Piscine mycobacteriosis - Involvement of bacterial species and reflection in pathology.

INTRODUCTION: Piscine mycobacteriosis is a lethal disease with zoonotic potential, found worldwide in both fresh and marine fish. More than 20 strains of Mycobacterium spp. are known to persist in fish so far, but the pathogenicity is currently unknown for most of them. However, M. marinum is reported as one of the most pathogenic agents for fish and is involved in zoonotic cases. We examined 47 different cases from two zoological gardens, where fish tuberculosis was identified or previously suspected during the last ten years. We collected PCR and sequencing data, which were then compared to previously collected clinical data and pathology. The clinical signs caused by Mycobacterium spp. were similar in all the cases, except for cases infected by M. marinum, which lacked the presence of skin lesions. Lesions seen in histology caused by M. marinum tended to be more acute and severe compared lesions caused by other Mycobacterium spp. The majority of M. marinum cases have been reported within marine fish. In contrast to previous studies we detected this species to be the predominant bacteria present within freshwater fish. Interestingly, we detected M. holsaticum in one of the seawater systems used in this project, being the first report of this Mycobacterium species shown to be present in a fish.

INTRODUCTION: La mycobactériose du poisson est une maladie létale avec un potentiel zoonotique qui se trouve dans le monde entier chez les poissons d'eau douce et marins. Plus de 20 souches de Mycobacterium spp. sont à ce jour connues chez les poissons, mais la pathogénicité est actuellement inconnue pour la plupart d'entre elles. Cependant, M. marinum est signalé comme l'un des agents les plus pathogènes pour les poissons et il est impliqué dans des cas de zoonoses. Nous avons examiné 47 cas différents provenant de deux jardins zoologiques où la tuberculose du poisson a été identifiée ou suspectée au cours des dix dernières années. Nous avons recueilli des données de PCR et de séquençage qui ont ensuite été comparées aux données cliniques et à la pathologie précédemment collectées. Les signes cliniques causés par Mycobacterium spp. étaient similaires dans tous les cas, à l'exception des cas infectés par M. marinum, chez lesquels manquaient les lésions cutanées. Les lésions histologiques observées dans les infections par M. marinum tendaient à être plus aiguës et graves comparées aux lésions provoquées par d'autres espèces de Mycobacterium spp. La majorité des cas de M. marinum ont été documentés chez des poissons marins. Contrairement aux études précédentes, nous avons constaté que cette espèce était la principale bactérie présente chez les poissons d'eau douce. Fait intéressant, nous avons détecté M. holsaticum dans l'un des systèmes d'eau de mer examinés dans ce projet, ce qui est le premier cas confirmé de la présence de cette espèce de Mycobacterium chez un poisson.

The effect of endoscopic sterilization on reproductive behavior and pair bond maintenance of feral pigeons (Columba livia).

OBJECTIVE: Problems related to feral pigeons (Columba livia) in cities mainly result from their large numbers due to uncontrolled population growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether endoscopic guided sterilization affects the reproductive behavior of feral pigeons under experimental conditions, with the intention of assessing this technique as a potential method for feral pigeon population control. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five groups of four pairs of feral pigeons each were studied from 8 weeks before, to 7 weeks after sterilization. Both the male and female of the first pair of each group were sterilized, in the second pair only the female and in the third pair only the male was sterilized. The fourth pair acted as a control. All eggs laid were candled to assess fertility. RESULTS: Surgical sterilization had minimal effects on behavior and therefore seems not to have impact on possible field application for population control. All pairs maintained their pair bonds and continued to defend their nesting sites against other pigeons. Only one female copulated with a foreign fertile male while her primary partner was debilitated due to surgery, but returned to him as soon as he recovered. All eggs laid more than 5 days after male sterilization were infertile, whereas all control pairs had fertile eggs. Only one fertile clutch was produced, 5 days after the male's sterilization. Therefore it is assumed that males remain fertile for a limited period of time. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic sterilization seems to be a promising method for field control of feral pigeon populations and sterilization of the male only seems sufficient.

Embryology of dolphins. Staging and ageing of embryos and fetuses of some cetaceans.

Comparative embryology has been neglected in the past decades. In our opinion the decreased interest has been caused by the fact that the time factor has not sufficiently been respected. Therefore we used the Staging and Ageing Method (Sterba 1999) to determine the ontogenetic age of embryos and to state the time tables and time relations of various ontogenetic events. We examined 167 embryos and fetuses of four dolphin species (collection Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie, Frankfurt am Main). The study of intrauterine development and growth while consistently respecting the time factor enabled us to determine the time course of organogenesis of all organ systems. The resulting comparison with other mammals detected the time lag in ossification, retardation of odontogeny, the time of the origin and development of the fluke, dorsal fin and flipper, etc. We believe the Staging and Ageing Method serves for a much more efficient evaluation of existing embryological collections which very often contain embryos of unknown age.

[Ultrasonic studies in reptiles]. / Ultraschalluntersuchung bei Reptilien.

Ultrasonography in reptiles is a safe, noninvasive repeatable diagnostic imagine method. Size, volume and inner structure of organs can easily be determined. Based on 460 ultrasonographic examinations in 8 species of terrapins, 12 species of snakes and 22 species of lizard normal appearance of heart, gonads, fat bodies, kidneys, bladder and gastrointestinal tract are described. Pathological findings are explained in details using examples.

Aspects of rabies infection and control in the conservation of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in the Serengeti region, Tanzania.

Lycaon pictus is amongst the most endangered wildlife species in Africa. In 1990 rabies virus was isolated from the brain of an adult Lycaon found dead in the Serengeti region of Tanzania. One adult and six pups of the same pack feeding on the carcass showed clinical signs and rabies was suspected; within two days they had disappeared and are presumed to have died. Subsequently, two Lycaon packs in the Serengeti National Park were given inactivated rabies vaccine either by dart or by parenteral inoculation following anaesthesia. Lycaon sera which had been collected over the previous two years and sera collected pre- and post-vaccination were examined for the presence of rabies virus neutralizing antibody. Three of 12 unvaccinated Lycaon had antibody levels > 0.5 IU/ml; post-vaccination samples from two Lycaon showed increased antibody levels. Between four and ten months post-vaccination, at least four of the vaccinated animals had died from unknown causes. Issues relating to wildlife vaccination and veterinary intervention in conservation are discussed.

[Anesthesia and immobilization in reptiles]. / Narkose und Immobilisation bei Reptilien.

In reptiles anesthesia is recommended not only for painful treatment but also for diagnostic procedures like radiology, sonography, endoscopy and MRI. Special attention should be directed to the anesthetic regimen because of anatomical and physiological differences to mammals. To achieve optimum body temperature (normally 25-30 degrees C) preanesthetic heating is useful. In most cases ketamine hydrochloride is used as an injectable anesthetic. Our own anesthesias (n = 263) are compared to those in the literature. Important disadvantages are species-specific dosages between 15 and 220 mg/kg body weight and poor relaxation. The results of 132 anesthesias performed by the authors using Isoflurane are discussed with reference to the literature. The main advantages were independence of species-specific problems and excellent analgesia and relaxation. Due to total relaxation, manual intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) is necessary.

[The radiologic differential diagnosis in girth increase of the gastric cavity and the body in lizards (Squamata: Sauria)]. / Zur röntgenologischen Differentialdiagnose bei Umfangsvermehrungen der Leibeshöhle bzw. des Rumpfes bei Echsen (Squamata: Sauria).

The extended girth is one of the few important and obvious symptoms in lizards (Sauria). Radiological examination proved to be the most important method in the clinical diagnostic procedure. Standard and contrast images using oral and cloacal application of barium sulphate or iodophoric contrast media were frequently indicated. Based on 442 X-rays from 162 lizards out of 20 genus the significant radiological, physiological and pathological findings are described. Frequent findings were dystocia in oviparous and viviparous lizards (18.5%), gastritis and enteritis (12.3%), ascites (9.3%), fractures of the spine and osteodystrophia (9.3%), obstipation (6.2%), foreign bodies (4.9%), neoplasia (4.3%) and enteroliths (4.3%). Pneumonia (3.7%), was as frequent as the physiological lung tympany (3.7%). Pregnancy was the most frequent physiological finding (8%). The radiological findings, are described in detail, especially in regard to differentiation between physiological and pathological conditions.

[The use of diagnostic imaging methods in reptiles]. / Zur Anwendung bildgebender diagnostischer Verfahren bei Reptilien.

Useful methods of clinical imaging in reptiles are described using examples. Most important in reptiles is radiography with or without contrast media. Invasive diagnostic methods often used are endoscopy and laparoscopy. Ultra sound scanning in reptiles is established for controlling ovary function.

[O-serovar distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from birds and reptiles]. / Untersuchung zur O-Serovarverteilung und Antibiotikaempfindlichkeit von Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Stämmen aus Vögeln und Reptilien.

100 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.a.) from birds and reptiles were compared by determination of their O-serovars and their resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. A great number of isolates (birds 17.4%, reptiles 29.6%) were serologically untypable using 17 O-antisera by slide-agglutination-technique. The prevalence of O-serovar 0:6 was found in birds (39%) and reptiles (18.5%), followed by bird-isolates 0:1 and 0:3 (each 13%) and reptile-isolates 0:16 (14.8%). The serological distribution was different among bird- and reptile-isolates and also among the human and animal strains. All strains were resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin, more than 90% to nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, chloramphenicol and erythromycin. Resistance to tetracycline was found to be 87%, resistance to sulfonamide 81%, respectively. 32% of all isolates were resistant to streptomycin, 61% to kanamycin. All isolates were susceptible to genta- and neomycin. Also all isolates, except one reptile-strain, were susceptible to gyrase-blocker (Bay VP 2674). 2 isolates were resistant to polymyxin B.

[Therapy trials with enrofloxacin (Baytril) in a laying hen flock with Salmonella pullorum infections]. / Therapieversuch mit Enrofloxacin (Baytril) in einer Legehennenherde mit Pullorum-Salmonellose.

The course of a disease due to Salmonella pullorum in laying chickens is described. The experimental application of enrofloxacin (Baytril) at a dosage of 100 mg/l drinking water for 10 days resulted in a stop of the mortality rate, increment of egg production and reduction of Salmonella excretion. A recurrence of the disease was observed in the fifth week following the end of treatment with high mortality and decreasing egg laying. The treatment lead to a short-dated success but a permanent elimination of the germ from the flock was not achieved.

[Therapeutic use of enilconazole in broiler chicks with aspergillosis]. / Therapeutischer Einsatz von Enilconazol bei Broiler-Küken mit Aspergillose.

The course of a spontaneous outbreak of aspergillosis in a broiler flock was studied. Up to the 10th day of life the total mortality was 8%. Surviving broiler had an average body weight of 141 g on the 7th day of life, in contrast to the normal body weight of 150 g per bird. Aspergillosis was diagnosed in another three broiler flocks as well in an early stage of infection. Treatment with Enilconazole (Clinafarm Spray, Janssen, Neuss) in these flocks at a single time via spray in a dosage of 1.5 g enilconazole per 10 m2 housing ground obviously reduced mortality from the second day on after treatment. The average body weight of 7-day-old broiler was in a normal range. The success of the treatment depends on an early diagnosis and immediate start of the therapy. The source of infection (hatchery, transport, litter etc.) should be discovered and eliminated to prevent flocks from further infections.

[Surgical therapy of laying distress in reptiles]. / Chirurgische Therapie der Legenot bei Reptilien.

Based on 29 operations on reptiles with egg-binding (dystocia) successful methods for surgical therapy in turtles, tortoises, snakes and lizards are described. Indications, anesthesia, surgical techniques and postoperative treatment are explained. A totally new method for dystocia surgery in some turtles and tortoises is described. The knee fold was used for extraction of the eggs.

[The induction of oviposition in egg retention or laying distress of land or water turtles]. / Zur Induktion der Eiablage bei Eiverhalten bzw. Legenot der Land- und Wasserschildkröten.

We used a red-foot tortoise (Geochelone [Testudo] carbonaria, SPIX 1824) to describe in detail a successful method to induce the expulsion of the ova in tortoises. Apart from the dosage of oxytozine, the importance of the simulation of physiological environmental conditions for oviposition as well as the compensation of a potentially present Ca-deficit (50 mg/kg, Ca-Sandoz 10%, i.p.) is considered. The generally accepted dosage of up to 4 l. U./kg oxytozine, i.p., in tortoises proved to be too low in turtles. The drug dosages and other therapeutic measures against dystocia in different races and families of turtles are specified in tabular form. Finally the causes of dystocia and egg-retainment are discussed.

[Foreign-body related esophagus obstruction in a peacock (Pavo cristatus L. 1758)]. / Fremdkörperbedingte Osophagusobstruktion bei einem Pfau (Pavo cristatus L. 1758).

A coil of metal wire was diagnosed by X-ray closely to the heartbasis in an eight-year-old peacock. Described are anesthesia and successful surgical removal of the coiled wire which had partially pierced the wall of the oesophagus. Means of post-surgical drug and dietetic therapy are discussed.