Third carpal bone sclerosis

The aims of this thesis were to evaluate the DPr-DDiO projection for the assessment of sclerosis and to study the relationships between altered third carpal bone (C3) radiopacity and previous exercise, previous carpal lameness, clinical appearance, and prognosis for future performance. Effects of positioning on radiographic appearance and depth of evaluated C3 were investigated in frozen specimens under beam-cassette angles of 15" to 45". Beam-cassette angles near 40" produced maximal depth of evaluated C3 but grading of sclerosis appeared insensitive to variations in beam-cassette angle in the range 25"-40". A comparison between grading of sclerosis and histomorphometrical bone density estimations in specimens from Standardbred trotters showed a higher bone volume density in subchondral compared to central cancellous bone. Mild sclerosis indicated that the subchondral cancellous bone had reached its maximal density while increasing sclerosis only reflected a further density-increase in central cancellous bone. The association between altered C3 radiopacity and degree of lameness and prognosis for racing was evaluated in a retrospective study of 89 Standardbred trotters diagnosed with traumatic carpitis. No significant relationships between degree of sclerosis and lameness or prognosis for racing within 30 months were found. However, radiolucencies ≥2 mm were found to significantly influence degree of lameness at presentation and time to start but did not affect chances of racing within 30 months. Factors affecting development of increased C3 radiopacity were evaluated in a longitudinal study of 14 Standardbred trotters in professional training, between the mean ages of 20 and 42 months. Carpal lameness was significantly associated with progression of sclerosis although in most cases, sclerosis developed irrespective of carpal lameness. No significant associations were found between grade of sclerosis and previous carpal lameness or between grade of sclerosis and level of performance, classified as training, qualified for racing and actively racing. Sclerosis appears to be of limited value as an indicator of clinical carpal disease or level of performance in Standardbred trotters while radiolucencies are clinically significant findings warranting further research

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI H5Nx, Clade 2.3.4.4.b) in Poultry and Wild Birds in Sweden: Synopsis of the 2020-2021 Season

Simple Summary Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a virus-induced contagious disease that has killed a large number of poultry and wild birds in Europe in the recent decade and is an increasing problem worldwide. In the winter of 2020-2021, Sweden experienced its worst period to date when the disease was diagnosed on 15 commercial poultry farms and over 2.2 million birds died or were euthanised. The disease was also diagnosed in 130 wild birds and nine flocks of hobby, game or zoo birds between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2021. The aim of this article was to describe the influenza situation in Sweden during this period and to add to the knowledge related to the alarming situation with highly pathogenic influenza in birds. The disease caused animal suffering and death in wild and domestic birds and incurred high costs due to losses and extensive measures to stop spread. The outbreak investigations, where contacts were traced and virus strains were compared, concluded that the virus was brought to poultry farms by wild birds in most cases. More research is needed to obtain knowledge on risk factors, biosecurity, and wild bird presence on poultry farms to prevent future disease outbreaks. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, Gs/Gd lineage) was introduced to Europe in 2005 and has since caused numerous outbreaks in birds. The 2020-2021 season was the hitherto most devastating when considering bird numbers and duration in Europe. Surveillance data, virologic results and epidemiologic investigations from the 2020-2021 outbreaks in Sweden were analysed. Subtypes H5N8 and H5N5 were detected on 24 farms with poultry or other captive birds. In wild birds, subtypes H5N8, H5N5, H5N1, H5N4, H5Nx were detected in 130 out of 811 sampled birds. There was a spatiotemporal association between cases in wild birds and poultry. Based on phylogeny and epidemiology, most of the introductions of HPAI to commercial poultry were likely a result of indirect contact with wild birds. A definite route of introduction to poultry could not be established although some biosecurity breaches were observed. No spread between farms was identified but airborne spread between flocks on the same farm was suspected. Our findings exemplify the challenges posed by the continuously changing influenza viruses that seem to adapt to a broader species spectrum. This points to the importance of wild bird surveillance, compliance to biosecurity, and identification of risk factors for introduction on poultry farms

Combining information from surveys of several species to estimate the probability of freedom from Echinococcus multilocularis in Sweden, Finland and mainland Norway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The fox tapeworm <it>Echinococcus multilocularis </it>has foxes and other canids as definitive host and rodents as intermediate hosts. However, most mammals can be accidental intermediate hosts and the larval stage may cause serious disease in humans. The parasite has never been detected in Sweden, Finland and mainland Norway. All three countries require currently an anthelminthic treatment for dogs and cats prior to entry in order to prevent introduction of the parasite. Documentation of freedom from <it>E. multilocularis </it>is necessary for justification of the present import requirements.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The probability that Sweden, Finland and mainland Norway were free from <it>E. multilocularis </it>and the sensitivity of the surveillance systems were estimated using scenario trees. Surveillance data from five animal species were included in the study: red fox (<it>Vulpes vulpes</it>), raccoon dog (<it>Nyctereutes procyonoides</it>), domestic pig, wild boar (<it>Sus scrofa</it>) and voles and lemmings (Arvicolinae).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The cumulative probability of freedom from EM in December 2009 was high in all three countries, 0.98 (95% CI 0.96-0.99) in Finland and 0.99 (0.97-0.995) in Sweden and 0.98 (0.95-0.99) in Norway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Results from the model confirm that there is a high probability that in 2009 the countries were free from <it>E. multilocularis</it>. The sensitivity analyses showed that the choice of the design prevalences in different infected populations was influential. Therefore more knowledge on expected prevalences for <it>E. multilocularis </it>in infected populations of different species is desirable to reduce residual uncertainty of the results.</p

The recent incursion and advance of ASF in Europe and challenges posed by wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la 65th Annual International Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA), celebrada en Ithaca, New York (USA) del 31 de julio al 5 de agosto de 2016.African swine fever (ASF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease of suids. Its potential impact on the pig industry, international trade, game sector and rural livelihoods could be devastating for the European Union (EU), with a total pig population of 149 million and an annual export of over 2.17 billion Euro. There is particular concern about the epidemiological role of European wild boar (Sus scrofa) population, which has grown exponentially in recent decades, and now forms a continuous population of 3.5 million across Europe. The objectives of this presentation are: 1. To provide an update on the recent incursion and advance of ASF in Europe; 2. To introduce/present the recently initiated Action in Europe: ASF-STOP. Materials for this study were epidemiological reports (OIE, EU-Animal Disease Notification System) and published data. ASF emerged in continental Europe through an incursion in Georgia in 2007, thereafter spread into Armenia affecting domestic pigs and wild boar, and expanded into Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus causing large-scale epidemics in domestic pigs. Simultaneous infection of domestic pig and wild boar populations has led to persistence of ASF. The wild boar population provides an easy route for ASF spread. ASF entered the EU in 2014 with the first cases in Lithuania followed by Poland, Latvia and Estonia. The first detection in these four countries was in wild boar found dead. There are no vaccines available and ASF continues to advance. ASF-STOP is a networking Action financed by the EU that brings together scientists from 27 European countries with the main aim of understanding and combating ASF. The Action has a strong component of wild boar work, including biology, management, epidemiology and ASF-pathobiology. ASF is an emerging infection that threatens the pig industry. The growing wild boar population in Europe poses a major challenge for the control of ASF.Peer Reviewe

Nodular onchocercosis in red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Sweden

The presence of subcutaneous nodular onchocercosis was investigated at slaughter of 151 red deer (Cervus elaphus) (107 juveniles and 44 adults) between October–December 2015. The prevalence of subcutaneous nodules was 56%. Nodules were located in the lumbar region of the back in 96% of the cases, and 38% of the infected red deer had additional parasitic nodules in other body locations, such as rump, thorax, forelimbs and neck. The number of nodules per deer was 1–10 in two-thirds of the affected animals, and only 2% had more than 50 nodules. Significant differences in prevalence of nodule presence were found between adult (81%) and juvenile red deer less than two years of age (45%) (p = 0.0001). Species confirmation and identification was done on 14 randomly selected nodules taken from the lumbar region of 14 deer of different geographical origin, by sequencing the mitochondrial 12S, 16S and nad5 gene fragments. The sequences were more or less identical (12S = 99–100%; 16S = 93–100%; nad5 = 92–100%) to previously published sequences for Onchocerca flexuosa. The high prevalence of nodular onchocercosis caused by O. flexuosa in red deer in Sweden shows that the investigated areas in the southern third of Sweden have favorable vector (simuliids and ceratopogonids) conditions and suitable environment for the maintenance of the parasite. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic study of O. flexuosa in red deer in Sweden. Keywords: Onchocerca flexuosa, Cervid, DNA genotyping, Filarioidea, Onchocercidae, Vector-borne helminthe

Chlamydia psittaci in garden birds in Sweden

Increased numbers of human infections with Chlamydia psittaci have been associated with bird feeding activities in southern Sweden. Information on occurrence and genotype of C. psittaci in garden birds in Sweden is required to corroborate this finding but data are limited. Additionally, pathogenicity of C. psittaci for garden birds is poorly understood. In this study, C. psittaci infection was investigated in 275 garden birds representing 22 species submitted for wildlife disease surveillance between 2009 and 2019. PCR was used to detect C. psittaci DNA in liver and lung. Positive samples were genotyped, additional PCR was performed on feces, and tissues were examined microscopically. C. psittaci was found in six (2.2 %) birds; three great tits (Parus major), two feral (Columba livia) and one wood pigeon (Columba palumbus). Two great tits and the wood pigeon had inflammatory lesions associated with C. psittaci. In the great tits and wood pigeon, C. psittaci genotype A, the cause of most human cases, was detected. Genotype B, considered endemic in pigeons, was detected in the feral pigeons. Low incidence of C. psittaci in dead Swedish garden birds was similar to studies on apparently healthy Swedish birds. Pathological findings were consistent with C. psittaci being fatal in half of the positive birds, which also had higher bacterial loads in feces. This highlights the risk for human infection via infected garden birds, especially regarding great tits and pigeons

Gastrointestinal parasitic infections in dead or debilitated moose (alces alces) in SWEDEN

Our objectives were to determine prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of dead or euthanized emaciated moose in central and southern Sweden (n=50) and to assess parasite intensity as a major contributing factor in the poor condition of these moose. All animals were infected and most had gastrointestinal nematodes. Seven parasite species were found in the abomasa and 10 species were found in the small intestine. Coinfections were commonly found in the abomasum (Ostertagia antipini and Mazamastrongylus dagestanica) and in the small intestine (Nematodirella alcidis and Trichostrongylus capricola). Moose had many nematodes; the highest numbers were 224,400 and 11,760, in the abomasum and in the small intestine, respectively. Fourteen moose had more than 40,000 gastrointestinal nematodes (excluding large intestine nematodes represented by Trichuris spp. and Oesophagostomum venulosum). Additionally, a moderate prevalence (36%) of protostrongylid larvae (dorsal spine larvae) and a low prevalence (2-4%) of protozoal infections were identified at microscopic examination of feces. Adult moose had significantly more parasites than did sub-adults. The results did not show parasite load as a single or a major cause of the moose mortality, but they provided an update on the species composition of helminth parasites in moose in Sweden and illustrated the extreme infection intensities that free-ranging moose can have

Pathology of natural Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica infection in two yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis)

Abstract Background Tularemia is a zoonosis caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. It has a wide host range, which includes mammals, birds and invertebrates. F. tularensis has often been isolated from various species of small rodents, but the pathology in naturally infected wild rodent species has rarely been reported. Case presentation Herein, we describe the pathology of tularemia in two naturally infected wild yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis). To visualize F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, indirect immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were applied on tissue sections. Real time polymerase chain reaction detected the bacterium in samples from liver and spleen in both mice. The only finding at necropsy was splenomegaly in one of the mice. Histological examination revealed necrotic foci in the liver associated with mild inflammation in both mice. Immunohistochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence showed bacteria disseminated in many organs, in the cytoplasm of macrophages, and intravascularly. Conclusions The two yellow-necked mice died of an acute disease caused by tularemic infection disseminated to many organs. Further investigations of naturally infected small rodents are important to better understand the variability in pathological presentation caused by infection by F. tularensis subsp. holarctica, as well to elucidate the importance of small rodents as transmitters and/or reservoirs