Management of Urologic Conditions in Small Ruminants.

Small ruminants frequently experience urologic conditions, such as obstructive urolithiasis, posthitis, vulvitis, and urinary tract infections. Urologic conditions are more common in male small ruminants, especially castrated males, primarily due to their anatomy. Traditionally, urologic conditions warranted culling from the herd without significant efforts in treatment. However, more goats and sheep are now being kept as pets. Small ruminant owners have strong emotional attachments to their animals and are more likely to seek treatment of medical disorders, including urologic conditions. Surgical or medical treatments are available. Conditions also may be avoided through hydration, diet, hygiene, and other means.

Molecular characterisation of Mycoplasma species isolated from the genital tract of Dorper sheep in South Africa.

Biochemical and molecular analysis were conducted on 34 strains of Mycoplasma species isolated between 2003 and 2009 from the genital tract of clinically healthy Dorper sheep and sheep with ulcerative vulvitis and balanitis. Earlier publications identified the causative agent as Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony (MmmLC) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes. The aims of the study were to characterise Mycoplasma species isolated from the genital tract of Dorper sheep with polymerase chain reaction assay, cloning and gene sequencing. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) results revealed six predominant Mycoplasma species: Mycoplasma arginini, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium, Arcanobacterium laidlawii, MmmLC, Mycoplasma sp. ovine/caprine serogroup II and M. canadense. Sequencing of the 34 isolates were analysed using phylogenetic methods, and 18 (50%) were identified as M. arginini with 99% - 100% similarity to M. arginini from England and Sweden. Six isolates showed 99% similarity to M. bovigenitalium strains from Turkey and Germany. Two isolates had 99% similarity to an M. sp. ovine/caprine sero group II from the United Kingdom. BLAST for two isolates revealed 99% similarity to Acholeplasma laidlawii from India, another two were 99% similar to MmmLC strain from Sweden, two showed 98% similarity to Mycoplasma sp. Usp 120 from Brazil, and two isolates have a 97% - 99% similarity to M. mm. Jcv1 strain from the United States of America. Finally, one isolate showed similarity of 99% to Mycoplasma canadense strain from Italy. The findings support the hypothesis that ulcerative vulvitis and balanitis of Dorper sheep in South Africa (SA) is a multifactorial disease with involvement of different Mycoplasma species.

Treatment of clitoral hypertrophy containing an os clitoris and urethra in a young greyhound dog: a detailed surgical description.

This report provides a detailed description and images of a clitorectomy with a urethral transposition. As described, the clitorectomy is a straight-forward procedure, creating more normal female-like anatomy, and it resolves the clinical signs resulting from the exposed clitoris.

Traitement d'une hypertrophie du clitoris contenant un orifice de clitoris et l'urètre chez un jeune chienne Greyhound: description chirurgicale détaillée. Ce rapport fournit une description détaillée et des images d'une clitorectomie avec une transposition urétérale. Tel que décrite, la clitorectomie est une intervention simple, qui crée une anatomie femelle plus normale et règle les signes cliniques découlant d'un clitoris exposé.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Ulcerative vulvitis and balanitis in sheep flocks.

Outbreaks of ulcerative vulvitis and balanitis occurred in three commercial sheep flocks in England and Wales. Between 29 and 44 per cent of the ewes were affected; most of the lesions resolved in three weeks. Pathogens such as mycoplasmas, which have previously been associated with these conditions, were not detected despite using improved laboratory techniques. In one of the flocks, ovine herpesvirus type 2 was detected by pcr in the blood of two acutely affected ewes, from the vulval ulcers of one of them, and from the penis of an affected ram.

Ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis of Dorper sheep in South Africa: a study on its aetiology and clinical features.

Ovine ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis in sheep of the Dorper breed has been observed in South Africa since 1979. Its aetiology has not been conclusively resolved, and there is some discrepancy in descriptions of its clinical features. In order to identify the pathogenic micro-organism/s that contribute to the occurrence of the disease, the microflora in the genital tracts of both clinically healthy and affected sheep were isolated and compared. Bacteriological examination of materials from affected and unaffected sheep resulted in the isolation of Arcanobacterium pyogenes from 44.2% and 17.2% of them respectively. This difference is statistically significant (P < 0.01). Seventy-four per cent of the isolates originated from severe clinical cases. Mycoplasmas were isolated from 49.3% of 116 clinically normal sheep and 78.2% of 104 affected sheep. There were significant differences in their rates of isolation in clinical groups (P < 0.05). Of all the mycoplasma isolates, Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony variant (MmmLC) was isolated from 61.5% of clinically diseased sheep while 6.0% of the isolates were from apparently healthy animals (P < 0.05). The study threw light on the prevalence of mycoplasmas in the genital tract of apparently healthy sheep and, at the same time the identity of the mycoplasma pathogen associated with ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis was revealed. The findings of this investigation therefore confirmed the involvement of mycoplasma, particularly that of MmmLC large colony, in the disease in Dorper sheep in South Africa, and it was concluded that this microorganism is an important pathogen of balanitis and vulvitis in them. The study furthermore demonstrated a probable synergism between A. pyogenes and MmmLC. Finding these 2 organisms together occurred 53.4 times more frequently in the affected sheep than in the unaffected, which emphasises the probable multifactorial nature of the disease. The association between age and the presence of clinical signs was statistically significant. It was found that young sheep were more likely to have lesions than adult sheep. Clinical observations showed that the typical ulceration appears to be confined to the glans penis and lips of the vulva; no ulceration was observed on the shaft of the penis and prepuce or vaginal vestibule. In uncomplicated cases inflammation of the prepuce and vaginal vestibule is not a regular feature of the disease. Therefore the names ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis most accurately describe the nature of the disease in South Africa.

In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony and Arcanobacterium pyogenes isolated from clinical cases of ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis in Dorper sheep in South Africa.

The in vitro activities of enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline and spiramycin were determined against field isolates of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony (MmmLC) by means of the broth microdilution technique. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of these antimicrobial drugs were determined for a representative number of 10 isolates and 1 type strain. The susceptibility of Arcanobacterium pyogenes to enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and tilmicosin was determined by means of an agar disk diffusion test. The MICs of enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline and spiramycin were within the ranges of 0.125-0.5, 1.0-2.0, 2.0-4.0 and 4.0-8.0 microg/ml, respectively. This study has shown that resistance of MmmLC against enrofloxacin, florfenicol, oxytetracycline and spiramycin was negligible. All the field strains of A. pyogenes that were tested were susceptible to enrofloxacin, oxytetracycline and tilmicosin with mean inhibition zones of 30.6, 42.3 and 35.8 mm, respectively. Although there is lack of data on in vivo efficacy and in vitro MIC or inhibition zone diameter breakpoints of these antimicrobial drugs for MmmLC, the MIC results indicate that these 4 classes of antimicrobial drugs should be effective in the treatment of ulcerative balanitis and vulvitis in sheep in South Africa.

Retrospective study of proliferative papillary vulvitis in Florida panthers.

Proliferative, papillary vulvitis was identified in 16 of 34 (47%) free-ranging and captive female Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) monitored over a period from 1983-98. Gross lesions were characterized by extensive papilliferous proliferation in the mucosa of the vestibulum vaginae. Within lesions, the mean length and width of vestibular papillae were 1.07 +/- 0.39 mm (CV = 36%) and 0.55 +/- 0.11 mm (CV = 20%) respectively. Histologically, three to 12 layers of non-cornified stratified squamous epithelium with various degrees of basal cell spongiosis and rete ridge formation covered fibrous papillae. Mixed leukocytic mucosal inflammation also was observed. Infectious organisms were not observed, and immunohistochemical testing for the presence of papillomavirus antigens in specimens from seven panthers was negative. Lesions in nearly all of the panthers were first observed during a six-year period (1986-92), with one each in 1983, 1996 and 1998. There were no significant differences between the number of females having litters, the number of litters between age-matched and interval-matched females, and the interval between litters among lesions positive and lesion negative females over the 15 yr period. The severity of lesions did not appear to differ between parous and nulliparous free-ranging lesion-positive females. The cause of proliferative vulvitis remains unknown. However, the lesion did not appear to have a significant effect on reproduction.

Detection of Ureaplasma diversum in cattle using a newly developed PCR-based detection assay.

Ureaplasma diversum has been associated with different clinical manifestations including bovine vulvitis, endometritis, salpingitis, spontaneous abortion and infertility. Because the isolation of this ureaplasma from clinical samples is difficult, there is a need for improved detection methods. We developed a PCR assay based on amplification of a region of the gene encoding 16S rRNA. The specificity of the amplification was verified by sequence analysis. Female bovine vaginal swabs (n=168) were collected and the presence of U. diversum evaluated by both culture methods and by the PCR assay. Culture was positive for 60 samples (35.7%), and PCR-specific amplification was obtained for 89 samples (52.9%). These results indicated a high prevalence of U. diversum in the selected animals and the higher sensitivity of this PCR assay as compared to culture.

[Genital Ureaplasma diversum infection: investigations in cattle in France]. / Infection génitale à Ureaplasma diversum: enquête chez les bovins en France.

A first bacteriological study of infection by Ureaplasma diversum in cattle was performed in France on 50 bulls and 565 dairy cows. U diversum was isolated in 74% (37/50) of the bull semen and 40% (227/565) of the cows. No significant relationship was found in cows between infection and lesions of granular vulvitis, nor between infection and breeding performances. Serological studies of isolates by membrane filtration dot immunobinding showed a predominance of the serogroups B and C in males, and serogroup B in females.

Aislamiento de la bacteria Ureaplasma sp. en el tracto reproductivo de vacas lecheras de Costa Rica / Isolation of the bacteria Ureaplasma sp. in the reproductive tract of milking cows in Costa Rica

This is the first report of Ureaplasma sp. from the reproductive tract of Costa Rican cows. Among 204 animals sampled from 11 dairy farms in the country's Central Plateau, the infection rate was 0-71 per cent. Isolation was more frequent in vulvo-vestibular (38.7 per cent) than in cervical swabs (23 per cent). Ureaplasma was correlated with clinical granular vulvitis symptoms

Humoral and secretory antibodies to Ureaplasma diversum in heifers following subcutaneous vaccination and vaginal infection.

We measured antibody levels in serum and cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) of four heifers vaccinated with two inoculations of killed Ureaplasma diversum strain 2312 in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) two weeks apart, and six heifers given a placebo. Two weeks later, the vaccinates and four placebo heifers, were challenged by intravaginal inoculation with 6.4 x 10(8) colony-forming units of the homologous U. diversum strain. The remaining two placebo heifers served as unvaccinated, unchallenged controls. Antibody levels in serum and CVM of all heifers were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Vaccination stimulated specific IgG1 and IgG2 responses in serum and CVM but only a slight IgM and no IgA response. In both vaccinate and placebo heifers, subsequent intravaginal challenge resulted in a granular vulvitis (GV) with a predominant IgA response in the CVM. The GV gradually subsided during the 35 day observation period but ureaplasmas were consistently demonstrated by culture. We concluded that subcutaneous vaccination stimulated a specific, albeit nonprotective, IgG response in serum and CVM. In contrast, vaginal infection primarily induced a mucosal IgA response.

[Isolation of the bacteria Ureaplasma sp. in the reproductive tract of milking cows in Costa Rica]. / Aislamiento de la bacteria Ureaplasma sp. en el tracto reproductivo de vacas lecheras de Costa Rica.

This is the first report of Ureaplasma sp. from the reproductive tract of Costa Rican cows. Among 204 animals sampled from 11 dairy farms in the country's Central Plateau, the infection rate was 0-71%. Isolation was more frequent in vulvo-vestibular (38.7%) than in cervical swabs (23%). Ureaplasma was correlated with clinical granular vulvitis symptoms.

Experimental reproduction of ovine vulvitis with bacteria of the haemophilus/histophilus group.

Ovine vulvitis was experimentally reproduced by intravaginal inoculation of a mixture of bacterial strains of the histophilus/haemophilus group isolated from field cases. Grossly, the experimental vulvitis was identical to the field condition, and bacteria indistinguishable from the inoculated strains were reisolated.

An outbreak of granulomatous vulvitis in feedlot heifers.

An unusual form of vulvitis occurred in outbreak form affecting at least 18 of a group of 35 to 40 heifers soon after their introduction to a feedlot in the western Transvaal area of the Republic of South Africa. Initially, affected animals showed a knob-like swelling of the ventral commissure of the vulva. This grew in size up to approximately 6 cm in diameter and then appeared to burst open and give rise to a granulomatous lesion. Bovine herpesvirus type-1, Moraxella bovis, Mycoplasma bovigenitalium and Mycoplasma bovis were isolated from 2 affected heifers referred for diagnostic investigation. Mycoplasma canadense was isolated from one of the heifers. Attempts to reproduce the disease by transferring an excised portion of the lesion to unaffected animals, resulted only in lesions typical of uncomplicated infectious pustular vulvovaginitis. It is proposed that that multifactorial aetiology, including synergistic pathogenic action between the organisms isolated, was responsible for this outbreak. Administration of oxytetracycline to affected animals was followed by prompt resolution of symptoms. No further outbreaks have been reported.

The effects of two Ureaplasma diversum strains on early pregnancy in heifers.

Two field isolates of Ureaplasma diversum spp. were used to infect heifers at the time of insemination in a preliminary study to observe the effect of infection on early pregnancy. M84-14c-1 was a field isolate from a bull's prepuce typed by immunofluorescence to be similar to U. diversum strain T-44 (Group C). M84-477c-4 was a field isolate from bovine semen typed by immunofluorescence to be similar to U. diversum strain T-288 (Group A). All three heifers infected with M84-477c-4 had a mild granular vulvitis at some time during the trial. None was pregnant when slaughtered 27 days after infection. The result of infection with M84-14c-1, a preputial isolate, was not consistent. One heifer had no infection and a normal pregnancy, one heifer was infected with an abnormal pregnancy, and one heifer was open but ureaplasmas were not detected until day 17 of the trial.

A study of a herpesvirus isolated from dairy cattle with a history of reproductive disorders.

Three strains of herpesvirus were recovered from cows with vulvovaginitis. The three isolates (85/BH 16TV, 85/BH 17TV, 85/BH 18TV), when compared by cross serum neutralization (SN) tests, were found to be antigenically identical. They were serologically distinct from infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus and Bovid herpesvirus 2 (BHV2), while they cross reacted with bovine herpesvirus DN-599. Besides the serologic aspects, the three isolates appeared to share common biological, physical and morphological properties with the newly recognized bovine herpesviruses, of which DN-599 is a representative strain.

Animal ureaplasmas: their ecological niche and role in disease.

Each animal species is colonized by a restricted and characteristic group of ureaplasmas, although it can be demonstrated experimentally that host specificity is not absolute. Ureaplasmas are likely to be complicating agents in several diseases, including respiratory infections, conjunctivitis and urogenital infections; alone they can induce mild disease in the lung and conjunctiva. Ureaplasmas are commonly isolated from the urogenital tract where they have been shown to cause vulvitis. In general, attempts to relate disease to specific serotypes have not been successful.