IDENTIFICATION AND CORRELATION OF A NOVEL SIADENOVIRUS IN A FLOCK OF BUDGERIGARS (MELOPSITTACUS UNDULATES) INFECTED WITH SALMONELLA TYPHIMURIUM IN THE UNITED STATES.

A flock of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulates) was purchased from a licensed breeder and quarantined at a zoologic facility within the United States in 2016. Following 82 deaths within the flock, the remaining 66 birds were depopulated because of ongoing clinical salmonellosis despite treatment. Gross necropsy was performed on all 66 birds. Histopathologic examination was performed on 10 birds identified with gross lesions and 10 birds without. Pathologic findings were most often observed in the liver, kidney, and spleen. Lesions noted in the livers and spleens were consistent with published reports of salmonellosis in psittacine species. Multisystemic changes associated with septicemia were not noted, most likely because of antibiotic intervention before euthanasia. Of the 20 budgerigars evaluated by histopathology, six had large basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies within tubular epithelia in a portion of the kidneys. Electronic microscopy, next-generation sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify and categorize the identified virus as a novel siadenovirus strain BuAdV-1 USA-IA43444-2016. The strain was 99% similar to budgerigar adenovirus 1 (BuAdV-1), previously reported in Japan, and to a psittacine adenovirus 5 recently identified in a U.S. cockatiel. Salmonella typhimurium carriers were identified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and bacterial culture and compared with viral carriers identified via PCR. Inclusion bodies and Salmonella detection were significant in birds with gross lesions versus those without; however, there was no correlation between budgerigars positive with siadenovirus by PCR and concurrent Salmonella infection. Identifying subclinical siadenovirus strain BuAdV-1 USA-IA43444-2016 infection in this flock significantly differs from a previous report of clinical illness in five budgerigars resulting in death caused by BuAdV-1 in Japan. S. typhimurium remains a significant pathogen in budgerigars, and zoonotic concerns prompted depopulation to mitigate the public health risks of this flock.

Rickets: case series and diagnostic review of hypovitaminosis D in swine.

Rickets can be attributed to nutritional, genetic, hormonal, or toxic disturbances and is classified as a metabolic bone disease. Rickets is most often associated with inappropriate dietary levels of calcium, phosphorus, and/or vitamin D. During a 27-month period (January 2010 through March 2012), the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory investigated causes of sudden, unexpected death and lameness in growing pigs throughout the Midwestern United States. Clinical observations from 17 growing pig cases included weakness, lameness, reluctance to move, muscle fasciculations and/or tremors, tetany, and death. Ribs were weak, soft, and bent prior to breaking; rachitic lesions were apparent at costochondral junctions in multiple cases. Acute and/or chronic bone fractures were also noted in multiple bones. Failure of endochondral ossification, expanded physes, infractions, thin trabeculae, and increased osteoclasts were noted microscopically. Decreased bone ash and serum 25(OH)D(3), combined with clinical and microscopic evaluation, confirmed a diagnosis of vitamin D-dependent rickets in all cases. In 3 cases, disease was linked to a specific nutrient supplier that ultimately resulted in a voluntary feed recall; however, most cases in the current investigation were not associated with a particular feed company. The present report describes vitamin D-associated rickets and its importance as a potential cause of weakness, lameness, muscle fasciculations, recumbency or sudden unexpected death in swine, and describes appropriate samples and tests for disease diagnosis.