Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract The most significant infectious disease that affects cats is thought to be feline panleukopenia, also known as Cat distemper. Despite its epidemiological status, few literatures are available regarding the clinic-pathological aspect of the disease and about the molecular epidemiology of the circulating feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) in India. This study gives a comprehensive insight into the prevalence, pathology and diagnosis of FPV in cat population of Mizoram. Twenty-six cats that died of clinical disease suspected of FPV were subjected to a thorough pathological examination followed by molecular diagnosis. The FPV infection was confirmed in 12 out of the 26 cats by polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the VP2 gene of FPV. The phylogenetic analysis based on the full VP2 gene of FPV has demonstrated close genetic affinity of FPV strains circulating in Mizoram with the isolates from Thailand (MW589472), Italy (MZ508524) and China (OR727315). The analysis of the VP2-deduced amino acid sequence revealed two distinct mutations, S179T and I401V, exclusively identified in isolates from this particular study.

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) are among one of the most prevalent and important infectious agents, which cause a severe economic impact on pig farming worldwide. Circulation of these viruses together in the same pig population may lead to the syndemic infection with altered pathogenicity and thereby pathology and clinical manifestation of the diseases. The present study evaluated syndemic infection between PRRSV and PCV2 in the pig population reared in the backyard farms in Mizoram state of India. The syndemicity between PRRSV and PCV2 was confirmed by clinico-pathological studies followed by simultaneous detection of both the viruses in tissue samples by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), immunohisto-chemistry and SYBR green-based real-time PCR / RT- PCR. The syndemicity resulted to a more severe respiratory disease in affected pigs. Pathological studies on affected pigs revealed a combined picture of hemorrhagic lesions with lymphadenopathy. The SYBR green-based absolute quantification assay estimated the PCV2 load in more quantities than that of PRRSV in all the tissues. The highest PRRSV load was detected in the lungs, while the highest PCV2 load was detected in mesenteric and inguinal lymph nodes. The co-circulation of different pathogenic viruses and their persistent infections in a population is always a matter of great concern to pig producers across the world. The present findings highlighted the similar situation with syndemic infection of PRRSV with PCV2 for the first time in Mizoram, India, that caused severe respiratory disease in affected pigs.

Abstract An outbreak of contagious foot rot due to Fusobacterium necrophorum infection was reported in a herd of four-horned antelopes (Tetracerus quadricornis) in a wildlife sanctuary at Goa, India. The infected animals showed signs of anorexia, limping and foot lesions, like erosions and sloughing of hooves. Mortality was recorded in two antelopes in which gross lesions, like generalized congestion of skeletal muscles and internal organs, and multi-focal to coalescing abscesses in lung, pleura, and diaphragm were observed. Histopathological evaluation of interdigital skin showed zones of coagulative necrosis, infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells, congestion, hemorrhage, and thrombosis in the dermis. Lung showed extensive areas of consolidation with alveolar edema, hyperemic alveolar capillaries, hemorrhage, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The bacterial culture from heart blood, lung, liver, and kidney tissues revealed isolation of F. necrophorum being also confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using amplification of lktA gene of
F. necrophorum. In addition, the PCR also confirmed the presence of F. necrophorum DNA in the interdigital skin, lung, and liver tissues. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the
F. necrophorum isolate from the present study grouped closely with isolates from Australia, China, Pakistan, and Iraq, as well as an Indian isolate from goat. The affected live animals were treated with oral antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medicines, and vitamin supplements for seven days, and recovered. This study confirmed the first outbreak of contagious foot rot and systemic infection with F. necrophorum in a herd of four-horned antelopes in India.

Abstract A 15-year-old male terrier dog with symptoms of lethargy and severe abdominal distension was referred to the polyclinic hospital of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. In addition to numbness and abdominal distension, the dog also had anorexia and severe weakness and some skin masses were observed. Due to the enlarged abdomen, splenomegaly was diagnosed in ultrasonography. Fine needle aspiration was performed on the liver and skin mass and then, neoplastic lesions were reported based on cytology. On the necropsy, two masses were found on the liver and shoulder skin. These masses were well-encapsulated, soft and multi-lobulated. Samples taken from the liver and skin were prepared by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and then, two different immunohistochemical markers were used to confirm the initial diagnosis. Histopathological examination of these two well-encapsulated, soft and multi-lobulated masses on the liver and skin showed lipid content and liposarcoma was indicated. Immunohistochemical staining using two markers, S100 and MDM2, made a definitive diagnosis and confirmed the diagnosis.

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoon parasite which causes toxoplasmosis both in human and warm-blooded animals. Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease and largely threats human and animal health consequently causing economic losses. Also, it affects the visceral organs in different severity degrees according to the strain of parasite and the host. In this study, experimental toxoplasmosis was performed via intra-peritoneal route in 12 gerbils by administrating 5.00 × 10³ tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain. The gerbils were sacrificed 7 days after inoculation. All systemic organs were obtained via necropsy and examined by immunohistochemical and histopathological methods. Lesions infected with T. gondii mostly observed in the serosa of abdominal cavity organs including stomach, liver, spleen, intestines, and kidneys. The lesions were most severe in liver. The parasite showed an affinity for the hepatic tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental study of acute T. gondii infection in gerbil evaluating macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. It is concluded that Mongolian gerbils can be used as experimental animals to investigate toxoplasmosis. Also, these animals are very suitable hosts to study liver pathology and pathobiology of T. gondii-related hepatitis.

Abstract Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a model of human lung cancer‎ and fatal viral disease that causes neoplasia in sheep respiratory cells. ‎In the current study, 986 lung samples was inspected in the slaughterhouse, and finally twenty OPA ‎ lung organs were clinically diagnosed and five healthy lung organs were assigned as the control sample. Three SSCP patterns were detected for the affected lungs animals in comparison with the healthy lungs. In addition, sequencing results indicated three different single point mutations in exon 4 of TP53 within infected lungs, whereas no mutations were observed in exon 9 of this gene. Real-time PCR results showed up-regulation of the TP53 gene in all the infected lung cells compared to healthy cells. There was significant correlation between the mutations in exon 4 and OPAand can be used as a useful tool in determining the mechanism of lung cancer.

Abstract The thyroid structural changes in pregnant ewes and their fetuses were investigated. Out of 100 pairs of thyroid glands collected from ewes and their fetuses at the local municipal abattoir in Ahvaz city of Khuzestan province, multiple lesions were seen in 59% and 21% of the thyroid glands of ewes and fetuses, respectively. Histologically, ninety nine lesions in the ewes and twenty two lesions in the fetuses’ thyroid glands were noticed.