[Necrotizing granulomatous pneumonia caused by fungal infection in a goat]. / Granulomatös-nekrotisierende Pneumonie durch Schimmelpilzinfektion bei einer Ziege.

This case report describes the clinical and postmortem findings in a 2.5-year-old goat with necrotizing granulomatous pneumonia. The goat was referred to our clinic because of swelling of the head and neck, which was unresponsive to treatment, dysphagia, and deterioration in general condition. Thoracic radiographs showed two soft tissue densities, about 10 cm in diameter, in the left caudodorsal lung. The goat was euthanized and a necropsy was carried out. The two lesions in the left caudodorsal lung were round, firm and clearly demarcated from the surrounding lung tissue. They contained purulent material and compromised about 70 % of the diaphragmatic lung lobe. Histological examination of the lesions revealed a dense network of hyphae characteristic of Mucorales spp.

Pulmonary artery thrombosis in experimental Angiostrongylus vasorum infection does not result in pulmonary hypertension and echocardiographic right ventricular changes.

BACKGROUND: Dogs experimentally inoculated with Angiostrongylus vasorum develop severe pulmonary parenchymal lesions and arterial thrombosis at the time of patency. HYPOTHESIS: A. vasorum-induced thrombosis results in arterial hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension (PH), and altered cardiac morphology and function. ANIMALS: Six healthy Beagles experimentally inoculated with A. vasorum. METHODS: Thoracic radiographs and arterial blood gas analyses were performed 8 and 13 weeks postinoculation (wpi) and 9 weeks posttherapy (wpt). Echocardiography was done before and 2, 5, 8, 13 wpi and 9 wpt. Invasive pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) measurements were obtained 8 wpi. Two untreated dogs were necropsied 13 wpi and 4 treated dogs 9 wpt. RESULTS: All dogs had patent infections at 7 wpi and clinical respiratory signs at 8 wpi. Moderate hypoxemia (median PaO2 of 73 and 74 mmHg) present at 8 and 13 wpi had resolved by 9 wpt. Echocardiographically, no evidence of PH and no abnormalities in cardiac size and function were discernible at any time point. PAP invasively measured at 8 wpi was not different from that of control dogs. Severe radiographic pulmonary parenchymal and suspected thrombotic lesions at 13 wpi were corroborated by necropsy. Most histopathologic changes had resolved at 9 wpt, but focal inflammatory, thrombotic, and fibrotic changes still were present in all dogs. CONCLUSION: In experimentally infected Beagles, pulmonary and vascular changes induced by A. vasorum are reflected by marked radiographic changes and arterial hypoxemia. These did not result in PH and echocardiographic changes in cardiac size and function.

[Ultrasonographic and computed tomographic findings in a goat with mediastinal lymphocytic thymoma]. / Ultraschall- und CT-Befunde bei einer Ziege mit Thymom im Mediastinum.

This case report describes the clinical, sonographic, computed tomographic and pathological findings in a 9-year-old goat with mediastinal lymphocytic thymoma. The goat was referred to the Department of Farm Animals because of weight loss and dyspnoea. The lead clinical findings were increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate and heart sounds heard only on the right side. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a massive amount of fluid and an echogenic corrugated mass ventral to the lungs in the thoracic cavity on the left side. Computed tomography showed that the mass was very large and diffusely mineralised. A tentative diagnosis of mediastinal neoplasia was made, and the goat was euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed a cauliflower-like, pedunculated tumour, which occupied the entire left thoracic cavity and displaced the left lung. Based on histological evaluation, the tumour was diagnosed as a lymphocytic thymoma.

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and associated risk factors for capped hock and the associations with bursitis in weaner, grower and finisher pigs from 93 commercial farms in England.

The prevalence of capped hock in 5601 post-weaning pigs from 93 pig farms in England was 17.2%. The prevalence increased with age. Once adjusted for age, the lowest prevalence of capped hock was observed in pigs kept on soil floors (usually covered with deep straw bedding). There was no significant increase in the risk of capped hock in pigs kept on solid concrete floors with deep straw bedding. However, pigs kept on solid concrete with some, or the entire pen, sparsely bedded and pigs kept on partially or fully slatted floors had an approximately threefold increased risk of capped hock. This did not vary significantly between these four floor types. This was in contrast to the associated risks for bursitis in the same pigs, where as the floor went from highly resilient (straw and solid floors) to hard and perforated (fully slatted) the risk of bursitis increased in a similar way to a dose response. No other variables that were measured were associated with a change in risk for capped hock, while observation of pigs slipping or slip marks and wet, dirty and worn pens were also associated risks for bursitis. These results indicate that capped hock and bursitis are both affected by exposure to floors, but in different ways. The prevalence of capped hock was associated only with floor hardness, with deep straw protecting the pigs, while bursitis was associated with both changes in bedding depth (hardness), floor material (soil versus concrete) and floor construction (solid versus slatted floors) and in factors associated with locomotion (slipping and slip marks). These results indicate that the aetiology of capped hock and bursitis might differ.

A cross-sectional study of the prevalence and associated risk factors for bursitis in weaner, grower and finisher pigs from 93 commercial farms in England.

A cross-sectional study of 93 farms in England was carried out to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors for bursitis. A total of 6250 pigs aged 6-22 weeks were examined for presence and severity of bursitis. Details of pen construction, pen quality and farm management were recorded including floor type, presence of bedding, condition of the floor and floor materials. The prevalence of bursitis was 41.2% and increased with each week of age (OR 1.1). Two-level logistic regression models were developed with the outcome as the proportion of pigs affected with bursitis in a pen. Pigs kept on soil floors with straw bedding were used as the reference level. In comparison with these soil floors, bursitis increased on concrete floors where the bedding was deep throughout (OR 4.6), deep in part (OR 3.7), and sparse throughout (OR 9.0), part slatted floors (OR 8.0), and fully slatted floors (OR 18.8). Slip or skid marks in the dunging area (OR 1.5), pigs observed slipping during the examination of the pen (OR 1.3) and wet floors (OR 3.6) were also associated with an increased risk of bursitis. The results indicate that bursitis is a common condition of growing pigs and that the associated risk factors for bursitis were a lack of bedding in the lying area, presence of voids and pen conditions which increased the likelihood of injury.

[Diabetes insipidus in a Swiss Braunvieh heifer with internal hydrocephalus]. / Diabetes insipidus bei einem Braunviehrind mit Hydrocephalus internus.

This case report describes the findings in a seven-month-old heifer with diabetes insipidus attributable to internal hydrocephalus. The heifer was referred to the clinic because of reduced appetite, polydipsia, decreased faecal output and weight loss. The heifer was examined daily for 8 days. She was thin and weak and had a dull dry hair coat and decreased appetite. The heifer urinated frequently; the urine was clear and yel low, had a specific gravity of 1.015. A complete blood cell count, biochemical profile and blood gas analysis revealed increased serum urea, increased serum creatinine, hypernatraemia, hyperchloraemia, hypercalcaemia and hypophosphataemia. The heifer received 10 litres of water and 3 litres of ruminal fluid from a healthy cow per os daily for 5 days. The heifer had access to fresh water ad libitum. The general condition of the heifer did not improve after this treatment. Although the concentration of serum urea and creatinine decreased, the concentrations of sodium, chloride and calcium remained higher than normal. Based on the findings, a diagnosis of diabetes insipidus was made and the heifer was euthanatized. Postmortem examination revealed severe internal hydrocephalus, and a definitive diagnosis of central diabetes insipidus attributable to internal hydrocephalus was made.

The content and composition of lipids in the digital cushion of the bovine claw with respect to age and location--a preliminary report.

The pads of the bovine digital cushion, which serves as a shock absorber, have specific anatomical structures to cope with the substantial forces acting within the claw. To gain more information on the lipid composition and content of the pads, horn shoes from 12 slaughtered heifers and cows were removed and different samples of the pads excised with a scalpel. Pad lipids were extracted and the fatty acid composition determined by gas chromatography. Fat from perirenal and subcutaneous adipose tissues served as a comparison. Overall, this fat contained a higher quantity of extracted lipids than that of the claw pads and did not differ between heifers and cows. In contrast, lipid content in the pads was significantly higher in the cows than in the heifers. In both groups, the lipid content of the middle and abaxial pads, which are situated directly under the distal phalanx, was lower than in the pads of the other locations. The lipids in all pads contained >77% monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), differing sharply from the adipose tissue with values <51%. Among the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) a significantly higher proportion of arachidonic acid (AA) was found in the heifer pads than in those of the cows, whereas the proportion of AA was similar in the adipose tissue of all animals. The proportion of AA in the pad lipids also varied between the defined locations with the highest proportion found in locations that showed the lowest lipid content and was related to the age of the animal.

[Hyena disease in a Brown Swiss heifer]. / Hyänenkrankheit bei einem Braunviehrind.

A heifer with developmental skeletal disorder was presented to the ruminant clinic of the University of Berne. Abnormal long bone growth and a wobbling gait were the main clinical signs. All long bones were examined radiologically, several parameters of body size were measured and the results were compared to the measurements of a healthy control animal. Haematology and blood chemistry were normal. Based on the poor prognosis the animal was slaughtered. The final diagnosis of hyena disease was based on the characteristic growth disturbances in the caudal parts of the body, giving the animal a hyena-like appearance. For the first time a case of hyena disease is reported in Switzerland.

Partial protection by vaccination with recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus surface glycoproteins.

In an effort to induce a strong immune response that might protect against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) challenge infection, three groups of five specified pathogen-free (spf) cats each were immunized subcutaneously with different FIV antigen preparations. Immunizations were done at weeks 0, 2, and 4 with 100 microg of recombinant SU from an FIV Zurich 2 (FIV Z2) strain expressed by E. coli (group 1) or the baculovirus expression system (groups 2 and 3) adsorbed on aluminum hydroxyde and administered with QS-21 (groups 1 and 2) or Freund's adjuvant together with the recombinant nucleocapsid protein (protein NC) of rabies virus (group 3). Protein NC was described to act as an exogenous superantigen. Group 3 cats demonstrated the highest detectable antibody response to the vaccine antigen as determined by ELISA and Western blot analysis. All immunized cats together with seven control animals were challenged with 20 CID50 of cat lymphocyte-grown FIV Z2 3 weeks following the last immunization. Whereas virus was readily recovered from peripheral blood lymphocytes of seven of seven nonvaccinated control cats following this challenge dose, virus was not recovered from two cats of groups 1 and 2. All cats in groups 2 and 3 showed a provirus load significantly decreased to 3% of that of controls up to week 8 after challenge infection. Eleven of 15 vaccinated cats and 5 of 7 control cats developed virus-neutralizing antibodies by week 8 after challenge infection. The two cats negative on virus isolation remained seronegative, developed no detectable virus-neutralizing activities, but were repeatedly positive in provirus PCR. Moreover, starting at week 1 after challenge, both cats showed the lowest provirus load in their respective groups. These results indicate that immunization with recombinant FIV SU in conjunction with appropriate adjuvants may lead to partial protection against FIV challenge infection.

Recombinant FeLV vaccine: long-term protection and effect on course and outcome of FIV infection.

The efficacy and the long-term protection of a recombinant feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine were determined in 30 specified pathogen free cats for over 3 years. At the same time, in order to specify the effects of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) on the immune system, one half of the cats (n = 15) were previously infected with the Swiss isolate FIV Zurich 2. The second half of the animals (n = 15) served as non-infected controls. Eighteen (nine FIV-negative, nine FIV-positive) vaccinated and 12 (six FIV-negative, six FIV-positive) non-vaccinated cats were intraperitoneally challenged with FeLV A. Seventeen of 18 vaccinated cats were protected against persistent viremia, while ten of 12 non-vaccinated controls became infected. An increase of antibodies against FeLV SU was found in all protected cats after the challenge exposure. No difference in vaccine efficacy was found between FIV-negative and FIV-positive animals. The whole group of cats was observed for over 3 years. There were no further vaccinations during this period. CD4+ and CD8+ cell subsets, clinical outcome and time of survival of the cats were recorded. FIV-negative and FIV-positive animals were kept in two different rooms. However, FeLV-negative and FeLV viremic cats were housed together in both rooms in order to imitate a natural FeLV exposure situation. Anti-recombinant FeLV SU antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Although a continuous decline of antibodies was found in FeLV vaccinated cats, they remained protected against constant FeLV challenge for over 3 years. FIV infection had a stronger effect on the depression of the CD4+:CD8+ ratio than FeLV infection. Within the group of FIV-positive cats, the FeLV-vaccinated animals had significantly better survival rates as well as better clinical and laboratory parameters. FIV- and FeLV-coinfected cats showed the lowest CD4+:CD8+ ratio, mainly caused by decreased CD4+ lymphocyte counts. CD8+ lymphocytes with strong fluorescence (CD8(high)) disappeared and cells with weak fluorescence (CD8(low)) appeared instead. Prevention of coinfection by immunizing FIV-positive cats against FeLV infection improved the clinical outcome and prolonged the cat's life expectancy.

Generalized intravascular proliferation in two cats: endotheliosis or intravascular pseudoangiosarcoma?

Two cats had unusual occlusive vascular endothelial proliferations in several organs. The newly formed cells were strictly intraluminal and of endothelial origin, as shown by positive immunohistochemical staining with factor VIII-related antigen.

Disseminated skeletal lesions associated with pathogenic actinomycetes in a Pygmy hog (Sus salvanius).

The clinical and pathological features of an unusual crippling bone disease in an adult male Pygmy Hog, Sus salvanius, born the smallest in a litter of five and representing the rarest of the known living Suidae, are described. Radiological studies revealed severe spondylosis deformans and focal sharply demarcated radiolucencies in virtually the whole skeleton, but particularly in the bones of the skull, the processes of multiple vertebrae, the ribs, scapulae and parts of the humeri and femora. The clinical chemistry measurements were indicative of pathological lytic processes in the skeleton. The focal bone lesions consisted of caseous necrosis, dystrophic calcification and peripheral fibroblastic demarcation. They contained colonies of filamentous bacteria identified as members of the Order Actinomycetales. Case history evidence suggests that the infection may have resulted from repeated skin trauma inflicted by litter-mates.

The bovine digital cushion--a descriptive anatomical study.

The properties of the suspensory and supporting structures of the bovine claw are of particular importance in the pathogenesis of claw lesions since both must function optimally to prevent soft tissue compression and trauma. An essential component is the shock-absorbing digital cushion situated under the distal phalanx. The sound claws of 54 slaughtered cows were dissected. The digital cushion consisted of three parallel pads--axial, middle and abaxial--that ran longitudinally from the heel and underneath the distal phalanx with numerous transverse finger-shaped branches that connected the axial and abaxial pads cranial to the flexor process of the distal phalanx. The middle fat pad frequently ended just at the apical end of the flexor process of the distal phalanx, which may result in an inferior cushioning effect under the distal phalanx and increase the likelihood of ulcers. There were differences in the structure of the digital cushion with age and loose connective tissue in heifers' pads was first replaced by fat which, after the third lactation, was gradually supplanted by collagenous connective tissue.

Effect of therapeutic dietary biotin on the healing of uncomplicated sole ulcers in dairy cattle--a double blinded controlled study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of orally administered biotin on the healing of uncomplicated sole ulcers in dairy cattle. In a double-blind controlled study, 24 dairy cows with a mild, uncomplicated sole ulcer on a lateral hind claw were given either 40 mg biotin per day or a placebo feed over a period of 50 days. An orthopaedic shoe was fitted to the medial claw of the affected foot. The healing process was assessed clinically and by histological examination of horn samples. In the biotin-treated animals, the newly formed epidermis covering the sole ulcers was found to be of significantly better histological quality after 50 days than at the start of the study. The significant improvement in histological horn quality found in the biotin-treated animals suggests that biotin exerts a positive influence on the healing of sole ulcers, however the study period of 50 days appears to have been too short to permit macroscopic detection of the improvement in horn quality.

Demonstration of rabies viral antigen in paraffin tissue sections: comparison of the immunofluorescence technique with the unlabeled antibody enzyme method.

The immunofluorescence technique and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method were used to demonstrate rabies antigen in a retrospective study on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain tissues from 34 naturally infected wild and domestic animals. Rabies was confirmed with immunofluorescent staining on fresh brain tissue at the time of necropsy of the animals. There was a perfect correlation (serial sections from a given brain area were always positive by both methods), but the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique was preferred, since no trypsin digestion was required. Twenty six of the 34 animals were immunohistochemically positive and had encephalitis, and in 21 of these 26, the hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections contained detectable intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in at least 1 brain area. Of the remaining 8 animals (with no inflammatory lesions), 7 were positive for rabies antigen and 2 had no inclusion bodies. Rabies antigen was apparent in 62% of the brain areas in which inclusion bodies were not found in the corresponding hematoxylin and eosin stained sections. Thus, together with the inclusion body positive areas, which were all immunohistochemically positive, it was possible to diagnose rabies in a total 84% of the areas examined. Both techniques greatly facilitate the diagnosis of rabies and may be a reliable help to the diagnostic pathologist when only formalin-fixed tissues are available. However, the methods should not be considered substitutes for the immunofluorescence technique and the mouse inoculation test with fresh brain tissue.

The generation of monoclonal antibodies in mice: influence of adjuvants on the immune response, fusion efficiency and distress.

The objective of this study was to find a reliable alternative to Freund's adjuvant in order to reduce the distress imposed on the animals without impairing the fusion efficiency for immune-positive clones. For this purpose several commercially available adjuvants and adjuvant formulations representing different classes of molecules were compared. Humoral responses and animals' distress evaluated by clinical assessment and histopathological examinations were investigated and compared to fusion efficiencies. In a first set of experiments seven adjuvants were tested essentially to determine their potential to induce distress. Poly(A).poly(U) and GERBU were selected for further investigations due to their low overall toxicity. They were combined with five different antigens and compared to the classic Freund's adjuvant system (CFA/IFA) and to control immunizations without adjuvant. The results showed that adjuvants of very low toxicity could induce a high fusion efficiency. According to a standardized immunization protocol, GERBU induced polyclonal titres similar to Freund's whereas animals treated with poly(A).poly(U) did not attain titres higher than mice immunized with antigen in saline. Poly(A).poly(U) however, exhibited the best fusion efficiency, Freund and GERBU were slightly less efficient. Therefore poly(A).poly(U) and GERBU may serve as valuable alternatives to Freund's adjuvant for generating monoclonal antibodies. Furthermore, these two adjuvants are very easy to use.

Serological evidence of herpesvirus infection in captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus).

In mid 1988 a 3-yr-old Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) from a circus in Switzerland died following generalized manifestation of a herpesvirus infection. In an effort to determine prevalence of infection with the herpesvirus, and due to lack of a corresponding virus isolate, it was decided to evaluate contact animals and elephants from a second herd for antibody to bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) and bovine herpesvirus 2 (BHV2). Of 15 sera tested four displayed low neutralizing antibody titers to BHV2. None of the sera neutralized BHV1. However, as evidenced by protein A-mediated immunoprecipitation of metabolically radio-labeled virus-infected and mock-infected cell antigens, followed by separation of precipitation products in SDS-polyacrylamide gels, the 15 sera precipitated multiple antigens from both viruses. Similar results were obtained when using BHV4 antigens. The extent of reaction was most distinct with respect to BHV2 antigens, less prominent with BHV1 antigens, and least with BHV4 antigens. The respective protein patterns, although less marked, matched well with those obtained with bovine reference sera. Additional evaluation of sera from six elephants from two zoos in the Federal Republic of Germany gave essentially identical results. It was concluded that at least one herpesvirus, immunologically related to BHV2, may be widely distributed among captive Asian elephants, and that this virus apparently does not cause overt disease in the majority of animals.

Immunoperoxidase study of adenovirus pneumonia in dogs.

The pathology of adenovirus pneumonia in 16 dogs is described. Clinically, these dogs had been severely ill, with severe dyspnoea and listlessness, but only faint coughing. Histopathological lesions could be associated directly with the presence of adenovirus antigens in the lungs of these dogs by using an unlabelled immunoperoxidase technique on paraffin tissue sections. The lesions were focal and located in alveoli and bronchioles. Infected cells were mostly alveolar macrophages and less frequently type 1 and 2 pneumocytes and bronchiolar epithelial cells. Infiltrating neutrophils and lymphocytes were not observed to be infected. This type of pneumonia appears to be a fairly well defined clinical and pathological entity in kennel dogs.

Systemic aspergillosis and mucormycosis in 23 cats.

The clinical and pathological features of 23 cats with systemic opportunistic mycosis--aspergillosis and mucormycosis--are described. The diagnoses were made post mortem by histology. The history and characteristics of the pathological lesions of the 29 cases of feline mycosis described in the literature are compared with this series. It appears that the incidence of such mycoses is increasing.

Suspensory structures and supporting tissues of the third phalanx of cows and their relevance to the development of typical sole ulcers (Rusterholz ulcers).

The mural suspensory apparatus of third phalanx and its supportive heel cushion were examined in 19 cows with an ulcer at the 'typical' site (Rusterholz ulcer) to gain information on the pathogenesis of sole and heel ulcers. The claws of 17 healthy controls were used for comparison. The left hind claws, frozen at -20 degrees C, were sectioned in one longitudinal and four transverse planes with a band saw. The thickness of the subcutaneous tissue, the corium and the extent of displacement of the third phalanx were measured at defined sites on these sections. In addition, the suspensory apparatus, the tissue layer connecting the third phalanx to the dorsal wall of the horn capsule, was examined histologically. There was a direct relationship between the displacement of the third phalanx and ulceration of the sole or heel; in all the ulcerated claws the third phalanx had dropped and the corium and the subcutis under the bone were thinner than in the controls. The supportive cushions of the cows with ulcers contained less fat tissue. There was no histological evidence of damage to the epidermis or the corioepidermal junction in the ulcerated claws nor were the lamellae elongated. Similarly, there were no morphological changes in the connective tissue layer, the submural dermis.