scholarly journals Malignant Catarrhal Fever in a Captive American Bison (Bison Bison) in Italy

2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 843-846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Campolo ◽  
Maria Stella Lucente ◽  
Viviana Mari ◽  
Gabriella Elia ◽  
Antonella Tinelli ◽  
...  

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a fatal, systemic disease of cattle and other domestic and wild ruminants that, in Europe, is caused by Ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2). American bison ( Bison bison) are highly susceptible to the disease. An adult American bison, housed in a zoo in southern Italy in close cohabitation with a group of domestic sheep ( Ovis aries aries) displayed clinical signs that resembled the acute form of MCF. By real-time polymerase chain reaction, OvHV-2 DNA was detected intravitam in blood, in nasal and ocular swabs, and postmortem in tissue samples of the bison. By indirect fluorescent antibody test, high MCF antibody titers were found in the bison serum. Ovine herpesvirus 2 DNA and antibodies were also found in blood samples from the domestic sheep, thus suggesting a potential role of these animals as a source of the infection. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first MCF case in captive ruminants in Italy and the second confirmed case in captive bison of European zoos.

1976 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 423-428
Author(s):  
H A Gaafar

In a 1-year evaluation of the indirect fluorescent antibody test for gonorrhea, 16,127 specimens from low-and high-risk groups were examined, and the results were compared with culture, history of exposure to a known patient, and clinical signs and symptoms. The results confirmed the usefulness of the indirect fluorescent antibody test for gonorrhea as a screening procedure, especially for women in the low-risk group. The test is more economic and probably more sensitive than culture for mass screening of asymptomatic women.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E A Beseris ◽  
S E Naleway ◽  
D R Carrier

Abstract Because facial hair is one of the most sexually dimorphic features of humans (Homo sapiens) and is often perceived as an indicator of masculinity and social dominance, human facial hair has been suggested to play a role in male contest competition. Some authors have proposed that the beard may function similar to the long hair of a lion’s mane, serving to protect vital areas like the throat and jaw from lethal attacks. This is consistent with the observation that the mandible, which is superficially covered by the beard, is one of the most commonly fractured facial bones in interpersonal violence. We hypothesized that beards protect the skin and bones of the face when human males fight by absorbing and dispersing the energy of a blunt impact. We tested this hypothesis by measuring impact force and energy absorbed by a fiber epoxy composite, which served as a bone analog, when it was covered with skin that had thick hair (referred to here as “furred”) versus skin with no hair (referred to here as “sheared” and “plucked”). We covered the epoxy composite with segments of skin dissected from domestic sheep (Ovis aries), and used a drop weight impact tester affixed with a load cell to collect force versus time data. Tissue samples were prepared in three conditions: furred (n = 20), plucked (n = 20), and sheared (n = 20). We found that fully furred samples were capable of absorbing more energy than plucked and sheared samples. For example, peak force was 16% greater and total energy absorbed was 37% greater in the furred compared to the plucked samples. These differences were due in part to a longer time frame of force delivery in the furred samples. These data support the hypothesis that human beards protect vulnerable regions of the facial skeleton from damaging strikes.


2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 687-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjay Kapil ◽  
Tina Neel

Currently, there are no reliable predictors of the clinical outcomes of domesticated dogs that have been recently vaccinated against canine distemper virus (CDV) and develop respiratory disease. In this study, vaccinated dogs from Oklahoma City that were showing clinical signs of respiratory disease were evaluated for CDV antigen using a direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT). Clinical outcomes after standard symptomatic therapy for respiratory disease were recorded, and a statistical analysis of the results was performed. We present our study showing that CDV FAT results were predictive of clinical recovery (prognostic indicator, prospects of clinical recovery) among vaccinated dogs showing clinical signs of respiratory disease. Negative CDV FAT results equated to 80% chances of recovery after symptomatic therapy, compared to 55% chances of recovery when the CDV FAT results were positive. Based on the results of this study, we show that veterinarians can make better informed decisions about the clinical outcomes of suspected CDV cases, with 2-h turnaround times, by using the CDV FAT. Thus, antemortem examination with the CDV FAT on external epithelia of recently vaccinated, sick dogs is a clinically useful diagnostic test and valuable prognostic indicator for veterinarians. Application of the CDV FAT to these samples avoids unnecessary euthanasia of dogs with suspected CDV.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 799-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Rissi ◽  
Cathy A. Brown

The current report describes the diagnostic features in 10 cases of acute fatal canine leptospirosis with minimal renal and hepatic changes that may present a diagnostic challenge for the pathologist. Most affected dogs were less than 6 months of age and had a biochemical profile consistent with hepatorenal dysfunction. Clinical signs consisted of vomiting, depression, icterus, dehydration, diarrhea, and anorexia. All dogs died or were humanely euthanized within 3–7 days after the onset of clinical disease. Necropsy findings included pulmonary edema with hemorrhages, icterus, renal and hepatic pallor and swelling, and gastric edema with hemorrhage. Despite severe azotemia, histological changes in the kidneys were subtle in all dogs, and included mild renal tubular simplification, with single-cell necrosis and attenuation, along with minimal interstitial lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, edema, and hemorrhage. Hepatic lesions included scattered hepatocellular single-cell necrosis and hepatocellular dissociation. Prominent extrarenal lesions typically associated with uremia including vascular fibrinoid necrosis in multiple organs, pulmonary mineralization with occasional fibrinosuppurative exudation, and gastric mineralization were also present. Postmortem diagnostic confirmation was based on the detection of leptospiral antigen on fresh renal samples by fluorescent antibody test and on the demonstration of intact spirochetes in sections of kidneys using immunohistochemical staining. Acute fatal canine leptospirosis occurred as a fulminant hepatorenal disease affecting mainly young dogs, and the diagnosis was dependent on the recognition of the subtle renal changes with confirmation via fluorescent antibody testing or immunohistochemical staining.


1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Kruger ◽  
CA Osborne

A three-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair was evaluated because of recurrent hematuria, dysuria, and pollakiuria of one year's duration. With the exception of hematuria and proteinuria, results of other physical, clinicopathological, radiographic, and microbiologic evaluations were normal. Low concentrations of bovine herpesvirus-4 (BHV-4) antibodies (titer 1:40) were detected by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). A diagnosis of nonobstructive, idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease was established by exclusion of other known causes of hematuria and dysuria. Clinical signs resolved in approximately seven days without symptomatic therapy. During the next 69 months, the owners observed five episodes of self-limiting, gross hematuria and pollakiuria. Persistent low titers of BHV-4 antibodies were detected by the IFAT. This case typifies the clinicopathological, radiographic, and microbiologic findings and the natural course characteristics of many cases of nonobstructive, idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tenzin Tenzin ◽  
Kelzang Lhamo ◽  
Purna B Rai ◽  
Dawa Tshering ◽  
Pema Gyamtsho ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Rabies kills approximately 59,000 people in the world each year worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of rabies is important for instituting rapid containment measures and for advising the exposed people for postexposure treatment. The application of a rapid diagnostic tests in the field can greatly enhance disease surveillance activities, especially in resource poor settings.Methods: From 2012 to 2017, a total of 179 brain tissue samples collected from different animal species (113 dogs, 50 cattle, 10 cats, 3 goats, 2 horses, and 1 bear) suspected of having died due to rabies were selected and tested using the rapid immunochromatographic kit from BioNote© company and compared to the Gold Standard Fluorescent Antibody test (FAT) for diagnosis of rabies.Results: Among 179 samples examined in this study, there was concordance in results by the rapid test and FAT in 115 positive samples and 54 negative samples. Test result were discordant in 10 samples which were positive by FAT, but negative (false negative) by rapid kit. The rapid test kit showed a sensitivity of 92% (95% CI: 85.9 – 95.6) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 93.4 – 100) using FAT as the gold standard. The positive and negative predicative values were found to be 100% (95% CI:96.7 – 100) and 84% (95% CI: 73.6 – 91.3), respectively. Overall there was 94.41% (95% CI: 90 – 96.9) test agreement (almost perfect agreement) between rapid test and FAT (Kappa value = 0.874).Conclusions: Our results demonstrate the potential value of the rapid test kit for countries with limited diagnostic resources, including Bhutan. The rapid kit’s inability to correctly detect 10 FAT-positive samples (10 out of 179 (5.6%) were false negatives) in our study could have been due to the low viral load in the samples (< 102.0LD50/0.03ml) which could not be detected by the rapid kit as compared with the FAT. The human factor related to the varying experiences of the technicians who performed the test in the field also may have influenced the test result. The rapid test kit is inexpensive, rapid and easy to use in the field or in laboratory setting without the need for special training and can support to enhance rabies surveillance in resource poor countries.


2022 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 629-640
Author(s):  
Taiã Mairon Peixoto Ribeiro ◽  
◽  
Thássia Silva Reis ◽  
Sebastiana Adriana Pereira Sousa ◽  
Lucas Marlon Freiria ◽  
...  

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. are protozoa that have a significant impact on animal health due to the diseases they cause in domestic and wild animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of antibodies against T. gondii and Neospora spp. in cats from northern Brazil. Serum samples were collected from 180 cats in the municipality of Araguaína, Tocantins and used to evaluate the presence of anti-T. gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test, with a cutoff of 1:64 and 1:25, respectively. The association between infection and individual animal characteristics (age, sex, origin, breed, and clinical signs) was tested using univariate analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression. We found that 48.3% (87/180) of the animals had anti-T. gondii (95% CI: 40.8%–55.90%) and 3.9% (7/180) had anti-Neospora spp. (95% CI: 1.6%–7.8%) antibodies. There was no association between age, sex, breed origin, clinical signs, and seropositivity for T. gondii. Cats of defined breeds were more likely to be infected by Neospora spp. (OR = 10.7). Therefore, we found a high rate of seropositivity for T. gondii and a high rate of occurrence of Neospora infections in cats from the Araguaína region. The exposure of the feline population to the studied coccidia indicates the need to monitor the feline population for these infections and underscores the importance of effective sanitary measures against such pathogens.


2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-291
Author(s):  
R.S. Ferreira ◽  
R.M.A. de Almeida ◽  
D.A. Nogueira ◽  
N.M.S. Oliveira ◽  
J.E. Fiorini

Rabies is an infectious contagious disease of mammals present in all continents except Oceania. It is caused by a Lyssavirus and characterized by acute fatal encephalitis. It is considered endemic in Brazil and transmission to herbivores occurs mainly via vampire bats. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of bovine rabies in the state of Minas Gerais, as well as the diagnostic methods, applying the time series to analyze trend and seasonality in order to adjust a model to disease in cattle. Between 2002 and 2006, nervous tissue samples were obtained from deceased bovines presenting neurological symptoms and clinically suspected of rabies. The direct fluorescent antibody test (FAT) detected 40.38% (1,293/3,202) positive samples. From all FAT negative tissue samples, 2.67% (51/1,909) tested positive in a mouse inoculation test (MIT). No seasonality was observed and positive cases had a decrease of 0.14 per month.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 778-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
SallyAnne L. Ness ◽  
Gereon Schares ◽  
Jeanine Peters-Kennedy ◽  
Linda D. Mittel ◽  
Jitender P. Dubey ◽  
...  

Besnoitiosis is an emerging infectious disease of donkeys ( Equus asinus) in the United States for which there are currently no serologic methods of diagnosis. A study was performed to evaluate physical examination findings and 3 serologic assays for the detection of Besnoitia bennetti infection in donkeys. A prospective study of 416 donkeys from 6 privately owned herds across 5 U.S. states (New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Oregon, and Washington) was performed. Donkeys were examined for clinical lesions suggestive of besnoitiosis and evaluated for antibodies against B. bennetti using a fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and 2 immunoblot assays specific for bradyzoite and tachyzoite antigens, respectively. Donkeys were confirmed to be infected with B. bennetti by histology (cases; n = 32) and were compared to those with no clinical signs of besnoitiosis (controls; n = 384). Identifying clinical lesions in 2 or more locations correctly identified infected donkeys 83% of the time. Donkeys with besnoitiosis had significantly higher FAT titers ( P < 0.001) and numbers of bradyzoite ( P < 0.001) and tachyzoite ( P < 0.001) immunoblot bands than control donkeys. The sensitivity and specificity of the serologic assays for detecting besnoitiosis was 88% and 96% for FAT, 81% and 91% for bradyzoite immunoblot, and 91% and 92% for tachyzoite immunoblot, respectively. Fluorescent antibody and immunoblot assays are effective at identifying donkeys with besnoitiosis and provide a more efficient and less invasive diagnostic alternative to histology.


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