Relationship between degree of viremia and disease manifestation in calves with experimentally induced bovine viral diarrhea virus infection.

OBJECTIVE: To compare degree of viremia and disease manifestations in calves with type-I and -II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection. ANIMALS: 16 calves. PROCEDURE: Colostrum-deprived calves obtained immediately after birth were assigned to 1 control and 3 treatment groups (4 calves/group). Calves in treatment groups were inoculated (day 0) by intranasal instillation of 10(7) median tissue culture infective dose BVDV 890 (type II), BVDV 7937 (type II), or BVDV TGAN (type I). Blood cell counts and virus isolation from serum and leukocytes were performed daily, whereas degree of viremia was determined immediately before and 4, 6, 8, and 12 days after inoculation. Calves were euthanatized on day 12, and pathologic, virologic, and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. RESULTS: Type-II BVDV 890 induced the highest degree of viremia, and type-I BVDV TGAN induced the lowest. Virus was isolated more frequently and for a longer duration in calves inoculated with BVDV 890. A parallel relationship between degree of viremia and rectal temperature and an inverse relationship between degree of viremia and blood cell counts was observed. Pathologic and immunohistochemical examinations revealed more pronounced lesions and more extensive distribution of viral antigen in calves inoculated with type-II BVDV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Degree of viremia induced during BVDV infection is associated with severity of clinical disease. Isolates of BVDV that induce a high degree of viremia may be more capable of inducing clinical signs of disease. Strategies (eg, vaccination) that reduce viremia may control clinical signs of acute infection with BVDV.

Platelet aggregation responses and virus isolation from platelets in calves experimentally infected with type I or type II bovine viral diarrhea virus.

Altered platelet function has been reported in calves experimentally infected with type II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The purpose of the present study was to further evaluate the ability of BVDV isolates to alter platelet function and to examine for the presence of a virus-platelet interaction during BVDV infection. Colostrum-deprived Holstein calves were obtained immediately after birth, housed in isolation, and assigned to 1 of 4 groups (1 control and 3 treatment groups). Control calves (n = 4) were sham inoculated, while calves in the infected groups (n = 4 for each group) were inoculated by intranasal instillation with 10(7) TCID50 of either BVDV 890 (type II), BVDV 7937 (type II), or BVDV TGAN (type I). Whole blood was collected prior to inoculation (day 0) and on days 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 after inoculation for platelet function testing by optical aggregometry by using adenosine diphosphate and platelet activating factor. The maximum percentage aggregation and the slope of the aggregation curve decreased over time in BVDV-infected calves; however, statistically significant differences (Freidman repeated measures ANOVA on ranks, P < 0.05) were only observed in calves infected with the type II BVDV isolates. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was not isolated from control calves, but was isolated from all calves infected with both type II BVDV isolates from days 4 through 12 after inoculation. In calves infected with type I BVDV, virus was isolated from 1 of 4 calves on days 4 and 12 after inoculation and from all calves on days 6 and 8 after inoculation. Altered platelet function was observed in calves infected with both type II BVDV isolates, but was not observed in calves infected with type I BVDV. Altered platelet function may be important as a difference in virulence between type I and type II BVDV infection.

Effect of experimentally induced type II bovine viral diarrhea virus infection on platelet function in calves.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate platelet aggregation responses in calves experimentally infected with a thrombocytopenia-inducing type II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) isolate (BVDV 890). ANIMALS: 9 neonatal male Holstein calves. PROCEDURE: 5 calves were inoculated with BVDV 890, and 4 were used as controls. Platelet aggregation studies and attempts to isolate BVDV from platelets were performed 2 days before, the day of, and every 2 days for 12 days after inoculation. Platelet function was assessed by means of optical aggregometry, using adenosine diphosphate and platelet-activating factor as agonists. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was isolated from purified platelet preparations by use of an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. RESULTS: Maximum percentage aggregation and slope of the aggregation curve decreased over time in calves infected with BVDV. Bovine viral diarrhea virus was not isolated from platelets from control calves, but it was isolated from infected calves from 4 through 12 days after inoculation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that platelet function may be depressed in calves infected with type II BVDV. Although the mechanism for altered platelet function was not determined, it likely involved an increase in the percentage of aged platelets in the circulation, a direct virus-platelet interaction, or an indirect virus-platelet interaction. Platelet dysfunction, in addition to thrombocytopenia, may contribute to the hemorrhagic syndrome associated with acute type II BVDV infection in calves.

Experimental model of type II bovine viral diarrhea virus-induced thrombocytopenia in neonatal calves.

Thrombocytopenia has been associated with type II bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in immunocompetent cattle, but the mechanism is unknown. The purpose of the present study was to develop and characterize a model of type II BVDV-induced thrombocytopenia. Colostrum-deprived Holstein calves were obtained immediately after birth, given a BVDV-negative and BVDV antibody-negative plasma transfusion, housed in an isolation facility, and randomly assigned to either control (n = 4) or infected (n = 5) groups. Infected calves were inoculated by intranasal instillation on day 3 of age with 10(7) TCID50 of the prototype type II isolate, BVDV 890, whereas control calves were sham inoculated. Blood counts and virus isolations from serum, white blood cells, and platelets were performed daily until day 12 after infection, at which time all experimental calves were euthanatized, and pathologic, virologic, and immunohistochemical examinations were performed. On physical examination, the control calves remained normal, but the infected calves developed pyrexia and diarrhea characteristic of type II BVDV infection. The platelet count decreased in all infected calves, and a statistically significant difference in the platelet count between control and infected calves was observed on days 7-12 after infection. In addition, the mean platelet volume and white blood cell counts also decreased. Examination of the bone marrow from the infected calves revealed immunohistochemical staining for BVDV antigen in megakaryocytes and evidence of concurrent megakaryocyte necrosis and hyperplasia.

Effect of arsenical drugs on in vitro vascular responses of pulmonary artery from heartworm-infected dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To test the effect of thiacetarsamide and melarsomine on vascular responses in isolated rings of pulmonary artery from heartworm-infected dogs. ANIMALS: 18 heartworm-infected dogs. PROCEDURE: Isolated rings of pulmonary artery from heartworm-infected dogs were randomly treated with thiacetarsamide (30 micrograms/ml) or melarsomine dihydrochloride (30 micrograms/ml) for 30 minutes; untreated rings from the same dog served as control. Cumulative dose-response relations to norepinephrine, nitroglycerin, and methacholine were determined. RESULTS: Norepinephrine-induced constriction was not altered by treatment with either thiacetarsamide or melarsomine. Treatment with thiacetarsamide depressed nitroglycerin-induced relaxation, compared with values for untreated control rings and rings treated with melarsomine. Treatment of rings with thiacetarsamide or melarsomine depressed methacholine-induced relaxation, compared with values for untreated rings. Histologic examination of rings indicated that treatment with thiacetarsamide or melarsomine resulted in loss of endothelial cells. CONCLUSION: Endothelial cell loss as a direct drug effect may be responsible for impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in pulmonary artery from heartworm-infected dogs. Thiacetarsamide appears to have additional effects on vascular smooth muscle, which may explain why fewer complications are observed in dogs treated with melarsomine. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Melarsomine may be a safer drug than thiacetarsamide and could be a better treatment for dogs with heartworm infection.

Circumvention of the basset hound hereditary thrombopathy by platelet activation with phorbol myristate acetate.

Platelets from dogs with Basset hound hereditary thrombopathy (BHT) change shape but do not aggregate in response to most physiologic agonists [adenosine diphosphate (ADP), platelet-activating factor (PAF), collagen, thromboxane mimetic U46619 plus epinephrine and low concentrations of thrombin]. Aggregation in response to higher concentrations of thrombin is slow, but irreversible. The responses of normal canine and affected BHT platelets to the nonphysiologic agonist phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were investigated. Aggregation of normal canine and affected platelets by PMA was irreversible and associated with dense granule adenosine triphosphate (ATP) secretion. The addition of PMA to [(3)H]-arachidonic acid-labelled normal and affected canine platelets had no significant effect on the production of 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DAG). Activation of [(32)P]-labelled platelets by PMA was associated with rapid phosphorylation of the 47 kDa substrate of protein kinase C and slow phosphorylation of the 20 kDa myosin light chain in both groups. In affected platelets, there was reduced phosphorylation of a band of approximately 65 kDa. The identity and functional significance of this band is not known. This study provides evidence that direct activation of protein kinase C by PMA in BHT circumvents the dysfunction characteristic of Basset hound hereditary thrombopathy and that the defect must exist somewhere at a point in signal transduction prior to activation of protein base C. We also conclude that normal and affected canine platelets possess protein kinase C and a 47 kDa substrate function that is similar to human platelets.

A primary platelet disorder of consanguineous simmental cattle.

A severe hereditary hemorrhagic diathesis in Simmental cattle has been identified in North America. Platelet numbers and coagulation profiles of affected cattle are normal. We have further characterized the severe dysfunction of platelet aggregation. All agonists tested elicited normal shape change. Aggregations in response to ADP, A23187, and collagen were absent. Aggregations were decreased or required more time for completion in response to PAF and thrombin. No ultrastructural abnormalities were observed in transmission electron micrographs. Dense granule release of ATP in response to PAF was normal. Thrombin-induced aggregation was dependent upon external calcium concentration in normal but not affected animals. Clot retraction in the blood from affected animals was abnormal. The data implicate a defect of Ca++ mobilization or utilization.

Hemorrhagic diathesis associated with a hereditary platelet disorder in Simmental cattle.

A severe bleeding disorder in Simmental cattle has been described in widespread locations in the USA and Canada. The clinical findings are consistent with a hemophilia-like disease or, more precisely, a hereditary hemorrhagic diathesis and include spontaneous epistaxis, hematuria, and excessive bleeding associated with trauma or standard management procedures such as tattooing, ear tagging, and castration. A preliminary investigation of this defect showed that blood-platelet numbers and coagulation profiles of affected cattle were normal. Affected animals have a marked dysfunction of platelets (thrombopathy), termed Simmental hereditary thrombopathy. The defect is very similar or identical to that described in the same breed by 2 other laboratories.

Studies of adenine nucleotide biochemistry in the Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

The Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) is an inherited disorder of humans and of several animal species, characterized by partial albinism, pseudohemophilia, increased susceptibility to disease, and large inclusions in all granule-forming cells. In this study, various parameters of adenine nucleotide biochemistry were examined in beige mouse kidney tissue and in peripheral blood leukocytes from CHS mink. There were no differences in the total protein content, total ATPase activity or the magnesium (Mg2+) ATPase or the sodium-potassium (Na(+)-K+) ATPase activities, the concentrations of ATP, ADP, and AMP, or the adenylate energy charge (AEC) in kidney extracts from beige and normal mice. In studies of leukocytes, there were no differences in the concentrations of ATP, ADP, AMP, and cAMP or the AECs in total leukocyte preparations and in extracts from granulocytes or nongranulocytes. These results can be explained by any one of several hypotheses: no storage pool of adenine nucleotides exists in the tissues examined; or the alleged storage pool is not affected by CHS; or the quantity of nucleotides in the alleged storage pool is too minute to be evaluated by current techniques; or the CHS defect might cause a shift from the storage pool to the metabolic pool.

Platelet aggregation and dense granule secretion in a colony of dogs with spontaneous hypertension.

AIM: Since canine hereditary essential hypertension has been previously reported in a colony of Siberian husky dogs, we tested the suitability of this model for use in studies on the platelet defect identified in humans with essential hypertension. METHODS: Platelet aggregation and dense granule ATP secretion were measured in dogs with essential hypertension and normotensive control dogs. RESULTS: The platelets from the hypertensive group showed significantly increased aggregation and secretion in response to stimulation with ADP. There was no significant increase in aggregation or secretion when platelets from hypertensive dogs were stimulated by platelet-activating factor, thrombin, calcium ionophore A23187 or phorbol myristate acetate. CONCLUSION: The increased aggregation and secretion responses in platelets from the hypertensive dogs suggest that a defect similar to that reported in humans with essential hypertension exists and that further investigation is warranted.

Absent platelet aggregation with normal fibrinogen binding in basset hound hereditary thrombopathy.

Platelets from dogs with Basset Hound Hereditary Thrombopathy (BHT) initially displayed a thrombasthenia-like aggregation defect but have been shown to have normal amounts of platelet membrane glycoproteins IIb and IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa), and therefore are more accurately described as thrombopathic. The presence of normal quantities of GPIIb-IIIa, however, did not rule out the possibility of a functionally abnormal glycoprotein complex which would be unable to bind radio-labeled fibrinogen. Therefore, fibrinogen binding in BHT platelets was evaluated. Platelets from BHT and normal dogs were activated with 1 x 10(-5) M ADP in the presence of 125I-fibrinogen and the surface-bound radioactivity was quantitated. The amount of fibrinogen bound by BHT dog platelets was not significantly different than that bound by normal dog platelets. Platelets from dogs with BHT bound 30,282 +/- 3,133 and normal dog platelets bound 31,664 +/- 2,772 molecules of fibrinogen per platelet. The quantitatively normal GPIIb-IIIa complex binds fibrinogen in normal amounts and does not seem to represent the abnormality responsible for the aggregation defect in BHT platelets. Therefore, other factors central to normal platelet function and related to platelet aggregation must be considered.

Primary malignant pulmonary neoplasia in two horses.

Although primary malignant pulmonary neoplasia of horses is rarely encountered, this diagnosis was confirmed in 2 horses on the basis of necropsy and histopathologic findings. One horse, with cystic mucinous adenocarcinoma, had respiratory tract and neurologic signs directly attributable to the neoplasm, and a tentative antemortem diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasia was made. The other horse, with anaplastic bronchogenic carcinoma, did not have clinical signs of pulmonary neoplasia.

Efficacy of antithrombin III in endotoxin-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation.

Antithrombin III (AT III) is a major modulator of the clotting cascade and is decreased in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). AT III was given as a pretreatment to dogs with endotoxin-induced DIC. Significant improvement in clotting parameters (prothrombin time, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products) was noted. There was no effect on platelets. Mean arterial blood pressure was improved, while there were no other significant changes in other measured hemodynamic, acid-base, or biochemical variables. It was concluded that AT III was effective in ameliorating endotoxin-induced changes in the clotting profile. AT III may prove to be a beneficial therapy in acquired DIC.

Canine essential hypertension: probable mode of inheritance.

Essential hypertension (EH) in dogs is a relatively recently reported phenomenon. In this colony the canine disorder follows family lines and has a probable polygenic mode of inheritance, although the specific mode of inheritance has not been defined since an autosomal dominant trait has not clearly been ruled out. Direct intra-arterial femoral punctures are used to monitor blood pressure elevations, which tend to increase with advancing age. As in man, there are dogs with blood pressures intermediate between affected and normal dogs.

Defective contact activation of platelets from dogs with basset hound hereditary thrombopathy.

Basset Hound Hereditary Thrombopathy (BHT) is an autosomally inherited disorder of platelet function characterized by a thrombasthenia-like defect in aggregation but normal clot retraction. Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GP IIb-IIIa) is detectable in BHT platelets but may be functionally defective. In order to further characterize this potential model for human Glanzmann's thrombasthenia, contact reactivity of BHT platelets was studied by whole mount electron microscopy. Gel filtered BHT platelets, after 30 minutes of contact activation, attached poorly to a formvar substrate. There was an 8 fold difference in the number of adherent BHT platelets and normal platelets. In addition, contact induced shape change was inhibited when compared to control dogs. Almost 95% of control platelets reached fully dendritic or spread forms after 30 minutes of contact; in contrast only 63.7% of BHT platelets reached this degree of activation. The addition of 8.2 uM ADP to BHT platelets induced nearly a 4 fold increase in the number of spread forms and a 5 fold increase in the number of adherent BHT platelets, but did not cause aggregate formation. Both the defect in adhesion and shape change and the ability of ADP to stimulate both adhesion and contact-induced shape change in BHT platelets are similar to recent observations in our laboratory in patient's with type II Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

Streptokinase treatment of cats with experimentally induced aortic thrombosis.

An investigation was initiated to determine the dosage of streptokinase (given IV) that would consistently produce systemic fibrinolysis, as determined by laboratory evaluation, and to determine the relative safety of this drug in the cat. Results indicated that a loading dose of 90,000 IU of streptokinase (given by continuous infusion over 20 to 30 minutes) and a maintenance dosage (IV) of 45,000 IU of streptokinase/hr predictably produced systemic fibrinolysis in the cat. There were no detectable adverse affects seen on physical examination, necropsy, or histopathologic examination. Using the foregoing dosage regimen, investigation was begun to evaluate the use of streptokinase for treatment of feline thromboembolism. Aortic thrombosis was created experimentally in 15 cats. There was no clearly predictable improvement in nonspecific venous angiograms or thermal circulatory indices for the cats given streptokinase, compared with the values for the control cats. After a total of 180 minutes of treatment, the mean weight of remaining clot removed at necropsy from the aortic trifurcation was 7.3 mg in the streptokinase-treated cats, compared with 13.4 mg in the control cats.

Genetic disorders affecting reproduction and periparturient care.

There are numerous genetic diseases influencing reproduction and periparturient care in dogs including such disorders as anasarca, cleft palate, swimmers, congenital heart disease, and the various conditions that cause excessive bleeding. It is probable that all breeds of dogs are at risk for these or other traits that influence whelping and neonatal care. Therefore, genetic counseling should be considered as an important aspect of prenatal and pediatric veterinary medicine.