat was performed under standard conditions for bacteriological culture and somatic cell count (SCC). A 7.5 MHz linear transducer was used for the ultrasonography of teats with the water bath technique, and supramammary lymph nodes and udder's tissues were imaged using a 10 MHz linear transducer with direct contact. The length, height, area, and echogenicity of each lymph node and the teat canal wall diameter were measured using ImageJ 1.47v on the ultrasonography scanned images and analyzed by SPSS software. Results: There was no significant relationship between the dimension of the supramammary lymph nodes and SCC or culture. Age had a positive relationship with lymph node size. No significant relationship was seen between the size of the supramammary lymph node before and after the treatment. Supramammary lymph nodes' echogenicity of the quarter with subclinical mastitis and healthy ones represented no significant difference before and after the treatment. Conclusion: Ultrasonography of the udder, teat, mammary gland, and supramammary lymph nodes is a safe and non-invasive method for visualizing separate structures. The positive relationship between SCC and milk echogenicity as well as supramammary lymph nodes dimension, and age was described.

Molecular identification and successful treatment of Chlamydophila psittaci (genotype B) in a clinically affected Congo African grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus erithacus).

Avian chlamydiosis is caused by Chlamydiophila psittaci with the highest infection rate in parrots (Psittacidae) and pigeons (Columbiformes). A two-year-old Congo African grey parrot was examined since the bird had shown clinical signs of anorexia, depression, diarrhea, and mild dyspnea and based on biochemical and hemathological analysis the bird was diagnosed as having anemia, leukocytosis, heterophilia, lymphopenia and monocytosis. With regards to clinical and paraclinical findings, the case was diagnosed to be carrying Chlamydiophila spp. In addition, choanal cleft and cloaca swabs were positive for Chlamydiophila spp. in a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (600 bp amplicon). Polymerase chain reaction products were typed by ompA gene-based PCR, using CTU/CTL primers (1050 bp amplicon). The PCR product sequence was compared with the sequences obtained from GenBank. The phylogenetic tree has revealed 100% identity with genotype B obtained from previous studies. The bird was hospitalized and treated with doxycycline regimen for 45 days, with a weekly sampling process to trace the presence of C. psittaci DNA in faecal and choanal swabs, this process continued to the point where the specimens turned negative after two weeks. Laboratory and radiology results were within normal limits after the treatment. Genotype B is predominantly isolated from Columbidae and there have not been any reports regarding the clinically affected African gray parrot with this genotype. Subsequently, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of chlamydiosis by genotype B on Congo African grey parrot.