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Stress conditions do not affect Theileria equi parasitemia levels in sub-clinically infected horses.Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases May 2020Stress has been suggested as a risk factor for Theileria equi peracute disease and may lead to relapse in clinical signs in chronically infected horses. The aim of this...
Stress has been suggested as a risk factor for Theileria equi peracute disease and may lead to relapse in clinical signs in chronically infected horses. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of stress on T. equi parasitemia in sub-clinically infected horses in two settings: horses hospitalized at a veterinary teaching hospital and horses from an endurance farm. Blood samples were collected from the hospitalized horses (n = 32) upon admission (T0) and at discharge (T1) from the hospital, and results were compared between horses that underwent surgery (stress) and other hospitalized horses (control). Blood samples were collected from an endurance farm (n = 20) six weeks before (T0) and two days after (T1) participation in an 80-km endurance event, and results were compared between horses that participated (stress) or did not participate (control) in the event. Theileria equi parasite load was determined using qPCR, and T1/T0 ratio was calculated for each horse. Mean parasite load at both time points did not differ statistically between the stress group and the controls in both settings. Theileria equi genotype was determined based on the 18S rRNA gene, when possible. Parasite genotypes were similar to strains previously characterized in the region and classified as genotypes A and D. The results of this study contradict the common assumption that stress may lead to increased parasite load in horses with a subclinical T. equi infection.
Topics: Animals; Asymptomatic Infections; Female; Horse Diseases; Horses; Israel; Male; Parasitemia; Stress, Physiological; Theileria; Theileriasis
PubMed: 32008998
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101384 -
PloS One 2019New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) are an endemic and endangered species. Pup mortality at Enderby Island (50.5°S, 166.28°E) in the New Zealand sub-Antarctic...
New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) are an endemic and endangered species. Pup mortality at Enderby Island (50.5°S, 166.28°E) in the New Zealand sub-Antarctic has been well studied, with subsequent investigations yielding more intricate detail of the causes of mortality, as new diagnostic methods become available. Klebsiella pneumoniae was first reported in 2001-02 at this site, causing a pup mortality epizootic and is now known to be present at several colonies. This bacterium is a common mucosal commensal of humans and animals, however the agent found in pups at necropsy is a hypervirulent strain, readily recognised in microbial culture as being hypermucoviscous. Infection causes septicaemia with a common syndrome of subsequent meningitis and polyarthritis. This investigation uses histopathology and microbiology, with new modalities such as matrix assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry to show that Klebsiella septicaemia could have historically been, and continues to be, the most important cause of pup mortality, but has been previously underrepresented due to the often cryptic presentation and sometimes peracute course of disease. Hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae should be considered a serious threat to pup survival in the species, causing on average 60.2% of pup deaths annually at Enderby Island between 2013 and 2018, with likely more continuing mortality following pup dispersal and the cessation of the summer monitoring season. Less common causes of death included starvation (14.8%), trauma/asphyxiation (9.9%) and other infections (7%). This study forms the basis for further evaluation of risk factors for pup mortality in the species, with a view to developing active mitigation.
Topics: Animals; Endangered Species; Female; Klebsiella Infections; Klebsiella pneumoniae; Male; Mortality; New Zealand; Retrospective Studies; Sea Lions; Sepsis
PubMed: 31751414
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225461 -
Changes in ionized calcium concentration in the blood of dairy cows with peracute coliform mastitis.The Journal of Veterinary Medical... Apr 2020We determined the clinical signs and blood ionized calcium (iCa) levels in dairy cows with peracute coliform mastitis (PCM). The clinical scores at the onset of the...
We determined the clinical signs and blood ionized calcium (iCa) levels in dairy cows with peracute coliform mastitis (PCM). The clinical scores at the onset of the disease (day 0) and on day 2 and subsequent days were significantly (P<0.01) higher than those of healthy cows. We found a positive correlation (r=0.894, P<0.01) between iCa and total calcium (TCa) concentrations in the blood of healthy cows ; however there was no correlation from day 0 to day 3 in the blood of PCM cows. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the concentration of iCa was correlated with rectal temperature, hematocrit value, platelet count, and albumin level of PCM cows at the onset of disease (r= -0.804, r=0.6576, r=0.6182, r=0.284, P<0.01, respectively). There was no correlation between the TCa concentration and these parameters for PCM cows at day 0. Low blood iCa concentration at day 0 for PCM cows was related to symptoms of septic shock involving hypothermia, activation of the blood coagulation system, and dehydration.
Topics: Albumins; Animals; Body Temperature; Calcium; Cattle; Cattle Diseases; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Female; Hematocrit; Mastitis, Bovine; Platelet Count
PubMed: 32101824
DOI: 10.1292/jvms.19-0678 -
The Journal of Small Animal Practice Aug 2021To create awareness of single RHDV2 infections and cases of death despite immunisation with RHDV2-specific vaccine.
OBJECTIVES
To create awareness of single RHDV2 infections and cases of death despite immunisation with RHDV2-specific vaccine.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Retrospective case series of four companion rabbits. Patient signalment, vaccination history, pathology and molecular examinations were obtained from the medical records.
RESULTS
The animals died peracutely or with nonspecific symptoms like apathy and inappetence. Pathological examination indicated and molecular biological findings confirmed RHDV2 infection in four animals. Several partner animals died at the same time under the same circumstances.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
This is the first report of fatalities in RHDV2-vaccinated companion rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 infection with documented case and vaccination history. Veterinarians should be aware of possible single fatal RHDV2 infections despite vaccination, should initiate the clarification of suspected cases and inform vaccine manufacturers and competent authorities.
Topics: Animals; Caliciviridae Infections; Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Rabbit; Retrospective Studies; Vaccination
PubMed: 33900627
DOI: 10.1111/jsap.13333 -
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms Jan 2018The challenge of identifying cause of death in discarded bycaught marine mammals stems from a combination of the non-specific nature of the lesions of drowning, the...
The challenge of identifying cause of death in discarded bycaught marine mammals stems from a combination of the non-specific nature of the lesions of drowning, the complex physiologic adaptations unique to breath-holding marine mammals, lack of case histories, and the diverse nature of fishing gear. While no pathognomonic lesions are recognized, signs of acute external entanglement, bulging or reddened eyes, recently ingested gastric contents, pulmonary changes, and decompression-associated gas bubbles have been identified in the condition of peracute underwater entrapment (PUE) syndrome in previous studies of marine mammals. We reviewed the gross necropsy and histopathology reports of 36 cetaceans and pinnipeds including 20 directly observed bycaught and 16 live stranded animals that were euthanized between 2005 and 2011 for lesions consistent with PUE. We identified 5 criteria which present at significantly higher rates in bycaught marine mammals: external signs of acute entanglement, red or bulging eyes, recently ingested gastric contents, multi-organ congestion, and disseminated gas bubbles detected grossly during the necropsy and histologically. In contrast, froth in the trachea or primary bronchi, and lung changes (i.e. wet, heavy, froth, edema, congestion, and hemorrhage) were poor indicators of PUE. This is the first study that provides insight into the different published parameters for PUE in bycatch. For regions frequently confronted by stranded marine mammals with non-specific lesions, this could potentially aid in the investigation and quantification of marine fisheries interactions.
Topics: Animals; Caniformia; Cause of Death; Cetacea; Conservation of Natural Resources; Drowning; Female; Fisheries; Male
PubMed: 29384478
DOI: 10.3354/dao03189 -
Animal Science Journal = Nihon Chikusan... 2021The immune response during the onset of coliform mastitis in vaccinated cows was investigated by measuring lactoferrin (LF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1β...
The immune response during the onset of coliform mastitis in vaccinated cows was investigated by measuring lactoferrin (LF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations and somatic cell counts in 28 milk samples at the onset of acute coliform mastitis (ACM) and 73 milk samples at the onset of peracute coliform mastitis (PCM). Vaccinated ACM, unvaccinated ACM, and vaccinated PCM showed significantly higher values for LF and IL-1β levels than unvaccinated PCM (p < .01). The IL-8 concentration was lower in vaccinated PCM than in unvaccinated PCM (p < .05). There was no significant difference in somatic cell counts for each parameter. There were no significant differences in the parameters between vaccinated and unvaccinated ACM cows, or vaccinated ACM and PCM cows. From the above results, it is suggested that mastitis vaccination improved the early immune response, particularly at the onset of PCM, and played a large role in host defense against the initial infection.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Vaccines; Cattle; Cell Count; Enterobacteriaceae; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Female; Interleukin-1beta; Interleukin-8; Lactoferrin; Mastitis, Bovine; Milk; Vaccination
PubMed: 33403781
DOI: 10.1111/asj.13502 -
Veterinary Research Feb 2023Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the cause of colibacillosis outbreaks in young poultry chicks, resulting in acute to peracute death. The high morbidity and...
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is the cause of colibacillosis outbreaks in young poultry chicks, resulting in acute to peracute death. The high morbidity and mortality caused by colibacillosis results in poor animal welfare, reduced sustainability and economical loss worldwide. To advance the understanding of the molecular epidemiology, genomic relatedness and virulence traits of APEC, we performed systematic sampling from 45 confirmed colibacillosis broiler flocks with high first week mortality (FWM) during 2018-2021. From these flocks, 219 APEC isolates were whole genome sequenced (WGS) and bioinformatic analyses were performed. The bioinformatic analyses included sequence typing (ST), serotyping, detection of virulence-associated genes (VAGs) and phylogenetic analysis. Our results showed a high prevalence of ST23, ST429 and ST95 among APEC isolates from Norwegian broiler flocks, and identified ST23, ST429, ST117 and ST371 to cause disease more often alone, compared to ST95, ST69 and ST10. Phylogenetic analyses, together with associated metadata, identified two distinct outbreaks of colibacillosis across farms caused by ST429 and ST23 and gave insight into expected SNP distances within and between flocks identified with the same ST. Further, our results highlighted the need for combining two typing methods, such as serotyping and sequence typing, to better discriminate strains of APEC. Ultimately, systematic sampling of APEC from multiple birds in a flock, together with WGS as a diagnostic tool is important to identify the disease-causing APEC within a flock and to detect outbreaks of colibacillosis across farms.
Topics: Animals; Escherichia coli; Chickens; Phylogeny; Farms; Poultry Diseases; Escherichia coli Infections; Disease Outbreaks
PubMed: 36747303
DOI: 10.1186/s13567-023-01140-6 -
Veterinary Sciences Jul 2023A severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic struck several Egyptian provinces recently, causing significant losses among animals even in vaccinated farms. This study...
A severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) epidemic struck several Egyptian provinces recently, causing significant losses among animals even in vaccinated farms. This study indicated the existence of the newly emerging foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and first investigated its effect on the Egyptian water buffalo () and cattle calves in the Beheira province, north Egypt. Twenty tongue epithelial samples from diseased calves in five infected farms were randomly collected, prepared, and propagated using baby hamster kidney-21 (BHK-21) cells. Whole genomic RNA was extracted from the cells of the third passage. A FMDV genome was detected and serotyped using one-step reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs). Nucleotide sequencing of the purified serotype-specific PCR bands was performed, and a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on 600 base pairs of VP1 was constructed. The results identified FMDV, serotype A in all infected samples, whereas the serotypes O and SAT2 were negative. The obtained 20 sequences were identical to each other and similar to the newly reported strain in Egypt that belongs to the Europe-South America (Euro-SA) topotype. The epidemiological and clinical parameters associated with such a strain were fully recorded by veterinarians and analyzed in a single infected farm including 70 cattle and buffalo calves. It caused higher peracute mortalities in buffalo (25.7%; 95% CI: 13-43) than in cattle (8.6%; 95% CI: 2-24) calves. Severe clinical signs such as dullness, hypothermia, bradycardia, and cardiac arrhythmia were common to both except in fatal cases, whereas hyperthermia and respiratory signs were prevalent in cattle calves. In conclusion, we first characterized the newly emerging FMDV in the calves of Beheira as more fatal and severe in buffalo than in cattle calves.
PubMed: 37624275
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10080488 -
Veterinary World Jul 2019This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological and necropsy findings in neonatal dairy calves affected with right torsion of the abomasum.
AIM
This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological and necropsy findings in neonatal dairy calves affected with right torsion of the abomasum.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The history and findings of clinical examination, hematology and serum biochemical analyses and necropsy were described in six neonatal Holstein calves with a confirmed diagnosis of right torsion of the abomasum. Furthermore, a review of the literature was carried out using internet search engines such as PubMed and Google Scholar concerning abomasal displacement in calves. Only published papers in scientific and refereed journals were reviewed.
RESULTS
Six neonatal Holstein calves (four females and two males) aged between 7 and 21 days were diagnosed with right torsion of the abomasum during necropsy. The calves were presented with peracute signs of anorexia, dehydration, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. Hematology and serum biochemical analyses revealed hemoconcentration and azotemia, hyponatremia, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia.
CONCLUSION
Abomasal torsion in neonatal calves must be placed on the deferential diagnostic list of calves suffering from peracute signs of abdominal pain and distension. Although the underlying etiopathological factors are not fully known, correction of nutritional mismanagement is required to prevent the condition.
PubMed: 31528042
DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.1121-1125 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2022species are considered a significant cause of reproductive pathology in male and female animals. Importantly, can induce reproductive disease in humans. Reproductive...
species are considered a significant cause of reproductive pathology in male and female animals. Importantly, can induce reproductive disease in humans. Reproductive pathogenesis and evaluation of newly developed countermeasures against brucellosis studies have traditionally utilized female animal models. However, any potential, new intervention for use in humans would need to be evaluated in both sexes. Therefore, animal models for male reproductive brucellosis are desperately needed to understand disease progression. Accordingly, we evaluated guinea pigs and mice using 16 M in an intratracheal model of inoculation at different stages of infection (peracute, acute, and chronic) with an emphasis on determining the effect to the male reproductive organs. Aerosol inoculation resulted in colonization of the reproductive organs (testicle, epididymis, prostate) in both species. Infection peaked during the peracute (1-week post-infection [p.i.]) and acute (2-weeks p.i.) stages of infection in the mouse in spleen, epididymis, prostate, and testicle, but colonization was poorly associated with inflammation. In the guinea pig, peak infection was during the acute stage (4-weeks p.i.) and resulted in inflammation that disrupted spermatogenesis chronically. To determine if vaccine efficacy could be evaluated using these models, males were vaccinated using subcutaneous injection with vaccine candidate 16 M at 10 CFU/100 μl followed by intratracheal challenge with 16 M at 10. Interestingly, vaccination efficacy varied between species and reproductive organs demonstrating the value of evaluating vaccine candidates in multiple models and sexes. Vaccination resulted in a significant reduction in colonization in the mouse, but this could not be correlated with a decrease in inflammation. Due to the ability to evaluate for both colonization and inflammation, guinea pigs seemed the better model not only for assessing host-pathogen interactions but also for future vaccine development efforts.
PubMed: 36338077
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1029199