Bacteriology
Characterisation and comparison of
avian Pasteurella multocida strains by conventional
and ERIC-PCR assays. Boglárka
Sellyei, Zsuzsanna Varga, Éva Ivanics and Tibor Magyar 429
First
molecular identification of ‘Candidatus
Mycoplasma haemominutum’ from a cat with fatal haemolytic anaemia in Hungary. Sándor Hornok,
Marina L. Meli, Enikő Gönczi, Éva Ignits, Barbara Willi, Hans Lutz and Regina
Hofmann-Lehmann 441
Rapid real-time PCR assay for
detecting Salmonella in raw and ready-to-eat
meats. Jitu R. Patel and Arvind A. Bhagwat 451
Clinical
veterinary science
Clinical
efficacy of neural therapy for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in dogs. Adriana Bravo-Monsalvo, Juan Carlos
Vázquez-Chagoyán, Lilia Gutiérrez and Héctor Sumano
459
Retrospective clinical comparison of
idiopathic versus symptomatic epilepsy in 240 dogs with seizures. Ákos
Pákozdy, Michael Leschnik, Alexander G. Tichy and Johann G. Thalhammer 471
Infectious
diseases
Field efficacy of combination vaccines against bovine
respiratory pathogens in calves. Birgit Makoschey, Juan
Munoz Bielsa, Loic Oliviero, Olivier Roy, Florence Pillet, Divine Dufe, Giorgio Valla and Sandro Cavirani 485
Pathology
Evaluation of microvessel density
(MVD) in canine mammary tumours by quantitative immunohistochemistry of the claudin-5
molecule. Csaba Jakab, Judit Halász, András Kiss, Zsuzsa Schaff, Attila Marcell Szász,
Miklós Rusvai, Zsolt Abonyi Tóth and Janina Kulka 495
Physiology
and physiological chemistry
Phytates reduce uptake of leucine and glutamate but not lysine
and glucose from the intestinal lumen of chickens: Short communication. Edward M. Onyango, Elikplimi K. Asem and Olayiwola Adeola 511
Impact of housing technology on
blood plasma corticosterone levels in laying hens. Ales Pavlik, Daniela Jezova, David Zapletal, Jan Bakos
and Pavel Jelinek 515
Virology
Detection of a novel bat
gammaherpesvirus in Hungary. Viktor
Molnár, Máté Jánoska, Balázs Harrach, Róbert Glávits, Nimród Pálmai, Dóra Rigó,
Endre Sós and Mátyás Liptovszky 529
Poxvirus
infection in Hungarian great tits (Parus major):
Case report. Elena Alina Palade, Nóra Biró, Mihály
Dobos-Kovács, Zoltán Demeter, Míra Mándoki and Miklós Rusvai 539
First
description of swine Torque teno virus (TTV) and detection of a new genogroup in Hungary:
Short communication. Mária Takács, Ágnes
Dencs, Csenge Csiszár, Andrea Hettmann, Erzsébet Rusvai, Katalin N. Szomor, Vilmos Pálfi and Béla Nagy 547
CHARACTERISATION
AND COMPARISON OF AVIAN PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA STRAINS
BY CONVENTIONAL AND ERIC-PCR ASSAYS
Boglárka Sellyei1, Zsuzsanna Varga1,
Éva Ivanics2 and Tibor Magyar1
1Veterinary Medical
Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, H-1581 Budapest, P.O. Box 18,
Hungary; 2Central Agricultural Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate,
Budapest, Hungary
(Received 29 June 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
Sixty-one avian strains of Pasteurella multocida were characterised and
compared by biochemical tests, capsular PCR typing and ERIC-PCR. The strains were
recovered from various avian species (goose, duck, Muscovy duck, turkey, chicken and
pheasant) and represented different geographic locations in Hungary.
Forty-two strains (69%) were identified as P.
multocida subsp. multocida and 19 strains
(31%) as P. multocida subsp. septica. The strains were grouped into 7
different biovars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7). The most prevalent biovars were 1 (25%),
3 (21%) and 6 (21%). Most of the duck isolates (90%) belonged to biovar 1 or 6. The
most frequent capsular type was A (93.5%). Type F represented only a small number (6.5%)
of the strains. Other capsular types were not identified. From the 61 isolates 24
different fingerprint patterns were generated by ERIC-PCR assay. Based on cluster analysis
the strains could be grouped into four larger and four mini-clusters that showed
considerable correlation with the geographical origin and the host species. The results
indicate that ERIC-PCR may be a suitable technique for studying the host adaptation of P. multocida and the epidemiology of fowl
cholera.
Key
words: Pasteurella multocida, poultry,
capsular type, biovar, ERIC-PCR
FIRST MOLECULAR
IDENTIFICATION OF ‘CANDIDATUS MYCOPLASMA
HAEMOMINUTUM’ FROM A CAT WITH FATAL HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA IN HUNGARY
Sándor Hornok1, Marina L. Meli2, Enikő Gönczi2, Éva Ignits3, Barbara Willi2,4, Hans Lutz2 and Regina Hofmann-Lehmann2
1Department of
Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1078
Budapest, István u. 2, Hungary; 2Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty,
University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 3Szekszárd Veterinary Centre,
Szekszárd, Hungary; 4Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse
Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
(Received 24 September 2007; accepted 7 February 2008)
Although
haemobartonellosis was previously reported in Hungary, until now the diagnosis (based on morphological identification in blood
smears) has only been suggestive of the occurrence of the large species, recently
reclassified as Mycoplasma haemofelis. However,
in July 2007 a cat was presented at a
small animal clinic with severe haemolytic anaemia, icterus and haemoglobinuria. While
biochemical parameters were within the reference range, the cat had leukocytosis and
rapidly decreasing haematocrit values, and eventually died 7 days after the sudden onset
of aggravating clinical signs. From blood samples of the cat ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ was
identified by molecular methods, according to its 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence homology
with two Swiss isolates and one isolate from the UK. The rapid termination of the disease and the high pathogenicity of the
causative agent observed in this case are unusual, taking into account that PCR results
were negative for immunosuppressive viruses. This is the first record of this feline
haemoplasma species in Hungary.
Key
words: Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum,
feline infectious anaemia, real-time PCR
RAPID REAL-TIME PCR ASSAY FOR
DETECTING SALMONELLA IN RAW AND READY-TO-EAT
MEATS
Jitu R. Patel1 and Arvind A. Bhagwat2
1Food Safety Laboratory
and 2Produce Quality and Safety Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service,
USDA, 10300 Baltimore Avenue, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350, USA
(Received 18 August 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
A real-time PCR assay
was evaluated for the rapid detection (10 h) of Salmonella
in meats using molecular beacon probes available as a commercial kit (iQ-Check,
Bio-Rad laboratories). Raw (chicken, pork) and ready-to-eat (RTE) meats were artificially
contaminated with Salmonella enterica serovar
Typhimurium at the estimated level of 2 to 4 cells per 25 g. After 8 h of pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water, a molecular
beacon-based PCR assay was performed to detect contamination in raw and RTE meats. The
sensitivity and accuracy of the assay were compared with the conventional USDA
microbiological procedure. Comparative evaluation of the USDA procedure with the rapid PCR
assay for meat samples (n = 63) revealed 1 false negative pork sample with the PCR assay.
All uninoculated controls (n = 34) but one sample were negative by both the 10-h PCR assay
and the USDA procedure. Developing rapid pathogen detection methods with shorter
pre-enrichment times (8-h) and real-time data monitoring capabilities will benefit the
industry in preventing recall of contaminated meats by stopping the contaminated products
from being introduced into the marketplace.
Key
words: Salmonella, real-time PCR, chicken,
pork, ready-to-eat meats, molecular beacon
CLINICAL EFFICACY OF NEURAL
THERAPY FOR THE TREATMENT OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS IN DOGS
Adriana Bravo-Monsalvo1, Juan Carlos Vázquez-Chagoyán2, Lilia Gutiérrez1 and Héctor Sumano1
1Department of
Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University
of Mexico (UNAM), Av. Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; 2Center for
Research and Advanced Studies in Animal Health, Autonomous University of the State of
Mexico, Toluca, Mexico
(Received 12 October 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
The aim of this trial
was to assess the clinical efficacy of neural therapy (NT) when treating canine atopic
dermatitis. Eighteen dogs (no control group), with at least a 12-month history of having
nonseasonal atopic dermatitis, were included. No medication with either glucocorticoids or
cyclosporin was allowed during the trial. One set of NT was given by injecting an
intravenous dose of 0.1 mg/kg of a 0.7% procaine solution, followed by 10 to 25
intradermal injections of the same solution in a volume of 0.1–0.3 mL per site. Dogs
were given 6–13 sets of NT during the therapy. The dermatological condition of each
patient was evaluated before and after the treatment using two scales: the pruritus visual
analogue scale (PVAS) and the canine atopic dermatitis extent and severity index (CADESI).
The reduction of pruritus was statistically significant using a Wilcoxon matched-pairs
signed-ranks test (P < 0.001). No adverse side effects were observed. NT seems to be an
effective alternative to control signs related to canine atopic dermatitis.
Key
words: Neural therapy, dog, atopic dermatitis, procaine, complementary medicine
RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL
COMPARISON OF IDIOPATHIC VERSUS SYMPTOMATIC EPILEPSY IN 240 DOGS WITH SEIZURES
Ákos Pákozdy, Michael Leschnik, Alexander G. Tichy and
Johann G. Thalhammer
Neurology Service, Clinic for
Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine,
Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
(Received 24 October 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
In the present study,
240 cases of dogs with seizures were analysed retrospectively. The aim was to examine the
underlying aetiology and to compare primary or idiopathic epilepsy (IE) with symptomatic
epilepsy (SE) concerning signalment, history, ictal pattern, clinical and neurological
findings. The diagnosis of symptomatic epilepsy was based on confirmed pathological
changes in haematology, serum biochemistry, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and
morphological changes of the brain by CT/MRI or histopathological examination. Seizure
aetiologies were classified as idiopathic epilepsy (IE, n = 115) and symptomatic epilepsy
(SE, n = 125). Symptomatic epilepsy was mainly caused by intracranial neoplasia (39) and
encephalitis (23). The following variables showed significant difference between the IE
and SE group: age, body weight, presence of partial seizures, cluster seizures, status
epilepticus, ictal vocalisation and neurological deficits. In 48% of the cases, seizures
were found to be due to IE, while 16% were due to intracranial neoplasia and 10% to
encephalitis. Status epilepticus, cluster seizures, partial seizures, vocalisation during
seizure and impaired neurological status were more readily seen with symptomatic epilepsy.
If the first seizure occurred between one and five years of age or the seizures occurred
during resting condition, the diagnosis was more likely IE than SE.
Key
words: Seizure, aetiology, history, epilepsy, dog
FIELD EFFICACY OF COMBINATION VACCINES AGAINST BOVINE
RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS IN CALVES
Birgit Makoschey1, Juan Munoz Bielsa1, Loic Oliviero2, Olivier Roy3, Florence Pillet3, Divine Dufe1, Giorgio Valla4 and Sandro Cavirani5
1Intervet
Schering-Plough Animal Health, Wim de Körverstraat 35, NL-5831 AN, Boxmeer, The Netherlands; 2Intervet SA, Beaucouzé, France; 3CEBIPHAR,
Fondettes, France; 4Intervet Italy S.r.l., Peschiera Borromeo (MI), Italy; 5Faculty
of Veternary Medicine, Parma, Italy
(Received 15 August 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
The efficacy of an
inactivated bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) – bovine parainfluenza type 3
(PI3) – Mannheimia haemolytica (Mh) combination vaccine was examined in two field
studies. Calves were vaccinated (i) with the inactivated vaccine, (ii) a modified
live/killed viral combination vaccine, or (iii) left unvaccinated. The efficacy of the
vaccines was judged by the (i) number of treated animals, (ii) number of individual
antibiotic treatments per calf and (iii) mortality rates. After vaccination with the
inactivated vaccine, the number of calves requiring antibiotic treatment was significantly
lower than in the unvaccinated group (odds ratios: 0.26 first study and 0.53 second
study), but differences between vaccination with live/killed combination vaccines and
controls were not significant (odds ratios: 0.56 and 0.90, respectively). In both studies,
a number of unvaccinated controls died due to respiratory disease (4.6% first and 6.7%
second study). By contrast, none of the animals vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine
died in the first study and only 3.3% in the second study. The mortality rates for the
groups vaccinated with the live vaccine (1.3% and 7.8%) were similar to the unvaccinated
controls. In summary, these data demonstrate the efficacy of the inactivated vaccine under
field conditions.
Key
words: Bovine respiratory disease, vaccination, Mannheimia
haemolytica
EVALUATION
OF MICROVESSEL DENSITY (MVD) IN CANINE MAMMARY TUMOURS BY QUANTITATIVE
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY OF THE CLAUDIN-5 MOLECULE
Csaba Jakab1, Judit Halász2, András Kiss2,
Zsuzsa Schaff2, Attila Marcell Szász2, Miklós Rusvai1, Zsolt Abonyi Tóth3
and Janina Kulka2
1Department of
Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine and 3Department of Biomathematics
and Informatics, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1078 Budapest,
István u. 2, Hungary; 2Second Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University,
Budapest, Hungary
(Received 15 August 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
In our recent
investigation, angiogenesis was evaluated and quantified by immunohistochemical evaluation
of microvessel density (MVD) using claudin-5 (CLDN-5) as a marker for vascular endothelium
in 67 canine mammary gland tumours. Computer image analysis was used to measure the
intratumoural MVD. Higher intratumoural MVD was detected in malignant simple neoplasms
compared with benign tumours. Furthermore, the results of MVD were correlated with
histological grade, higher grades being accompanied by higher MVD. In simple adenomas and grade I tubular-tubulopapillary simple
carcinomas the intratumoural microvessels were wide and regular in shape with
evident erythrocytes in their lumen. In grade III solid carcinomas the microvessels were
smaller, less regular and had irregular shape, often without a distinct lumen, and
isolated endothelial cells were frequently present. In the complex carcinomas MVD was low
and the intratumoural microvessels were mostly irregular in shape without a distinct
lumen. The evaluation of MVD by CLDN-5 immunohistochemistry may give useful additional
information on the angiogenic potential of breast cancers in dogs.
Key
words: Angiogenesis, canine mammary gland
tumour, claudin-5, endothelium, immunohistochemistry, microvessel density (MVD),
morphometry
PHYTATES REDUCE UPTAKE OF
LEUCINE AND GLUTAMATE BUT NOT LYSINE AND GLUCOSE FROM THE INTESTINAL LUMEN OF CHICKENS:
SHORT COMMUNICATION
Edward M. Onyango1, Elikplimi K. Asem2 and Olayiwola Adeola3
1Department of Health
Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Box 70673, Johnson City, TN 37604, USA; 2Department
of Basic Medical Sciences and 3Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue
University, West Lafayette, USA
(Received 9 October 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
An investigation into
the influence of phytates on the in situ
absorption of amino acids (lysine, glutamate and leucine) and glucose from the intestinal
lumen of 3-week-old chickens was carried out. Birds were anaesthetised and the intestines
exteriorised. Uptake of 5 mM of each
nutrient over a 4-min period was measured in the presence of four phytate concentrations
(0, 50, 250 and 500 mM). Five birds
were used for each nutrient at each concentration of phytate tested. Leucine uptake
decreased linearly (P < 0.001) and that of glutamate showed a tendency to decrease (P =
0.055) as the phytate concentration increased. Absorption of lysine and glucose were
unaffected by the presence of phytate. In conclusion, phytate in the small intestinal
lumen exerted a depressive effect on the absorption of specific free amino acids from the
lumen. Its depressive effect was greatest for leucine followed by glutamate, and phytate
had little effect on the absorption of lysine.
Key
words: Phytate, inositol hexaphosphate, intestinal uptake, amino acids, glucose,
chicken
IMPACT OF HOUSING TECHNOLOGY ON BLOOD PLASMA
CORTICOSTERONE LEVELS IN LAYING HENS
Ales Pavlik1, Daniela Jezova2, David Zapletal3, Jan Bakos2 and Pavel Jelinek1
1Department of Animal Morphology, Physiology
and Genetics, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry, Zemedelska 1, 613 00 Brno,
Czech Republic; 2Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Slovak Academy
of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovak Republic; 3Department
of Nutrition, Animal Husbandry and Animal Hygiene, University
of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
(Received 19 January 2008; accepted 22
May 2008)
The aim of the present
study was to test the hypothesis that keeping laying hens in an enriched environment
supposed to represent a better welfare for the birds is accompanied by decreased
corticosterone levels, compared to hens kept under traditional conditions. Plasma
corticosterone levels in hens reared in standard and enriched cages and those kept on deep
litter from 15 to 75 weeks of age were evaluated. The highest corticosterone levels were
observed in hens kept on deep litter, which was associated with a lower intensity of egg
production, longest time of movement and a high percentage of time spent dustbathing and
scratching. Hens housed in the enriched environment exhibited low levels of aggression,
low body weight at the end of the experiment and similar or higher corticosterone levels
compared to those of hens kept under standard conditions. Thus, the results of the present
study show that housing technologies which are more similar to the animal’s natural
environment need not be associated with decreased levels of plasma corticosterone. Keeping
hens in traditional cage technology was not found to be particularly stressful, which may
be an important finding with respect to the current restrictions on outside housing in
regions with an increased risk of viral infection.
Key
words: Housing technology, standard and enriched cage, blood plasma corticosterone,
laying hen
DETECTION OF A NOVEL BAT GAMMAHERPESVIRUS IN HUNGARY
Viktor Molnár1, Máté Jánoska2, Balázs Harrach2, Róbert Glávits3,
Nimród Pálmai3, Dóra Rigó3, Endre Sós1 and Mátyás Liptovszky1
1Budapest Zoo and
Botanical Garden, H-1146 Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 6–12, Hungary; 2Veterinary
Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary; 3Central
Agricultural Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 18 December 2007; accepted 7 February 2008)
This paper describes the
detection of a novel herpesvirus in a Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) in Hungary. The rescued animal showed signs of icterus
and anorexia and died within a day, in spite of immediate supportive therapy. Autopsy
confirmed the clinical picture by the major lesions observed in the liver. Histopathology
revealed vacuolar degeneration in the hepatocytes and leukocytosis in the sinusoidal
lumina. By electron microscopy, hydropic degeneration and apoptotic cells with a pycnotic
nucleus were found in the liver. Bacteriological examinations gave negative results. As
part of a routine screening project, detection of adeno- and herpesviruses from
homogenised samples of the liver, lungs and small intestines was attempted by nested
polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The adenovirus PCR ended with negative results.
The herpesvirus PCR resulted in an amplification product of specific size. The nucleotide
sequence of the amplicon was determined and analysed by homology search and phylogenetic
analysis. A novel herpesvirus was identified, which seemed to be most closely related to
members of the genus Rhadinovirus within the
subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae. The causative role
of the detected rhadinovirus in the fatal condition of the Serotine bat could not be
proven, but it is most likely that reactivation from a latent infection allowed the
detection of the virus by PCR.
Key
words: Herpesvirus, Gammaherpesvirinae, Eptesicus
serotinus, Chiroptera, nested PCR
POXVIRUS INFECTION IN HUNGARIAN GREAT TITS (PARUS MAJOR): CASE REPORT
Elena Alina Palade1, Nóra Biró2, Mihály Dobos-Kovács1, Zoltán Demeter1, Míra Mándoki1 and Miklós Rusvai1
1Department of
Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István
University, H-1400 Budapest, P.O. Box 2, Hungary; 2Budaörsi Veterinary Clinic
and Laboratory, Budaörs, Hungary
(Received 6 August 2007; accepted 7
February 2008)
From a total of 1819
great tits (Parus major) ringed in 2007 in Pilis Mountains, Hungary, 15 birds
presented nodular proliferative lesions on different areas of the head and eyelids,
suggesting a poxvirus infection. Three birds were submitted for analysis. The presence of
avipoxvirus infection was confirmed by
histopathology, electron microscopy (EM) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based
technique. Nucleotide sequence analysis of a 428 base pairs (bp) fragment of the viral 4b
core protein gene revealed 100% identity between two of the Hungarian isolates (PM9 HUN,
PM33 HUN) and two great tit poxvirus strains isolated in Norway in 1973 (GTV A256, GTV
A311). The third Hungarian isolate (PM34 HUN) was more closely related to a different
Norwegian isolate (GTVA310) than to the Hungarian isolates. The nucleotide sequence
analysis of a shorter fragment of the viral 4b core protein (227 bp) gene revealed 100%
identity between the Hungarian isolates, the same Norwegian isolates and a great tit
poxvirus strain detected in Austria in
2007.
Key
words: Avipoxvirus, great tit, Hungary, histopathology, electron microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, phylogeny
FIRST DESCRIPTION OF SWINE TORQUE TENO VIRUS (TTV) AND
DETECTION OF A NEW GENOGROUP IN HUNGARY: SHORT COMMUNICATION
Mária Takács1, Ágnes Dencs1, Csenge Csiszár1, Andrea Hettmann1, Erzsébet Rusvai1, Katalin N. Szomor1, Vilmos Pálfi2 and Béla Nagy3
1Division of Virology,
National Center for Epidemiology, H-1097 Budapest, Gyáli út 2–6, Hungary; 2Central
Agricultural Office, Veterinary Diagnostic Directorate (former Central Veterinary
Institute), Budapest, Hungary; 3Veterinary Medical Research Institute,
Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
(Received 14 July 2008; accepted 1
October 2008)
Torque teno virus (TTV) belongs to the floating genus
of Anellovirus. It was discovered in a human patient, and later it was also found
in animals including pigs. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and
estimate the prevalence of swine TTV in Hungarian pig herds for the first time, and to
characterise the viruses found. Serum samples of 82 adult swine from 13 piggeries and 44
weaned pigs from one large herd were tested by PCR for the presence of TTV DNA. Viral DNA
was found in 30% of the adult swine and 73% of the weaned pigs tested. Liver and intestine
of weaned pigs were also tested and found to be infected at a lower rate. The TTV
sequences found in sera and intestines were similar and could be clustered as swine
genogroup 1. However, the sequences derived from one liver were remarkably different from
all other known genogroups and seemed to
represent a new genogroup.
Key
words: TT virus, genogroups, swine
