Juvenile ocular abnormalities in a litter of black-footed ferrets.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and histopathological features of ocular abnormalities noted in a litter of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes), including corneal opacification, cataracts, persistent pupillary membranes, microphthalmia, symblepharon and anterior segment malformation. ANIMALS STUDIED: A litter of eight black-footed ferrets examined at 10 weeks old with a history of ophthalmia neonatorum first noted at 7 days old and histopathological examination of three globes from three ferrets of the same litter between 5 and 7 months old following routine subconjunctival enucleation. PROCEDURES: Due to the fractious nature of black-footed ferrets, slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination was performed under general isoflurane anesthesia at 10 weeks of age. Corneal opacification was noted in 9/16 eyes, cataracts in 4/16 eyes, and persistent pupillary membranes in 3/16 eyes, among other findings. Histopathology revealed persistent pupillary membranes and Descemet's membrane abnormalities consistent with congenital anterior segment malformation in all three globes. In one ferret, a posterior cortical cataract with posterior lenticular malformation and lens capsule discontinuity was noted. Purulent discharge was cultured at time of enucleation in one ferret with growth of E. coli. CONCLUSIONS: A novel constellation of ocular malformations with primary congenital and secondary to ophthalmia neonatorum etiologies is described in black-footed ferrets. Due to endangered status of black-footed ferrets, small genetic pool and the requirement for adequate vision for wild-release, congenital ocular abnormalities such as anterior segment malformation and likely the cataracts described are of particular concern. Further investigation and monitoring are warranted to determine the heritability of these ocular abnormalities.

Sarcina sp. as a presumptive cause of fatal acute gastric dilation and gastric emphysema in rhesus macaques.

A 4-y-old female and 3-y-old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), both housed in the same facility, died unexpectedly within 2 wk. Postmortem examination revealed severe gastric dilation in both macaques and gastric emphysema in the female macaque. Histologically, bacteria consistent with Sarcina sp. were present in both macaques within the lungs and lumen of the trachea, esophagus, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract without associated inflammation. Additionally, in the female macaque, the bacteria were found in the gastric mucosa and associated with emphysematous spaces in the gastric wall without associated inflammation. PCR and Sanger sequencing of amplicons were subsequently performed on GI contents and non-alimentary tissues from the 2 affected monkeys and on comparative samples from unaffected rhesus monkeys in the same facility and an adjacent primate facility. The cases were compared using the 2-tailed Fisher exact test (p-value at 95% confidence). PCR identified Sarcina in GI contents of both affected and unaffected monkeys (p = 0.6084) and in non-alimentary tissues of affected monkeys only (p = 0.0083). These results suggest that the presence of Sarcina sp. in non-alimentary tissues is associated with gastric distension, gas accumulation, and unexpected death in nonhuman primates.

Transformation of electrospun Keratin/PVA nanofiber membranes into multilayered 3D Scaffolds: Physiochemical studies and corneal implant applications.

In this study, we engineered an electrospun keratin/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofiber membrane with a three-dimensional (3D) fiber network. Both keratin and PVA are known as biocompatible materials, and the 3D assembly of these two led to a transparent membrane with superior mechanical properties. The as-prepared three-dimensionally assembled keratin/PVA nanofiber (3D keratin/PVA NFs) membrane was characterized by state-of-the-art techniques and used as a corneal implant in rabbit eyes. The transparency, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of the electrospun keratin/PVA NFs were highly enhanced after 3D modification which is mainly attributed to its unique three-dimensional morphology. The performance of 3D keratin/PVA NFs membrane was compared with horse amniotic membrane (AM), and the results obtained from the clinical and histological evaluations showed that it could be considered as an alternative material to the AM. Furthermore, this study provides an emerging approach for converting a two-dimensional electrospun nanofiber membrane to three-dimensional fiber networks that resemble the structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM).

Management of corneal epithelial defects in a population of mature chuck-will's-widows (Antrostomus carolinensis) in South Florida.

PURPOSE: To describe ocular clinical findings, gross/histopathologic findings, and treatment regimens in a series of migratory chuck-will's-widows (Antrostomus carolinensis) (CWW) with corneal epithelial defects. METHODS: Seven CWW were presented to the South Florida Wildlife Center (SFWC). Four presented with bilateral (OU) corneal ulceration; two developed corneal ulceration OU; one had no ocular lesions. Treatment protocols for patients with corneal ulcers included the following: medical therapy only or medical therapy combined with an additional procedure. Four patients including the bird with no ocular lesions were euthanized, and one patient died. Their globes were submitted for histopathology. Two patients were released. RESULTS: Clinical findings prior to enucleation included superficial corneal ulceration with redundant epithelium persisting weeks to >1 month. On histopathology, epithelium in nonulcerated globes was remarkably thin; this was considered normal. Common histopathologic findings of ulcerated globes revealed epithelial and conjunctival attenuation with an acellular superficial stromal layer and hypercellular mid-stromal layer. One globe healed with medical therapy and cotton tip applicator debridement. Four globes healed by combination of medical therapy, equine amnion, nictitating membrane (NM) flap, and temporary tarsorrhaphy. No globes healed with diamond burr debridement or grid keratotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that may be contributing to these corneal epithelial defects include, but are not limited to, normally thin epithelium, exposure keratopathy, neurotrophic disease, epithelial turnover and inadequate stem cell recruitment, inherited/genetic causes, and unidentified infectious agents (eg, viral etiologies). Of the 12 eyes treated, one healed with medical therapy/cotton tip applicator debridement, and four healed with medical therapy/equine amnion/nictitating membrane flap/temporary tarsorrhaphy.

Attenuation of Marek's disease virus by codon pair deoptimization of a core gene.

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an oncogenic alphaherpesvirus of Gallus gallus, the domesticated chicken. Control strategies rely upon vaccination with live attenuated viruses of antigenically similar avian herpesviruses or attenuated strains of MDV. Recent studies in other viruses have shown that recoding certain viral genes to employ synonymous but rarely-used codon pairs resulted in viral attenuation. We deoptimized two MDV proteins, UL54/ICP27 and UL49/VP22, and demonstrate that the more severely deoptimized variant of UL54 accumulates significantly less gene product in vitro. Using these UL54 deoptimized mutants, we further demonstrate that animals infected with the UL54-recoded recombinant virus exhibited decreased viral genome copy number in lymphocytes, reduced lymphoid atrophy and reduced tumor incidence. This study demonstrates that codon pair deoptimization of a single viral gene can produce attenuated strains of MDV. This approach may be useful as a rational way of making novel live attenuated virus vaccines for MDV.