[Implantation of transponders at the bottom of the ear in equines]. / Implantation von Transpondern am Ohrgrund bei Equiden.

In the present work transponders of 2 identification systems have been implanted on an exactly defined site at the bottom of the ear on 28 horses. The Backhome system is easier to handle and less complicated than the trovan system since it is smaller and handier. The hemorrhages that had occurred after the injection were mild at 17 animals and moderate at 4 animals. Inflame changes at the injection site post application were limited to minor swellings (n = 3) and minor pain (n = 6). The interrogator's scope of the two transponder systems is different. The interrogator's scope of the trovan transponder was approximate 5 to 10 cm and of the Backhome transponder approximate 15 to 25 cm resulting in a higher benefit. All 14 slaughtered horses were examined pathologically in different periods and two transponders were found to have changed their sites considerably at approximately 8 to 10 cm compared with the initial injection site. The connective tissue surrounding the transponder was transparent and thin in cases where the transponder had been implanted 30 days ago or earlier, histopathologically the tissue thickness changed. Inflammatory changes appeared in 3 cases as a minor perivasculitis and in further 5 cases as a collection of single siderophages. In the remaining 5 cases no inflammation was determined. The minor changes and lack of inflammation reflect the high biocompatibility of transponders.

Identification of lambda light chain amyloid in eight canine and two feline extramedullary plasmacytomas.

Amyloid deposition in varying amounts and with variable patterns of distribution (focal or diffuse) was demonstrated in eight canine and two feline extramedullary plasmacytomas expressing lambda light chains. Frequently, the neoplastic plasma cells had been displaced by the amyloid deposits. Foreign-body giant cells were regularly detected in the vicinity of the amyloid. In all 10 cases, Congo-red staining of the amyloid was resistant to potassium permanganate oxidation. Immunohistochemically, the amyloid reacted positively with cross-reacting antibodies against human and equine A lambda amyloids. Extramedullary plasmacytomas accompanied by localized AL amyloidosis have so far been described in human beings, dogs, cats and horses.

[Enzootic spinal ataxia in fallow and wild red deer in Upper Bavaria]. / Enzootische spinale Ataxie bei Dam- und Rotwild in Gehegen in Oberbayern.

Since 1993 several cases of spinal ataxia occurred in adult red and/or fallow deer in four farms in Southern Bavaria. The disease based on a secondary copper deficiency due to a high level of molybden and a low level of copper content in the feed. Some of the animals suffer from a severe disturbance of motion. In most cases the animals are shot at the beginning of illness. Histologically the most important lesions are in the spinal cord consisting mainly in a bilateral symmetric degeneration of dorsolateral and ventral areas of the white matter. Degeneration is caused by lamellar disintegration of the myelin connected with deposition of fine-granulated substances detectable by electronmicroscopical investigation. In the liver and other organs we always found a hemosiderosis which is also believed to be caused by copper deficiency.

[Toxoplasmosis causing death in a mole (Talpa europaea)]. / Toxoplasmose als Todesursache bei einem Maulwurf (Talpa europaea).

Pathologic lesions caused by Toxoplasma gondii in a juvenile male common mole are described. Main degenerative lesions are localized in liver, heart and lung combined with excessive proliferation of the typical microparasitic cysts. Besides of this a moderate coccidiosis in the mucosa of bile ducts was diagnosed.

Specificity of the immunohistochemical demonstration of mycobacterial antigens.

The specificity of immunohistological reactions of commercial polyclonal antibodies to antigens of various mycobacteria (Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium duvalii and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) was tested in connection with a number of pathogens and with the help of the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Positive reactions occurred with various mycobacterial antigens and some Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. These investigations indicate that when the above antibodies are used in histopathological diagnostics, false-positive results can be expected.

Light microscopic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical examinations of two calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors (CEOT) in a dog and a cat.

Two calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumors from a 10-year-old cross-breed dog and a 9-year-old cat were characterized histologically and electron microscopically. Important characteristics were plexiform to squamous epithelial structure, amyloid in the tumor tissue with partial calcification (Liesegang's rings), and a low rate of mitosis. The amyloid found in the tumors was subjected to immunohistochemical examination, using a series of antibodies (anti-AA, -AL, -AF, -ASc1, -AB, -cytokeratin, -vimentin, -desmin, -laminin). The exclusive reaction to anti-cytokeratin and anti-laminin suggests that the amyloid is of epithelial origin.

AA-like amyloid deposits confined to arthritic joints in two dogs with rheumatoid arthritis.

Two dogs with clinical, serological, radiographic and pathological changes similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis of man and a previously undescribed pattern of amyloid deposits are described. As revealed by light and electron microscopical investigations, amyloid fibrils were found exclusively in articular tissue structures of arthritic joints and in one tonsil of one dog. Based on our immunohistochemical results, the amyloid protein is believed to be of a local AA type.

Equine cutaneous amyloidosis derived from an immunoglobulin lambda-light chain. Immunohistochemical, immunochemical and chemical results.

Amyloid deposits from equine cutaneous nodular amyloidosis associated with extramedullary plasmacytoma were classified immunohistochemically as equine immunoglobulin lambda-light chain-derived and designated eA lambda (HIP). For chemical identification, the amyloid fibril proteins were separated on Sephadex G-100 in 6M guanidine.HCl. Polypeptides of predominantly 24 kDa and 50 kDa were found by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. They have preponderance of immunoglobulin lambda-antigenic determinants as detected by immunodiffusion and immunoblotting. Since the N-terminus of the major proteins was blocked, peptides were generated with trypsin and endoproteinase Asp-N and then isolated using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Automatic amino-acid sequence determination of seven peptides showed novel sequences. Data bank comparison indicated that these peptides were derived from a monoclonal immunoglobulin lambda-light and a gamma-heavy chain. The light chain was considered to be the leading amyloidogenic polypeptide, since it was the predominant component in a virtually pure amyloid fibril preparation. Thus, immunoglobulin lambda-light chain-derived amyloidosis, so far established only in man and cat, has now also been identified in the horse.

[The neuropathology of martens]. / Zur Neuropathologie der Marder.

The present knowledge about the neuropathologic findings and postmortem investigation methods in neurologic diseases of martens is reviewed. Following diseases are discussed: encephalitis due to viruses (rabies, distemper), bacteria (streptococcus, staphylococcus), and parasites (toxoplasmosis, hepatozoonosis, nematodes); furthermore, metabolic disorders (amyloidosis, congophilic angiopathy, calcinosis), and congenital malformations.

[Pathomorphology of chronic obstructive lung disease in the horse]. / Pathomorphologie der chronisch-obstruktiven Lungenerkrankung beim Pferd.

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in horses is primarily based on a chronic bronchitis/bronchiolitis with constriction of the tubes in the lower respiratory tract. The outward appearance of the lung is characterized by a diffuse or marginal alveolar emphysema. The big bronchial tubes are usually not altered. Small bronchi and bronchioli can often be seen through the pulmonal pleura. On the sectional area they are visible as opaque grey-red nodules with a central lumen detectable under a magnifying glass. The histopathological picture of alterations in the bronchial tree can vary from case to case. In the smaller bronchi and bronchioli, three basic types of inflammatory and obstructive processes can be distinguished: Type 1: accumulation of mucous exudate in the bronchial tubes and bronchioli, in some cases also in the alveoles; Type 2: desquamative purulent bronchitis/bronchiolitis; Type 3: non-purulent peribronchitis/peribronchiolitis. Indications of a chronic process cannot always be demonstrated. Interstitial lymphocytic infiltrations can be regarded as a manifestation of the chronic course. Hypertrophy of the muscles of the bronchi, metaplasia of the epithelium, fibrosis of the bronchial walls and the neighboring alveoles with hyperplasia of the epithelium are rarely found. The histopathological picture is representative for the final stage of pulmonary diseases without any hint as to the etiology. However, if eosinophilic granulocytes are detected in the peribronchial tissue, an allergic origin is most likely.

Immunohistochemical identification of generalized AA-amyloidosis in a mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella).

Generalized amyloidosis was diagnosed post-mortem in a mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella). To test whether the amyloid deposits consisted of amyloid-A fibril protein a series of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies directed against amyloid-A fibril protein of different species was applied to formalin-fixed paraffin sections using the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. The immunohistochemical results showed a moderate cross-reaction of gazelle amyloid with human, murine, hamster, and canine amyloid-A fibril protein. A strong cross-reaction, however, was found with one of two monoclonal anti-human amyloid-A antibodies and with an antiserum against bovine amyloid-A fibril protein, the amyloid fibril protein of another ungulate. These results demonstrate the presence of amyloid-A fibril protein in the gazelle amyloid and illustrate the diagnostic value of cross-reacting anti-amyloid-A antibodies for the identification of amyloid-A-amyloidosis in species and in individuals in which amyloid has not yet been examined.

[Incidence, primary site and pattern of metastasis in hemangioendothelioma in the dog. An evaluation of autopsy material from 1970 to 1985]. / Vorkommen, Primärsitz und Metastasierungsmuster des Hämangioendothelioms beim Hund. Eine Auswertung des Sektionsmaterials aus den Jahren 1970 bis 1985.

In 16 years 13,869 dogs were autopsied. Angiosarcomas were found in 321 cases (2.3%). The frequency has increased since 1981 and was doubled. Alsations and boxers were found to have a statistically significant predisposition. Dogs affected with this tumor were between 3 and 15 years old, the average being 9.4 years. The tumour could more frequently be found in male dogs than in bitches. Primary localizations were mainly spleen, heart, or liver. Haematogenous metastases were very common, in some cases a primary multiplicity was supposed. The distribution of the metastases depended on the organ primarily involved.

Immunohistochemical identification and crossreactions of amyloid-A fibril protein in man and eleven other species.

Antisera were prepared in rabbits, sheep or chicken against purified amyloid fibril protein AA from man, mouse, stone marten, dog, cow and hamster. These antisera were tested by immunodiffusion against all purified antigens and applied to tissue sections containing amyloid from man, mouse, hamster, guinea pig, rabbit, cat, dog, mink, stone marten, pine marten, cow and horse. The binding of the antibodies to amyloid in tissue sections was assessed by the indirect immunoperoxidase method. The strongest reactions in the immunodiffusion and immunohistochemical methods were found between amyloid deposits of members of a given species and an antibody raised against protein AA from the same species. In contrast to the lack of cross-reactivity in immunodiffusion (except in the mouse-man relationship), extensive cross-reactions were observed immunohistochemically in phylogenetically related species, e.g. between stone marten, pine marten and mink, or between hamster and mouse. However, cross-reactions were also observed in combinations such as man-mouse, man-dog, man-cat, mouse-horse, and dog-cow. In addition, individual antisera showed variations in immunohistochemical reactivity with amyloid deposits of different members of one given species. Moreover, antisera prepared in rabbits reacted more restrictedly than those prepared in sheep, while rabbit antisera against any AA-protein did not react with rabbit amyloid. Finally, the widest degree of cross-reactivity including almost all mammalian species investigated was observed with a chicken antiserum to human amyloid AA protein.

[Prevalence and development of two Sarcocystis spp. in the horse (author's transl)]. / Vorkommen und Entwicjlung von 2 Sarkosporidienarten des Pferdes.

The prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in horses was investigated in a survey at the Munich abattoir during 1978/79. Muscle specimens (oesophagus, diaphragm, sublingual muscle, myocardium) were examined using tryptic digestion. Out of 200 horses 31 (15.5%) were found to be carriers of sarcocysts. No parasites were found in the myocardium. In three animals sarcocysts could be isolated and differentiated in fresh preparations. Cysts with 5 to 11 microns by less than 0.5 microns hairlike, unstable protrusions were classified as Sarcocystis equicanis, whereas those with 2.5 to 4.5 microns by 0.8 to 1.0 microns fingerlike, stabile protrusions were assigned to be S. fayeri. Histologically S. equicanis cysts were thin-walled and S. fayeri cysts were thick-walled and often striated. For both species the dog acts as final host. A mixture of sporocysts of both species measured: 12.0--14.4 (13.4 +/- 0.7) X 9.3--10.5 (9.8 +/- 0.4) microns. The prepatent period is 11 to 17 days. Two ponies experimentally infected with 100,000 sporocysts each did not show clinical signs. In fresh preparations and in histopathological examinations of biopsied (111th, 130th, 152th, and 165th day post-infection (p.i.) and postmortem material (167th and 189th day p.i.) different developmental stages of sarcocysts of both species were seen and the following pathological alterations observed: circumscribed non-purulent inflammation, moderate Zenker's degeneration of muscle fibres, and degenerated cysts, of which sometimes only parts of the cyst wall were left. In fresh preparations S. equicanis and S. Fayeri could be differentiated 111 days p.i. The observed disappearance of the sarcocysts is suggested to be a self-cleaning process.

Idiopathic amyloidosis in the stone marten (Martes foina): identification of amyloid fibril proteins in tissue sections using the immunoperoxidase technique.

Amyloid fibril proteins isolated from a spleen of a wild stone marten (Martes foina, Exleben) with idiopathic amyloidosis show resemblance to protein AA by amino acid analysis. An antiserum directed against these proteins can be used to identify the marten's amyloid in formalin-fixed tissue paraffin-embedded sections using the immunoperoxidase method.