Pathology of grey seals Halichoerus grypus in southwest England including pups in early rehabilitation.

Few investigations have examined the pathology of grey seals Halichoerus grypus in southwest England, where it is the most abundant marine mammal. Here, primary pathological findings are presented from 107 post-mortem examinations of grey seals in southwest England between 2013 and 2020. Over three-quarters were pups in their first year of life; the origins of the carcasses reflected the known breeding season and breeding sites of grey seals in the region. Trauma was the most common primary pathological finding (n = 49), followed by infectious disease (n = 36). Traumatic findings included fisheries-related trauma (n = 15), other acute physical traumas (n = 15) and other chronic traumas (n = 19). Infectious disease findings included respiratory infections (n = 21) and gastrointestinal infections (n = 9). There was no difference in the primary pathological findings for seals found dead or that died or were euthanased on the day they were found compared to those dying in early rehabilitation, suggesting that it is appropriate to include findings from seals in early rehabilitation in studies of wild grey seal pathology. Seals that had not been frozen before post-mortem examination were nearly twice as likely to have a primary pathological finding of infectious disease or trauma than those that had been frozen, highlighting the need, wherever possible, to avoid freezing seals prior to post-mortem examination.

Novel Pulmonary Vasculitis with Splendore-Hoeppli Reaction in Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) Associated with Otostrongylus circumlitus Infection.

Lungworm infection in seals is an important cause of morbidity and mortality, inducing bronchopneumonia and affecting population dynamics in some areas of the world. We present a series of cases of lungworm infection in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) associated with novel, significant and unusual pulmonary vascular changes. Grey seals (n = 180) that were stranded, in rehabilitation or in long-term captivity in the UK were subjected to post-mortem examination between 2012 and 2018. Lung tissue was collected from 47 individuals for histopathological examination. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on formalin-fixed and paraffin wax-embedded (FFPE) material was attempted for parasite identification on selected sections using lungworm-specific primers, and nematode morphology within sections was evaluated histologically. Fourteen of 47 (30%) of these grey seals showed evidence of segmental granulomatous and eosinophilic vasculitis with an intramural Splendore-Hoeppli reaction in medium to large pulmonary arteries. Intravascular nematodes suggestive of Otostrongylus circumlitus were seen in two cases. PCR on FFPE material was unable to detect a signal on selected tissue sections. Of the 14 affected seals, nine had concurrent bronchopneumonia and four had intra-alveolar/bronchiolar Parafilaroides spp. Thirteen of 14 animals with vasculitis lesions were weaned pups with only one adult affected. Previous pathological descriptions of lungworm infection in grey seals have dealt mainly with the bronchopneumonia. This case series has identified previously unrecorded vascular changes characterized by an intramural Splendore-Hoeppli reaction. Such change would impact on vascular integrity, increasing the likelihood of vascular rupture with pulmonary haemorrhage and increased risk of intravascular coagulation. A host-parasite relationship with the persistence of antigenic material following close contact with, or migration through, the blood vessel wall is suspected.

Assessment of antemortem tests used in the control of an outbreak of tuberculosis in llamas (Lama glama).

An outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a llama herd is described. Over a 25-month period, a total of 70 llamas were selected for postmortem examination using four distinct criteria: clinical suspicion of disease (15 animals), positive tuberculin skin test result (three animals), antibody positive using a novel serological test (Rapid Test, 54 animals) and elective cull (five animals). Some animals qualified on more than one criterion. Gross lesions of TB were detected in 15 animals, with lung and lymph node lesions consistently observed. Samples were collected from 14 of 15 animals with visible lesions as well as those with no visible lesions, for histopathology and mycobacterial culture. All 14 llamas with visible lesions had caseonecrotic granulomatous lesions associated with acid-fast bacteria and variable mineralisation, and M bovis was isolated from 13. There were no histopathological lesions of TB in llamas with no grossly visible lesions, and M bovis was not isolated from any of these. The predictive value of suspicious gross lesions at postmortem examination was therefore high in the herd. Molecular typing results indicated that the outbreak was caused by a single strain likely to have originated from a local reservoir, probably cattle or wildlife. Antemortem indicators of infection assisted control of the outbreak, but no single test accurately identified all TB cases. Visible lesions were detected in nine of 15 llamas with clinical suspicion of disease, in two of three that had positive tuberculin skin test results and in 10 of 54 that were antibody positive; there was none (zero out of five) in llamas that were electively culled.

Haematological and biochemical values for grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) during early rehabilitation.

Haematological and biochemical data were collected over a period of six years from grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pups undergoing rehabilitation. Pups bled during the first three days were allocated retrospectively to one of seven clinical groups and statistical analyses were carried out on six of these groups (130 pups). Compared with reference ranges, all the groups had lower mean packed-cell volumes (pcv), red blood cell (rbc) counts haemoglobin and albumin levels, pups with severe trauma had higher total white blood cell (wbc) and neutrophil counts, pups with severe trauma and malnourished pups had higher total bilirubin levels, and pups in all the clinical groups except those with severe trauma had lower sodium levels. There were significant differences (P<0.05) between some clinical groups for mean pcv, rbc counts, all wbc counts except monocytes, haemoglobin, total bilirubin, creatine kinase, amylase and potassium levels. Forty-nine pups were bled more than once during the first 10 days of rehabilitation for haematology, and 11 were bled more than once for biochemistry. There were significant decreases (P<0.05) during this period in pcv, and in the activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, and significant increases in all wbc counts, total protein, globulin, amylase and calcium levels.

Conditions in grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) presented for rehabilitation.

A survey was carried out on the condition of 188 live grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pups presented for rehabilitation from the coasts of south-west England between 1992 and 1998. The survey was carried out to assess the incidence of malnutrition, hyperthermia, respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions, and also the incidence of traumatic, skin, oral and ocular lesions. Malnutrition was a common finding in pups approaching weaning (mid-moult pups) and those at the point of weaning or postweaning (moulted pups) (62 per cent and 82 per cent, respectively). Separation from the dam, believed to be the main cause of malnutrition in grey seals, was encountered frequently in unweaned pups (91 per cent). Thirty-nine per cent of pups presented with a respiratory condition, 38 per cent with hyperthermia and 9 per cent with diarrhoea. Seven per cent and 14 per cent of pups had confirmed respiratory and gastrointestinal parasitic infestations respectively, although these were probably underestimates. Clinically significant traumatic lesions were seen in 41 per cent, oral ulceration in 26 per cent, ocular conditions in 13 per cent, nail bed infections in 13 per cent and oiling in 10 per cent of pups. Umbilical infections and other skin and oral conditions were also encountered. The incidence of these conditions is compared with data from dead grey seals, and clinical conditions in other pinniped species presented for rehabilitation.

Living-related kidney donation.

Living renal donation is an effective means to expand the organ donor pool and allow more transplants to be performed at greater convenience for the recipient and with greater long-term success. Risks to the recipient appear to be minimal as long as careful donor screening is employed. Living donation has been implemented in extra-renal transplantation more recently. While the experience is limited so far, living donation is likely to remain an important option for liver and lung recipients.

Reorganizing competency programs.

An ambulatory care educational council was formed to validate competency levels, provide staff education programs and determine individual needs. The council's goals and accomplishment are discussed.

Spongiform encephalopathy in a herd of greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros): epidemiological observations.

A small herd of greater kudu, derived from three individuals, has been maintained at the Zoological Society of London since 1970. Spongiform encephalopathy has been diagnosed in five out of eight of the animals born in this herd since 1987. With the possible exception of the first confirmed case, none of these is thought to have been exposed to feeds containing ruminant-derived protein. The pattern of incidence suggests that greater kudu are very susceptible to the disease and that natural lateral transmission may have occurred among them.

Self-regulated learning and achievement by middle-school children.

The relationship of self-regulated learning to the achievement test scores of 62 Grade 6 students was studied. Generally, the metacognitive and affective variables correlated significantly with teachers' grades and standardized test scores in mathematics, reading, and science. Planning and self-assessment significantly predicted the six measures of achievement. Step-wise multiple regression analyses using the metacognitive and affective variables largely indicate that students' and teachers' perceptions of scholastic ability and planning appear to be the most salient factors in predicting academic performance. The locus of control dimension had no utility in predicting classroom grades and performance on standardized measures of achievement. The implications of the findings for teaching and learning are discussed.

Precision Parameters for AOAC Bacillus stearothermophilus Disc Assay Based on FDA Milk Laboratory Quality Assurance 1982-1986 Samples.

Inhibitory substance (antibiotic) test results from State Split Milk Samples were used to estimate precision parameters and to compare antibiotic medium 4 (A4) and PM indicator (PM) agars. Five inhibitory substances (ampicillin, cephapirin, erythromycin, neomycin, and penicillin-G) were tested. Repeatability relative standard deviations (RSDr) ranged from 1.0 to 4.8%, and the reproducibility relative standard deviations (RSDR) ranged from 4.8 to 10.4%. Zone sizes of erythromycin, neomycin, and penicillin-G were significantly larger on PM agar (α = 0.05) than on A4 agar. The reverse was observed for cephapirin. No difference between agars was noted for ampicillin.

Thermal Resistance of Disease-Associated Salmonella typhimurium in Milk.

The thermal resistance of Salmonella typhimurium cultures that had been associated with a major milkborne oubreak of salmonellosis was determined in raw whole milk. Thirteen patient stool isolates and 24 implicated pasteurized milk isolates at concentrations of 1 × 105/ml were screened for heat resistance at 51.8°C. A representative milk strain was heated in replicate at four temperatures from 51.8 to 68.3°C. The zD value was calculated to be 5.3°C. Mean D-value estimates at 51.8°C were 24.0 and 22.8 min for patient and milk isolates, respectively. Extrapolated D71.7°C values were 0.24 and 0.22 s, and did not differ significantly (α = 0.05). These isolates would not survive proper pasteurization.

Detectability and Precision of the AOAC Bacillus stearothermophilus Disc Assay Demonstrated in the 1981 FDA Split Milk Sample Testing Program.

Four blind duplicate milk samples containing ß-lactam residues were analyzed by 149 analysts at 47 laboratories. Four official variations were used: (a) antibiotic 4 (A4) agar and 55°C incubation, (b) A4 agar and 64°C incubation, (c) PM indicator (PMI) agar and 55°C incubation, and (d) PMI agar and 64°C incubation. A ß-lactam concentration of 0.008 IU/ml was detectable 100% of the time by variations a, b, and c and 98% of the time by variation d, with average zone diameters of 18.7, 17.7, 16.4 and 17.6 mm, respectively. The 0.005 IU/ml concentration was detected 92% of the time by variation a, 99% by b, 57% by c and 89% by d, with average zone diameters of positive units of 16.3, 15.5, 14.9 and 15.2 mm, respectively.

Bacillus stearothermophilus disc assay for detection of inhibitors in milk: collaborative study.

A 2-part (A and B) collaborative study was conducted on a Bacillus stearothermophilus paper disc (12.7 mm) method to detect residual inhibitors in milk. The 18 participating collaborators assayed raw milk samples spiked with a beta-lactam (penicillin G). Of the 18 collaborators, 14 participated in part A and 16 in part B. Part A demonstrated that either Antibiotic Medium No. 4 or PM Indicator Agar is suitable for use in the assay. The lowest concentration detectable, not significantly different from 100% at the alpha = 0.05 level, was 0.008 unit/mL with either medium. Part B demonstrated that the sensitivity of the method is equal to that of the current AOAC method (16.131-16.136). The concentration of beta-lactam detected by 50% of the analysts was 0.003-0.005 unit/mL in this study, compared with 0.005 unit/mL reported in an earlier collaborative study on the current AOAC method. No false positive results were reported in part A or part B. All samples found positive by the confirmatory test in part B were correctly identified as a beta-lactam with commercial Penase discs. The lowest concentration detectable by the method, not significantly different from 100% at the alpha = 0.05 level, was 0.008 unit/mL. The method was adopted official first action.