Nephrotoxicosis in a cat following ingestion of Asiatic hybrid lily (Lilium sp).

Abstract

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