Volume 68 (2018): Issue 2 (June 2018)

Canine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoal haemoparasites of different Babesia species. Babesiosis is one of the most important globally extended and quickly spreading tick-borne infections of dogs. This comprehensive review gives an in-depth overview of Babesia species currently identified in dogs together with relevant vector tick species and their geographical distribution, life cycle and transmission of parasite. The main mechanisms in the pathogenesis of babesiosis are described and elucidated by recent literature overview. As Babesia infection causes a disease with very variable clinical manifestations, special attention is given to clinical signs, laboratory features and clinicopathological findings. The diagnosis of canine babesiosis by microscopy, serological and molecular methods is reviewed, together with recent advances in mass spectrometry based assays. Accurate detection and species recognition are important for the selection of the appropriate therapy, monitoring and prediction of the outcome of the disease. Finally, guidelines for the treatment and prevention of canine babesiosis are given.

Radiological examination of gastric “gravel sign” was retrospectively conducted in 60 dogs presented with acute gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) syndrome. Other radiographic findings including loss of peritoneal serosal detail, presence of radiopaque foreign bodies, gastric pneumatosis, splenomegaly, and megaesophagus, were also examined in these patients. “Gravel sign” was detected on the pre-operative radiographs of 17 dogs with acute GDV (28.3%), suggesting that these patients could be suffering from chronic partial gastric obstruction before examination. German Shepherd dogs were significantly over-represented in this group (10/17, 58.8%). Dogs with acute GDV showing “gravel sign” should be carefully investigated for the presence of underlying gastrointestinal processes that might be associated with chronic partial obstruction.

Brucellosis and Q fever, two zoonoses, are important causes of abortion in ruminants, as well as economically significant diseases caused by a gram-negative bacterium. Determination of these diseases is therefore of great importance. In this study, the organs of 35 naturally infected and aborted ovine fetuses were examined for the presence of changes resulting from infections by Brucella melitensis and Coxiella burnetii, according to macroscopic, bacteriological, histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. B. melitensis was observed in 21 cases, and C. burnetii was observed in 8 cases of the aborted ovine fetuses, and these were determined with immunohistochemical methods. Brucellosis was observed in 18 of the aborted ovine fetuses, and this was determined by microbiological methods. Negative (-) results were found for all of the other fetuses. The Brucella antigen was determined to be localized as intracytoplasmic in mainly alveolar macrophages, bronchi, bronchioles, glandular epithelial cells around bronchial glands, neutrophils, hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. The Coxiella antigen was found to be localized in the alveolar macrophages in the lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and alveolus, and in the cytoplasms of bronchial gland epithelial cells, and in the cytoplasms of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells in the liver. Immunohistochemical and microbiological diagnoses of brucellosis and coxiellosis were compared; it was concluded that immunohistochemical methods were more safely applied than microbiological methods.

Control of swine dysentery with antibiotics is often ineffective due to the resistance of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. The potential of some herbal-based components against B. hyodysenteriae was previously studied in vitro. This study aims at the evaluation of in vivo efficacy of phytogenic feed additives in the control of swine dysentery

The study involved 64 seven-week old weaned pigs allotted to 4 groups: two were fed on feed supplemented with either Patente Herba® or Patente Herba® Plus, the third received tiamulin (positive control), while the negative control was not given antibiotics or additives. Fecal consistency was recorded daily. The presence of B. hyodysenteriae in the feces was investigated weekly using microbiological assays and the PCR test. Weight gain and feed conversion ratio were calculated for each week, and for the whole experiment.

B. hyodysenteriae was detected in all samples by both methods. The additives showed efficacy in the prevention and control of swine dysentery as only normal and soft stool was observed in the treated groups. By contrast, in the negative control all feces categories were detected. Frequencies of feces categories significantly differed (p<0.001) between feed-supplemented groups and the negative control. Efficacy of both additives in the prevention of SD is comparable to tiamulin, based on insignificant differences in the frequency of the various feces categories.

Beneficial effects of both additives resulted in significantly (p≤0.05) higher weight gain and lower feed conversion ratio in comparison to the negative control. The average weight gains between additive-fed groups and tiamulin-treated group did not differ significantly.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of propolis and bee pollen on selected biochemical blood parameters in broiler chickens. This experimental study was conducted on 200 Ross 308 chickens of equally distributed sex, which were divided into five groups (a control group and four experimental groups). Throughout the whole study the control group of chickens was fed the control feed mixture while the feed mixture that was fed to the experimental groups of chickens contained additives (propolis and/or bee pollen, each supplemented separately or in combination in a certain proportion). The results obtained by this study are: significantly lower blood glucose, cholesterol and calcium levels (P < 0.001), as well as significantly lower triglycerides levels (P = 0.002), but also significantly higher sodium and chloride (P < 0.001), phosphorus (P = 0.004) and globulins levels (P = 0.027) in chickens of the experimental groups compared to the chickens of the control group on the 21^st day of fattening. Furthermore, this study has found significantly lower blood glucose (P = 0.033) levels and significantly higher levels of total proteins and globulins (P = 0.003), as well as albumins (P = 0.040) in chickens of the experimental groups compared to the chickens of the control group on the 42^nd day of fattening. It can be concluded that the application of propolis and bee pollen as additives in broiler feeds enables the production of more vital and healthier animals, which significantly improves the fattening of chickens.

The expressions of cytokines mRNA, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin- 17A (IL-17A) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), their master regulatory transcription factors, and signal transducers and activator of transcription (STAT) stimulated in vitro with Pasteurella (P.) multocida soluble antigen were examined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Holstein calves. The healthy Holstein calves were divided into three groups; 2 weeks old (2W Group, N=8), 6 weeks old (6W Group, N=8), and 10 weeks old (10W Group, N=8). PBMC were stimulated in vitro by soluble antigen of P. multocida. There were significantly lower expressions of IFN-γ, IL-4, and STAT-6 mRNA of PBMC stimulated with P. multocida soluble antigen in the 2W Group compared to that in the 10W Group. Expression of IL-17A and IFN-γ in PBMC stimulated with P. multocida soluble antigen were significantly higher compared with the PBMC without stimulation in the 6W groups. The results of the present study demonstrated that 2W old calves had decreased cytokine expression of PBMC when in vitro stimulated with P. multocida soluble antigen in vitro.

Transdermal fentanyl allows for consistent plasma concentrations of a potent synthetic μ-opioid receptor agonist and can provide constant post-operative analgesia for up to 72 h. The aim of this study was to determine the reduction of the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane (MAC_SEVO) by transdermal fentanyl in nonpregnant ewes. Nine sheep were mask induced with sevoflurane (SEVO in oxygen). MAC_SEVO determinations involved electrical current applied to the lateral metacarpus as a supramaximal stimulus and measurements in duplicate. Seven days later, a fentanyl patch (75 μg/h) was applied to each sheep and 15.1 ± 1.8 h later the MAC re-determined (MAC_SF). MAC_SF was 1.99 ± 0.32 %, corresponding to 25.6 ± 8.1 % reduction from MAC_SEVO (P < 0.001). Transdermal fentanyl produces a significant MAC_SEVO-sparing effect with minimal effect on cardiovascular parameters.

During the epizootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N8 in Serbia in the winter of 2016-2017, the highest percent of mortality due to this infection was recorded in mute swans (Cygnus olor). Besides mute swans, avian influenza virus subtype H5N8 was also diagnosed in a small number of hens in rural households. Pancreatic tissues from avian influenza H5N8 positive mute swans and hens that died during this outbreak were collected to determine the character of morphological lesions and the distribution of the viral antigen in this organ. Macroscopic examination of the pancreas of mute swans revealed hemorrhages as well as necrosis, while there were no macroscopic visible lesions in the pancreas of infected hens. Despite the different macroscopic finding, microscopic examination of the pancreas of both infected bird species revealed lesions in the form of acute pancreatitis and multifocal acinar necrosis. The viral antigen was abundantly expressed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of necrotic cells, as well as in macrophages in both examined bird species. Immunohistochemical expression of the viral antigen in the pancreas was strongly consistent with histological lesions. According to the above described findings, it could be concluded that highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N8 has a high affinity to pancreatic tissue in both mute swans and hens and the distribution and the character of the lesions in the pancreas are similar in both bird species.

Diseases of the biliary tract are the most common feline hepatic disorders. Cholangitis is the term used to describe inflammation of the biliary tract in felines and can be associated with parasites. Affected animals must undergo clinical or surgical treatment, or a combination of both. In this paper we presented a 10-year-old male, mongrel feline with an obstruction of the biliary tract caused by a rare infection of Platynosomum fastosum.

A 16-month-old male crossbreed dog, which suffered a previous traumatic incident, was presented for evaluation of a chronic fluctuant right supraorbitary mass. On computed tomography, a well-defined, expansile, hypodense mass, showing a thin peripheral enhancement was occupying the right frontal sinus and extending into the cranial cavity. Imaging findings, bacteriological culture, and histopathology of the surgically excised mass were consistent with a frontal sinus mucopyocele. Frontal sinus mucopyocele should be included as a differential diagnosis for a well-marginated expansile frontal sinus mass, especially when present in young animals or/and associated with a previous craniofacial trauma.