Acta veterinaria Hungarica最新文献

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a highly contagious virus that infects a wide variety of animals of carnivore species and may cause manifestations from subclinical infection to fatal disease. In this study, dogs clinically suspected having distemper were examined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), histopathology and immuno-histochemistry. By histopathological examination, characteristic intracytoplasmic and/or intranuclear inclusion bodies were observed in the lung, stomach, small intestine, liver, kidney, spleen and central nervous system. Interstitial and broncho-interstitial pneumonia, gastroenteritis and encephalitis were revealed. CDV antigens were detected in all tissues with characteristic histopathological findings. The antigens were more abundant in the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium and in the syntitial cells. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the PCR-amplified partial sequences of the genes encoding the viral heamagglutinin and fusion proteins. The phylogenetic trees showed that the newly determined sequences were diverse and clustered within different lineages of the European or the Arctic strains.

Neoplasms of the exocrine pancreas are uncommon in domestic animals and rarely occur in wildlife. This article describes the clinical and pathological findings of one case of metastatic exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma in an 18-year-old giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) in captivity with a history of inappetence and apathy. Abdominal ultrasonography was inconclusive, and tomography revealed a neoplasm affecting the urinary bladder and hydroureter. During the anaesthesia recovery, the animal presented a cardiorespiratory arrest and died. Grossly, there were neoplastic nodules in the pancreas, urinary bladder, spleen, adrenal glands, and mediastinal lymph node. Microscopically, all nodules were composed of a malignant hypercellular proliferation of epithelial cells with acinar or solid disposition, supported by a sparse fibrovascular stroma. Neoplastic cells were immunolabeled with antibodies to Pan-CK, CK7, CK20, PPP and chromogranin A. Approximately 25% of the cells were positive for the presence of Ki-67 too. Pathological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic exocrine pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Melarsomine is used intramuscularly to destroy adult heartworms when treating canine heartworm disease (HWD). This drug is highly irritative and can elicit local complications. Therefore, melarsomine should be injected into the paralumbar muscles by strictly adhering to the manufacturers' prescriptions. However, it is not known how to determine the optimal location of the needle during the injection process. Ultrasonography (US) of the epaxial (paralumbar) musculature was used as a new method to measure the cross-sectional diameter of the paralumbar musculature, to determine the required location of the injection needle, and to study the local side effects in two dogs with HWD. The macroscopic appearance of the melarsomine solution during injection was demonstrated by video imaging. Melarsomine was not fully gravitating, but its majority was spreading along the thickest fascia of the musculature. Three minutes thereafter, no ultrasound signs of the melarsomine solution were seen, suggesting a full absorption at least ultrasonographically. This procedure was simulated in vitro with methylene blue solution having the same appearance. Removing the injection needle only after 5 min post-injection could prevent undesirable leakage of the drug through the injection channel into the subcutaneous tissue. Ultrasonography can be a useful aid during the treatment of HWD with melarsomine according to this preliminary study.

Although domestic cats are one of the most popular companion animals, current knowledge on the fate of micronutrients in cats according to their age, sex, and health is very limited. In this study, 72 whole blood and 54 plasma samples from cats of different ages and sex were collected at three veterinary offices in the Czech Republic, and the copper (Cu), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results showed that Cu was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in both plasma and whole blood of males (980 and 958 μg L-1 in plasma and whole blood, respectively) than in females (741 and 766 μg L-1 in plasma and whole blood, respectively), whereas no significant differences between males and females were found for Se and Zn. Similarly, no significant differences were recorded for any of the three elements according to age, although animals older than 7 years tended to have lower plasma concentrations of all three elements. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is one of the most prevalent diseases of domestic cats. The potential relationship between the essential microelement status in the blood of cats with HCM vs. cats with no clinical signs of HCM was taken into account, but the limited number of HCM-positive individuals did not allow any clear conclusion. Thus, the potential relationships between micronutrient status in cats and the incidence of HCM should be elucidated in further research.

The effects of clinoptilolite on milk copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and iron (Fe) concentrations, proinflammatory cytokine responses, oxidative stress status, whole blood cell counts and liver and kidney functions were investigated in dairy cows exhibiting no signs of any kind of toxicity. Clinoptilolite was added to the feed at a dose of 200 mg kg-1 body weight in the clinoptilolite-treated group (n = 14), but was not added to the feed in the control group (n = 7). In the milk samples (n = 21) collected before the experiment, the Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Fe values were 0.021 ± 0.020, 0.104 ± 0.01, 3.42 ± 0.32, <0.000, 0.56 ± 0.34 ppm, respectively. At the end of the experiment (30th day), among the elements measured in milk samples collected from the clinoptilolite-treated group, only the Pb value (0.076 ± 0.01) was lower than the 0-day value of the clinoptilolite-treated group (0.104 ± 0.01) and the 30th-day value of the control group (0.105 ± 0.01) was found to be statistically lower. Changes determined at the end of clinoptilolite application in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), albumin, glucose, urea and urine creatinine/urine total protein (uCr/uTP) values, which were interpreted as the effect of lead exposure before the trial, were evaluated as the positive effect of clinoptilolite. It was concluded that the addition of clinoptilolite to the feed in dairy cows caused a significant decrease in the amount of Pb in milk, and positive changes in the parameters related to oxidative stress in serum and in parameters related to renal function.

The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in free-range chickens in Aguascalientes, Mexico, its association with certain risk factors, and the frequency of parasite DNA in the heart. Eighty-one small rural family farms were included, and blood and heart samples were taken from 150 clinically healthy, adult, free-range chickens. Serum samples were processed by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test considering a dilution of 1:16 as a positive reaction, while the DNA detection was done by PCR. The correlation between the presence of antibodies and the potential risk factors was estimated with logistic regression. The overall seroprevalence in the examined populations was 67%, with a range from 33% to 100% among municipalities, and 78% of the farms having at least one seropositive bird. The PCR test identified the presence of parasite DNA for one case only. Among the variables, the presence of cats and the presence of other animal species on the farm were the ones that had the highest values, while the presence of feral cats and the presence of noxious fauna were also identified as potential risk factors. The results indicate high soil contamination by T. gondii oocysts, which implies the active role of cats living on the farms.

Dirofilaria immitis is an endemic mosquito-borne pathogen widely spread throughout Europe as well as North and South America. Infection by D. immitis has been reported in domestic ferrets, although little is known about the occurrence and the epidemiological features of this nematode in this species. The aim of the present retrospective study was to assess the prevalence of D. immitis antibodies using an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specifically developed for use in ferrets. One hundred and eighty-six serum samples were obtained from the Province of Valencia (Spain), an area endemic for dirofilariosis. Of the 186 serum samples included in the study, 27 (14.51%) were classified as D. immitis seropositive and 159 samples as D. immitis seronegative. The results provide valuable information on the seroprevalence of D. immitis infection in domestic ferrets in an area endemic for this vector-borne pathogen. The presence of seropositive ferrets should be taken into account and preventive measures should be implemented, including the possibility of serological screening for the early detection of Dirofilaria antibodies as a serological marker of exposure. This is the first study that demonstrates the presence of D. immitis exposure in ferrets in Spain. Veterinarians working in endemic areas should be aware of this infection in ferrets and their susceptibility.

Metacercariae of Tylodelphys sp. were found in the abdominal cavity of the Chinese sleeper (Perccottus glenii) collected in Liaoning Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The sequences of the mitochondrial cox1 gene and ribosomal ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region were obtained and used for molecular identification and phylogenetic assessment of this parasite species. Results of phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and cox1 markers showed that the metacercariae of Tylodelphys sp. ex P. glenii from China were conspecific with specimens of Tylodelphys sp. collected by Sokolov et al. (2013) from the same fish-host species captured earlier in West Siberia, Russia. The examined Tylodelphys sp. ex. P. glenii is the only member of the genus whose metacercariae parasitise the abdominal cavity of fish in northern Eurasia. Tylodelphys sp. ex P. glenii clustered with T. darbyi, T. immer, T. podicipina, and Tylodelphys sp. of Soldánová et al., 2017 based on mitochondrial DNA markers, and with T. darbyi, T. immer, T. kuerepus, and T. schreuringi using nuclear DNA markers.

The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the complications of the first 30 tibial tuberosity advancement rapid (TTA-rapid) and 30 modified circular tibial tuberosity advancement (mcTTA) procedures performed by our team, and to compare the results with the findings reported in the literature. Our research was based on 30 procedures in each group. All dogs were client-owned. Data were collected only for the study of cases that had a minimum follow-up period of 3 months. Intraoperative (IO) and postoperative (PO) complications were assessed, with the latter divided into two subgroups: major and minor. Results obtained for the TTA-rapid group: IO complications 23.3% (7/30), major PO complications 13.3% (4/30), minor PO complications 16.7% (5/30). Results of the mcTTA group: IO complications 0% (0/30), major PO complications 3.3% (1/30), minor PO complications 20% (6/30). Comparing the complication rates, we found that there was a significant difference between the two groups in the occurrence of IO complications (P = 0.01054); however, there was no significant difference in the incidence of major (P = 0.3533) and minor (P > 0.9999) PO complications between groups. Our results are consistent with the findings reported in the literature and suggest that both techniques are efficient and carry a relatively low complication rate.

By a broad-range PCR, we detected a novel herpesvirus (HV) in the specimen of a wels catfish (Silurus glanis) presenting disseminated, carp pox-like dermal lesions all over its body. The sequence analysis of the 463-bp PCR product from the viral DNA polymerase gene indicated the presence of a hitherto unknown virus, a putative member of the family Alloherpesviridae in the sample. Another PCR, targeting the terminase gene of fish HVs, provided an additional genomic fragment of over 1,000 bp. Surprisingly, the sequence of a co-amplified, off-target PCR product revealed its origin from a putative gene homologous to ORF87 and ORF45 of cyprinid HVs and anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV-1), respectively. With specific primers, designed according to the genomic maps of the cyprinid and anguillid HVs, a genomic fragment of 15 kb was also amplified and sequenced by primer walking. In phylogeny inferences, based on several genes, the putative wels catfish HV clustered closest to various cyprinid HVs or to AngHV-1. The novel virus, named as silurid herpesvirus 2, represents a distinct species in the genus Cyprinivirus. However, its association with the skin disease remains unclear.