Use of immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction for detection of oncornaviruses in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded fibrosarcomas from cats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there was intralesional infection or expression of FeLV or feline sarcoma virus in suspected vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas in cats. DESIGN: Prospective case series. SAMPLE POPULATION: 130 suspected vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas from cats and 1 multicentric fibrosarcoma from 1 cat. PROCEDURE: Excisional biopsy specimens were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Expression of FeLV antigen was assessed, using a polyclonal goat anti-FeLV glycoprotein 70 (gp 70) serum and an avidinbiotin immunoperoxidase staining technique. The FeLV genome was detected with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using primers targeted to a conserved sequence in the untranslated region of the long terminal repeat (LTR) of the FeLV. RESULTS: FeLV gp 70 and LTR sequence were detected in a multicentric fibrosarcoma. All 130 of the suspected vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas were FeLV gp 70 negative on the basis of immunohistochemical test results: 100 fibrosarcomas also were examined by use of PCR and were negative for FeLV LTR region. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Exogenous retroviruses, FeLV, and feline sarcoma virus were not detected in these suspected vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas, using immunohistochemistry and PCR. Additional testing will be required to determine the nature of genomic alterations that are involved in the oncogenesis of vaccine-associated fibrosarcomas in cats.

Post-therapy antibody titers in dogs with ehrlichiosis: follow-up study on 68 patients treated primarily with tetracycline and/or doxycycline.

The clinical and serological responses to therapy were evaluated for at least 1 year in 68 dogs with antibody titers positive for Ehrlichia canis. Treatments were of variable periods with primarily tetracycline hydorchloride and/or doxycycline. Sixteen dogs had initial titers of 1:20 and, at the end of the year, were asymptomatic, no longer receiving medication, and had negative serology. The average length of treatment with tetracycline HCl and/or doxycycline was 85 days (range, 14 to 360 days). Of 39 dogs with initial titers of 1:2,560 or greater, 1 died, 25 were asymptomatic, and 13 were lost to follow-up at the end of the study. The average length of treatment was 210 days (range, 21 to 630 days). Twenty-seven dogs were seropositive at > or = 1:2,560 when the sera was last tested. Thirteen dogs had initial titers of 1:80 to 1:1,280. Of these 13 dogs, 2 died, 2 were lost to follow-up, and 9 were asymptomatic and had titers ranging from negative to > or = 1:2,560 at the end of the study. The persistence of antibodies, prolonged subclinical phase, and delayed relapses despite long-term medication, suggest inadequate chemotherapeutic agents or may be natural features of latency of ehrlichiosis in dogs.

A review of exertional rhabdomyolysis in wild and domestic animals and man.

Exertional rhabdomyolysis is a condition arising in several species of newly captured wild animals after some form of physical exertion and stress. It is characterized by muscle necrosis and myoglobinuria. Death may result from secondary renal failure, acute or chronic heart failure and progressive emaciation.

Failure of colostral immunoglobulin transfer in calves dying from infectious disease.

Serum IgG1 concentrations of calves less than 3 weeks old and dying from infectious disease were significantly lower (P less than 0.01) than those of clinically normal calves. Fifty percent of the dead calves had serum IgG1 concentrations that were more than 2 standard deviations below the normal mean, and an additional 35% had IgG1 concentrations that were more than 1 standard deviation below the normal mean. Low IgG1 concentrations were attributed to failures in passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulin. The few calves dying of noninfectious causes generally had normal serum immunoglobulin concentrations. The results of this study emphasize the importance of adequate colostral intake and absorption to the neonatal calf. In view of the large numbers of calves that die from neonatal infection each year, it may be assumed that failure in passive transfer, as reflected by low serum immunoglobulin concentrations, is one of the most important factors influencing neonatal calf mortality.

Visceral lesions in racoons naturally infected with Heterobilharzia americana.

Three free-ranging raccoons caught in southeastern Florida were found to be infected by Heterobilharzia americana. The livers were firm with rough surfaces and stellate patterns of periportal fibrosis. The portal tracts had excessive mature fibrous connective tissue and occasional ovum and necrotic fluke granulomas. There were also ovum granulomas with concomitant lesions in small and large intestine, pancreas, and lung. Numerous other parasites were seen.

Vitamin A deficiency in the captive African lion cub Panthera loe (Linnaeus, 1758).

Dietary, breeding and clinical histories and pathological findings are presented from 2 confirmed and 5 presumed cases of vitamin A deficiency in immature African lions. Five of the 7 animals were born in the wild while 2 were born in captivity. All animals were fed lean red meat sprinkled with a vitamin/mineral supplement. Salient clinical signs were incoordination, "star gazing", blindness and intermittent convulsions. Pathological lesions seen in 4 animals included severe thickening of the cranial bones, with consequent marked compression of the brain and partial herniation of the cerebellum. Vascular damage in the cerebellum and ensuing haemorrhages, resulting in acute increases of an already high intracranial pressure, were thought to be the cause of some of the clinical signs, particularly convulsions rather than direct pressure-necrosis and atrophy of nervous tissue.

Canine granulocytopathy syndrome: neutrophil dysfunction in a dog with recurrent infections.

A male Irish Setter dog had a clinical history of recurrent life-threatening bacterial infections, with associated periods of pyrexia and severe neutrophilia. Examination of a mandibular lymph node biopsy made when the patient was 10 weeks old revealed subacute diffuse suppurative lymphadenitis with reticuloendothelial hyperplasia. Circulating leukocytes isolated from the dog when it was 5 months old had a marked bactericidal defect when compared with cells from clinically normal dogs of the same age. The clinical syndrome in the affected patient resembled that observed in the granulocytopathies described in man and other animals.