ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium spp. sporadically infect a range of Australian native mammals including koalas, red kangaroos, eastern grey kangaroos, bilbies and brush tailed possums and can range from asymptomatic to fatal infections. Traditionally considered a disease of the young or immuno-compromised, and resulting in profuse diarrhoea in other species, here we report an atypical clinical syndrome associated with Cryptosporidium in a captive population of koalas. All affected animals were in-contact adults, and demonstrated anorexia, dehydration and abdominal pain in the absence of diarrhoea. Following euthanasia on welfare grounds, Cryptosporidium infection was confirmed postmortem in three of four symptomatic animals via faecal floatation and/or intestinal histopathology, with enteritis also diagnosed in the fourth koala. Further screening of the captive colony found the outbreak had been contained. Based on sequencing the cause of the infection was C. fayeri, but the source was undetermined. In conclusion, Cryptosporidium should be considered as a possible cause of generalised illness in koalas.
Subject(s)
Cryptosporidiosis , Cryptosporidium , Enteritis , Phascolarctidae , Animals , Phascolarctidae/parasitology , Cryptosporidiosis/parasitology , Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification , Enteritis/veterinary , Enteritis/parasitology , Male , Female , Animals, Zoo , Feces/parasitology , Ape Diseases/parasitology , Disease Outbreaks/veterinaryABSTRACT
Coenuriasis is a condition resulting in subcutaneous cyst formation associated with infection by the larval stage of Taenia serialis, a tapeworm of the dog and associated carnivores. This article is the first report of coenuriasis in an Australian arboreal marsupial (I Beveridge personal communication) and only the second in an Australian marsupial.
Subject(s)
Cysticercosis/veterinary , Opossums , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/veterinary , Animals , Axilla , Cysticercosis/surgery , Cysticercus/isolation & purification , Male , Skin Diseases, Parasitic/surgerySubject(s)
Cryptococcosis/veterinary , Fluoroquinolones , Lizards , Amphotericin B/therapeutic use , Animals , Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Cryptococcosis/drug therapy , Cryptococcosis/surgery , Enrofloxacin , Ketoconazole/therapeutic use , Quinolones/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The authors review infectious and parasitic diseases of eutherians (excluding marine mammals), marsupials, reptiles and birds in Australia and New Zealand. The diseases discussed are those which are common and/or more likely to affect humans. The emphasis is placed on the type of animal affected, the epidemiology, and hence the control or prevention measures necessary. Clinical signs, pathology and treatment are not considered in any detail.
Subject(s)
Animals, Zoo , Bacterial Infections/veterinary , Mycoses/veterinary , Parasitic Diseases, Animal , Virus Diseases/veterinary , Animal Welfare/legislation & jurisprudence , Animals , Anura , Australia , Bacterial Infections/prevention & control , Bird Diseases/prevention & control , Birds , Humans , Marsupialia , Monotremata , Mycoses/prevention & control , New Zealand , Parasitic Diseases/prevention & control , Reptiles , Virus Diseases/prevention & control , ZoonosesABSTRACT
An echocardiographic study of 44 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis was carried out by means of a Picker ultrasonic laminograph. A posterior pericardial effusion was found in 14 patients (32%) and pericardial thickening in 5 (11%). The maximum amplitude of the anterior cusp of the mitral valve was reduced in 18 patients, and the diastolic (EF) slope was abnormal in 17 patients. The posterior cusp movement and left ventricle diameter were normal. The over-all incidence of cardiac involvement in these patients was 73%. The incidence of heart abnormalities given by echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac manifestation of rehumatoid arthritis correlates well with the incidence derived from postmortem studies.
