Suspected Macrorhabdosis during a Concurrent Salmonellosis Outbreak in a Wild Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata).

We describe necropsy lesions of three adult Yellow-rumped Warblers (Setophaga coronata) diagnosed with salmonellosis during a Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium outbreak. One warbler had filamentous organisms consistent with Macrorhabdus ornithogaster at the proventricular-ventricular isthmus. There is limited information on Macrorhabdus ornithogaster infections in wild North American birds.

Spontaneous proliferative and neoplastic lesions in thyroid and parathyroid glands of nondomestic felids.

Based on microscopic and immunohistochemical characterization, we documented spontaneous proliferative and neoplastic lesions in the thyroid and parathyroid glands of nondomestic felids. Ten animals (4 leopards, 3 tigers, and 3 cougars), all with a previous diagnosis of thyroid neoplasia were identified from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine database. The mean age of affected animals was 15.9 y. Twelve neoplasms were identified; 2 animals had 2 concurrent neoplasms. After immunohistochemical characterization using a panel of chromogranin A, thyroglobulin, and calcitonin, 7 of the former thyroid neoplasms were diagnosed as thyroid adenomas, 1 was diagnosed as a thyroid carcinoma, and 4 were diagnosed as parathyroid adenomas. No thyroid medullary neoplasms (C-cell tumors) were diagnosed in the current study. Most of the diagnosed neoplasms were benign (11 of 12), and metastasis was not documented in the single carcinoma. Only 2 animals were suspected to have functional neoplasms (1 thyroid adenoma and 1 parathyroid adenoma), based on associated tissue lesions or serum biochemistry. Other documented lesions in the thyroid and parathyroid glands included thyroid nodular hyperplasia ( n = 7), parathyroid hyperplasia associated with chronic renal disease ( n = 2), a thyroid abscess, and a branchial cyst. Parathyroid adenomas were more commonly diagnosed than expected in comparison with domestic cats. We demonstrated that an immunohistochemistry panel for thyroglobulin, calcitonin, and chromogranin A can be used to differentiate neoplasms of thyroid from parathyroid origin in nondomestic felids.

Dietary polyherbal supplementation decreases CD3+ cell infiltration into pancreatic islets and prevents hyperglycemia in nonobese diabetic mice.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet ß-cells, a process associated with inflammatory signals. We hypothesized that dietary supplementation with botanicals known to contain anti-inflammatory properties would prevent losses in functional ß-cell mass in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, a rodent model of autoimmune-mediated islet inflammation that spontaneously develops diabetes. Female NOD mice, a model of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes, were fed a diet supplemented with herbal extracts (1.916 g total botanical extracts per 1 kg of diet) over a 12-week period. The mice consumed isocaloric matched diets without (controls) and with polyherbal supplementation (PHS) ad libitum starting at a prediabetic stage (age 6 weeks) for 12 weeks. Control mice developed hyperglycemia (>180 mg/dL) within 16 weeks (n = 9). By contrast, mice receiving the PHS diet did not develop hyperglycemia by 18 weeks (n = 8). Insulin-positive cell mass within pancreatic islets was 31.9% greater in PHS mice relative to controls. We also detected a 26% decrease in CD3(+) lymphocytic infiltration in PHS mice relative to mice consuming a control diet. In vitro assays revealed reduced ß-cell expression of the chemokines CCL2 and CXCL10 after overnight PHS addition to the culture media. We conclude that dietary PHS delays initiation of autoimmune-mediated ß-cell destruction and subsequent onset of diabetes mellitus by diminishing islet inflammatory responses.

Hepatic copper and iron accumulation and histologic findings in 104 feline liver biopsies.

In contrast to dogs, the role of copper and iron accumulation in feline hepatic disease remains poorly characterized. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to compare the amount and distribution of copper and iron accumulation for different disease processes in feline liver biopsies. Liver biopsies (from 104 privately owned cats) were categorized by primary histopathologic lesion. Copper (by rubeanic acid) and iron (by Prussian blue) accumulation were graded by amounts (0-3) and location (centrilobular, midzonal, periportal, random). The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson chi-square test were used to assess differences in metal grade and location, respectively, between diagnostic categories. Histologic diagnoses were normal (n = 12), congenital (n = 6), neoplastic (n = 16), infectious and/or inflammatory (n = 39), and other (n = 31). Hepatocellular iron staining was negative in 18 samples; remaining samples had grade 1 (n = 38), 2 (n = 40), and 3 (n = 8) accumulation. Ninety-two samples were negative for copper; remaining samples had grade 1 (n = 5), 2 (n = 6), and 3 (n = 1) accumulation. No significant differences were found in the amount of iron or copper accumulation between the different diagnostic categories. Diagnostic category and the location of copper or iron accumulation were not associated. Hepatic iron accumulation was common and not associated with histologic diagnosis. Hepatocellular copper accumulation was more common in cats than previously reported, had a similar pattern of distribution to fibrotic changes, and was not present in histologically normal liver biopsies.

Head and neck swelling due to a circumferential cicatricial scar in a dog.

A 4-year-old, castrated male, mixed-breed dog was evaluated because of progressive head swelling, exercise intolerance, and increasing respiratory effort of 1 month's duration. Physical examination and radiographs revealed severe edema of the head and face that was cranial to a circumferential, midcervical constriction caused by scarring related to previous removal of a foreign body. Surgical en bloc resection of the cicatricial tissue was performed, and clinical signs resolved completely after 2 months. Histopathology showed ongoing inflammation and hairs within a fibrous band. This case emphasizes that incomplete wound debridement may lead to excessive fibrous tissue proliferation and that thorough wound examination and debridement should be performed after removing circumferential cervical foreign bodies to ensure complete healing.

Dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enhance hormone ablation therapy in androgen-dependent prostate cancer.

Hormone ablation therapy typically causes regression of prostate cancer and represents an important means of treating this disease, particularly after metastasis. However, hormone therapy inevitably loses its effectiveness as tumors become androgen-independent, and this conversion often leads to death because of subsequent poor responses to other forms of treatment. Because environmental factors, such as diet, have been strongly linked to prostate cancer, we examined the affects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; at 1.5 wt%) on growth of androgen-dependent (CWR22) and androgen-independent (CWR22R) human prostatic cancer xenografts, the acute response of CWR22 tumors to ablation therapy, and their progression to androgen independence. Significant diet-induced changes in tumor n-3 or n-6 PUFA content had no affect on CWR22 or CWR22R tumors growing with or without androgen support, respectively. However, dietary changes that increased tumor eicosapentaenoic acid and linoleic acid content enhanced responses to ablation therapy, measured by cancer cell apoptosis and mitosis. In addition, relapse to androgen-independent growth (measured by renewed increases in tumor volume and serum prostate-specific antigen after ablation) positively correlated with tumor arachidonic acid content. There was no correlation between expression of 15-lipoxygenase isozymes or their products and tumor growth or responses to ablation. In conclusion, dietary n-3 PUFA may enhance the response of prostate cancer to ablation therapy and retard progression to androgen-independent growth by altering tumor PUFA content.

Infection with Aleutian disease virus-like virus in a captive striped skunk.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5-month-old captive female striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) was evaluated because of lethargy, signs of depression, azotemia, and erythema of the skin around the eyes. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Antemortem diagnostic tests revealed renal disease but failed to identify an etiologic agent. A diagnosis of severe nonsuppurative interstitial nephritis was made on the basis of results of histologic examination of renal biopsy specimens. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The skunk was administered isotonic fluids SC daily and later every other day because of the handling-related stress. Because of the skunk's deteriorating condition, it was euthanized after 24 days of supportive care. Aleutian disease was diagnosed on the basis of positive results of a PCR assay that targeted the DNA from Aleutian disease virus (ADV); positive results for ADV were also obtained by use of plasma counterimmunoelectrophoresis and an ELISA. Genetic sequencing of the 365-base pair PCR product revealed 90% sequence identity with mink ADV. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In the skunk of this report, infection with a skunk-specific parvovirus resulted in clinical signs and pathologic changes similar to those associated with ADV infection in mink. For skunks with signs of renal failure, differential diagnoses should include parvovirus infection. In confirmed cases of infection with this ADV-like virus, appropriate quarantine and biosecurity measures should be in place to prevent spread to other susceptible animals within a zoological collection.