1,721,278 research outputs found
Exophiala phaeomuriformis associated with abortion and placentitis in a mare
Get PDFThis article describes a case of abortion and placentitis in a mare. Macroscopic and microscopic lesions in the aborted fetus were consistent with a pyogranulomatous inflammation with intralesional fungal structures. These were observed in the lungs, skin, stomach, umbilical cord, peritoneum, fetal membranes and brain. Molecular techniques detected the fungus Exophiala phaeomuriformis from those lesions. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of abortion in horse due to E. phaeomuriformis
Onderzoeksresultaten gestrande witsnuitdolfijn te Wijk aan Zee: Pathologie, dieet en plastic
No full textOp 7 december 2017 werd in de ochtend een gestrande dode witsnuitdolfijn (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) te Wijk aan Zee ontdekt. De Minister van het Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) is verantwoordelijk voor de invulling van internationale verplichtingen en afspraken omtrent de biodiversiteit en de bescherming van in het wild levende bedreigde diersoorten. Vanuit die verantwoordelijkheid is er door het Ministerie van LNV een onderzoeksopdracht uitbesteed naar de strandingsoorzaak en herkomst van deze dolfijn. Strandingsonderzoek vindt in Nederland sinds 2008 plaats bij het Departement Pathobiologie van de Faculteit Diergeneeskunde van de Universiteit Utrecht met als hoofddoel het vaststellen van doodsoorzaken en hierbinnen het onderscheidt tussen natuurlijke en antropogene oorzaken. Daarnaast worden weefsels verzameld waarmee aanvullende onderzoeken kunnen worden uitgevoerd. Hieronder valt onder andere onderzoek naar dieet en plastics. Deze onderzoeken worden respectievelijk uitgevoerd door Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) en Bureau Waardenburg (BuWa). De gestrande witsnuitdolfijn was een volwassen mannelijk dier van 10 jaar oud. De witsnuitdolfijn was waarschijnlijk levend gestrand te Wijk aan Zee. Het dier was in een zeer goede voedingstoestand ten tijden van stranding. De laatste maaltijd van deze dolfijn bestond voornamelijk uit twee prooisoorten: wijting en zandspiering. Hoewel de tweede wellicht secundaire prooi was, vormde de wijting prooimassa duidelijk de belangrijkste prooisoort voor deze witsnuitdolfijn. Het dieet had een gereconstrueerde massa van ruim 19 kg vis. Dit was 6,84% van het gewicht van de dolfijn zelf, terwijl een dolfijn van deze omvang gemiddeld per dag ongeveer de helft van deze hoeveelheid moet eten. Er werd geen plastic in de maag en darm aangetroffen. Op basis van het postmortaal onderzoek kon worden vastgesteld dat de deze witsnuitdolfijn hoogstwaarschijnlijk acuut is overleden door een bacteriemie en sepsis (bloedvergiftiging) door bacteriële infectie met Clostridium sordelli. Dit resulteerde in hersen schade, shock, en uiteindelijk de dood
Stranding van een gewone spitssnuitdolfijn (Mesoplodon bidens) in de Oosterschelde: Resultaten van het strandingsonderzoek, met speciale aandacht voor onderzoek naar gehoorschade
No full textOp 31 augustus 2017 strandde er in de Oosterschelde een jonge, levende gewone spitssnuitdolfijn (Mesoplodon bidens) welke later ter plaatsen overleed. Dit dier werd verzameld voor onderzoek naar de doodsoorzaak en in het bijzonder de aanwezigheid van gehoorschade als oorzaak van de stranding, omdat spitssnuitdolfijn strandingen in Nederland zeldzaam zijn en er weinig bekend is over deze walvisachtigen. Er werden geen indicaties gevonden dat dit dier een infectieuze ziekte of gehoorschade had. Het dier had recentelijk niet gegeten en was ondervoed. Op de flank werden parallelle krassen gevonden, waarbij de afstand tussen de krassen overeenkwamen met de afstand tussen de tanden van tuimelaar dolfijnen. Over waarom de spitssnuitdolfijn de Noordzee is ingezwommen kan alleen worden gespeculeerd. Een scenario kan zijn dat de nog jonge en onervaren spitssnuitdolfijn de zuidelijke Noordzee is ingevlucht of in gedwaald als gevolg van de interactie met één of meerdere tuimelaars, waar het vervolgens door voedselgebrek en verzwakking strandde en overleed. Strandingen van spitssnuitdolfijnen op de Nederlandse kust zijn nog altijd uniek met twaalf gerapporteerde strandingen op www.walvisstrandingen.nl. Wel lijkt er een plotselinge toename, met vijf strandingen van deze soort in alleen al de afgelopen twee jaar (2016 en 2017). Strandingsonderzoek van deze en andere walvisachtigen zullen noodzakelijk zijn om eventuele trends in aantallen en oorzaken te achterhalen. Sterfte door akoestische vervuiling van het marine ecosysteem kan alleen worden uitgevoerd wanneer snel en adequaat wordt gehandeld tijdens strandingen. Onderzoek naar natuurlijke en antropogene doodsoorzaken, inclusief akoestisch trauma, kan zonder projectfinanciering bij toekomstige strandingen niet worden gegarandeerd
Postmortaal onderzoek van bruinvissen (Phocoena phocoena) uit Nederlandse wateren, 2017 : biologische gegevens, gezondheidsstatus en doodsoorzaken
Get PDFThis annual report present the results of post-mortem examinations of porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in 2017. One of the main objectives of the research is to quantify human-induced causes of death. In 2017, 55 dead harbour porpoises were examined: 25 males and 30 females, including 22 adults, 26 juveniles and 7 neonates. Most of the harbour porpoises examined died as a result of infectious diseases (36%), bycatch (20%) or grey seal attacks (18%). The proportion of animals dying of infectious diseases was higher in 2017 than in previous years
PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF VITAMIN A, B, D, AND E IN HUMBOLDT PENGUINS ( SPHENISCUS HUMBOLDTI) BEFORE AND AFTER DIETARY VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION OF THEIR FISH DIET
Get PDFIn a practical feeding trial at Ouwehand Zoo, plasma concentrations of vitamin A1, calcidiol (D3), α-tocopherol (E), and B1 in 17 Humboldt penguins ( Spheniscus humboldti) were measured before and after supplementation to gain insight into the effect of supplementing these vitamins in animals being fed thawed frozen-fish diets. None of the penguins received vitamin supplements for at least 6 mo before the supplementation trial, which was conducted prior to their normal nesting and molting period. During the trial period, eight penguins received daily vitamin A1, D3, tocopheryl acetate, and B1 supplementation placed in their fish immediately prior to feeding and nine control penguins received no supplementation. Concentrations of vitamins A1, D3, α-tocopherol, and B1 were also measured in the thawed ready-to-feed fish. Concentrations of vitamins B1 and α-tocopherol were below the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) recommendations for penguin diets, while concentrations of vitamins A1 and D3 were far above AZA recommendations. At the start of the study and after 70 days of supplementation, plasma concentrations were determined for these vitamins. Vitamin B1 concentrations in plasma increased significantly ( P < 0.05) between Day 0 (mean 39.9 μg/L) and day 70 (mean 160.5 μg/L) in the supplemented group. Plasma vitamin D3 and α-tocopherol did not show a significant change. Vitamin A1 levels in the supplemented group decreased significantly from 1.65 mg/L on day 0 to 1.4 mg/L on day 70. In the control group no significant changes were observed. The results of the study support the necessity of supplementing vitamin B1 in penguins fed thawed frozen fish. Depletion of vitamin A and E concentrations in frozen food fish over time support recommendations to regularly measure vitamin concentrations in different batches of frozen fish
Challenging Friesian horse diseases: aortic rupture and megaesophagus
Get PDFAortic rupture is quite rare in Warmblood horses and is best known as an acute and fatal rupture of the aortic root in older breeding stallions. It has now become clear that aortic rupture, which is diagnosed around an age of 4 years, is more frequent in the Friesian breed than in others. The high prevalence in Friesians may be due to increased genetic susceptibility Whereas Friesian horses with aortic rupture may develop acute forms, the majority of Friesians will display a subacute or chronic disease process. Friesians with a chronic form may show clinical signs, such as recidivating peripheral oedema, jugular pulsation or a strong bounding pulsation in the carotid artery, in the weeks to months prior to death. In Friesian horses the aortic rupture is encountered at the level of the aortic arch near the ligamentum arteriosum, which is more caudally than seen in Warmblood horses. Several cases showed presence of a longitudinal dissection of the aortic wall. A few Friesians with aortic rupture developed a circumferential cuff of blood around the aorta. All cases with chronic lesions in the aortic wall had an aorto-pulmonary fistulation in combination with a pseudoaneurysm. Factors that may interfere with the location of rupture in Friesians are genetic disorders, connective tissue disorders affecting the vessel wall integrity, geometrical abnormalities including wall thickness, lumen diameter and abnormal blood pressure. Histological features at the site of aortic rupture in Friesian horses are medial necrosis, disorganization and fragmentation of elastic laminae, aortic medial smooth muscle hypertrophy and accumulation of mucoid material. Biochemical analysis of the aortic wall in Friesian horses revealed increased MMP activity at the level of aortic rupture. Furthermore, the elastin cross-links desmosine and isodesmosine were increased, probably due to the remodeling and healing process at the site of rupture. Several biochemical differences between Friesians and Warmblood horses were demonstrated, including differences in the post-translational modifications of collagen in tendons and of GAG content in aorta and tendon tissue. Differences or changes in the ECM of the aorta of affected Friesians may have effects on the stiffness and strength of the aortic wall, and may also interfere with cell-matrix interactions and signaling cascades which are important for maintenance of the mechanical properties of the ECM. Clinically a high number of Friesians is suffering from megaesophagus (prevalence 2.2%), of which the majority is younger than 5 years. Morphological abnormalities were seen in the esophageal wall of young Friesians characterized by increased deposition of disorganized collagen and a decrease in elastin. These changes were present in the dilated but also in the non-dilated parts of the esophagus and were similar to those found in the aortic wall of Friesians with aortic rupture and aortopulmonary fistulation. Together, these findings are supportive of a systemic connective tissue disorder as underlying cause. Given the narrow genetic base of the Friesian breed and the significant differences found in extracellular matrix composition and metabolism between Friesians and warmbloods, a contribution of genetic factors to both Friesian disorders is likely
Cetaceans stranded in the Netherlands in 2008-2014
Get PDFWe present a validated list of cetaceans stranded from 2008 up to and including 2014. A total of 4406 cetaceans was found on the Dutch coast during this period, comprising 4346 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) (98.6% of all strandings) and 59 individuals of twelve other species. The next most numerous species was white-beaked dolphin (Lagenorhynchus albirostris) (14 individuals). All individual cases of stranded cetaceans are included, excepting those of harbour porpoise. During the present period, the years with the highest numbers ever of harbour porpoise have been recorded, although numbers in the early twentieth century or before may have been equally high. Largest numbers of harbour porpoise, both absolute and expressed as average per stretching kilometre, are found in the Wadden Sea area, with a gradually decreasing density further south
Pathological findings in the pituitary glands of 201 dogs and cats
Get PDFWith the exception of classic functional adenomas in dogs and horses, pituitary lesions are infrequently described in the veterinary literature. Approximately 10% of pituitary glands from asymptomatic humans contain abnormalities but the equivalent proportion in small animals is unknown. Pituitary glands from 136 dogs and 65 cats collected during routine necropsies were examined to determine the prevalence of pituitary lesions and their histopathological diagnosis. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), Gordon and Sweet's reticulin and immunohistochemistry (against ACTH, GH, MSH-α and prolactin) stains for lesion characterisation.Pituitary abnormalities were identified in 36/136 (26.4%) dogs and 10/65 (15.3%) cats. Cystic changes were the most common lesion in dogs and cats, occurring in 18 (13.2%) dogs and 8 (12.3%) cats. Pituitary neoplasia was detected in 14.1% (12/85) of middle/old aged dogs; 1 (1.5%) cat had pituitary nodular hyperplasia. PAS enabled staining of secretory granules in ACTHimmunoreactive adenomas and reticulin stain helped differentiate them from hyperplastic nodules: adenomas showed PAS positive intracytoplasmic granules and loss of the normal reticulin network. One dog had a pituitary carcinoma with infiltration into the thalamus. Other pituitary abnormalities included: secondary metastases (2 dogs), hypophysitis (4 dogs, 1 cat). In the majority of cases the lesion appeared to be subclinical and could be considered incidental; of those cases with pituitary lesions, clinical manifestations were apparent in 4 dogs (2.9%) and no cats antemortem. Pituitary abnormalities are common in dogs and cats and their wider clinical relevance requires further investigation
Hyaluronic acid and TGF-β1 in dogs with hepatobiliary diseases
No full textThe aim of the study was to assess serum hyaluronic acid (HA) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) concentrations: 1) to differentiate hepatic fibrosis from other forms of liver disease, and 2) for the non-invasive staging of canine liver fibrosis. We also evaluated the association between serum HA concentration and the size of the shunt vessel as an indirect marker of decreased liver clearance in patients with single congenital vascular anomaly. Forty-one healthy client-owned dogs and forty dogs diagnosed with hepatobiliary disease were enrolled in the prospective study. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups: 1) congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS); 2) parenchymal diseases (a. mild and moderate fibrosis, b. advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis); 3) hepatic neoplasia; 4) biliary tract disorders based on thorough clinical, ultrasound and histopathological examination. Serum HA and TGF-β1 concentrations were measured using ELISA. The HA concentration was significantly increased in patients with advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis (P < 0.001) and CPSS (P < 0.001) compared to healthy dogs. Using a cut-off HA concentration of 135.94 ng/ml, the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis for advanced liver fibrosis/cirrhosis was 100% (95% CI, 50.6-100) and 90.8% (95% CI, 81.6-95.7), respectively. The TGF-β1 levels did not significantly differ among groups (P = 0.180). Negligible correlation was found between serum HA concentration and the size of portosystemic shunt vessel (rs = 0.07; P = 0.831). These findings suggest that serum HA concentration is a potential non-invasive biomarker for advanced liver fibrosis and/or cirrhosis in dogs. The utility of measuring serum concentration of TGF-β1 for diagnosing canine liver fibrosis was not supported
Morphometric properties of the thoracic aorta of warmblood and Friesian horses with and without aortic rupture
Get PDFRupture of the aorta is much more common in Friesians compared with other breeds of horse. Rupture always occurs adjacent to the scar of the ligamentum arteriosum. Previous histological examination of ruptured aortic walls suggested the presence of an underlying connective tissue disorder. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to compare the structural characteristics of the tunica media of the mid-thoracic aorta, distant to the lesion, in warmblood and Friesian horses with and without thoracic aortic rupture. In unaffected Friesian horses, the thickness of the tunica media, as well as the percentage area comprised of collagen type I, were significantly higher compared with the warmblood horses, supporting the hypothesis of a primary collagen disorder in the Friesian horse breed. However, in the tunica media of the affected Friesian horses there was no significant wall thickening. Moreover, the percentage area comprised of elastin was significantly lower, while the percentage area comprised of smooth muscle was higher, compared with unaffected Friesian and warmblood horses. These lesions are suggestive of an additional mild elastin deficiency with compensatory smooth muscle cell hypertrophy in affected Friesians
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