An Observation of Clostridium perfringens in Greater Sage-Grouse

Mortality due to infectious diseases is seldom reported in the Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). A case of necrotic enteritis associated with Clostridium perfringens type A is described in a free-ranging adult male sage-grouse in eastern Oregon. Clostridial enteritis is known to cause outbreaks of mortality in various domestic and wild birds, and should be considered as a potential cause of mortality in sage-grouse populations.This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by Wildlife Disease Association and can be found at: http://www.wildlifedisease.org/wda/PUBLICATIONS/JournalofWildlifeDiseases.aspxKeywords: necrotic enteritis, Greater Sage- Grouse, Clostridium perfringens, Oregon, Centrocercus urophasianusKeywords: necrotic enteritis, Greater Sage- Grouse, Clostridium perfringens, Oregon, Centrocercus urophasianu

\u3ci\u3eParelaphostrongylus odocoilei\u3c/i\u3e in Columbia Black-Tailed Deer from Oregon

Documenting the occurrence of Parelaphostrongylus odocoilei has historically relied on the morphological examination of adult worms collected from the skeletal muscle of definitive hosts, including deer. Recent advances in the knowledge of protostrongylid genetic sequences now permit larvae to be identified. Dorsal-spined larvae (DSLs) collected in 2003–2004 from the lung and feces of six Columbian black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) from Oregon were characterized genetically. The sequences from unknown DSLs were compared to those from morphologically validated adults and larvae of P. odocoilei at both the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II gene. We provide the first unequivocal identification of P. odocoilei in Columbian black-tailed deer from Oregon. The broader geographic distribution, prevalence, and pathology of P. odocoilei are not known in populations of Oregon deer

Alopecia areata in two black Angus cows

Adult onset progressive alopecia and leukotrichia developed in 2 registered black Angus cows, aged 6 and 7 years. Histopathologic findings in skin were prominent melanin clumping and degeneration of matrix cells with formation of giant multinucleate cells within hair bulbs, accompanied by peribulbar melanin incontinence and fibrosis and dystrophic hair shafts. Intrabulbar and peribulbar lymphocytes were cluster of differentiation (CD)3-positive T cells. Findings were characteristic of alopecia areata.Keywords: Alopecia areata, Dermatosis, Cattle, Immunohistochemistr

Fatal Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus– like infection in 4 Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus)

Over a 3.5-year period, 4 Rocky Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus), housed at a single facility, developed clinical disease attributed to infection by Caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV). Ages ranged from 1 to 10 years. Three of the goats, a 1-year-old female, a 2-year-old male, and a 5-year-old male, had been fed raw domestic goat milk from a single source that was later found to have CAEV on the premises. The fourth animal, a 10-year-old male, had not ingested domestic goat milk but had been housed with the other 3 Rocky Mountain goats. All 4 animals had clinical signs of pneumonia prior to death. At necropsy, findings in lungs included marked diffuse interstitial pneumonia characterized histologically by severe lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates with massive alveolar proteinosis, interstitial fibrosis, and type II pneumocyte hyperplasia. One animal also developed left-sided hemiparesis, and locally extensive lymphoplasmacytic myeloencephalitis was present in the cranial cervical spinal cord. Two animals had joint effusions, as well as severe lymphoplasmacytic and ulcerative synovitis. Immunohistochemical staining of fixed sections of lung tissue from all 4 goats, as well as spinal cord in 1 affected animal, and synovium from 2 affected animals were positive for CAEV antigen. Serology testing for anti-CAEV antibodies was positive in the 2 goats tested. The cases suggest that Rocky Mountain goats are susceptible to naturally occurring CAEV infection, that CAEV from domestic goats can be transmitted to this species through infected milk and by horizontal transmission, and that viral infection can result in clinically severe multisystemic disease.Keywords: Viral disease, Rocky Mountain goats, Myelitis, Interstitial pneumonia, Goats, Arthritis, Caprine arthritis encephalitis viru

Emergence and pathogenicity of highly virulent Cryptococcus gattii genotypes in the northwest United States.

Cryptococcus gattii causes life-threatening disease in otherwise healthy hosts and to a lesser extent in immunocompromised hosts. The highest incidence for this disease is on Vancouver Island, Canada, where an outbreak is expanding into neighboring regions including mainland British Columbia and the United States. This outbreak is caused predominantly by C. gattii molecular type VGII, specifically VGIIa/major. In addition, a novel genotype, VGIIc, has emerged in Oregon and is now a major source of illness in the region. Through molecular epidemiology and population analysis of MLST and VNTR markers, we show that the VGIIc group is clonal and hypothesize it arose recently. The VGIIa/IIc outbreak lineages are sexually fertile and studies support ongoing recombination in the global VGII population. This illustrates two hallmarks of emerging outbreaks: high clonality and the emergence of novel genotypes via recombination. In macrophage and murine infections, the novel VGIIc genotype and VGIIa/major isolates from the United States are highly virulent compared to similar non-outbreak VGIIa/major-related isolates. Combined MLST-VNTR analysis distinguishes clonal expansion of the VGIIa/major outbreak genotype from related but distinguishable less-virulent genotypes isolated from other geographic regions. Our evidence documents emerging hypervirulent genotypes in the United States that may expand further and provides insight into the possible molecular and geographic origins of the outbreak

Viral testing of 10 cases of Theiler's disease and 37 in-contact horses in the absence of equine biologic product administration: A prospective study (2014-2018)

Background A novel equine parvovirus (EqPV-H) was recently discovered in the equine liver with Theiler's disease. Objectives To determine the prevalence of EqPV-H infection in naturally occurring Theiler's disease cases and in-contact horses in the absence of historical equine biologic product administration. Animals Ten cases of Theiler's disease from 6 separate properties were included in the study, based on the criteria of acute onset of clinical signs of liver failure with laboratory or histopathologic findings characteristic of Theiler's disease and no history of receiving an equine biologic product within the preceding 4 months. In addition, 37 in-contact horses from 4 of the 6 properties were screened for EqPV-H infection and hepatitis. Methods In prospective case series, cases were diagnosed with Theiler's disease by the attending veterinarian and were tested for EqPV-H by PCR of liver or serum. In-contact horses were assessed via serum chemistry and PCR at the attending veterinarian's discretion. Hepatitis was defined as serum gamma-glutamyltransferase activity above reference interval. The association of EqPV-H with hepatitis was determined by Fisher's exact test. Results Nine of 10 (90%) Theiler's disease cases and 54% of tested in-contact horses were EqPV-H positive. Hepatitis was significantly associated with EqPV-H infection (P = .036). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Although further study is required to identify EqPV-H as the causative agent of Theiler's disease, EqPV-H appears strongly associated with cases of fatal Theiler's disease and subclinical hepatitis in horses in contact with those cases. The prevalence of EqPV-H infection on affected properties can be high

ValentineBethVeterinaryMedicineDistinctiveTumourTongueFig 1.jpg

Tumours arising from the dorsal surface of the tongue occurred in 3 horses from 14-23 years of age. Tumours were surgically excised at a referral hospital (1 case) and on the farm (2 cases) and submitted for histopathology. All tumours were multilobular and composed of vaguely nested, bland, oval to slightly elongate cells with an infiltrative growth pattern. Mitotic activity was not detected. Immunohistochemical studies found that tumour cells were often positive for S-100 and cytokeratin and were occasionally positive for vimentin. Tumour cells were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron specific enolase, synaptophysin, muscle actin, and chromogranin A. Follow up obtained from 7 months to 2 years following tumour removal indicated no evidence of regrowth or metastasis. The origin of these distinctive tumours is not clear, but the immunohistochemical profile suggests the possibility of origin from lingual taste buds. These cases and review of the literature indicate that successful surgical excision of tongue tumours can be performed by practitioners in private practice as well as by surgeons at referral hospitals.Keywords: immunohistochemistry, neoplasia, tongue, horseKeywords: immunohistochemistry, neoplasia, tongue, hors

Aspergillus Section Nigri-Associated Calcium Oxalate Crystals in an Eurasian Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)

An adult male Eurasian eagle owl (Bubo bubo) housed at a wildlife rehabilitation facility in southern Oregon died after a short period of progressive ill-thrift. Radiographs taken prior to death demonstrated abnormal radiopaque material in the coelom and the owl was submitted for postmortem examination. Black pigmented fungus was noted grossly, particularly in the respiratory tissues, with abundant oxalate crystal deposition associated with and without hyphal elements subsequently observed histologically. Aspergillus section Nigri was cultured from the lesions. Although there have been a few reports of aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus niger in avian species, the severity and wide tissue distribution of oxalates in this case are highly unusual

ValentineBethVeterinaryMedicineDistinctiveTumourTongueFig4.jpg

Tumours arising from the dorsal surface of the tongue occurred in 3 horses from 14-23 years of age. Tumours were surgically excised at a referral hospital (1 case) and on the farm (2 cases) and submitted for histopathology. All tumours were multilobular and composed of vaguely nested, bland, oval to slightly elongate cells with an infiltrative growth pattern. Mitotic activity was not detected. Immunohistochemical studies found that tumour cells were often positive for S-100 and cytokeratin and were occasionally positive for vimentin. Tumour cells were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, neuron specific enolase, synaptophysin, muscle actin, and chromogranin A. Follow up obtained from 7 months to 2 years following tumour removal indicated no evidence of regrowth or metastasis. The origin of these distinctive tumours is not clear, but the immunohistochemical profile suggests the possibility of origin from lingual taste buds. These cases and review of the literature indicate that successful surgical excision of tongue tumours can be performed by practitioners in private practice as well as by surgeons at referral hospitals.Keywords: neoplasia, tongue, immunohistochemistry, horseKeywords: neoplasia, tongue, immunohistochemistry, horseKeywords: neoplasia, tongue, immunohistochemistry, horseKeywords: neoplasia, tongue, immunohistochemistry, hors

LöhrChristianeVeterinaryMedicineCharacterizationMicroanatomyHistopathology.pdf

From 2002 to 2007, 101 camelid abortions and stillbirths were submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University (84 alpacas, 13 llamas, four unknown). For most of the cases (n=67) a cause was not determined by routine testing. Eighty-five submissions included placenta for microscopic examination of which 55 were from abortions to unknown causes (idiopathic). Microscopic features of placentas from abortion/stillbirth were compared with those from 19 camelids delivered normally (six alpacas, 12 llamas, one unknown) and those from four alpaca fetuses of known gestational age collected during the dam’s necropsy. The most common microscopic findings in abortion/stillbirth placentas were mineralization (n=57) and mucinous edema (n=27) of the chorioallantoic stroma. One or more of these features were also observed in 22/23 placentas from normal pregnancies/deliveries and therefore interpreted as incidental findings. The comparison of alpaca placentas after matching for gestational parameters (crown rump length, weight, days of gestation; n=41) revealed hypoplasia of placental villi in 5/22 idiopathic abortions and in one abortion due to umbilical torsion, and was suspected in an additional six abortions of unknown and two abortions of known cause. The identified villous hypoplasia is assumed to have resulted in placental insufficiency. When placental insufficiency is included as cause, idiopathic abortions are reduced from 66.2% to 47.9% of alpaca cases with histopathological examination of placenta and from 66.3 to 52.5% of alpaca and llama abortions overall. This study also permitted the generation of a linear regression curve correlating alpaca fetal crown-rump length with fetal age