WILD BIRDS AS PATIENTS OF THE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL OF THE FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE CLUJ NAPOCA, ROMANIA

Landscape changes and the environmental conditions that are related, are major factors associated with the disease occurrence at wild birds. The direct association between environment and human health has been recognized since ancient time

INCIDENCE OF SALMONELLA ARIZONAE IIIA STRAINS IN FREE LIVING EUROPEAN ADDER (VIPERA BERUS LINNAEUS 1758)

Reptiles are routinely identified as reservoirs of Salmonella spp.. Salmonella enterica serovar Arizonae (S. enterica subspecies IIIa) is common Salmonella isolate from reptiles and can cause serious systemic disease in humans (Mader, 2006). To measure the incidence of Salmonella Arizonae IIIa in the free living European adder (Vipera berus berus Linnaeus, 1785) fresh cloacal samples were collected from three individuals with a sterile cotton swab and immediately processed according to a standard protocol for the detection of enteric pathogens. The protocol includes the use of non-selective blood agar, MacConkey agar, a Selenite enrichment broth, and two Salmonella-selective agars (salmonella-shigella agar and xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar). Identification was realised by using API E identification systems (BioMerieux, Lyon, France). The molecular identification was realised by simplex PCR using ST 11-15 (429 bp.) Salmonella spp. specific primer pairs. A very high prevalence (100%) of Salmonella Arizonae IIIa was observed. These results suggested a carrier estate for Salmonella Arizonae IIIa of the European adde

SEPTICEMIC/SYSTEMIC CUTANEOUS ULCERATIVE DISEASES (SCUD) IN CAPTIVE RED EARED SLIDER (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS) – FIRST REPORT IN ROMANIA

Very little is known about diseases of the shell of wild turtles, although there are several accounts in the literature of infectious shell disease in captive turtles. This is a management condition caused by poor nutrition and an unsanitary aquatic habitat. Citrobacter freundii is the most commonly isolated agent, and initial infection with Serratia may be necessary. This organism is found in the soil and water and can be isolated from the intestinal tract of animals, including humans. Turtles become infected through skin abrasions while in contaminated water. This study was realised on fourteen captive red eared slider (T.s. elegans) with typical SCUD symptoms from Tirgu Mures Zoo, Romania. The microbial samples was collected with a sterile swab from lesions of carapax or plastron following disinfection with alcohol instantly processed according to a three step protocol. This protocol includes the use of nonselective blood agar, MacConkey agar, and biochemical identification by using API E identification systems (BioMerieux, Lyon, France). Most frequently was identified Cirobacter freundii, rarely alone, repeatedly asoociated with Klebsiella oxytoca and Serratia odorifera. Observed SCUD symptoms - The following symptoms were shown by turtles considered "obviously" diseased: 1. Emaciation; 2. Ulcerated lesions on the plastron and/or carapace. These lesions caused the overlying scutes to dislodge and peel away. Lesions also sometimes formed at the interface between the carapace and soft tissues in the axial, inguinal and anal regions of the body; 3. Discolored carapace. The normal brown color became brick red; 4. Eroded marginal. The marginals became necrotic and easily peeled away. Black necrotic tissue also formed between the shell and overlying scutes. 5. Ulceration of skin, most frequently on the rhamphotheca. Treatment includes antibiotic therapy based on culture and sensitivity, vitamin supplementation, and improving the diet and sanitatio

RAOULTELLA ORNITHINOLYTHICA INDUCED SEVER PNEUMONIA IN RED EARED SLIDER (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA ELEGANS)

Members of genus Raoultella are Gram negative rods, belonging to Raoultella trib (Klebsiellae) of Enterobacteriaceae family. This genus are formed by seven species: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella ozaenae, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, Klebsiella terrigena, Klebsiella planticola, Klebsiella ornithinolytica, Klebsiella oxytoca, the last two are important in herpetologycal medicine, specialy in chelonians producing Septicemic/systematic Cutaneaous Ulcerative Disease, and in ophydians producing pneumonia and abscesses (Mader D., 2006). A case of sever pneumonia was described at a red eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). During the examination, the turtle showed poor body condition, deshidratation, mouth-opened respiration, serous conjunctivitis, purulent materials in the oral cavity. At the clinical examination, the animal showed oblique flotation at the surface of the water, indicating sever pneumonia. After the general anesthesia, microbial samples were collected by lung washing with sterile saline solution. Using API 20E, Raoultella (Klebsiella) ornithinolytica was isolated in monoculture and identified as casual agent of infection. Based on antibiograme we started a treatment using Enrofloxacin generally (10mg/kgc i.m.). After 10 days of antibiotic treatment, the recovery of the animal was 100%

EVALUATION OF SOME HERBAL EXTRACTIONS’ ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL AGAINST STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPP. STRAINS ASSOCIATED WITH CANINE OTITIS EXTERNA

The antibacterial potential of the some herbal extractions obtained from Thymus vulgaris L, Salvia officinalis, Rosmarinus officinalis L, Mentha piperita, Lavandula angustifolia, Ocimum basilicum, Calendula officinalis L., Hypericum perforatum, Hippophae rhamnoides L, Allium sativum, Coryandrum sativum L. was in vitro evaluated against several Staphylococcus spp. strains isolated from dogs with otitis extern

SALMONELLA ARIZONAE IIIA ASSOCIATED INFECTIOUS STOMATITIS IN CAPTIVE VIPERIDAE SNAKES

Actually more than 2500 serovars of Salmonella are known, but a small number is associated with reptiles from the suborder Ophidia. Apparently, bacteria from the genus Salmonella are component of the normal intestinal microbial community, and in case of immunosupression they become pathogens for the carrier hosts. In the reptile medicine due to the Salmonella infection there are described the following entities: septicemias, subcutaneous abscess, gastritis, gastroenteritis, stomatitis. The etiological agent of these morbid entities belongs to the serovars S. tiphymurium, S. regent, S. marina, S. arizonae. Four case of stomatitis was described at captive autochthon Vipera species (Vipera berus and Vipera ammodytes). In course of the clinical examination, the animals showed localized or generalized hemorrhagic stomatitis. The lesions were surgically cleaned and samples were collected for further microbiological examination. Using API 20E Salmonella arizonae was identified as casual agent of infection

SUBCUTANEOUS ABSCESS DUE TO PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA IN CAPTIVE ASP VIPER (VIPERA ASPIS)

Abscesses are one of the most frequent clinical entities of the captive snakes (Hoppmann and Wilson Barron, 2006). In contrast with the mammals, the reptilian purulent material is caseous, forming hard “cheese-like” plugs that are nearly impenetrable to antibiotics, making the key to successful treatment of the reptilian abscesses the complete removal of the abscess cavity and surrounding fibrous capsule (Mader, 2006). Many causes are found for abscesses; foreign bodies embedded, parasites (Mihalca et al., 2007), fungi and bacteria (Köbölkuti and Czirják, unpublished data) can lead to the formation of the exudates. Bacteria from the genus Pseudomonas are part of the normal flora of the oral cavity and intestinal tracts of the snakes (Blaylock, 2001; Köbölkuti and Czirják, unpublished data). Often they are considered opportunistic pathogens, causing different clinical diseases under the stress of the captivity. A case of subcutaneous abscess was described at a captive asp viper (Vipera aspis). During the examination, the snake showed a well localized 3 cm x 1 cm abscess with a central stub-like scar. After the local anesthesia, all the parts of the abscess were surgically removed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in monoculture from the pus and identified as casual agent of infection. Based on antibiograme we started a treatment using Enrofloxacin generally (10mg/kgc i.m.). After 5 days of antibiotic and post-surgical treatment, the recovery of the animal was 100%. To our knowledge this is the first described case of Pseudomonas infection in captive asp viper (Vipera aspis)

SUSCEPTIBILITY OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS INTERMEDIUS STRAINS ISOLATED FROM DISEASED DOGS AGAINST FLOROQUINOLONES

Staphylococcus intermedius is the predominant type of coagulase-positive staphylococci on normal canine skin (BERG et al., 1984), and is the causative agent of pyoderma and otitis externa in dogs (IHRKE et al., 1987). A primary or secondary bacterial skin infection determined by bacteria of the Staphylococcus genus is often a component of the skin diseases (PELLERIN et al., 1998). The flouoroquinolones have revolutionized treatments against bacterial pathogens resistant to traditional antibacterial agent

AN OUTBREAK OF THE NEWCASTLE DISEASE IN JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA)

The Newcastle Disease (ND) is an important viral infection in birds that could cause several losses for the poultry industry (Alexander and Jones, 2001). The virus widespread among wild and domestic birds and it is capable to infect all bird species and some other vertebrates, including humans (transitory conjunctivitis) (Leighton and Heckert, 2007)

IMPLICATIONS OF MICE IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PORCINE CIRCOVIRUS TYPE 2 (PCV2)

To date very little information is known about infection, replication and transmission of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in non-porcine species. Kiupel et al. (2001) demonstrated in an experimental infection that PCV2 could replicate in mice, however, Quintana et al. (2002) could not detect the PCV2 genom by in situ hybridization. The objective of this study was to investigate the susceptibility of mice to PCV2, and to study their possible role in maintaining and transmitting the virus. Fourty 6-week-old NMRI mice were used in two sets of experiments. In the first experiment 14 mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 5x102 TCID50 PCV2. In the second set of the experiments 24 mice were divided into 2 groups; the mice from group A (n=18) were inoculated by the oral route with 8x104TCID50 PCV2; the mice in group B (n=6) were left untreated until day 12 p.i. when they were marked and transferred to group A. During the second experiment mice were investigated for their susceptibility to oral infection and for the shedding and transmission of PCV2 to non-inoculated mice. Samples from each mouse were analyzed by PCR using PCV2 specific primers. PCV2 was detected in intraperitoneally infected mice at day 2 p.i. in the lymph nodes, thymus and liver. Between days 4 to 10 p.i., PCV2 was not found in any of the investigated tissues. After day 12 p.i. PCV2 could be detected from lymph nodes, spleen and from the liver. In the second experiment 11 out of the 18 orally infected mice, and 5 out of the 6 in contact mice were positive for PCV2. Results of this study demonstrated that PCV2 could replicate in mice infected intraperitoneally or by the oral route and that the virus can be transmitted directly from mouse to mouse. Replication of PCV2 in mice was confirmed by the increasing presence of PCV2 in a variety of tissues beginning at 12 day p.i.According to the data presented here it is possible that mice might become infected throughout a natural route (orally) in an infected environment and also that mice can shed and transmit the virus among each other, representing an epidemiological risk in the cycle of PCV2 infections