A new periparturient disease in Eastern Europe, Clostridium difficile causes postparturient sow losses

Postparturient sow losses caused by Clostridium difficile have not been reported in the veterinary literature. Recently in Croatia, in a large outdoor production unit with suboptimal environmental conditions, a sudden increase in postparturient sow mortality was diagnosed. After postpartal application of enrofloxacine to postparturient mastitis metritis agalactia (MMA) suffering sows, diarrhea, respiratory distress, and mortality of these sows were recorded. While 13% of MMA suffering and treated sows died, only 0.4% of the non-treated (no MMA suffering) sows died postpartum. Gross pathology revealed mesocolonic edema, hydrothorax, and ascites. Microscopic examination showed scattered foci of suppuration in the colonic lamina propria and accumulation of neutrophils and fibrin on colonic mucosa. Anaerobic cultures of the colon yielded heavy growth of C. difficile. Enzyme immunoassay revealed C. difficile toxins A and B. C. difficile infections of postparturient MMA suffering sows may be associated with environmental stress, the application of antibiotics, or both. C. difficile infections are an impending danger in Eastern Europe and does not only raise animal welfare issues, but seriously inflict the economical well being of outdoor production units.

Hydrothorax secondary to a perinephric pseudocyst in a cat

Hydrothorax was identified in a 14-year-old Siamese cat with a pre-existent perinephric pseudocyst. The pleural fluid was classified as a low-protein transudate. Intrapseudocystic scintigraphy confirmed a direct communication between the pseudocyst and the pleural space. The hydrothorax resolved following pseudocystectomy and unilateral nephrectomy, demonstrating that the pseudocyst caused the hydrothorax.

Fumonisin-induced pulmonary edema and hydrothorax in swine

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were observed in mature swine that died approximately 5 days after consuming corn screenings. These postmortem observations were reproduced in younger pigs that died within 1 week when fed the corn screenings under experimental conditions. Additionally, pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were induced in a pig that died after receiving 4 daily intravenous injections of fumonisin B1, a toxic metabolite produced by Fusarium moniliforme.

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax in swine produced by fumonisin B1, a toxic metabolite of Fusarium moniliforme

Pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were observed in mature swine that died approximately 5 days after consuming corn screenings. These postmortem observations were reproduced in younger swine (16-24 kg) that died within 1 week when fed the corn screenings under experimental conditions. Additionally, pulmonary edema and hydrothorax occurred in a pig (7.1 kg) that died after receiving 4 daily intravenous injections of fumonisin B1. A fungus was isolated from the corn screenings that is identical to Fusarium moniliforme MRC-826 in colony morphology and under microscopic examination.

Individual animal susceptibility and its relationship to induced adaptation or tolerance in sheep to Galega officinalis L

Oral administration of Galega officinalis L to sheep demonstrated a marked variation in individual animal susceptibility to the toxic effects of the plant. As little as 5 g/kg of dried ground plant induced moderate tracheal frothing in 1 ewe while nearly 5 times that amount failed to elicit any recognizable toxic effects such as frothing, pulmonary edema or hydrothorax in others. Ten g/kg induced severe effects in 3 ewes. Ewes administered levels of plant between 5 and 24 g/kg had toxic effects whose severity was often unrelated to level administered. There was no apparent difference in average severity of clinical signs of toxicity nor pathologic lesions to challenge doses of 24 g/kg of the plant between groups of ewes with an immediate previous history of increasing doses of the plant and others with no history of ingesting the plant. Previously reported apparent induced adaptation or tolerance to G officinalis L in some animals is more likely to have been a result of the extreme variation in individual animals susceptibility.

Induction of pulmonary edema and emphysema in goats by intraruminal administration of 3-methylindole

The effects of intraruminal administration of 3-methylindole (3MI; skatole) were determined in goats. The 3MI was given to 4 goats at the dose level of 0.3 g/kg of body weight, to 2 goats at 0.2 g/kg, and to 2 goats at 0.1 g/kg; 3 nontreated goats were used as controls. Clinical signs of acute progressive respiratory tract disease were seen in all treated goats. Goats given the largest dose of 3MI (0.3 g/kg) died between 5 and 11 hours after treatment; those given smaller doses (0.2 and 0.1 g/kg) died between 79 and 92 hours. Increased plasma concentrations of 3MI were detected in goats give 0.1 or 0.2 g/kg within 3 hours after administration. By 24 and 36 hours, the concentrations of 3MI in the plasma decreased to low or nondetectable amounts and remained low for the duration of the experiment. Clinical signs of respiratory distress in the goats progressed after 3MI had been cleared from the plasma. Diffuse pulmonary edema and hydrothorax were extensive in goats which died early in the course of the experimentally induced disease. In goats which died at later stages, the lungs were firm and had less watery transudate. Temporal variations in the nature of pulmonic changes were even more obvious by microscopic examination. Diffuse pulmonary edema was the predominant early change. Small foci of emphysema were apparently caused by overdistention of some clusters of alveoli. Marked septal thickening and proliferation of alveolar cells were the prominent changes in goats which died between 79 and 92 hours after treatment. Incubation of L-tryptophan with caprine ruminal fluid resulted in formation of indoleacetic acid, indole, and 3MI. Similar incubations did not convert indoleacetic acid to 3MI. Control incubations showed 3MI as a fermentation metabolite, indicating it exists in caprine ruminal fluid in vivo. Results demonstrated that goats are susceptible to intraruminal administration of 3MI. The transitory appearance of 3MI in the plasma associated with progressive respiratory tract disease was similar to observations in cattle give 3MI. Clinical signs and lesions seen at necropsy were qualitatively similar to those reported in cattle given tryptophan and indoleacetic acid.

Sequential sterile autolysis in the ovine fetus: macroscopic changes

Sterile intrauterine autolysis was experimentally produced in 28 ovine fetuses in the last 3rd of gestation by umbilical artery ligation. The fetuses were retrieved by cesarean section after periods of sterile intrauterine autolysis ranging from 0.5 to 168 hours. The following autolytic changes, frequently reported as significant lesions in infectious abortions in cattle and sheep, were observed: subcutaneous blood-tinged gelatinous edema, blood-tinged fluid in the serous cavities, renal cortical softening, uniform reddish brown tissues, hepatic friability and mottling, and cloudy yellow to cloudy red abomasal contents. The appearance of these and other autolytic changes corresponded to sterile sequential autolytic changes reported in the rabbit fetus and used to determine duration of retention of stillborn infants and are of comparative biomedical significance. The sequential autolytic changes may be used as an index to duration of retention after death of a ruminant fetus and provide a basis for reappraising various infective abortifacients common to ruminants by allowing separation of specific lesions from strictly autolytic changes.