Molecular characterization of Mycoplasma gallisepticum isolates from turkeys.

Mycoplasma gallisepticum was isolated from several turkey flocks at different locations in the United States that were clinically affected with respiratory disease. Five of these isolates from four series of outbreaks had patterns similar to the 6/85 vaccine strain of M. gallisepticum by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using three different primer sets, whereas with a fourth primer set (OPA13 and OPA14), only two of the isolates were similar to 6/85. Results obtained by sequencing portions of the pvpA, gapA, and mgc2 genes and an uncharacterized surface lipoprotein gene indicated that the field isolates had DNA sequences that ranged from 97.6% to 100%, similar to the 6/85 results. In some of the outbreaks there was an indirect association with the presence of commercial layers in the area that had been vaccinated with this vaccine strain, but there was no known close association with vaccinated birds in any of the outbreaks. Turkeys were challenged with two of the field isolates and with 6/85 vaccine strain. Turkeys challenged with the field isolates developed respiratory disease with airsacculitis and a typical M. gallisepticum antibody response, whereas birds challenged with 6/85 developed no respiratory signs or lesions and developed only a weak antibody response. Although these isolates were very similar to the 6/85 vaccine strain, it was not possible to prove that they originated from the vaccine strain-it is possible that they could be naturally occurring field isolates.

Summary of the 2001-02 Pennsylvania H7N2 low pathogenicity avian influenza outbreak in meat type chickens.

H7N2 low-pathogenicity (LP) avian influenza (AI) virus was isolated from chickens submitted to the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System on December 4 and 5, 2001. The cases were from two broiler breeder flocks in central Pennsylvania that had clinical signs of an acute, rapidly spreading respiratory disease. Seroconversion to AI virus was detected on follow-up sampling. Subsequently, H7N2 LPAI virus was isolated in five different broiler flock cases submitted between December 14, 2001, and January 3, 2002. Clinical signs and lesions in broilers, when present, were compatible with multicausal respiratory disease. With the exception of one broiler flock that was processed, birds from all of the virus positive flocks were euthanatized in-house within 11 days of the original case submission date. Increased surveillance of poultry flocks within 10-mile radius zones centered at the foci of the positive farms continued until March 1, 2002. No additional cases were detected.

Establishment of a microbiological profile for an air-chilling poultry operation in the United States.

The microbiological profile of an air-chilling poultry process was investigated from the farm through the processing plant. Within a 1-year period, nine broiler flocks from four different farm sources were studied. Numbers of total aerobes, coliforms, psychrotrophic organisms, E. coli Biotype I (generic E. coli), Salmonella spp., and Campylobacter spp. were determined for multiple sampling sites on the farm as well as in the processing plant. Farm samples were collected the day before the chickens were slaughtered at the plant. The same flock was sampled at the plant on the day of slaughter. Sites located before evisceration (BE), after evisceration (AE), and after chilling (AC) were sampled. Results indicated a positive correlation between contamination of ceca with Salmonella on the farm and the presence Salmonella in carcass samples from the plant for all three types of sampling sites. The in-plant trend for total aerobes, coliforms, and generic E. coli revealed a significant decrease from counts obtained before evisceration to those obtained for the (AC) final product when flock variations were taken into account. The average coliform counts were 3.91, 3.27, and 2.59 log10 CFU/ml of rinse for BE, AE, and AC samples, respectively. Generic E. coli counts were 3.74, 3.08, and 2.20 log10 CFU/ml of rinse for BE, AE, and AC samples, respectively. No reductions in numbers of Campylobacter or Salmonella were observed during processing, which suggests that practical intervention strategies for lowering pathogen levels are critical on a multilevel basis at the farm and in the plant.

Regulation of chicken gizzard ecto-ATPase activity by modulators that affect its oligomerization status.

The major ectonucleoside triphosphate phosphohydrolase in the chicken gizzard smooth muscle membranes is an ecto-ATPase, an integral membrane glycoprotein belonging to the E-ATPase (or E-NTPDase) family. The gizzard ecto-ATPase is distinguished by its unusual kinetic properties, temperature dependence, and response to a variety of modulators. Compounds that promote oligomerization of the enzyme protein, i.e., concanavalin A, chemical cross-linking agent, and eosin iodoacetamide, increase its activity. Compounds that inhibit some ion-motive ATPases, e.g., sulfhydryl reagents, xanthene derivatives, NBD-halides, and suramin, also inhibit the gizzard ecto-ATPase, but not another E-ATPase, the chicken liver ecto-ATP-diphosphohydrolase, which contains the same conserved regions as the ecto-ATPase. Furthermore, inhibition of the gizzard ecto-ATPase by these compounds as well as detergents is not prevented by preincubation of the membranes with the substrate, ATP, indicating that their interaction with the enzyme occurs at a locus other than the catalytic site. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of these compounds, except suramin, is abolished or reduced if the membranes are preincubated with concanavalin A. It is concluded that these structurally unrelated modulators exert their effect by interfering with the oligomerization of the ecto-ATPase protein. Our findings suggest that, under physiological conditions, the gizzard smooth muscle ecto-ATPase may exhibit a range of activities determined by membrane events that affect the status of oligomerization of the enzyme.

Inhibition of Salmonella typhimurium on agar medium and poultry skin by ultraviolet energy.

Ultraviolet radiation (UV) was effective in destroying Salmonella typhimurium on agar plates and poultry skin. Agar plates inoculated with varying numbers of colony-forming units (CFU) of S. typhimurium (1.2 x 10(2) to 1.7 x 10(9) were subjected to different doses of UV light to determine optimal killing. Poultry skin was also inoculated with varying CFU of S. typhimurium per 2 cm2 of skin and subjected to UV light. UV light treatment of inoculated agar plates revealed almost complete elimination (99.9%) of S. typhimurium at 2,000 microW x s x cm(-2). Bacterial reduction was less effective on the surface of poultry skin when a 80.5% reduction in S. typhimurium was obtained at 2,000 microW x s x cm(-2).

Providing continuity in a "firm" case management system.

Four general medicine units were divided into two "firms" to improve patient outcomes and ensure continuity of care. All members remain part of their firm for as long as they are employed. The nurse case managers remain constant in both inpatient and outpatient settings and coordinate discharge planning.

The use of ultraviolet radiation to reduce Salmonella and psychrotrophic bacterial contamination on poultry carcasses.

Broiler carcasses were subjected to ultraviolet (UV) energy (doses range from 82,560 to 86,400 muWs/cm2) at wavelength of 253.7 nm to evaluate the potential of this treatment for improving the microbiological quality of broiler carcasses. Broiler chicken halves were inoculated with a marker strain of Salmonella typhimurium 5 min prior to treatment. A 61% reduction in viable S. typhimurium was observed in UV-treated chicken halves as compared with untreated halves. The UV energy treatment had no deleterious effects on color (Hunter L, aL, or bL) or 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values. After 10 d of storage at 7 C, TBA values of thigh meat were 1.3 mg malonaldehyde/kg meat compared with 1.7 for controls. Psychrotrophic bacteria populations were not appreciably altered by UV treatment when their numbers were compared with bacterial counts obtained from untreated chicken halves held for 10 d at 7 C. This study suggests that UV radiation can reduce Salmonella surface contamination without negatively affecting carcass color or increasing rancidity of the meat.

Diabetes mellitus in a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis).

An adult, free-living female red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) with clinical signs of generalized weakness, polyuria, and polydipsia, was killed and necropsied. An ante mortem serum sample taken from the bird contained 54.3 mmole/1 glucose, and large amounts of glucose were found in the urine. At necropsy, the pancreas was small, pale pink with multiple, round, approximately 0.5 mm white foci. Light and electron microscopic examination of the pancreas revealed markedly vacuolated islet cells. Histochemical examination of the tissue showed that the vacuolated cells were beta-cells. This is the first report of spontaneously occurring diabetes mellitus in a raptor.

Helminth parasites of northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) from Oregon.

Helminth parasites are reported for the first time from northern spotted owls. Seventy-one percent of a sample of Strix occidentalis caurina from western Oregon was infected. Nematodes (Porrocaecum depressum, Capillaria falconis, Microtetrameres sp. and Synhimantus hamatus) were the most prevalent parasites although cestodes (Paruterina rauschi) and acanthocephalans (Centrorhynchus conspectus) were also represented. There was an association between components of this helminth fauna and the diet of spotted owls which is dominated by small rodents. The occurrence of P. rauschi rather than P. candelabraria in this geographic region and host-species may provide additional support for recognition of a parapatric distribution in the ranges of Paruterina spp. among strigiforms in the Nearctic.

Toxicity of excess dicalcium phosphate in the diet of turkey poults.

High mortality in 1-week-old commercial turkey poults was attributed to the accidental substitution of dicalcium phosphate in the diet for corn. At necropsy of the affected birds, lesions were observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract, suggesting acute ingestion of a caustic substance. Mortality and gross and microscopic lesions were reproduced experimentally in turkey poults fed diets similar to the diet fed in the field case. The cause of these lesions was attributed to increased pH due to the phosphoric acid content of the diet.

Cervical dorsal spondylosis with spinal cord compression in a black swan (Cygnus atratus).

Cervical dorsal spondylosis with spinal cord compression in a black swan (Cygnus atratus) was confirmed radiographically and morphologically. Clinically ataxia was associated. Noninflammatory, degenerative changes of the synovial joint cartilage were associated with the spondylosis.

Identification of ferrous sulfate toxicity in a commercial broiler flock.

A 2.5% mortality rate was observed in a flock of 19,000 commercial one-day-old broiler chicks that had been placed 24 hours previously on litter treated with ferrous sulfate heptahydrate. Ulcerative ventriculitis and severe hepatopathy were the primary lesions observed grossly and microscopically. Pooled digesta contained 6854 ppm iron. Lesions identical to those found in the field case were reproduced experimentally.

A biologic and genetic study of 40 cases of severe pure mental retardation.

The family history of 40 patients with severe "pure" mental retardation (MR) was studied to determine the incidence of mental retardation and dull-normal intelligence among relatives, probable etiologies and an empiric recurrence risk. Significant findings include: (1) an increased sex ratio (69% males) of propositi, (2) a significant proportion of patients with clinical manifestations besides MR, (3) virtually no consanguinity among parents, (4) a "positive" family history for over 1/2 of the propositi--about 37% of all children in the sibships were affected; about 21% of the full sibs were affected, (5) a higher number of offspring produced by dull persons and a lower number of offspring from retarded persons compared to two normal persons (6) a proportionately large number of affected children produced from matings involving one or two dull persons, (7) a tendency for dull to have additional dull children and mentally retarded parents to have further retarded children while normal parents with more than one affected child usually had further retarded children, (8) an incidence of affected parents of about 32%, and (9) an overall empiric recurrence risk of 14%. Several etiologies were discussed as possible causes of the condition(s) in this group: (unrecongized) environmental damage and/or maternal/fetal interaction; unrecognized chromosome abnormalities; the homozygous state of several different autosomal recessive gees: X-linked recessive mutations; autosomal dominat new mutations; and mutifactoral inheritance. It was concluded that the group was etiologically heterogeneous and although none of the probable etiologies could be excluded, it seemed reasonable to assume that autosomal recessive inheritance plays an important role in the etiology of severe "pure" mental retardation.

Analysis of etiologic factors in cerebral palsy with severe mental retardation. I. Analysis of gestational, parturitional and neonatal data.

We analyzed the gestational, parturitional, neonatal (GPN) histories of 281 severely mentally retarded patients with cerebral palsy to define the etiology or pathogenesis of cerebral palsy in each patient. No association between type of cerebral palsy and GPN histories was found except for an increase in spastic-athetoid patients in the breech delivery subgroup. Significant findings include: increased incidence of prematurity and postmaturity, small and large for-gestational age (GA) fetal size, a normal birthweight for GA distribution of patients with diabetic mothers, an excess of mothers greater than or equal to 35 and less than or equal to 20 years old, an increased immediately-previous sib interval of 2.59 years suggestive of an "infertility factor", an unremarkable GPN history in one third of the cases, in another one third GPN problems not usually associated with a high risk of CNS damage, and in one third gross complications which were probably responsible for the CP, including: an increased incidence of breech deliveries, twinning, prolonged and precipitous labor and placental complications; no increased association of athetosis and Rh incompatibility or incidence of toxemia was found. Disseminated intravascular coagulation due to prenatal death of a twin may have been the cause of brain damage in several patients.