Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation最新文献

Farmed cervids are of growing economic importance in the midwestern United States. Although diseases of wild and captive cervids have been examined in more northerly climates, little information exists on the health challenges of deer in the Midwest. We characterized and summarized the causes of mortality in farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) submitted to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Columbia, MO, USA) over a 19-y period (2004-2023). Of 388 cases examined, 253 (65%) were carcasses submitted for autopsy, and 135 (35%) cases were tissue samples harvested by field veterinarians. Infectious disease was the most common cause of mortality (n = 335; 86.3%). Of infectious causes, primary pneumonia was most common (n = 140; 41.7%), followed by septicemia (n = 68; 20.1%), and primary enteritis (n = 64; 19.1%). Viruses were detected in 18% of pneumonia cases. The most common non-infectious diagnoses were emaciation and trauma (both 4 each; 1%). Thirteen animals (3.4%) died of unknown causes. Forty-nine percent of cases were juvenile deer <1-y-old. Most cases were received in the summer (212; 54.6%). Infectious diseases, particularly bacteria and viruses, pose a significant health challenge to farmed deer in the midwestern United States.

An 18-y-old American Saddlebred mare was admitted with fever and acute onset of neurologic signs including grade 3 of 5 ataxia, difficulty in prehension, and dull mentation. Because of financial restraints, desired testing could not be performed; the horse's condition declined despite supportive treatment, and euthanasia was elected. Postmortem examination revealed petechiae and ecchymoses in the meninges and neuroparenchyma of the encephalon. Blast-like neoplastic round cells were identified within the vasculature and areas of hemorrhage in the neuroparenchyma, the intestinal submucosa, and other organs, including the liver, kidney, lung, and mesenteric lymph node. Necrotizing enterocolitis and acute fibrinonecrotizing bacterial pneumonia were also noted. Of the atypical round cells in the encephalon, >70% expressed ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1), 10-20% expressed myeloperoxidase (MPO), and <10% expressed PAX5, CD3, CD20, CD79a, or MUM1. The bone marrow was diffusely effaced by neoplastic round cells expressing Iba1, and ~70% of these cells expressed MPO with no expression of CD3 or CD20. CD172a also immunolabeled a portion of the neoplastic cells. These findings were consistent with the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia-M1 with an unusual neurologic presentation.

Thyroid tumors occur in many domestic species, but are most common in the dog, in which they are classified as follicular or medullary. During 2012-2016, we received tissue specimens or whole carcasses of 4 dogs with variable enlargement of the thyroid glands. The 2 males and 2 females were of mixed (mongrel) inbreeding, 3-4.5-y-old. All tumors had lobulated architecture forming follicular structures variably containing colloid. On immunohistochemistry of the tumors from 3 of the dogs, 2 were thyroglobulin positive, and all 3 were negative for calcitonin, confirming follicular thyroid carcinoma in 2 of the dogs. Thyroid carcinomas have not been reported previously in related mongrel dogs, to our knowledge.

Measures of manganese (Mn) status in cattle vary among studies, and no single criterion accurately predicts or diagnoses Mn deficiency and pathologic outcomes. Mn deficiency causes congenital joint laxity and dwarfism (CJLD) when total dietary intake is <20 ppm Mn dry matter (DM) for most of the pregnancy. However, the recommended dietary intake of 40 ppm DM can also result in clinical Mn deficiency. Some studies have found that CJLD occurs in calves from cows fed red clover or silage but not in calves from cows fed hay. The concentration of Mn in the liver is the best indicator of Mn status in neonates and adults but cannot be interpreted in fetuses. Serum, plasma, and whole blood concentrations of Mn are unreliable indicators of bovine Mn status. The primary objective of our report is to present evidence linking CJLD to a primary or secondary Mn deficiency. To predict and diagnose Mn deficiency in cattle, we propose using a combination of clinical signs, dietary Mn, liver Mn at birth and beyond, positive response to Mn supplementation or the replacement of silage with other forages, and ruling out other causes of malformations. By following these recommendations, we expect that CJLD and gestational death will decrease as hepatic Mn concentrations increase at birth. Many publications we reviewed are not statistically sound, and future research should include a statistician from the initial discussions of the study through the final publication.

A 14-y-old intact female llama (Lama glama) was presented for evaluation of a right maxillary swelling of 3-mo duration. Clinically, the animal had mild nasal discharge, abnormal retropulsion of the right eye, and moderate gingival disease. An incisional biopsy of the maxillary mass revealed pleomorphic and mitotically active neoplastic spindle-to-stellate cells organized in haphazard lacunae embedded in abundant chondroid matrix. Given the poor prognosis, euthanasia was elected. Postmortem examination and sectioning of the head exposed a large solid, white, firm mass that vastly expanded the right infraorbital region, extending to the maxilla, effacing the right nasal conchae and ipsilateral zygomatic bone. Collectively, postmortem dissection, cytology, and histopathology of the primary mass supported a diagnosis of sinonasal chondrosarcoma. To our knowledge, this entity had not been reported previously in this species and should be considered a differential for facial deformities in New World camelids.

A 15-y-old captive-born female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) had slowly progressive lethargy, inappetence, and pallor of the oral mucosa. Serial hemograms and serum biochemistry analysis revealed hemolyzed plasma, gradually severe anemia with reticulocytosis, spherocytosis, pronounced neutrophilia with left shift and toxic change, and indirect hyperbilirubinemia. Urinalysis identified both hemoglobinuria and bilirubinuria. Hyperglobulinemia with polyclonal gammopathy was evident by protein electrophoresis, and the saline agglutination test was positive. Splenomegaly and hyperechogenic liver were also observed on ultrasound. These findings meet the diagnostic criteria established for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in small animals, which is extremely rare in cetacean species, and, to our knowledge, has not been fully documented. Several potential triggers of a secondary IMHA were ruled out, including the most common cetacean virus, exposure to new drugs, and recent vaccination events. Following recommendations from companion animal medicine, immunosuppressive therapy was implemented and proved effective in this bottlenose dolphin; the CBC returned to normal after 3 mo of treatment.

Congenital malformations are a highly diverse group of conditions reported in both humans and animals, characterized by defects in morphogenesis observed at birth. Although most cases are idiopathic, genetic and environmental factors may be involved. The frequency of such conditions varies with species, geographic regions, and the specific malformation involved. In polymelia, supernumerary limbs are attached to different parts of the body. Gastrointestinal duplications are described less frequently and can be associated with polymelia. Cloacal atresia is among the least-reported malformations in avian species, described only once in a kiwi. Here we describe a case with these 3 malformations in a single broiler chick (Gallus gallus domesticus) and provide a literature review about the occurrence of these malformations in birds. The 3-d-old chick also had an unidentified structure projecting from the pygostyle region. We performed clinical, radiographic, and postmortem examinations. The intestinal duplication was identified only during the postmortem evaluation. Detailed descriptions of avian congenital malformations are scarce. Although similar cases have been reported, we retrieved no cases of concurrent polymelia, intestinal duplication, and cloacal atresia in broiler chickens in our literature search, suggesting that the simultaneous occurrence of these conditions has not been reported previously in this species.

Here we describe a case of fatal amebic gastritis associated with Naegleria australiensis infection in an 11-mo-old Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus). The sloth had a history of weight loss and intermittent diarrhea for 18 d, and subsequently died despite empirical treatment. Postmortem findings included emaciation, gastric dilation with fluid content, and fibrinonecrotic gastritis with intralesional amebic trophozoites and cysts in the glandular region of the fundus. Transmission electron microscopy ruled out Amoebozoa of the family Entamoebidae based on the presence of mitochondria in the amoeboid organisms. PCR for pan-free-living amebae followed by next-generation sequencing of the PCR product revealed 99% identity with Naegleria australiensis. Gastric amebiasis has been reported sporadically in macropods and in leaf-eating monkeys with a sacculated stomach. To our knowledge, gastric amebiasis has not been reported previously in a sloth, which also has a sacculated and multi-chambered stomach.

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the causative bacterium of porcine enzootic pneumonia and one of the primary etiologic agents of the porcine respiratory disease complex. Most Brazilian commercial pig farms are positive for this pathogen. However, the prevalence of the pathogen in backyard pig farms has not been described, to our knowledge. Therefore, we aimed to determine the prevalence of M. hyopneumoniae in backyard pig farms in the state of Paraná, Brazil. In January-March 2020, we collected 585 serum samples from pigs in 187 non-vaccinated herds. We tested the sera with an indirect ELISA for anti-M. hyopneumoniae antibodies and found that 182 of 585 (31.1%) samples were positive, and were found in 109 of 187 (58.3%) herds assessed.

A mass was removed surgically from the right orbit of a 1-d-old Holstein calf. Grossly, the mass filled the rostral part of an enlarged orbit and compressed the globe toward the caudal pole of the orbit. The brown, 6-cm tumor had central yellow and brown areas, and a smooth, glistening cut surface. Microscopically, the neoplasm was highly cellular and composed of spindle cells arranged in irregular, broad, interlacing streams and bundles, forming a herringbone pattern and supported by a sparse collagenous matrix. Neoplastic cells infiltrated surrounding soft tissues and compressed the globe. The neoplastic cells had positive immunolabeling for α-smooth muscle actin, desmin, and vimentin, and negative immunolabeling for factor VIII, myoglobin, cytokeratin, and skeletal muscle actin. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry results confirmed a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. To our knowledge, congenital periocular leiomyosarcoma has not been reported in cattle previously. This rare tumor could be included as a differential diagnosis in newborn calves with periocular masses.