Integrated basic lung and heart ultrasound with X-ray (TUSX) for the diagnosis of asthma, chronic bronchitis and laryngeal paralysis, and treatment with inhaled fluticasone using home-made mask in dogs and cats

Basic lung and heart ultrasound examination combined with chest X-ray (TUSX) is currently considered to be very useful for differentiation of asthma, chronic bronchitis and laryngeal paralysis from other diseases with dyspnea/coughing. Among 252 client-owned animals with persistent dyspnea/cough/noisy breathing, in 197 of them: pulmonary edema, pneumonia, lung cancer, free pleural fluid, pneumothorax, lung contusion or heart disease were diagnosed. The remaining 55 animals (42 dogs and 13 cats) were diagnosed with asthma (in 13 cats), chronic bronchitis (in 37 dogs) and laryngeal paralysis (in 5 dogs) using TUSX. These animals were qualified for inhaled fluticasone treatment using 3 types of spacers - two commercial and a home- -made mask. 36 animals (65.5%) completed the trail. In 26 of them (72.2%) the owners observed complete, long lasting relief of the symptoms, and the owners of 7 animals (19.5%) declared a considerable clinical improvement, regardless of the type of spacer used. The owners of 3 animals (8.3%) did not see any improvement. The proposed diagnostic and therapeutic management improved long-term clinical status of the vast majority (91.7%) of animals. Therefore, it seems justified to include the TUSX diagnostic protocol in daily veterinary practice and to encourage owners to prepare home-made face masks for inhaled fluticasone treatment.

Nasal carriage of various staphylococcal species in small ruminant lentivirus-infected asymptomatic goats

The study was carried out in Polish goat population to estimate the prevalence of the nasal cavity infection with various staphylococcal species including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), investigate the potential permissive role of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection and determine the level of clonality of S. aureus nasal isolates. Nasal swabs and blood samples were collec-ted from 1300 clinically healthy adult goats from 21 Polish goat herds. Blood samples were serological-ly screened for SRLV. Staphylococci were isolated from nasal swabs and identified using classical microbiological methods, MALDI-TOF, multiplex-PCR, and their clonality was assessed using PFGE. Antimicrobial resistance was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration and by demonstration of the presence of the mecA gene encoding the multiplex-PCR PBP2a protein and of the five main types of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec. The apparent prevalence of staphylococ-cal and S. aureus infection of the nasal cavity was 29.1% (CI 95%: 26.9%, 31.5%) and 7.3% (CI 95%: 6.1%, 8.8%), respectively. No relationship was found between the SRLV-infection and the presence of any staphylococcal species including S. aureus (p=0.143). Only 9.8% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and 5.9% to chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. All tested isolates proved to be phenotypically and genotypically sensitive to methicillin, which yielded the appar-ent prevalence of MRSA of 0% (CI 95%: 0%, 7.0%). S. aureus isolates show high genetic similarity within goat herds, however vary considerably between herds. Goats do not appear to be an important source of S. aureus for humans in Poland.

Malignant thymoma - the most common neoplasm in goats

In the literature the occurrence of thymomas in goats varies from 0.7 to 25%, depending on the study. Therefore the current investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence of thymoma in goats in Poland. Between 2007 and 2018 at the Warsaw Veterinary Faculty 399 goat autopsies and ultrasound examinations of the chest in other 145 goats were performed. Mediastinal tumors were diagnosed during post mortem examination in 2 goats. Additionally, ultrasound examination of the chest revealed a large mass close to the heart in the thoracic cavity in 1 case. This goat was euthanized and an autopsy confirmed a mediastinal tumor. Histopathological examination, with immunohistochemical tests to anti cytokeratin, p63 and p40 confirmed thymomas in all three cases. In our study thymomas were found in 0.5% (95% CI: 0.1% to 1.8%) of examined goats and they represented the most common malignancy in this species.

PFGE and AFLP genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius isolated from goats with Morel's disease

Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius is the etiological agent of the Morel’s disease in sheep and goats. The disease presents with subcutaneous abscesses, located mainly in the superficial lymph nodes. Forty-one isolates of S. aureus subsp. anaerobius were collected from two outbreaks of the Morel’s disease in Poland in years 2006–2008. Analysis of DNA SmaI digests by PFGE showed that 35 of 41 isolates belonged to the same PFGE type, identical to the type strain of S. aureus subsp. anaerobius ATCC 35844, confirming high level of clonality of the species. The DNA patterns of the remaining identical 6 isolates, different from the reference strain only by two bands, were found closely related. Genotyping performed with AFLP technique revealed two clonal groups including 16 and 25 isolates, respectively. The study indicated that AFLP technique might be a better discriminatory tool for genetic analysis of S. aureus subsp. anaerobius isolates, when compared to PFGE.

Leptospiral antibodies in the breeding goat population of Poland

In 2007, a survey was conducted on the prevalence of antibodies to 19 Leptospira serovars in goats in Poland . Sera were collected from adult females of all 49 breeding goat herds in Poland by applying simple random sampling. In total, 736 sera were tested by the microscopic agglutination test. A herd was considered seropositive if at least one goat with a titre of 100 or more was detected. Herd-level seroprevalence of Leptospira was 89.8 per cent and individual-level seroprevalence varied from less than 1.0 to 85.0 per cent among the herds. Antibodies to Leptospira serovars Zanoni, Bratislava, Autumnalis, Australis and Javanica were most frequently detected. Although 40.3 per cent of seropositive goats had high antibody titres (≥ 400), suggesting recent infection, no relationship with abortions or other clinical manifestation of leptospirosis in goats was detected.

Prevalence of antibodies against Chlamydophila abortus and Coxiella burnetii in goat herds in Poland

An epidemiological study was carried out to determine the herd prevalence of Chlamydophila abortus and Coxiella burnetii antibodies in goats covered by a milk recording program in Poland. The survey took place in 2007 and 48 herds located in different parts of the country were involved. A representative sample from each herd was taken by a simple random sampling allowing to detect seropositivity of a herd on a 95% level of confidence. In total 918 goats were tested for specific antibodies against both germs with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, history of reproductive failures was recorded in these herds. The survey revealed that the herd prevalence of C. abortus was 4.2% (2 herds) while no C. burnetii antibodies were found. Abortions were reported to be a problem in 80% of herds while repeating estrus was encountered in 46% of herds. Reproductive failure concerned two seropositive herds as well. Since the germ is present in the population, it has to be taken into consideration in diagnostic process. Nevertheless, the results of the present study indicate that C. abortus infection occurs infrequently in Polish goats. As no antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in the screened sample the risk of goat-to-human transmission of both bacteria in Poland seems to be very low.

Epidemiological features of Morel's disease in goats

Morel's disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius was diagnosed for the first time in Poland in October 2006 in a goat flock. A second infected flock was found two months later. The course of the disease in both flocks was observed for 15-17 months. Clinical manifestation was confined to abscesses located near major superficial lymph nodes, mostly: superficial cervical, subiliac, parotid and mandibular. At necropsy no other lesions were found. The incubation period was estimated at 3 weeks. Clinical signs were seen both in young and adult goats and up to 7 abscesses in one animal were noted. Abscesses tended to persist for 1 to 5 months, then rupture and heal completely. The initial high in-flock point prevalence in both flocks (93.6% and 84.4%) dropped to approximately 10-30% during next 3-4 months. Until the end of the observation period the in-flock point prevalence remained at this level and only single abscesses were observed, mainly in young animals. No influence of the concurrent caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection on the clinical course of Morel's disease was noticed. It is to be concluded that the clinical course of Morel's disease in a goat flock resembles caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). However, in Morel's disease abscesses occur more frequently in young goats and are located near, not inside, the lymph nodes, as in the case with CLA. Also, the incubation period of Morel's disease seems to be shorter (3 weeks versus 2-6 months in CLA).

Comparison of the immunofluorescence assay with RT-PCR and nested PCR in the diagnosis of canine distemper

Two pairs of primers were prepared, both localized within the sequences of the nucleoprotein gene (NP) of canine distemper virus (CDV). A number of experiments were done to optimize the conditions of RT-PCR and nested PCR methods. The nucleic acids of the Onderstepoort, Rockborn, Snyder Hill and Lederle strains of CDV could be detected with these primers. However, they did not react with the sequences of the Edmonston strain of the measles virus. The detection limit for RT-PCR was 10 TCID50 and for nested PCR 0.1 TCID50 of CDV. The RT-PCR was able to demonstrate the nucleic acid of CDV in the blood of all seven puppies vaccinated with a modified live virus. Blood samples of 23 dogs clinically suspected of distemper were examined by RT-PCR combined with nested PCR, and the results were compared with the detection of the CDV antigen in the smears from the mucous membranes by the direct immunofluorescence (IF) test. Of the 23 dogs, 12 were positive in nested PCR, six in the IF assay, and only two in single RT-PCR. It is concluded that nested PCR seems to be the most sensitive method for ante-mortem diagnosis of canine distemper, especially in its subacute or chronic forms.

Natural distemper in vaccinated and unvaccinated dogs in Warsaw

Two hundred and twenty-four dogs with clinical signs of distemper were examined for the presence of canine distemper virus (CDV) in mucous membranes by direct immunofluorescence assay. The study showed that 22% of the animals were CDV-positive. Most (33/50; 66%) of the infected dogs had never been vaccinated against distemper, whereas only 11 of 50 (22%) CDV-positive animals were immunized at least once. The difference in the infection rate between vaccinated and unvaccinated animals was statistically significant (P < 0.001), as assessed by the chi2 test. It is concluded that distemper is an important disease among dogs in Warsaw and the vaccination significantly reduces the risk of this disease.

Toxigenic Pasteurella multocida in rabbits with naturally occurring atrophic rhinitis

In a commercial rabbitry nasal swabs were taken from 36 animals with enzootic upper respiratory disease resembling porcine atrophic rhinitis. 35 Pasteurella multocida strains were isolated from 17 rabbits. Among 30 strains tested for dermonecrotic toxin production 3, derived from 3 animals, were positive in the guinea pig skin test. 15 Bordetella bronchiseptica strains were recovered from 14 rabbits. No toxigenic strains were found among 6 isolates tested using the same method.

[The first Polish animal contagious disease act of 1844]

The Veterinary Control Act of 1844 was the first to regulate in entirety the control of infectious diseases in animals and questions of sanitary inspection of animal food products in the Kingdom of Poland. The act listed explicit procedures regarding diagnostics, control and eradication of diseases as well as concerning animal food product inspection. The act required that animal owners become familiar with symptoms of animal diseases, their methods of control and that they prevent their spreading. The obligations of veterinarians, state physicians and administrative control bodies in the control of animal diseases were specified by the act. Besides the main text on the control of diseases and meat inspection the act also contains elements of food law, some norms concerning public law and order (e.g. requirements concerning dogs) and even some regulations on animal protection.

[Atrophic rhinitis in swine and other animal species]

Evidence that cattle, goats and rabbits may suffer from natural diseases equivalent to porcine atrophic rhinitis is presented. Etiology and course of the progressive (enzootic) and non-progressive (sporadic) forms of atrophic rhinitis in pigs are discussed and compared with known data about similar diseases in other animals. It seems that atrophic rhinitis caused by toxigenic strains of Pasteurella multocida may be a disease of different animal species.

Protection by toxoid-induced antibody of gnotobiotic piglets challenged with the dermonecrotic toxin of Pasteurella multocida

A crude dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) of Pasteurella multocida (P.m.) type D was prepared by repeated sonication and freezing. It was sterilized by filtration. A toxoid was then made and pigs were hyperimmunized with it to get an antiserum. A control serum was obtained by hyperimmunization of pigs with a preparation derived from nontoxigenic P.m. type D in the same manner as the toxoid. Three gnotobiotic piglets were injected with the antiserum. This resulted in neutralization indices (NI) of 25 in their sera, as tested on mice. Three litter-mated controls were given the control serum. Their NI remained 1. All piglets were challenged intramuscularly 4 times, every third day, with 30 mouse LD50 of the DNT. When euthanized 15 days after the last DNT administration no snout lesions were found in passively immunized piglets, whereas control animals showed severe turbinate atrophy and other changes typical for atrophic rhinitis. The next experiment was identical to the previous one except for the challenge, which was given intranasally (4 times 300 mouse LD50). Also in this case circulating antitoxin protected the piglets from damage of the nasal turbinates caused by the DNT.

Antigenic relationship between the dermonecrotic toxins produced by Pasteurella multocida type D and type A

Crude dermonecrotic toxins (DNT) were prepared from Pasteurella multocida (P.m.) type D and type A strains isolated from pigs with atrophic rhinitis. Rabbits were immunized with the DNT of P.m. type D. This serum neutralized the DNT of P.m. type A to the same degree as the homologous one both in vitro (cytopathogenicity for tissue culture cells) and in vivo (mouse lethality and dermonecrotic activity in guinea pig).