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18 pages, 6291 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parasitic Infections in Stranded Whales and Dolphins in Canary Islands (2018–2022): An Update

by Zuleima Suárez-González, Jorge F. González, Manuel Arbelo, Eva Sierra, Ayoze Castro-Alonso, Julia N. Hernández, Vidal Martín, Natalia Fraija-Fernández and Antonio Fernández

Animals 2024, 14(23), 3377; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14233377 (registering DOI) - 23 Nov 2024

Abstract

The Canary Islands are considered a hot spot for marine species biodiversity. Each stranded cetacean has provided important scientific, biological and pathological information. The morphological identification of parasites in these stranded cetaceans is the main aim of the present article. An investigation to [...] Read more.

The Canary Islands are considered a hot spot for marine species biodiversity. Each stranded cetacean has provided important scientific, biological and pathological information. The morphological identification of parasites in these stranded cetaceans is the main aim of the present article. An investigation to identify parasites was carried out in 233 stranded animals (2018–2022), which were submitted for necropsy. Adult and sub-adult/juvenile animals were the most parasitized age categories, and eighteen parasite species were morphologically identified, including nematodes (Crassicauda grampicola, Crassicauda anthonyi, Halocercus delphini, Anisakis simplex, Stenurus globicephalae, Stenurus ovatus), trematodes (Nasitrema delphini, Oschmarinella rochebruni, Brachycladium atlanticum, Pholeter gastrophilus), cestodes (Clistobothrium delphini, Clistobothrium grimaldii), acanthocephalans (Bolbosoma vasculosum, Bolbosoma capitatum), protists (Toxoplasma gondii) and crustaceans (Conchoderma auritum, Xenobalanus globicipitis, Pennella balaenoptera), as well as nine genera: Crassicauda sp., Halocercus sp., Anisakis sp., Stenurus sp., Nasitrema sp., Oschmarinella sp., Dyphyllobothrium sp., Cyamus sp., Conchoderma sp., and Sarcocystis sp. These could not be identified at the species level. Differences in the host specificity of some parasites were observed, varying in prevalence. The accurate morphological identification of the parasites affecting these marine mammals is essential to understanding disease epidemiology, assessing cetacean populations’ health status, and developing effective conservation and management strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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21 pages, 3075 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigations on the Health Status and Infection Risk of Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) from Waters of the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea, Germany

by Ursula Siebert, Jan Lakemeyer, Martin Runge, Peter Lienau, Silke Braune, Edda Bartelt, Miguel L. Grilo and Ralf Pund

Animals 2024, 14(20), 2920; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14202920 - 10 Oct 2024

Viewed by 961

Abstract

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most common pinniped species in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, Germany. Their numbers have recovered after significant depletion due to viral outbreaks and effects of anthropogenic activities like pollution and habitat [...] Read more.

Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) are the most common pinniped species in the Wadden Sea of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Lower Saxony, Germany. Their numbers have recovered after significant depletion due to viral outbreaks and effects of anthropogenic activities like pollution and habitat disturbance. Within the Wadden Sea National Park of Lower Saxony the harbour seal is protected. As a top predator in the Wadden Sea ecosystem, the harbour seal is a sentinel species for the state of the environment. Between 2015 and 2017, a total of 80 stranded dead harbour seals were collected along the coastline of Lower Saxony and submitted for pathological investigations. Of these, 70 seals were born in the same year (0–7 months, age group 1) and eight in the previous year (8–19 months, age group 2), due to high mortality rates in these age groups. However, two perennial animals were also available for examination during this period, one of which was in good nutritional condition. Many of the seals that had been mercy-killed and found dead were in poor nutritional status. Histopathological, microbiological, parasitological and virological examinations were conducted on 69 individuals (86% (69/80)) in a suitable state of preservation. Respiratory tract parasitosis, cachexia, and bronchopneumonia were the most common causes of death or disease. Overall, there was no evidence of a relapse of a viral disease outbreak. Macrowaste, such as plastic waste or fishery-related debris, were not found in any gastrointestinal tract of the animals examined. There was also no evidence of grey seal predation. Weakness and cachexia were prominent causes of disease and death in harbour seals found within a few weeks after birth, but bronchopneumonia and septicaemia also developed in slightly older animals. Frequently found microbial pathogens in seals from Lower Saxony were similar to those found in other studies on seals from the Wadden Sea region in Schleswig-Holstein, for example streptococci and Escherichia coli/v. haemolytica, Brucella spp. and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, potentially human pathogenic germs. The results of the examinations of dead harbour seals from Lower Saxony show that pathological investigations on a representative number of animals deliver urgently needed information on the health status of the population. The results represent an important contribution to the state of the top predators of the Wadden Sea as part of the obligations within the Trilateral Wadden Sea Agreement, Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) and the Marine Framework Directive. The investigations should be continued as a matter of urgency and the stranding network should be expanded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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14 pages, 2662 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Serological Investigation for Brucella ceti in Cetaceans from the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea

by Laura Martino, María Cuvertoret-Sanz, Sarah Wilkinson, Alberto Allepuz, Albert Perlas, Llilianne Ganges, Lola Pérez and Mariano Domingo

Animals 2024, 14(16), 2417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162417 - 20 Aug 2024

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Abstract

Neurobrucellosis in cetaceans, caused by Brucella ceti, is a relevant cause of death in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean Sea. Serological tests are not used as a routinary technique for the diagnosis of this infection. We briefly describe [...] Read more.

Neurobrucellosis in cetaceans, caused by Brucella ceti, is a relevant cause of death in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Mediterranean Sea. Serological tests are not used as a routinary technique for the diagnosis of this infection. We briefly describe the pathological findings of nine free-ranging stranded cetaceans diagnosed with Brucella disease or infection in our veterinary necropsy service from 2012 to 2022. The findings included focal diskospondylitis and non-suppurative meningitis, choroiditis and radiculitis. Additionally, an exploratory serological study was conducted in sixty-six frozen sera collected in the period 2012–2022 from fifty-seven striped dolphins, five Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus), two common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), one common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and one pilot whale (Globicephala melas) to compare antibody levels in Brucella-infected (n = 8) and non-infected (n = 58) animals, classified by the cause of death, sex, age class and cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) infection status. The authors hypothesized that active infection in cases of neurobrucellosis would elicit a stronger, detectable humoral response compared to subclinical infections. We performed a commercial competition ELISA (cELISA) using serial serum dilutions for each sample, considering a percentage of inhibition (PI) of ≥40% as positive. A titer of 1:160 was arbitrarily determined as the seropositivity threshold. Seropositive species included striped dolphins and Risso’s dolphins. Seroprevalence was higher in animals with neurobrucellosis (87.5%) compared to the overall seroprevalence (31.8%) and to other causes of death, indicating, likely, a high sensitivity but low specificity for neurobrucellosis. Animals with chronic CeMV seemed to have higher seroprevalences, as well as juveniles, which also had a higher disease prevalence. These results indicate, as in other studies, that antibodies are not decisive against clinical brucellosis, although they may indicate a carrier state, and that CeMV may influence Brucella epidemiology. More research is required to elucidate the epidemiology and pathogenesis and to resolve the complicated host–pathogen interaction in Brucella species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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22 pages, 4269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Causes of Admission, Mortality and Pathological Findings in European Hedgehogs: Reports from Two University Centers in Italy and Switzerland

by Ilaria Prandi, Eva Dervas, Elena Colombino, Giuseppe Bonaffini, Stefania Zanet, Riccardo Orusa, Serena Robetto, Massimo Vacchetta, Mitzy Mauthe von Degerfeld, Giuseppe Quaranta, Udo Hetzel and Maria Teresa Capucchio

Animals 2024, 14(13), 1852; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131852 - 22 Jun 2024

Viewed by 1092

Abstract

European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are nocturnal insectivores frequently found in urban areas. In the last decades, their population has declined in various European countries and human activities have emerged as significant contributors to this trend. While the literature has mainly focused [...] Read more.

European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are nocturnal insectivores frequently found in urban areas. In the last decades, their population has declined in various European countries and human activities have emerged as significant contributors to this trend. While the literature has mainly focused on trauma as the major cause of mortality, few authors have considered pathological findings. The present study is based on the results of full post-mortem examinations performed on 162 European hedgehogs in Italy and 109 in Switzerland. Unlike in previous studies, the main cause of mortality was infectious diseases (60.5%), followed by traumatic insults (27.7%). The lungs were the main organ affected, showing mostly lymphoplasmacytic (45.9%), granulomatous (18.1%) or suppurative (8.2%) pneumonia. Nematodes were detected in 57.2% of all lungs and were significantly associated with pneumonia (p-value < 0.001). To our knowledge, this is the first study to report infectious diseases as the main cause of hedgehog death, emphasizing the need for wildlife rescue centers to adopt appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Further research is necessary to determine the broad range of infectious agents that affect this species and elucidate their interplay with the host. Finally, citizen sensitization should be implemented to promote responsible behaviors that could reduce human-related traumatic events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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9 pages, 807 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Lack of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 in the South Shetland Islands in Antarctica, Early 2023

by Gabriela Muñoz, Vanessa Mendieta, Mauricio Ulloa, Belén Agüero, Cristian G. Torres, Lucas Kruger and Victor Neira

Animals 2024, 14(7), 1008; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14071008 - 26 Mar 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2329

Abstract

In January 2023, an active surveillance initiative was undertaken in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, with the specific objective of ascertaining evidence for the presence of avian influenza, and specifically the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 (HPAIV H5N1). The investigation encompassed [...] Read more.

In January 2023, an active surveillance initiative was undertaken in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, with the specific objective of ascertaining evidence for the presence of avian influenza, and specifically the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 (HPAIV H5N1). The investigation encompassed diverse locations, including Hanna Point (Livingston Island), Lions Rump (King George Island), and Base Escudero (King George Island), with targeted observations on marine mammals (southern elephant seals), flying birds (the kelp gull, snowy sheathbill and brown skua), and penguins (the chinstrap penguin and gentoo penguin). The study encompassed the examination of these sites for signs of mass mortality events possibly attributable to HPAIV H5N1, as well as sampling for influenza detection by means of real-time RT-PCR. Two hundred and seven (207) samples were collected, including 73 fecal samples obtained from the environment from marine mammals (predominantly feces of southern elephant seals), and 77 cloacal samples from penguins of the genus Pygoscelis (predominantly from the gentoo penguin). No evidence of mass mortality attributable to HPAIV H5N1 was observed, and all the collected samples tested negative for the presence of the virus, strongly suggesting the absence of the virus in the Antarctic territory during the specified period. This empirical evidence holds significant implications for both the ecological integrity of the region and the potential zoonotic threats, underscoring the importance of continued surveillance and monitoring in the Antarctic ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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11 pages, 1653 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tumor and Tumor-like Lesions in Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Croatia

by Šimun Naletilić, Ivan-Conrado Šoštarić-Zuckermann and Željko Mihaljević

Animals 2024, 14(4), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14040558 - 7 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1429

Abstract

The red fox, found on all continents except Antarctica, occupies diverse habitats. In Croatia, it is an indigenous wild species with a population density of 0.7 animals per square kilometer. While tumors in wild animals from the Canidae family are scarce, the true [...] Read more.

The red fox, found on all continents except Antarctica, occupies diverse habitats. In Croatia, it is an indigenous wild species with a population density of 0.7 animals per square kilometer. While tumors in wild animals from the Canidae family are scarce, the true prevalence and diversity of tumors are likely underestimated due to limited research. So far, a limited number of tumors have been observed among the red fox population, either in their natural habitat or in captivity. As part of the National Rabies Control Program, we examined 1890 red fox carcasses over a four-year period. Our focus was on identifying abnormalities on the skin and internal organs that suggest potential neoplastic proliferation. Five red foxes, three males and two females, were found to have growths resembling potential tumors. Their age distribution spanned from 2 to 7 years. Microscopic investigation revealed two collagenous hamartomas, two Meibomian gland adenomas, and one intra-abdominal teratoma within a cryptorchid testis. This retrospective study aims to provide a comprehensive description of tumor and tumor-like lesions observed in free-range red foxes from Croatia, marking the first research of its kind in Croatia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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10 pages, 3309 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

A Health Status Update of Myocastor coypus in Northern Italy

by Arturo Nicoletti, Paola Pregel, Laura Starvaggi Cucuzza, Enrico Bollo and Frine Eleonora Scaglione

Animals 2024, 14(2), 245; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020245 - 12 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1345

Abstract

Myocastor coypus is a pest animal present in Africa, Europe, North America and Asia that causes agricultural and ecological damages. Moreover, it has to be considered as a potential risk for public health. Forty-four coypus from the “Parco Naturale La Mandria” (Piedmont region, [...] Read more.

Myocastor coypus is a pest animal present in Africa, Europe, North America and Asia that causes agricultural and ecological damages. Moreover, it has to be considered as a potential risk for public health. Forty-four coypus from the “Parco Naturale La Mandria” (Piedmont region, Northwest Italy) have been analysed. A complete necropsy and a whole histological evaluation of the liver, kidney and lung have been carried out on all the animals. Moreover, the positivity to Hepatitis E Virus (HEV), Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), Francisella spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum have been investigated. None of the animal were positive for HEV, EMCV, Francisella spp. or Neospora caninum. Two animals tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii. A high presence of histological lesions has been identified in different organs, suggesting that lesions could be induced by different pathogens. As previously reported, coypu can act as a host for several pathogens, including important agents for human and animal health, and surveillance is necessary to fully understand the biological role and the importance of coypu as a disease reservoir in our country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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12 pages, 1929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survey of Mycobacterium spp. in Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles) in Central Italy

by Elga Ersilia Tieri, Lucio Marino, Katiuscia Zilli, Cinzia Pompilii, Giovanni Di Teodoro, Antonio Cocco, Addolorato Ruberto, Michela Toro, Maria Teresa Mastrodomenico, Stefania Salucci and Fabrizio De Massis

Animals 2024, 14(2), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020219 - 9 Jan 2024

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Abstract

A survey to determine the presence of Mycobacterium spp. in the Abruzzo and Molise regions was conducted by testing samples from 124 badgers found dead or road-killed during the 2013–2021 period. Head lymph nodes were collected from all carcasses, as well as mediastinal [...] Read more.

A survey to determine the presence of Mycobacterium spp. in the Abruzzo and Molise regions was conducted by testing samples from 124 badgers found dead or road-killed during the 2013–2021 period. Head lymph nodes were collected from all carcasses, as well as mediastinal lymph nodes from 20 of them, for bacteriological and molecular tests; tissues were inoculated onto a set of solid egg-based Lowenstein–Jensen media and in a liquid culture system (BACTEC) and were analyzed by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs). Organs and lymph nodes from 31 carcasses were collected for histological tests. During post-mortem examinations, macroscopic lesions consistent with a Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections were not detected. Mycobacteria were isolated from four animals (3.22%). M. avium subsp. avium was isolated by head lymph nodes from two badgers (1.61%), M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (0.80%) from one, and Mycobacterium spp. from another (0.80%). The significance of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in wildlife hosts in the absence of clinical signs and gross pathology has yet to be assessed. The most critical aspect came from isolates belonging to the Mycobacterium avium complex infection in wildlife due to the possible interference with tuberculin skin tests in cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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15 pages, 4348 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence and Characterization of Dental and Skull-Bone Pathologies of the Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Lithuania

by Eugenijus Jurgelėnas, Indrė Jasinevičiūtė and Linas Daugnora

Animals 2023, 13(15), 2437; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152437 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1647

Abstract

The present investigation endeavours to discern dental and non-dental pathologies affecting cranial structures of raccoon dogs, while focusing on cases of periodontitis. Furthermore, the study aims to conduct a comparative analysis based on sex and the nature of the pathologies encountered. The number [...] Read more.

The present investigation endeavours to discern dental and non-dental pathologies affecting cranial structures of raccoon dogs, while focusing on cases of periodontitis. Furthermore, the study aims to conduct a comparative analysis based on sex and the nature of the pathologies encountered. The number of investigated skulls amounted to 126, including 76 males and 50 females. The predominant pathology identified was hypodontia, which accounted for 26.7% of males and 20% of females. Notably, the majority of hypodontia cases involved the absence of the mandibular third molar. Another noteworthy pathology was various stages of periodontitis, with rates ranging from 21.3% in males to 8% in females. Other pathologies, like tooth fractures and abrasion, were significantly less encountered. Excessive bone formation was relatively abundant and localized in specific areas—the parietal bone and the occipital regions. This tendency was observed in 8% of male cases and 6% of females. We found that the total number of dental and skull-bone pathologies is significantly more common in males than in females (p = 0.003). Additionally, the total number of various cases of periodontitis is more common in males too (p = 0.04). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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19 pages, 8380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cetacean Intracytoplasmic Eosinophilic Globules: A Cytomorphological, Histological, Histochemical, Immunohistochemical, and Proteomic Characterization

by Antonio Fernández, Nakita Câmara, Eva Sierra, Manuel Arbelo, Yara Bernaldo de Quirós, Paul D. Jepson, Rob Deaville, Josué Díaz-Delgado, Cristian Suárez-Santana, Ayoze Castro, Julia N. Hernández and Ana Godinho

Animals 2023, 13(13), 2130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132130 - 27 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2052

Abstract

The nature, etiopathogenesis, and clinicopathologic relevance of the prevalent intracytoplasmic eosinophilic globules (IEGs) within hepatocytes of cetaceans are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the presence and characterize the IEGs in the hepatocytes of cetaceans using histochemical and immunohistochemical electron microscopy, Western blot, [...] Read more.

The nature, etiopathogenesis, and clinicopathologic relevance of the prevalent intracytoplasmic eosinophilic globules (IEGs) within hepatocytes of cetaceans are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the presence and characterize the IEGs in the hepatocytes of cetaceans using histochemical and immunohistochemical electron microscopy, Western blot, lectin histochemistry, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry techniques. A total of 95/115 (83%) animals (16 species) exhibited histologically evident intracytoplasmic round to oval, single to multiple, hyaline eosinophilic globules within the hepatocytes. These globules were largely PAS-positive, diastase resistant, and were immunopositive for fibrinogen (FB, 97%), albumin (Alb, 85%), and α1-antitrypsine (A1AT, 53%). The IEG positivity for FB and A1AT were correlated with live-stranding, hepatic congestion and a good nutritional status. The cetaceans lacking IEGs were consistently dead stranded and had poor body conditions. The IEGs in 36 bycaught cetaceans were, all except one, FB-positive and A1AT-negative. The IEGs exhibited morphologic and compositional variations at the ultrastructural level, suggesting various stages of development and/or etiopathogenesis(es). The glycocalyx analysis suggested an FB- and A1AT-glycosylation pattern variability between cetaceans and other animals. The proteomic analyses confirmed an association between the IEGs and acute phase proteins, suggesting a relationship between acute stress (i.e., bycatch), disease, and cellular protective mechanisms, allowing pathologists to correlate this morphological change using the acute hepatocytic cell response under certain stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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Other

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10 pages, 6505 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

A Case of Epicardial Epidermoid Cyst in a Crested Porcupine

by Alessia Mariacher, Valentina Galietta, Gianni Massai, Francesco Bruni, Giovanni Ragionieri, Claudia Eleni and Gianluca Fichi

Animals 2024, 14(18), 2706; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14182706 - 18 Sep 2024

Viewed by 610

Abstract

The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is present in central Italy with an estimated population of 1800 individuals. Despite the local abundance, little data are available on the diseases affecting free-ranging individuals. We describe a case of an epidermoid cyst (EC) in [...] Read more.

The crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata) is present in central Italy with an estimated population of 1800 individuals. Despite the local abundance, little data are available on the diseases affecting free-ranging individuals. We describe a case of an epidermoid cyst (EC) in a male adult porcupine found in the municipality of Sovicille, province of Siena (Tuscany). At necropsy, a firm rounded nodule was noted on the left ventricle wall. Histological examination revealed a cystic formation lined by stratified squamous epithelium. The cyst was filled with lamellar keratin, while hair shafts were not present. The adjacent epicardium was infiltrated by lymphoplasmacytic cells in reaction to the rupture of the cyst with the spilling of keratinaceous debris. The lesion was diagnosed as a ruptured epicardial epidermoid cyst. EC are most commonly found in the skin, both in human and animal patients, though infrequently, they can occur in any internal organ. Cardiac EC has not been reported in domestic animals, and this is the first report of EC in a wild animal species. Clinical veterinarians should consider the possibility of similar cardiac lesions in captive subjects since the long lifespan of these rodents could allow the growth of the cyst with the compression of the adjacent tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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9 pages, 2997 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Disseminated Infection with Aspergillus fumigatus in a Scarlet Macaw Parrot (Ara macao)—A Case Report

by Oana Irina Tanase, Geta Pavel, Ozana Maria Hritcu, Mihaela Anca Dascalu, Bianca Elena Bratuleanu, Cristina Mihaela Rimbu and Florentina Daraban Bocaneti

Animals 2024, 14(15), 2282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14152282 - 5 Aug 2024

Viewed by 853

Abstract

A 3-year-old male scarlet macaw parrot (Ara macao) was presented to the Exotic Animal Clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iași University of Life Sciences (Iași, Romania) for its postmortem examination. According to the owner, the parrot had been raised [...] Read more.

A 3-year-old male scarlet macaw parrot (Ara macao) was presented to the Exotic Animal Clinic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Iași University of Life Sciences (Iași, Romania) for its postmortem examination. According to the owner, the parrot had been raised only in captivity and after 5 days of inappetence, lethargy, and mild respiratory clinical signs, the parrot died. The post mortem examination revealed various-sized granulomas and caseous plaques in the lungs, air sacs, spleen, intestinal serosa, and liver. Microscopically, the granulomas were characterized by a necrotic center and the infiltration of numerous multinucleated giant cells and epithelioid-like cells and by the presence of hyphae typical of Aspergillus spp. Moreover, in the liver tissue, a diffuse inflammation, with numerous fungal hyphae, was noted. The fungal culture and the PCR assay allowed for the isolation and identification of Aspergillus fumigatus from the lung and liver samples. The macroscopical lesions and the histopathological findings, with the fungal isolation and molecular confirmation of Aspergillus fumigatus by nested PCR, provided the basis for the diagnosis of disseminated aspergillosis. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first report of disseminated infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in a scarlet macaw parrot (Ara macao). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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6 pages, 846 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

A Case of Severe Abomasal Sand Impaction in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Florida

by Alireza Rahmani Shahraki, João H. J. Bittar, Samantha M. Wisely and Juan M. Campos-Krauer

Animals 2024, 14(11), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111602 - 29 May 2024

Viewed by 733

Abstract

The University of Florida’s Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) conducted a post-mortem examination of a two-year-old white-tailed doe deceased at a northern Florida white-tailed deer farm. The carcass of the deer had notable emaciation and bloating. Upon opening of the carcass, there was [...] Read more.

The University of Florida’s Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) conducted a post-mortem examination of a two-year-old white-tailed doe deceased at a northern Florida white-tailed deer farm. The carcass of the deer had notable emaciation and bloating. Upon opening of the carcass, there was pneumonia and the rumen was tympanic and enlarged. Additionally, the abomasum was distended and contained approximately 5 kg of sand. It is not uncommon for white-tailed deer to engage in geophagia (eating soil or sand), which typically does not result in diseases or fatalities. However, in this animal, we suspect a chronic process that created a physical barrier, hindering nutrient absorption and resulting in physical irritation of the abomasal mucosa with subsequent inflammation. This may have caused a disturbance in immune system function, allowing opportunistic bacteria to colonize and invade other organs, such as the lungs, contributing to the animal’s death. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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6 pages, 1200 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Mycobacterium kansasii Infection in a Farmed White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Florida, USA

by Sydney L. Cottingham, An-Chi Cheng, Pedro H. de Oliveira Viadanna, Kuttichantran Subramaniam, William F. Craft, Marley E. Iredale, Samantha M. Wisely and Juan M. Campos Krauer

Animals 2024, 14(10), 1511; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14101511 - 20 May 2024

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Abstract

A 7-year-old farmed white-tailed deer doe was transported to a Levy County, Florida property and began to decline in health, exhibiting weight loss and pelvic limb weakness. The doe prematurely delivered live twin fawns, both of which later died. The doe was treated [...] Read more.

A 7-year-old farmed white-tailed deer doe was transported to a Levy County, Florida property and began to decline in health, exhibiting weight loss and pelvic limb weakness. The doe prematurely delivered live twin fawns, both of which later died. The doe was treated with corticosteroids, antibiotics, gastric cytoprotectants, and B vitamins but showed no improvement. The doe was euthanized, and a post mortem examination was performed under the University of Florida’s Cervidae Health Research Initiative. We collected lung tissue after the animal was euthanized and performed histological evaluation, using H&E and Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) staining, and molecular evaluation, using conventional PCR, followed by Sanger sequencing. The microscopic observations of the H&E-stained lung showed multifocal granuloma, while the ZN-stained tissue revealed low numbers of beaded, magenta-staining rod bacteria inside the granuloma formation. Molecular analysis identified the presence of Mycobacterium kansasii. This isolation of a non-tuberculous Mycobacterium in a white-tailed deer emphasizes the importance of specific pathogen identification in cases of tuberculosis-like disease in farmed and free-ranging cervids. We report the first case of M. kansasii infection in a farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Florida. Although M. kansasii cases are sporadic in white-tailed deer, it is important to maintain farm biosecurity and prevent farmed cervids from contacting wildlife to prevent disease transmission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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8 pages, 20475 KiB

Open AccessCase Report

Ectopic Pregnancy and T-Cell Lymphoma in a Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris): Possible Comorbidity and a Comparative Pathology Perspective

by Caterina Raso, Valentina Galietta, Claudia Eleni, Marco Innocenti, Niccolò Fonti, Tiziana Palmerini, Mauro Grillo, Pietro Calderini and Elena Borgogni

Animals 2024, 14(5), 731; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050731 - 27 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1167

Abstract

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening disease that affects humans and other mammals. Tumors causing ruptures of the reproductive tract have been identified as possible predisposing factors in human and veterinary medicine. We here describe a case of concomitant ectopic pregnancy and lymphoma [...] Read more.

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening disease that affects humans and other mammals. Tumors causing ruptures of the reproductive tract have been identified as possible predisposing factors in human and veterinary medicine. We here describe a case of concomitant ectopic pregnancy and lymphoma in a Eurasian red squirrel found deceased in Italy and submitted to the public health laboratory Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana (IZSLT) for post-mortem examination. A full-term partially mummified ectopic fetus in the abdomen and a large fibrinonecrotic tubal scar adjacent to the right ovary were observed at necropsy. The tubal scar is likely the point of tubal rupture through which the fetus displaced. Histology revealed the presence of neoplastic cells referable to lymphoma infiltrating the ovary, spleen, small intestine, heart and peripancreatic adipose tissue. The lymphoma was further characterized as T-cell-type using immunohistochemistry. We suggest that the lymphoma, by involving the ovary, played a pathogenetic role in the development of a secondary EP by altering the genital tract at the structural and hormonal levels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of concomitant ovarian lymphoma and EP in animals and humans in the literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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Open AccessCase Report

Adhesive Bowel Obstruction (ABO) in a Stranded Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri)

by Sung Bin Lee, Adams Hei Long Yuen, Young Min Lee, Sang Wha Kim, Sunmin Kim, Cherry Tsz Ching Poon, Won Joon Jung, Sib Sankar Giri, Sang Guen Kim, Su Jin Jo, Jae Hong Park, Mae Hyun Hwang, Jong-pil Seo, Seongjun Choe, Byung Yeop Kim and Se Chang Park

Animals 2023, 13(24), 3767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13243767 - 6 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1889

Abstract

In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of a narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), discovered on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, that was afflicted with adhesive bowel obstruction (ABO), a life-threatening condition that has scarcely [...] Read more.

In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of a narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), discovered on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, that was afflicted with adhesive bowel obstruction (ABO), a life-threatening condition that has scarcely been reported in cetaceans. Diagnosis of ABO was confirmed via radiological and clinical assessments. Post-mortem computed tomography and necropsy revealed ABO between two loops of the jejunum at the L8 level. The mesenteric tissue covering the intestinal lesion was severely thickened with increased tension. Both bowel loops were fixed to the mesentery and acutely angulated, leading to asymmetrical thickening of the cross-sectional bowel walls. The intestinal lumen was stenosed because of pressure from the firm mesenteric band, and no fecal matter was observed in the lumen of the posterior bowel or rectum. Calcified nodules were detected, and histological analysis suggested parasitic or suspected post-parasitic infections. The primary cause of the intestinal lesions is presumed to be a reaction related to parasitic infection. However, further investigations would establish a definitive link between parasitic infections and ABO in this species. This case highlights the importance of studying rare medical conditions in wildlife, providing valuable insights into marine mammal health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation)

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