Cryptosporidiosis in a bat (Eptesicus fuscus).

Cryptosporidial infection was diagnosed histologically in the small intestine of a big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) from Oregon. This is the first report of cryptosporidiosis in a bat.

Efficacy of a vaccine to prevent Chlamydia- or Campylobacter-induced abortions in ewes.

In a sheep flock, Chlamydia psittaci, Campylobacter fetus, Ca jejuni, and Salmonella dublin caused abortions. A vaccine that contained C psittaci type I from 2 sources: a cow with pneumonia and an aborted ovine fetus, Ca fetus, Ca jejuni, and 4 strains of K99 Escherichia coli was given to 240 ewes before they were bred. All fetuses, placentas, and lambs, that died within 36 hours of birth were examined for infectious agents. Of 55 abortions, 30 (55%) were caused by Chlamydia or Campylobacter spp; 25 of the 30 (83%) abortions took place in the nonvaccinated group (n = 240). Forty-five more lambs survived in the vaccinated group than in the nonvaccinated group. Abortion rates for Chlamydia and Campylobacter spp (2.1 vs 10.4% in vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups, respectively) were significantly different (P = 0.003). Abortion rates for S dublin were not significantly different between groups. The Salmonella epizootic was controlled quickly by sanitation and treatment procedures. The vaccine was at least 80% efficacious against Chlamydia and Campylobacter spp and appeared to be protective.

Serologic and histologic diagnosis of toxoplasmic abortions in sheep in Oregon.

Between 1983 and 1989, we examined 586 fetuses and dead lambs submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in Oregon. Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 74 (12.6%), campylobacteriosis in 89 (15.2%), chlamydiosis in 75 (12.8%), miscellaneous infections in 153 (26.1%), noninfectious causes in 37 (6.3%), and undetermined causes in 158 (27.0%). Detection of Toxoplasma gondii agglutinating antibodies (greater than or equal to 20) in body fluids or heart serum was considered specific for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in ovine fetuses or lambs. Toxoplasma gondii antibody titers (reciprocal) in 285 fluids from fetuses or dead lambs were less than 20 (64.5%), 20 (4.5%), 40 (1.7%), 80 (0.7%), 160 (2.1%), 320 (1.7%), 640 (4.9%), 1,280 (2.8%), 2,560 (4.5%), 5,120 (3.8%), 10,240 (2.1%), and greater than or equal to 20,480 (6.3%).

Measurement of IgG concentration in ovine fetal fluids: a useful diagnostic test.

The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Oregon State University received 172 aborted ovine fetuses during the 1985-1987 lambing seasons; from 120 of these, body fluids were evaluated for IgG levels. Fifty-two (43%) of the fetal fluids had immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels greater than 15 mg/dl. Forty-five (87%) of the fluids with elevated IgG levels were confirmed or presumed toxoplasma or chlamydia abortions. A mean fetal fluid IgG concentration of 111.5 +/- 78 mg/dl was found for the 26 toxoplasma abortions; for the 19 chlamydia abortions, a mean IgG concentration of 109 +/- 91 mg/dl was found. Antibody titers equal to or greater than 1:40 against Toxoplasma gondii were detected in 23 fetal fluids. Fetal fluid IgG concentration less than 15 mg/dl was found to be associated with bacterial organisms (i.e., Campylobacter sp.) as the confirmed or presumed cause of abortion. These results suggest that measurement of fetal fluid IgG concentration is a useful, supportive diagnostic test in determining the cause of ovine abortion, and should be included as a routine laboratory procedure for ovine abortion diagnosis.

Coccidioidomycosis in a Sonoran gopher snake, Pituophis melanoleucus affinis.

Coccidioides immitis was isolated from lesions in the lung of a Sonoran Gopher snake, Pituophis melanoleucus affinis. A lactophenol cotton blue mount of a fungal colony grown on Sabouraud's agar revealed coarse, branching, septate hyphae with alternating thick-walled arthroconidia. Histologically, the lung lesions contained spherical, non-budding, double-walled spherules in various stages of maturity. Some spherules contained endospores. Spherules were also present in granulomas associated with the thyroid and pancreas. A diagnosis was made of disseminated coccidioidomycosis, a condition not previously reported in a reptile.

Isolation of Clostridium spiroforme from rabbits.

The isolation of Clostridium spiroforme from intestinal contents of rabbits was achieved by sampling the supernatant-pellet interphase of centrifuged specimens processed for routine toxin analysis. High-speed centrifugation at 20,000x for 15 minutes provided a rapid and effective means of separating this anaerobic pathogen from the majority of both indigenous and non-indigenous intestinal microbial flora. The unusual helically-coiled, semicircular shape of the microorganism is considered, at least in part, responsible for this phenomenon.

Pathology of Campylobacter jejuni abortion in sheep.

Campylobacter jejuni was inoculated intravenously into pregnant ewes on gestation days 114 and 123 to reproduce ovine abortion. All ewes aborted 7-12 days post-inoculation. High numbers of C. jejuni were isolated from ewe tissues (caruncle, bile, cecal feces), fetal tissues, and placenta. C. jejuni colonies were identified in caruncles and placenta by light microscopy and immunoperoxidase techniques. Histologically, inoculated ewes had a severe purulent endometritis with vasculitis. Placentas from inoculated ewes and field cases showed necrosis and purulent inflammation; however, placentas from inoculated ewes had large numbers of bacterial colonies compared to few bacteria found in field cases. Histologically, only one fetus from the inoculated ewes showed lesions (purulent bronchopneumonia), whereas all fetuses from field cases had a distinct bronchopneumonia, and one fetus showed multifocal hepatic necrosis. These results suggest that C. jejuni (serotypes Penner 1 and Lior 2) is an important abortifacient organism for sheep.

Hemorrhagic enteritis caused by Clostridium perfringens type C in a foal.

A 4-day-old foal died with bloody diarrhea. Using a mouse neutralization test, Clostridium perfringens type C was isolated from intestinal contents, and alpha and beta toxins were identified. About 4 m of the jejunum had severe necrohemorrhagic enteritis. Microscopically, large, rod-shaped, gram-positive bacteria were seen on necrotic intestinal villi by use of Brown and Hopp's stains.