Concurrent peste des petits ruminants virus and pestivirus infection in stillborn twin lambs.

Concurrent infection with peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and pestivirus was diagnosed in stillborn twin lambs. With the flock history, the findings of epidermal syncytial cells and necrotizing bronchitis/bronchiolitis prompted testing for PPRV infection, and PPRV antigen was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the skin, lungs, kidneys, rumen, and thymus. Macroscopic anomalies that were typical of border disease included scoliosis, brachygnathism, prognathism, arthrogryposis, hydranencephaly, cerebellar hypoplasia, and hairy fleece; pestiviral antigen was detected by IHC in the brain, liver, lungs, and kidneys. Tissues from both lambs were positive by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for PPRV and pestivirus. To the authors' knowledge, PPR has not been reported previously as a congenital infection or in combination with pestiviral infection.

Imaging features of a cecal lipoma as a lead point for colo-colonic intussusception.

Intussusception is a rare occurrence in the adult population with most of the cases seen during the childhood period. Compared with the pediatric intussusceptions, there is more often an underlying cause in adults. Lipoma as a lead point for colonic intussusception is rare. Ultrasound may be helpful in the diagnosis, but computed tomography is more reliably used for differential diagnosis. An adult patient with colo-colonic intussusception diganosed with ultrasound and confirmed with computed tomography is presented.

Primary epiploic appendagitis: the role of computed tomography in diagnosis.

Primary epiploic appendagitis is a rare entity that occurs due to torsion and inflammation of the epiploic appendages. Clinically, this entity may be mistaken for acute abdomen with resultant unnecessary surgery. In contrast to acute surgical abdomen, epiploic appendagitis usually does not require surgical treatment; most of the patients resolve with conservative management. Diagnosis can be achieved with imaging modalities of which computed tomography is the gold standard procedure. Herein, a patient who presented with acute abdomen like clinical picture, with the computed tomography demonstration of primary epiploic appendagitis, is presented.

Cystic splenosis mimicking a renal mass: a case report and review of the literature.

Splenosis is a well-known entity, caused by autotransplantation of splenic tissue as a result of trauma or splenectomy. Patients are generally asymptomatic, and this entity is diagnosed during routine diagnostic imaging. Cystic changes in splenic implants have been defined before but, as to our knowledge, radiological demonstration of cystic components has not been published in the literature. It is well-known that unusual locations of the splenic implants create diagnostic problems, sometimes leading to unnecessary surgical interventions. In this report splenosis, mimicking a renal tumour, with cystic changes in the biggest splenule, and diagnosis with ferrumoxide-enhanced MRI is presented.

Natural peste des petits ruminants virus infection: novel pathologic findings resembling other morbillivirus infections.

The present study describes pathologic and virologic findings in 15 sheep and 6 goats that died of natural peste des petits ruminants virus infection in Turkey. Pathologic findings included erosive-ulcerative stomatitis, fibrino-necrotic tracheitis, bronchointerstitial pneumonia, multifocal coagulation necroses in the liver, and severe lymphocytolysis in lymphoid tissues. Syncytial cells were conspicuous, especially in the oral mucosa, pulmonary alveoli, liver, and lymphoid tissues. In addition to the typical tissue distribution, eosinophilic intracytoplasmic and/or intranuclear inclusions were observed in epithelial cells lining the renal pelvis and abomasal mucosa. Immunolabeling of the viral antigen was observed in the kidney, brain, rumen, abomasum, heart, and myocytes of the tongue besides its more typical locations. In this study, we report and describe in detail the first peste des petits ruminants endemic in Kirikkale Province, Central Anatolia of Turkey. In conclusion, these previously unreported pathologic findings in natural peste des petits ruminants virus infection establish a basis for resemblance to other morbillivirus infections, such as canine distemper and distemper of sea mammals. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses indicated that the 448-bp genome fragment was amplified in 18 cases (18/21, 85.7 %). Phylogenetic analysis showed that viruses belong to lineage 4 in the peste des petits ruminants virus common phylogenetic tree.

The effects of raloxifene and tibolone on homocysteine and vascular histopathological changes.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of raloxifene (RLX) and tibolone (TBN) on plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels and their relationship with atherosclerotic changes in the walls of the carotid artery in ovariectomised rats. Thirty surgically ovariectomised Wistar albino rats after a menopausal period of 6 cycles were randomly assigned to receive RLX 0.01 mg/kg/day (n=10), TBN 0.04 mg/kg/day (n=10) and the same dose of placebo (n=10) for 6 cycles. Serum levels of vitamin B12, folate and Hcy were measured and carotid arteries were examined histopathologically following the termination of treatment. Hcy levels were 3.27+/-0.97, 2.57+/-0.32 and 2.28+/-0.12 micromol/l, Vitamin B12 levels were 901.90+/-239.76, 694.70+/-112.20 and 631+/-309.44 pg/ml and folate levels were 73.80+/-12.71, 72.51+/-7.05 and 84.79+/-20.82 ng/ml in receiving RLX, TBN and placebo respectively. Hcy levels were increased by RLX vs. placebo (P=0.006) but not by TBN vs. placebo (P=0.070). Vitamin B12 levels were found to be elevated by TBN vs. the control group (P=0.041) but not by RLX vs. placebo (P=0.059). Histopathological examination of carotid arteries from rats receiving both RLX and TBN revealed no difference vs. placebo. Data obtained from the study support the view that neither RLX nor TBN appears to have a primary protective effect on vascular disease by effecting the metabolism of Hcy at menopause.

Association of corticosteroids and factor V, prothrombin, and MTHFR gene mutations with avascular osteonecrosis in renal allograft recipients.

The mechanism of posttransplantation avascular osteonecrosis (AVN) is controversial. Besides an increased bone marrow pressure due to reduced blood supply, enhanced coagulation has been considered. We investigated the associations of factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations as well as cumulative corticosteroid doses with AVN in renal allograft recipients. The records of 39 volunteer patients and 11 patients in whom osteonecrosis was previously identified were reviewed for cumulative corticosteroid dosages during the first year. All patients were screened for factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations by direct sequencing of genomic DNA. The cumulative corticosteroid dosages at 3, 6, and 12 months in the osteonecrotic group (5033.5 +/- 1565.3, 7164.9 +/- 2063.1, 8835.1 +/- 2216.8 mg) were significantly higher than in the control group (3629 +/- 1504.1, 4784.5 +/- 1568.7, 6322.4 +/- 1686.6 mg; P = .013, P = .001, P = .001, respectively). No significant difference in factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations was observed between the osteonecrotic and control groups (P > .05). In conclusion, an association between the first year (3, 6, and 12 month) cumulative corticosteroid dosages and AVN was demonstrated in renal transplant recipients. However, no correlation was determined between factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A, and MTHFR C677T mutations and osteonecrosis.

Polioencephalomalacia in cattle: a consequence of prolonged feeding barley malt sprouts.

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in ruminants has been recognized as a consequence of excess sulphur intake. The present study describes clinical, gross and histopathological findings of PEM following an abrupt change of diet in two ranches housing 2750 dairy and 2300 beef cattle. As a result of severe PEM, 256 cattle died or were slaughtered. Clinical findings included circling, hypersensitivity, excessive salivation, hypermetria, incoordination, blindness and death. The first clinical signs occurred in beef calves (6-8 months old) at a holding facility. Clinical signs of the disorder continued intermittently during the 5-month period in both ranches and were more evident in calves and lactating dairy cows. The affected cattle did not respond to thiamine injections. Clinical signs disappeared gradually following removal of barley malt sprouts from the diet. Although macroscopic lesions were not apparent in the brain tissues of some animals, histopathology typical of PEM was found in most cases: spongiosis in the neuropil and neuronal necrosis, haemorrhage, capillary hyperplasia, fibrinoid degeneration in arterioles, multifocal liquefaction necroses in the grey matter and abundance of gitter cells with vacuolar large cytoplasm. Sulphide in rumen fluid of a clinically affected animal was measured as 1.55 mg/dl, which is considerably higher than that collected from two control cows (mean 0.21 mg/dl). The total sulphur content of the diet containing barley malt sprouts was estimated to be 0.45%, which is also higher than the National Research Council (NRC) maximum tolerable levels. In conclusion, PEM can result from excess barley malt sprout intake because of its higher sulphur content. Clinical signs may occur shortly after the intake of barley malt sprout as outbreaks with a higher number of deaths or as an ongoing periodic condition.

Neurosteroidogenesis in oligodendrocytes and Purkinje neurones of cerebellar cortex of dogs.

The cerebellum is a steroidogenic organ that expresses steroidogenic enzymes and produces neurosteroids. Purkinje neurones appear to be the most active steroidogenic cells in the cerebellar cortex. These neurones express 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc), 17 alpha-hydroxylase/c17, 20lyase (P450c17), P450 aromatase (P450arom) and produce pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedion, oestradion and oestrone. Oligodendrocytes are predominantly the producer of myeline protein. The oligodendrocytes were identified by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody against myeline 2', 3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase), a myeline specific enzyme. In this study we have examined the distribution of 3 beta-HSD and CNPase by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody in canine cerebellar cortex. The localization of oligodendrocytes within the cerebellar cortex was determined to be close to Purkinje neurones. This result suggests that endogenous progesterone synthesized de novo in the Purkinje neurone can promote myeline protein synthesis in oligodentrocytes.

Distribution of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the cerebellum in canine distemper virus infection.

The cerebella of eight dogs naturally infected with canine distemper virus (CDV) and two normal dogs were examined immunohistochemically for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD). The clinical diagnosis of canine distemper was confirmed histopathologically and by the immunohistochemical demonstration of CDV antigen. In all dogs (healthy and infected), the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum were immunolabelled for 3beta-HSD activity. In infected dogs, 3beta-HSD labelling was prominent in astrocytes (particularly in areas of astrocytosis) whereas in healthy dogs such immunolabelling was weak. Double immunolabelling demonstrated that all GFAP-positive cells (especially in demyelinating areas) were also positive for 3beta-HSD. The results suggest that 3beta-HSD expression by astrocytes is associated with demyelination in CDV infection.