1,720,993 research outputs found
Testudinid Herpesviruses: A Review
No full textReptile medicine has been one of the fastest growing disciplines within the veterinary medicine arena during the last 20 yr. Infectious disease has proven to be one of the most interesting and challenging subspecialties of this discipline. Among the most significant pathogens discovered and investigated in the last 2 decades are the Testudinid herpesviruses, previously known as tortoise herpesviruses. The first article describing a bona fide Testudinid herpesvirus dates back to 30 yr ago. Several articles have followed and a number of features of these agents and of their associated diseases are now known. Nevertheless, several questions remain unanswered. The origin of the virus(es), the search for an effective therapy, the issue of the clinically healthy carrier and how to manage them, and the need to develop more-specific and sensitive diagnostic tests are just some of the “big” issues which will need to be tackled in the future. In this article we will review the major features of these viral agents, trying to provide a useful resource for veterinarians and researchers who either need to work with these viruses or simply to familiarize themselves with the topic
Evaluation of liver parenchyma and perfusion using dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in captive green iguanas (Iguana iguana) under general anesthesia.
Full text linkBACKGROUND
Contrast-enhanced diagnostic imaging techniques are considered useful in veterinary and human medicine to evaluate liver perfusion and focal hepatic lesions. Although hepatic diseases are a common occurrence in reptile medicine, there is no reference to the use of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to evaluate the liver in lizards. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of change in echogenicity and attenuation of the liver in green iguanas (Iguana iguana) after administration of specific contrast media.
RESULTS
An increase in liver echogenicity and density was evident during CEUS and CECT, respectively. In CEUS, the mean ± SD (median; range) peak enhancement was 19.9% ± 7.5 (18.3; 11.7-34.6). Time to peak enhancement was 134.0 ± 125.1 (68.4; 59.6-364.5) seconds. During CECT, first visualization of the contrast medium was at 3.6 ± 0.5 (4; 3-4) seconds in the aorta, 10.7 ± 2.2 (10.5; 7-14) seconds in the hepatic arteries, and 15 ± 4.5 (14.5; 10-24) seconds in the liver parenchyma. Time to peak was 14.1 ± 3.4 (13; 11-21) and 31 ± 9.6 (29; 23-45) seconds in the aorta and the liver parenchyma, respectively.
CONCLUSION
CEUS and dynamic CECT are practical means to determine liver hemodynamics in green iguanas. Distribution of contrast medium in iguana differed from mammals. Specific reference ranges of hepatic perfusion for diagnostic evaluation of the liver in iguanas are necessary since the use of mammalian references may lead the clinician to formulate incorrect diagnostic suspicions
PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF SPIROTOMEt DEVICE FOR LIVER BIOPSY IN GREEN IGUANAS (IGUANA IGUANA): A PILOT STUDY
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluate a large-core manual biopsy device (Spirotomet, Medinvents,
3500 Hasselt, Belgium) for liver sampling and histologic diagnosis in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). The study
included eight green iguanas, and two ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected for each lizard, for 16 biopsies in
total. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia induced by intravenous injection of propofol (10
mg/kg) maintained with a mixture of 2.0% isoflurane and 0.8–1.2 L/min oxygen after tracheal intubation.
Fourteen (87.5%) of the 16 biopsies were considered diagnostic. Liver biopsy quality was assessed according to
sample size and tissue preservation. In particular, mean length (16.2 6 4.5 mm), width (2.2 6 0.5 mm), area (34.8
6 6.9 mm2), and number of portal areas (9.4 6 3.9) of each biopsy were recorded for all green iguanas. The total
available surface of the sections obtained from the biopsies and their grade of preservation enabled a satisfactory
evaluation of the parenchymal architecture. One of the green iguanas in the study died the day after the procedure
due to severe hemocoeloma. Risk assessment evaluation suggested that small green iguanas may not be suitable
for this biopsy procedure
Consensus PCR protocols for the detection of amphibian herpesviruses (Batrachovirus).
No full textAmphibians have been disappearing at an unprecedented rate worldwide. Among the proposed contributing factors are infectious diseases. Investigations have focused mainly on ranavirus and chytrids; however, additional agents may be relevant stressors. Two novel batrachoviruses have been discovered (ranid herpesvirus 3 [RaHV-3] and bufonid herpesvirus 1 [BfHV-1]). Their clinical role is still to be clarified; however, both have been associated with obvious skin lesions in their respective hosts. Herein we present 2 consensus PCR protocols that can be used to detect all of the known and, possibly, yet to be discovered batrachoviruses. We targeted a 200 nt long, highly conserved region of the DNA terminase gene. We established a sensitive protocol, which can detect both European batrachoviruses (European batrachovirus PCR protocol; RaHV-3 and BfHV-1) and a panbatrachovirus PCR protocol detecting all known batrachoviruses, including ranid herpesvirus 1 and 2 (RaHV-1, -2). The limit of detection (LOD) for the European batrachovirus protocol was 101 copies of RaHV-3 and 102 copies of BfHV-1 per reaction. The panbatrachovirus protocol could detect all known batrachoviruses with LODs of 103 (RaHV-3, BfHV-1, RaHV-1) to 104 copies (RaHV-2) per reaction. These novel detection tools can be used as a first line of detection when herpesviral infection in amphibians is suspected, followed by additional PCRs with herpesvirus-specific primers in the case of known viral species, or sequencing as in the case of novel batrachoviruses
PRELIMINARY EVALUATION of SPIROTOME® DEVICE for LIVER BIOPSY in GREEN IGUANAS (IGUANA IGUANA): A PILOT STUDY
No full textThe aim of this study was to evaluate a large-core manual biopsy device (Spirotome®, Medinvents, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium) for liver sampling and histologic diagnosis in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). The study included eight green iguanas, and two ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected for each lizard, for 16 biopsies in total. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia induced by intravenous injection of propofol (10 mg/kg) maintained with a mixture of 2.0% isoflurane and 0.8-1.2 L/min oxygen after tracheal intubation. Fourteen (87.5%) of the 16 biopsies were considered diagnostic. Liver biopsy quality was assessed according to sample size and tissue preservation. In particular, mean length (16.2 ± 4.5 mm), width (2.2 ± 0.5 mm), area (34.8 ± 6.9 mm2), and number of portal areas (9.4 ± 3.9) of each biopsy were recorded for all green iguanas. The total available surface of the sections obtained from the biopsies and their grade of preservation enabled a satisfactory evaluation of the parenchymal architecture. One of the green iguanas in the study died the day after the procedure due to severe hemocoeloma. Risk assessment evaluation suggested that small green iguanas may not be suitable for this biopsy procedure
Health assessment of wild Namaqualand Speckled Padlopers (Homopus signatus)
No full textHEALTH ASSESSMENT OF WILD NAMAQUALAND SPECKLED PADLOPERS (HOMOPUS SIGNATUS)
LIVIO GALOSI1*, Graduating student (Vet Med); FRANCESCO C. ORIGGI2°, DVM, PhD, DACVM (Virology), DACVP, DECZM (Herpetology);
ANNA RITA ATTILI1°, DVM; STEFANIA PERRUCCI3°, DVM, PhD, EVPC; GIACOMO ROSSI1, DVM, MSc, PhD, ECZM (WPH);
VINCENZO CUTERI1, DVM; VICTOR J.T. LOEHR4, BSc, MSc, PhD
1 School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Matelica, Italy 2 Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health (FIWI), DIP, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland 3 Department of Veterinary Science, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy 4 Homopus Research Foundation, IJsselstein, Netherlands ° The Authors equally contributed ABSTRACT The Namaqualand speckled padloper (Homopus signatus) is the world smallest tortoise species and inhabits the Succulent Karoo biome in South Africa. Although its ecology has been thoroughly studied, no health parameters of wild individuals are available. Five males and five females, collected (permits: FAUNA 053/2015; CITES 148487 and 15NL226435/11) to genetically enhance a European conservation breeding program, were investigated to derive base-line health parameters. Ectoparasites were immediately removed from
each tortoise. Ocular, nasal, oral and cloacal swabs were collected upon arrival in Europe for microbiological examination. Fenbendazole (Panacur®) was administered to prevent nematode overgrowth. Feces were collected prior and one month after treatment. Most of the collected swabs (82.5%) yielded
bacterial colonies (mean load of 16x107±61x108 CFU/swab). Bacillus cereus, Mycoplasma spp., Salmonella enterica subsp. II salamae 6,7:a:z42 were commonly detected, especially in the oral and cloacal cavities. Yeasts and fungi (mean: 2450±495 CFU/swab) were present in 25% of swabs, with Rhodotorula rubra, R. mucilaginosa, Candida spp. and Alternaria spp. over-represented in ocular and oral swabs.Virology investigation included a panel of PCR aiming to detect Herpesviruses, Adenoviruses and Iridoviruses. Both oral and cloacal swabs from each individual tested negatively. All fecal samples collected before the treatment contained oxyurid eggs, whereas a significant reduction of them was observed in the majority of treated animals. In some tortoises, Nycthocterus sp. (5/10) and coccidian oocyst (5/10) were identified. Ectoparasites were identified as Ornithodoros savignyi soft ticks.
These are the very first health-related data from free-ranging Namaqualand speckled padlopers. REFERENCES 1. Jacobson RJ. 2007. Infectious
Diseases And Pathology Of Reptiles. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, USA. 2. Loehr VJT, Henen BT, Hofmeyr MD. 2006. Tick infestations in the Namaqualand speckled padloper, Homopus signatus signatus (Gmelin, 1789). African Zoology, Vol. 41, Issue 2
Accumulation of the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis on the regressing tail of midwife toads Alytes obstetricans undergoing metamorphosis
No full textBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungus infecting the skin of amphibians. On metamorphosing animals the infection is difficult to detect because of the limited information concerning the location of Bd on the animals during this stage. Histological investigation revealed that Bd accumulated on the reabsorbing tail of metamorphosing animals. This observation may facilitate the detection of Bd in metamorphosing amphibians
Cutaneous lesions associated with dual infection caused by canine distemper virus and orthopoxvirus in a domestic cat.
No full textBACKGROUND
Within the context of an increased epidemiological pressure caused by canine distemper virus (CDV) in Switzerland together with a potential re-emergence of endemic pathogens such as orthopoxviruses (OPXV), dual infections are possible among susceptible species.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of concurrent CDV and OPXV infection in a cat.
ANIMAL
A 5-year-old, neutered male cat was presented with erythema, crusts and ulcerations around the left eye. High-grade pruritus and a severe conjunctivitis were also present.
METHODS
Formalin-fixed skin biopsy samples were obtained from lesional skin. Histopathology, CDV immunohistochemistry and CDV and OPXV RT-PCR were performed.
RESULTS
Histopathological examination showed severe epidermal necrosis extending to the follicular walls and a dermal infiltration, predominantly eosinophilic. Intranuclear and intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusion bodies were visible in the wall of affected hair follicles, with occasional formation of syncytia. The RT-PCR revealed the contextual presence of both CDV and OPXV. Scattered cells stained positive for CDV by immunohistochemistry.
CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION
Dual infections with CDV and OPXV, although rare, may occur and represent additional differential diagnoses for ulcerative skin lesions in cats
- …
