Evan B. Janovitz

Malignant Mast Cell Tumor in an African Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

In November 1995, a malignant mast cell tumor (mastocytoma) was diagnosed in an adult African hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) from a zoological park (West Lafayette, Indiana, USA). The primary mast cell tumor presented as a firm subcutaneous mass along the ventrum of the neck. Metastasis to the right submandibular lymph node occurred.

Clinical neosporosis in a 4-week-old Hereford calf

Most reports of neosporosis associated with abortion in cattle are in dairy cattle and infected calves do not survive beyond 7 days of age. This paper reports neosporosis in a 4-week-old Hereford calf. The calf was full term and appeared clinically normal at birth. At 2 weeks of age, the calf had weakened and was unable to nurse unassisted. The calf was killed at 4 weeks because of paralysis. The primary lesions were in the brain and were associated with Neospora caninum tachyzoites. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-Neospora rabbit serum.

Baylisascaris procyonis larva migrans in a puppy: a case report and update for the veterinarian

Baylisascaris larva migrans (LM) has been recognized as a cause of central nervous system (CNS) disease in puppies. A presumptive antemortem diagnosis is based on a history of raccoon exposure, clinical signs, cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilic pleocytosis, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Early diagnosis is critical for treatment or prevention of disease in other dogs, animals, or humans exposed to the suspected contaminated area. In the present case, an antemortem diagnosis was not made, emphasizing the importance of postmortem examination in cases of CNS disease in puppies.

Oronasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in an African Hedgehog (Erinaceidae albiventris)

Oronasal squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in an adult African hedgehog (Erinaceidae albiventris). Clinically, the carcinoma presented as a firm right maxillary swelling with deviation of the nose to the left. The carcinoma was attached to the hard palate and protruded into the oral cavity. At necropsy, the carcinoma appeared centered in the right maxillary sinus, and had replaced the maxilla and extended into the nasal cavity. Metastatic foci were not found.

Nephrotoxicosis in a Cat following Ingestion of Asiatic Hybrid Lily (Lilium sp.)

A virus known to cause multiple problems in cattle, bovine viral diarrhea virus, was isolated from 3 different cases in New World camelids. Virus isolation, immunoperoxidase staining, and fluourescent antibody staining were used to detect the virus. The herds involved were screened for antibody titers to bovine viral diarrhea and virus isolation from the buffy coat. Bovine viral diarrhea virus should be considered as a cause of death in young and old New World camelids. Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a small, enveloped, positive-stranded RNA virus classified in the family Flavi- viridae as a pestivirus along with hog cholera virus of swine and border disease of sheep.5 Many strains of BVDV exist and, based on sequence homology, BVDV can be further classified as either genotype I or II. Two biotypes of BVDV exist based on the cytopathogenicity in cell culture: cyto- pathic and noncytopathic BVDV. Infection of cattle with ei- ther viral biotype or simultaneous infection of cattle with both biotypes may induce a variety of clinical presentations affecting multiple organ systems.1 Clinical disease ranges from the more common subclinical infections to the fatal form known as mucosal disease. In immunocompetent ani- mals, clinical signs may include diarrhea, oral ulcerations, and depression. In pregnant immunocompetent animals, in- fertility, abortions, and congenital defects may be observed. From the Departments of Clinical Sciences (Belknap, Larsen) and Microbiology (Collins), College of Veterinary Medicine and Bio- medical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, and the Woodland Veterinary Clinic (Conrad), Woodland Park, CO 80886. Received for publication August 6, 1998. While normally a pathogen of cattle, BVDV has been iso- lated from goats, captive and free-living ruminants, a camel, and pigs.2,7,10 Antibody titers to BVDV have been detected in New World camelids (NWC) housed with persistently in- fected cattle and following a BVDV abortion episode in pyg- my goats.8,9 While there is mention of isolations of BVDV from llamas associated with abortion, excessive nasal dis- charge, or diarrhea,3,8,10 there are no reports of clinical cases in NWC or herd BVDV status. A 13-year-old, 524-pound pregnant llama was admitted for an elective cesarean section due to physical constraints relative to excessive fat deposits within the pelvic canal. The llama had delivered 9 previous crias and was 338 days in gestation with the current pregnancy. The immediately preceding pregnancy had resulted in delivery of a dead fetus. Dexamethasone (10 mg IM) was administered 24 hours prior to the planned surgery to enhance pulmonary maturation of the fetus. Due to the dam’s excessive body condition, ultrasound of the fetus was not pos- sible. At surgery, the male cria was stillborn, the hair epilated easily, and the corneas were cloudy. Gross necropsy of the cria revealed no other abnormalities. Fluorescent antibody (FA) test- ing for BVDV (Table 1), equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), chla- mydia, and bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) was negative, and

Sarcocystosis with Involvement of the Central Nervous System in Lambs

An outbreak of neurologic disease in a flock of 5-month- taining large rounded metrocytes and early bradyzoites, and old Rambouillet lambs on a sheep farm in west-central In- were associated with some degree of myositis with degendiana was investigated. Over a 4-week period during the eration of muscle fibers and lymphocytic perimysial infiltrasummer of 1990, 32 of 48 lambs in 1 pen were affected, and tion. 22 of these lambs died. Approximately 300 sheep were on Multifocal, nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis was the farm. The affected lambs were confined to a single pen evident in the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and cerin a large open-sided pole barn and were the youngest group vital, thoracic, and lumbar spinal cord of all 3 lambs (Fig. of spring lambs on the farm. 1). Inflammation was characterized by glial nodules, multiClinical signs described by the owner and referring vet- focal necrosis with gliosis and mononuclear cell infiltration, erinarian included anorexia, weight loss, incoordination, stiff and lymphocytic infiltration around blood vessels and in the limbs, trembling, and generalized weakness. The condition meninges (Fig. 2). An immature schizont was found in the progressed rapidly in fatal cases, and death generally occurred pons of 1 of these lambs (Fig. 3). The density of neuroglia within 7 days of the onset of clinical signs. around this schizont was increased, but the schizont was not Three clinically affected lambs (2 live and 1 dead) were surrounded by microglia. Immunohistochemical examinasubmitted to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, tion of paraffin-embedded sections of samples of brain from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, for diagnostic all 3 lambs using antisera to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora evaluation. Both live lambs were thin, weak, and ataxic. All caninum, and Sarcocystis spp. was negative. 11 The FA test 3 lambs had bronchopneumonia of varying severity. One for pseudorabies was negative, and no viral agent was isolamb had moderate subcutaneous edema of the neck and lated. inguinal region and mild serous effusions in the pleural, peri- The small intestine of 1 lamb was infected by coccidia and cardial, and peritoneal cavities. Tissue samples from all 3 cryptosporidia. After the diagnosis of intestinal coccidiosis lambs were routinely processed for histopathologic exami- was conveyed, the referring veterinarian directed the owner nation. Samples of pneumonic lung were inoculated on blood to add amprolium to the lambs’ feed. Following treatment, and MacConkey’s agar in an attempt to culture for aerobic affected lambs improved clinically, no more died, and no bacteria. Selected areas of the pneumonic lungs were ex- additional lambs developed clinical signs. amined for bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), in- Approximately 6 weeks later, a team of diagnostic perfectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBR), and sonnel visited the farm for an on-site evaluation, to collect Parainfluenza-3 virus (P13) by direct immunofluorescence convalescent sera from affected and nonaffected lambs, to (FA) and were inoculated onto bovine turbinate cells for virus collect fecal samples from dogs, and to choose a convalescent isolation. A portion of the brain from 1 of the live lambs lamb for further diagnostic evaluation. was examined for pseudorabies virus by FA and was also Hay was found stacked in 1 comer of the pole barn, and inoculated onto cell cultures. grain was stored in uncovered wooden bins at the opposite

Cycad (Zamia Puertoriquensis) Toxicosis in a Group of Dairy Heifers in Puerto Rico

tory parenchymal necrosis and lysis associated with groups of bacteria (probably secondary infection), with focal hemorrhages. Structurally distinct types of schizonts with slender merozoites (Fig. 14) or short stubby merozoites (Fig. 15) were seen. Intestinal coccidiosis was seen in echidna nos. 2, 4, and 5 (Figs. 16-20). Lesions were more severe in the small intestines of echidna nos. 2 and 5 and consisted of desquamation of epithelial cells of glands of Lieberkiihn and surface epithelium, hypertrophy of villous epithelium, and mononuclear cell infiltration in lamina propria. Gamonts and oocysts The intravascular schizonts in the lungs of the echidnas were structurally similar to schizonts of Sarcocystis, particularly of the Sarcocystis species in cattle, sheep, and goats. Some of the schizonts in the liver, lungs, and spleen were difficult to distinguish from tachyzoites of T. gondii. However, T. gondii tachyzoites always divide into 2 by endodyogeny, whereas the extraintestinal protozoa of the echidnas divided into many organisms by schizogony. Acknowledgements. We thank the staff of the Veterinary Research Institute in Melbourne who made 3 of the cases available for examination. were seen in all 3 echidnas. Oocysts were approximately 25 x 20 μm and were unsporulated (Figs. 18-20). Few schizonts were seen only in 1. echidna no. 2. A 45x 25-μm schizont with numerous tiny merozoites in the lamina propria of the small intestine is shown in Fig. 17. Protozoa in the lung and liver of echidna no. 1 did not 2. react to T. gondii, N, caninum, or S. cruzi antisera. Protozoa in extraintestinal tissues of echidnas were un3= identified. Protozoa in the intestines of echidnas in the present study appeared to be structurally similar to the intestinal 4.

Avian Pox in Sanderlings from Florida

Avian pox was diagnosed in three sanderlings (Calidris alba) on Sanibel Island, Florida (USA) in February 1997. All three cases had large tumor-like lesions which contributed significantly to their mortality. Poxvirus infection was confirmed by cytology, histopathology, and electron microscopy. This is the first report of poxvirus infection in sanderlings.

Pulmonary Blastomycosis in an Indian Fruit Bat (Pteropus Giganteus)

Blastomycosis, caused by the dimorphic fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, has been reported in a wide variety of mammalian species, including wolves, a ferret, a deer, a polar bear, an African lion, an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, and a Stellar’s sea lion. Blastomycosis is usually manifested by granulomatous inflammation of the lungs but can also involve the skin, bone, eyes, central nervous system, mammary tissue, and male reproductive tract. In this report, we describe a case of pulmonary blastomycosis in an Indian fruit bat (Pteropus giganteus). A pregnant adult female Indian fruit bat was found dead in its enclosure on October 4, 1995. The fruit bat was obtained from a rookery in India during November 1979, at which time it was estimated to be 1 month of age. It was moved from the Riverbanks Zoological Park in South Carolina to the Mesker Park Zoo in Indiana on May 4, 1994. It was housed with 14 other fruit bats in an exhibit consisting of a black galvanized metal back wall with 20.lx 0.4-m doors, black concrete block walls, a glass viewing window, poured concrete floor, and a ceiling of 1.3x 1.3-cm expanded metal. The fruit bats were fed a diet consisting of primate diet, diced apples, oranges (ascorbic acid source), bananas, and seedless grapes with yogurt or cottage cheese supplementation on alternating days. At necropsy, numerous firm, white-gray, coalescing nodules of various sizes (1-6 mm diameter) were disseminated

PSEUDORABIES IN CAPTIVE COYOTES

Pseudorabies (Aujeszkys disease) was diagnosed in three adult captive coyotes (Canis latrans) from southern Indiana (USA). The coyotes died in their outdoor enclosure within a 48 hr period. Histopathology revealed mutlifocal, nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis and eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies within neurons. Samples of brain were positive for pseudorabies virus by fluorescent antibody testing and virus isolation. Source of infection was the probable consumption of pseudorabies virus-infected pig carcasses.