Physical activity and the frequency of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE: Acute exacerbations (AE) in patients with COPD are associated with a decline in lung function, increased risk of hospitalization, and mortality. In this cross-sectional study we tested whether the level of objectively measured daily physical activity and exercise capacity are associated with the number of COPD exacerbations. METHODS: In 210 patients with COPD (67 % men; mean (SD) age: 63 (8) years) enrolled in The Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Outcomes Cohort of Switzerland (TOPDOCS) physical activity (PA) (steps per day, physical activity level, (PAL)), exercise capacity (6-min walking distance, (6MWD)), comorbidities, lung function, and medication were assessed. Differences between COPD patients with frequent (≥2 year) and infrequent (0-1 year) exacerbations were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate whether the level of objectively measured daily physical activity and exercise capacity are associated with the number of COPD exacerbations. RESULTS: Patients with frequent AE had a significantly lower FEV1 and 6MWD compared to patients with infrequent AE. In univariate analysis, the number of exacerbations was inversely associated with FEV1, 6MWD, BMI, and smoking status while there was a positive association with RV/TLC and combined inhaled medication. However, there was no significant association with PAL and steps per day. In multivariate analysis, FEV1 and the use of combined inhaled medication were independently associated with the number of AE, after correction for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study imply that FEV1, independent of inhaled medication, is significantly associated with COPD exacerbations. Neither physical activity nor exercise capacity was independently associated with COPD exacerbations.

[Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma in a dairy sheep flock]. / Enzootische nasale Adenokarzinome in einem Milchschafbestand.

In a herd of dairy sheep several losses occurred due to a respiratory syndrome in combination with progressive wasting. Clinical and pathomorphological diagnostics of 3 sheep revealed the presence of cancerous masses in the nasal cavities. These neoplasms were identified as adenocarcinomas originating from the nasal mucosa. Etiologically, they were attributed to JRSV (Jaagsiekte Sheep Retrovirus) by detection of capsid protein 24 in western blot. The significance of the disease in Switzerland is discussed, also in the context of lung adenomatosis.

Multiple anthelmintic resistance in Haemonchus contortus isolated from South African Boer goats in Switzerland.

A suspected case of multiple anthelmintic resistance on a farm in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, into which South African Boer goats had previously been imported, was confirmed in a controlled test. Twenty sheep were allocated into one control group and three treatment groups to determine the efficacy of mebendazole, ivermectin and moxidectin applying the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). The sheep were slaughtered 1 week later and post-mortem worm counts were performed. Benzimidazole and ivermectin resistance were found in Haemonchus contortus with an efficacy of 55 and 61%, respectively. Moxidectin appeared to be effective when the data was analysed according to the recommended analytical techniques with an efficacy of 96%. This is the first description of resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes to one of the macrocyclic lactones in small ruminants in Switzerland. The results are discussed in relation to the importance of controlling livestock before importation.

Intrauterine infection with bovine virus diarrhoea virus on alpine communal pastures in Switzerland.

This study involved 13 calves, one to 50 days of age, born to first calf heifers that had been pastured on one of seven alpine communal pastures in the canton of St. Gallen during the summer of 1995. Of a total of 993 cattle pastured, 61 were pregnant heifers that were negative for bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) antigen and for BVD antibodies at the start of pasturing. Seroconversion occurred in 26 of these pregnant heifers during the pasture period. Blood samples and skin biopsy specimens of calves born to 13 of these were examined for BVD antigen by antigen-ELISA and by an immunohistochemical technique, respectively. Blood samples were positive for BVD antigen in four calves, questionable in one calf, negative in seven and missing in one prematurely born calf. The four calves that were positive for BVD antigen in the blood were also positive in skin biopsies. Of the seven calves with a negative or missing blood test, six had positive and two had negative skin samples. Based on the combined results of blood and skin testing, 11 of 13 calves were positive for BVD antigen. Of the 11 infected calves, six were normal at birth, four were smaller than normal and one was premature and weak and was euthanized on humane grounds. Of the four small calves, two developed diarrhoea and died within the first month of life. The two calves that were negative for BVD antigen were clinically normal. The results of this study not only demonstrate the occurrence of in-utero infection with BVD virus, but also stress the importance of alpine communal pasturing in the spread of BVD virus. Because the prevention of infection with BVD virus on communal pastures does not seem feasible, it is recommended that all calves born to cows from such pastures be tested for BVD antigen.

Epidemiology of bovine virus diarrhoea in cattle on communal alpine pastures in Switzerland.

The goal of this study was to determine the influence of communal pasturing on the spread of bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD). The investigation involved 990 Swiss Braunvieh cattle from 149 different owners on seven communal pastures in the Swiss Alps. Prior to pasturing, blood samples were collected from all animals for examination for BVD antigen and antibodies. Serological examinations were also performed during and after pasturing to determine possible increases in seroprevalence and to determine whether seroprevalence was different on pastures with and without persistently infected cattle. At the start of pasturing, nine (0.9%) animals were persistently viraemic. On three alpine pastures, no persistently viraemic animals were detected. The prevalence of persistently infected cattle on the remaining four pastures varied from 0.3 to 3.9%. Of the 990 animals tested at the start of pasturing, 632 (63.3%) were seropositive. Seroprevalence differed among pastures and varied from 21.8 to 85.9%. During the summer, seroprevalence increased on all pastures surveyed, and at the end of the pasture season, 778 (80.1%) of the 971 cattle that were examined twice were seropositive. The incidence of seroconversion was significantly higher on pastures with persistently infected cattle compared with those without; it ranged from 32.7 to 100.0% in the former and from 6.0 to 22.2 in the latter. The results of this study suggest that communal alpine pasturing does play a role in the spread of BVD. The extent of this role depends on the presence of persistently infected animals.

[Clinical findings in 50 cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)]. / Klinische Befunde bei 50 Kühen mit boviner spongiformer Enzephalopathie (BSE).

The goal of this study was to describe the clinical findings in 50 cows with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The most important abnormalities were disturbances in behaviour, sensitivity and locomotion. Of 48 cows with behavioural abnormalities, 33 were panic-stricken, 33 were fearful and 32 were restless and nervous. Other behavioural disturbances included bruxism (n = 23), salivation (n = 15), licking of the muzzle (n = 15) and flehmen (n = 8). Hypersensitivity to touching of the head and neck with a pen and reacted by throwing the head sideways, head shaking, curling the muzzle or flehmen and salivating. Hypersensitivity to sound was observed in 41 cows. Hypersensitivity to light was seen in 22 cows. disturbances in locomotion occurred in 44 cows. In 41, there was ataxia, which was generalized in 28 and restricted to the hindend in 13.

Ultrasonographic findings in cows with left displacement of the abomasum.

Forty-eight cows with left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) and three clinically healthy control cows were examined ultrasonographically from the 11th and 12th intercostal spaces on the left side. In the controls, the rumen was immediately adjacent to the left abdominal wall, whereas in the cows with LDA the rumen was generally immediately adjacent to the left abdominal wall ventrally, but displaced by the abomasum more dorsally. The ultrasonographic findings were generally consistent in the cows with LDA. The ingesta that were visualised ventrally in the abomasum appeared echogenic to hypoechogenic and, in a few cows, the abomasal folds were visible as elongated, echogenic, sickle-shaped structures. The dorsal abomasal gas cap was characterised by reverberation artifacts from the abomasal surface.

[Clinical examination upon suspicion of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)]. / Klinischer Untersuchungsgang bei Verdacht auf bovine spongiforme Enzephalopathie (BSE).

The most important clinical signs of BSE are hypersensitivity to manipulations of the head and neck and disturbances in behaviour and locomotion. Diagnostic procedures include thorough clinical and neurological examination with emphasis on the assessment of behaviour, locomotion and sensitivity. The findings have to be interpreted carefully and depending on the diagnosis, national animal health regulations must be followed.

[A case of acute disseminated Mucor encephalitis in a heifer]. / Ein Fall von akuter disseminierter Mucor-Enzephalitis bei einem Rind.

The case of a 2 1/2 year old Swiss Braunvieh heifer suffering from an acute disseminated mycotic encephalitis caused by a Mucorales spp. infection is presented. Clinical signs and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (increased protein concentration and pleocytosis) were typical for an acute encephalitis, probably due to a listeriosis. The histological examination of the brain revealed an acute disseminated thrombo-embolic encephalomyelitis due to a fungi infection, morphologically consistent with Mucorales spp. The occurrence of bovine cerebral mucormycosis is rare and therefore the veterinarian should become aware of a case which was clinically not distinguishable from a listeriosis.

Comparison of sampling and culture methods for the diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in bulls.

Sampling methods for preputial secretions and culture methods for Tritrichomonas foetus were compared in a two-by-two factorial experiment. Fourteen bulls were confirmed as infected by repeated weekly sampling and culture on Diamond's medium over the course of 10 months. In a six-week test of alternative methods of diagnosis, the bulls were randomly assigned to have their preputial contents sampled weekly either by washing or by scraping of the preputial membrane. The samples were cultured on Claussen's medium and in InPouch packets at 37 degrees C in air for seven days. The results were compared by McNemar's chi 2 test for symmetry. Washing yielded 69 positive cultures from 84 samples whereas scraping yielded 65 from 83. These differences were not statistically significant. InPouch culture detected 73 of 83 samples from positive bulls, whereas Claussen's medium detected 61 of 83. The difference in sensitivity between the two culture methods was highly significant (P = 0.0027), with the InPouch method 'missing' two positive samples that were detected by Claussen's medium and Claussen's medium missing 14 positive samples that were detected by InPouch culture.