Detection and Genome Sequencing of Lumpy Skin Disease Viruses in Wildlife Game Species in South Africa.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) has recently undergone rapid spread, now being reported from more than 80 countries, affecting predominantly cattle and to a lesser extent, water buffalo. This poxvirus was previously considered to be highly host-range restricted. However, there is an increasing number of published reports on the detection of the virus from different game animal species. The virus has not only been shown to infect a wide range of game species under experimental conditions, but has also been naturally detected in oryx, giraffe, camels and gazelle. In addition, clinical lumpy skin disease has previously been described in springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), an African antelope species, in South Africa. This report describes the characterization of lumpy skin disease virus belonging to cluster 1.2, from field samples from springbok, impala (Aepyceros melampus) and a giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in South Africa using PCR, Sanger and whole genome sequencing. Most of these samples were submitted from wild animals in nature reserves or game parks, indicating that the disease is not restricted to captive-bred animals on game farms or zoological gardens. The potential role of wildlife species in the transmission and maintenance of LSDV is further discussed and requires continuing investigation, as the virus and disease may pose a serious threat to endangered species.

Fatal disseminated toxoplasmosis in a feline immunodeficiency virus-positive cat receiving oclacitinib for feline atopic skin syndrome.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan, for which felids are the definitive host. Immunocompromised individuals are susceptible to recrudescent toxoplasmosis. This case describes a 6-year-old, feline immunodeficiency virus-positive domestic short hair cat with feline atopic skin syndrome that developed fatal toxoplasmosis after treatment with oclacitinib for five months.

Toxoplasma gondii est un protozoaire ubiquitaire dont les félidés sont l'hôte définitif. Les personnes immunodéprimées sont sensibles à la toxoplasmose recrudescente. Ce cas décrit un chat domestique à poils courts de 6 ans, positif pour le virus de l'immunodéficience féline, atteint du syndrome atopique cutané félin, qui a développé une toxoplasmose mortelle après un traitement à l'oclacitinib pendant cinq mois.

Toxoplasma gondii es un protozoo ubicuo, cuyo huésped definitivo son los felinos. Las personas inmunocomprometidas son susceptibles a la toxoplasmosis recrudescente. Este caso describe un gato doméstico de pelo corto positivo para el virus de la inmunodeficiencia felina de 6 años de edad con síndrome de piel atópica felina, que desarrolló toxoplasmosis fatal después del tratamiento con oclacitinib durante cinco meses.

Toxoplasma gondii é um protozoário ubíquo para o qual os felídeos são o hospedeiro definitivo. Indivíduos imunocomprometidos são suscetíveis a toxoplasmose recrudescente. Este relato descreve um caso de um felino doméstico de pelo curto de seis anos de idade, positivo para o vírus da imunodeficiência felina, com síndrome atópica felina, que desenvolveu toxoplasmose fatal após tratamento com oclacitinib por cinco meses.

Novel Techniques for Detection of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in a Cheetah.

In South Africa, bovine tuberculosis threatens some of Africa's most iconic wildlife species, including the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). The lack of antemortem diagnostic tests for this species strongly hinders conservation efforts. We report use of antemortem and postmortem diagnostic assays to detect Mycobacterium bovis infection in a cheetah.

The diagnosis of bilateral primary renal paragangliomas in a cat.

A 9-year-old sterilised female domestic short-hair cat was referred with a history of vomiting and anorexia of 3 months' duration. Biochemistry, full-blood counts, thoracic radiographs, feline pancreatic-specific lipase, abdominal ultrasonography and feline immunodeficiency virus/feline leukaemia virus (FIV/FeLV) SNAP tests had been performed. Mild hypochloraemia and moderate hypokalaemia were evident on initial presentation. Abdominal ultrasonography initially revealed unilateral renal nodules on the left side. These were subjected to fine-needle aspiration and cytological evaluation. A neuroendocrine tumour was suspected, and biopsies via midline coeliotomy were taken to confirm the diagnosis. Initial histopathology diagnosed primary renal carcinomas or neuroendocrine neoplasia; however, the definitive diagnosis became renal paragangliomas after immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy were performed. The cat was regularly monitored with serum biochemistry parameters, blood pressure determinations, thoracic radiographs and subsequent abdominal ultrasonography. Biochemistry, radiography and blood pressures remained normal over a 24-week follow-up period, while subsequent ultrasonography revealed tumour progression in both number and size in both kidneys. Primary neuroendocrine tumours of the kidney are frequently incorrectly diagnosed as other renal tumours such as renal cell carcinoma, mesonephric tumours or undifferentiated carcinomas. This case report highlights the importance of additional testing, including immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy, to obtain a definitive diagnosis of paragangliomas.

Avian bornavirus genotype 4 recovered from naturally infected psittacine birds with proventricular dilatation disease in South Africa.

The occurrence of proventricular dilatation disease caused by avian bornavirus (ABV) in captive psittacine birds has long been suspected in South Africa. This report documents the first detection by polymerase chain reaction and gene sequence analyses of ABV from three clinical cases of proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in captive bred blue and gold macaws (Araara rauna) resident in this country. Lymphoplasmacytic encephalitis, gastrointestinal myenteric gangioneuritis and leiomyositis were the most prominent histopathological changes and ABV genotype 4 was detected in tissues from all three birds. Immunohistochemical stains for ABV antigen revealed positive labelling of neurons and glial cells of the brain, myenteric ganglia and nerve fibres as well as smooth muscle cells of the gastrointestinal tract of all three birds. In one bird, positive labelling of the peripheral nerves was observed. The identical sequence of the analaysed genome fragment of all three samples, history that all of these birds had originated from the same breeding facility, and young age at presentation raise the question of possible vertical transmission.

A case of fatal systemic toxoplasmosis in a cat being treated with cyclosporin A for feline atopy.

Acute systemic toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a 4-5-year-old, male, Domestic Short Hair cat, which had been on cyclosporine A immunomodulatory therapy for feline atopy, over an 8-month period. Cyclosporin A (CsA) has shown promising results as a immunosuppressive agent in the cat for the treatment of eosinophilic plaque and granulomas, allergic cervico-facial pruritus, feline atopy and other immune-mediated dermatoses. However, inhibition of T-lymphocyte function by CsA is believed to have predisposed this cat to the development of a newly acquired, acute Toxoplasma gondii infection, as characterized by severe hepatic and pancreatic pathology in conjunction with the heavy parasite load demonstrated on immunohistochemical (IHC) stains for T. gondii. Cats on CsA therapy appear to be at risk of developing fatal systemic toxoplasmosis.