Antemortem Diagnosis Research Articles

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGIC PRESENTATIONS OF YERSINIOSIS IN VARIOUS NONDOMESTIC SPECIES: AN INVESTIGATION OF YERSINIA PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS OUTBREAKS FROM FOUR NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS.

Yersiniosis due to Yersinia psuedotuberculosis can be associated with high morbidity and mortality in various species and has been a cosmopolitan management challenge in zoological institutions. This gram-negative, environmental bacterium thrives in cold, wet conditions and poses a risk to zoo species. Outbreaks can be costly and impact conservation efforts through loss of threatened and endangered species. Antemortem or clinical diagnosis can be challenging due to intermittent fecal shedding and nonspecific clinical signs. This case series describes common clinical presentations, typical postmortem findings, and response to treatment and prophylaxis at four North American zoological institutions. In total, five outbreaks occurred at four institutions during the winter months from 2013 to 2021. Artiodactyls were by far the most common species involved, and clinical signs included separation from the herd, lethargy, diarrhea, and unexpected death. Other species affected in these outbreaks included cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), a great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus), a rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus), and a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). Necrotizing enteritis with sepsis and pneumonia were common postmortem findings. Mortality rates were originally 76.7%, and herd prophylaxis with a third-generation cephalosporin reduced these rates. These data describe the observational and diagnostic tools to aid in timely diagnosis of a Yersinia outbreak across taxa. Aggressive treatment or prophylaxis were shown to improve survival rates.

Blue toe syndrome - systemic cholesterol crystal embolism secondary to cardiovascular procedures: a forensic autopsy report of two cases.

Blue toe syndrome, also referred to as cholesterol crystal embolism is characterized by the distal embolization of cholesterol crystals originating from ruptured atherosclerotic plaques. This condition commonly arises in the context of cardiovascular procedures. Emboli from the thoracoabdominal aorta primarily affect the downstream extremities and intra-abdominal viscera, often resulting in fatal atheroembolic renal failure. Owing to its insidious and delayed onset, antemortem diagnosis of cholesterol crystal embolism is often underrecognized. Two cases of blue toe syndrome secondary to cardiovascular procedures are presented. In Case 1, the patient died 35 days after coronary angioplasty, whereas in Case 2, the patient developed toe necrosis 95 days after endovascular aortic repair, leading to progressive renal failure over the following five years. A comprehensive forensic autopsy included external examination, skin biopsy, histopathological examination of major organs, and serum biochemical evaluation of renal function parameters. Two cases of blue toe syndrome secondary to cardiovascular procedures are presented. In Case 1, the patient died 35 days after coronary angioplasty, whereas in Case 2, the patient developed toe necrosis 95 days after endovascular aortic repair, leading to progressive renal failure over the following five years. A comprehensive forensic autopsy included external examination, skin biopsy, histopathological examination of major organs, and serum biochemical evaluation of renal function parameters. This report underscores the importance of including systemic cholesterol crystal embolism in the differential diagnosis of blue toe syndrome, particularly in patients with a history of cardiovascular procedures. Fingertips serve as reliable indicators of impaired blood perfusion. To assess blue toe syndrome accurately, we highlight the value of focusing on the toe tips where cholesterol crystal embolism can be consistently detected.

Astroglial Dysfunction, Demyelination and Nodular inflammation in Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis.

Necrotizing Meningoencephalitis (NME), a form of Meningoencephalitis of Unknown Origin (MUO), is a progressive neuroinflammatory disease that primarily affects young, small-breed dogs. Due to limited understanding of its pathophysiology, early detection and the development of targeted therapies remain challenging. Definitive ante-mortem diagnosis is often unfeasible, and dogs with NME are frequently grouped under the broader MUO category. Our long-term objective is to identify distinct disease mechanisms within each MUO subtype to improve diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic approaches, and prognostic outcomes. To establish unique inflammatory patterns as they relate to neuropathologic changes in NME, we studied we studied the degree of immune cell infiltration, astrogliosis, demyelination, and microglial activation, comparing these factors with granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis (GME), a closely related MUO subtype. We found that in the leptomeninges, NME is characterized by mild immune cell infiltration, in contrast to the prominent, B cell-rich aggregates seen in GME. In the neuroparenchyma, both diseases exhibit a comparable degree of lymphocyte infiltration; however, demyelination is more pronounced in NME, particularly within the subcortical white matter. Notably, areas of the brain affected by NME display a reduction in astrogliosis, which is associated with a marked decrease in the expression of the water channel protein aquaporin-4 (AQP4), a reduction not observed in GME. Additionally, we found that AQP4 expression levels correlate with the extent of microglial and macrophage activation. These findings suggest that astrocyte dysfunction in regions of microglial inflammation is a driver of NME and with adaptive immune responses likely playing a supportive role.

Investigating the feasibility of 18F-flortaucipir PET imaging in the antemortem diagnosis of primary age-related tauopathy (PART): An observational imaging-pathological study.

Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles and minimal β-amyloid deposition,diagnosed postmortem.This study investigates18F-flortaucipir(FTP) PET imaging for antemortem PART diagnosis. We analyzed FTP PET scans from 50 autopsy-confirmed PART and 13 control subjects. Temporal lobe uptake was assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics and voxel-level uptake using SPM12 were compared between FTP-positive and FTP-negative cases. Intra-reader reproducibility was evaluated with Krippendorff's alpha. Minimal/mild and moderate FTP uptake was seen in 32% of PART cases and 62% of controls, primarily in the left inferior temporal lobe. No demographic or clinicopathological differences were found between FTP-positive and FTP-negative cases. High intra-reader reproducibility (α=0.83) was noted. FTP PET imaging did not show a specific uptake pattern for PART diagnosis, indicating that in vivo PART identification using FTP PET is challenging. Similar uptake in controls suggests non-specific uptake in PART. 18F-flortaucipir (FTP) PET scans were analyzed for diagnosing PART antemortem. 32% of PART cases had minimal/mild FTP uptake in the left inferior temporal lobe. Similar to PART FTP uptake was found in 62% of control subjects. No specific uptake pattern was found, challenging in vivo PART diagnosis.

Diagnostic approach to chronic diarrhoea in adult horses

SummaryChronic diarrhoea presents a diagnostic challenge for both human physicians and equine veterinarians. There is currently no consensus in the equine veterinary literature on the definition of chronic diarrhoea. The differential list is extensive and identifying diarrhoea by pathophysiologic mechanism can help remove less likely diagnoses. Achieving a definitive antemortem diagnosis is also challenging. Results from non‐invasive diagnostics may only lead to the conclusion that inflammation is present. Cellular infiltrate, if present, may not be representative of the underlying disease. Invasive diagnostics resulting in acquisition of full‐thickness biopsies may result in a diagnosis when other methods have failed. However, there is currently minimal data correlating these findings with those from full post‐mortem examination. This article discusses the various diagnostic options and reviews the available literature on their value in evaluating currently available patients with chronic diarrhoea.

Intracranial arachnoid cyst in a 28-year-old man. A clinical case with a fatal outcome

Most intracranial arachnoid cysts are thought to be non-tumorous, congenital, intra-arachnoid cerebrospinal fluid collections that account for about 1% of all intracranial space-occupying lesions. In children, the prevalence of this pathology is 2.6%; in adults, it reaches 1.4%. The disease is more often registered in men. Most often arachnoid cysts are supratentorial. Their most common locations are in the middle cranial fossa and the retrocerebellar cistern. Less often they can be detected on the convexity of the brain hemispheres; however, cases of arachnoid cysts at more unusual sites have also been described, including in newborns. The pathology is often characterized by an asymptomatic course, while certain symptoms may have an acute onset, which is due to compression of brain structures caused by the large cyst size.This article describes a clinical case of a large intracranial arachnoid cyst in a 28-year-old man. It was not verified in the antemortem diagnosis, but was revealed according to the autopsy findings (macroscopic features of the cyst, histologic presentation with specific morphological changes, and findings of computed tomography of the cerebral hemispheres).

Comparison of Ante-Mortem Clinical Diagnosis and Final Autopsy Diagnosis: Experience from a Single Academic Centre in Pretoria, South Africa.

Background/Objectives: There seems to be a global reduction in the number of clinical post-mortems requested and performed worldwide, suggesting a decreasing need for post-mortem examinations. Despite advances in medical technology, autopsies remain a relevant tool to determine cause of death. Methods: A total of 276 post-mortem results were extracted from the NHLS lab track database, of which only 152 were included in this study. Discrepancies between ante and post-mortem diagnoses were evaluated using the Goldman classification. Data were analysed using STATA-18. Results: The sample consisted largely of females (n = 101, 66.45%) aged 30 and above (n = 58, 33.80%), with a mean age of 28.3. Of the 152 samples analysed, 60% (n = 92) of all postmortems showed a correlation between ante- and post-mortem diagnoses. However, 29.1% (n = 45) of cases showed major discrepancies which could have been prevented if correct diagnoses were made. Metabolic diseases were most frequently misdiagnosed (p = 0.020), with more cases of Class I discrepancies than Class V discrepancies (15.5% (n = 7) vs. 2.1% (n = 2), respectively. Additionally, infections (n = 59; 39%) were the most common cause of death. Conclusions: Even with marked improvements in diagnostic technology, a post-mortem examination is a necessary quality control tool that can be used to verify cause of death, and thus improve clinical practice.

UNILATERAL OVARIAN TORSION IN FIVE GECKOS: CLINICAL AND ULTRASOUND FINDINGS.

Few cases of antemortem ovarian torsion and diagnosis have been described in reptiles. This case series reports clinical and ultrasound findings in five adult (aged 1-6 yr) female geckos (three leopard geckos [Eublepharis macularius], one crested gecko [Correlophus ciliatus], and one gargoyle gecko [Rhacodactylus auriculatus]) diagnosed with unilateral ovarian torsion between 2019 and 2023. All animals presented with acute weakness associated with coelomic distension, and one suffered from chronic diarrhea and cachexia. Coelomic ultrasound examination (12-MHz linear probe) revealed signs of bilateral follicular stasis and oophoritis in all cases (heterogenic follicles ≤1.3 cm diameter) associated with a large anechoic periovarian rim and a hyperechoic chord, consistent with twisted ovarian vessels. Blood supply to ovarian structures was not detected using a Doppler flow, and a unilateral ovarian torsion was diagnosed in all geckos. A bilateral ovariectomy was performed under general anesthesia in all five animals. The mass of the excised ovaries varied between 7 to 15 g (12.7-22.2% of body weight). One gecko died 1 d postsurgery; the four remaining animals were healthy 6 mon postsurgery. Gekkonids are unique among reptiles in that they undergo a monoautochronic ovulation (only one follicle is recruited by each ovary during each ovarian cycle); the presence of multiple vitellogenic follicles on each ovary facilitates the diagnosis of follicular stasis. This condition was present in all five geckos and was suspected to have led to ovarian torsion. This case series emphasizes the value of ultrasound examination for antemortem diagnosis of reproductive disorders in reptiles.

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is the most common four-repeat tauopathy. PSP cases are typically characterized by vertical gaze palsy and postural instability; however, various phenotypes have been reported, making antemortem diagnosis based on clinical symptoms challenging. The development of biomarkers reflecting brain pathology and the ability to diagnose patients based on these biomarkers are essential for developing future intervention strategies, including disease-modifying therapies. However, despite many dedicated efforts, no highly specific fluid biomarker for PSP has yet been established. Conversely, several cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) have been established, and an AT(N) classification system has been proposed. Typically, among patients with AD, CSF amyloid β42 (Aβ42), but not Aβ40, is decreased, resulting in a reduction in the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, while tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-tau181) and total tau (t-tau) are increased. Interestingly, the core CSF AD biomarkers show unique patterns in patients with PSP. Furthermore, reports have indicated that the CSF levels of both Aβ42 and Aβ40 are decreased independently of Aβ accumulation in PSP. Therefore, the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio could potentially be used to differentiate PSP from AD. Additionally, studies have reported that CSF p-tau and t-tau are reduced in PSP, and that the neurofilament light chain is remarkably increased compared to healthy controls and patients with AD, even though PSP is a neurodegenerative disease associated with tau accumulation. These PSP-specific changes in AD-related core biomarkers may reflect the pathology of PSP and contribute to its diagnosis. As such, elucidating the mechanisms underlying the observed decreases in Aβ and tau levels could facilitate a better understanding of the pathogenesis of PSP.

Probable paralytic rabies in a dog: ante-mortem clinical diagnosis implications in limited resource settings.

Rabies is a dreadful zoonotic viral disease that affects animals and humans with a fatality rate of 100%. This report aims to create awareness among the veterinarians and general public about the paralytic form of rabies in order to understand the antemortem clinical diagnosis implications in limited resource settings, so as to follow the post-exposure prophylaxis at the golden hour period of rabies transmission. A one-year-old female dog was presented to the Ambulatory Clinic Unit, Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Theni, Tamil Nadu, India with the ailment of a dropped jaw and was unable to swallow food and water for the past three days. Epidemiological investigations revealed that the animal had dog-bitten wounds from a week ago. On clinical examination, facial distortion, changes in the vocal cord, and paralysis of the throat muscle were noticed. Based on the anamnesis, clinical, and epidemiological investigations, the animal was diagnosed to be a probable case of paralytic form of canine rabies. In the limited resource settings, antemortem clinical diagnosis was practiced to suspect rabies-infected dogs. Further, the owner was advised to implement preventive measures to safeguard against rabies infection. The dog was kept under isolation and succumbed on day two with evidence of progressive paralytic signs. This report emphasizes the importance of paralytic rabies, alongside of furious form of rabies, further creating awareness among the general public about the antemortem clinical diagnosis under limited resource settings.

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis-An experience at autopsy.

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis is an uncommon mode of metastases, characterized by diffuse infiltration of the lymphatics malignant cells, and is mainly the subject of case reports or a few case series. The aim of this study is to study the clinicopathological features of this entity at autopsy. This is a retrospective study of data collected over an 11-year period at a tertiary-care hospital. Clinicopathological data of all autopsies with lymphangitic carcinomatosis were analyzed with reference to their demographics, clinical presentation, investigations, sites of primary cancer, and other relevant findings at autopsy. Among 255 cases of malignancies encountered in 7521 autopsies during the study period, 43 patients (16.9%) showed pulmonary metastasis with 22 (13 females and 9 males, mean age of 52.04 years) histologically proven lymphangitic carcinomatosis of the lungs. An antemortem diagnosis was made in only 1 of the 22 cases. The most common sites of carcinoma had been the stomach or the lungs (40.9%) and dyspnea had been the main symptom. The lungs, in addition, showed metastatic deposits and arterial thrombi and/or tumor emboli. The most common nonpulmonary site for metastasis was the liver and lymph nodes. Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis is often an underdiagnosed clinical entity and the presence of acute progressive respiratory failure in patients with epithelial cancers should raise clinical suspicion. This is one of the largest series to be reported at autopsy.

Differentiation of Bovine Tuberculosis and Paratuberculosis Infections with Antemortem Diagnostic Methods

In this study, based on the results of tuberculin skin tests (Bovine and Avian PPD) used in the antemortem diagnosis and differentiation of Bovine Tuberculosis, the animals in the farms with suspected Tuberculosis were serologically examined to diagnose Paratuberculosis infection and fecal bacterioscopy was performed. In addition, it was aimed to obtain data that will contribute to the eradication studies of Bovine Tuberculosis disease by comparing the antemortem diagnostic methods of Bovine Tuberculosis disease, which is endemic in Türkiye and by determining the sensitivity and specificity values of the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) test. In this context, intradermal tuberculin test was applied to 423 cattle with suspected Tuberculosis in a total of 5 dairy cattle farms, one each from Çankırı, Çorum, Ankara, Eskişehir and Konya regions, and this test was determined as the gold standard method and the sensitivity and specificity of the IFN-γ test were determined as 86% and 97%, respectively. For the diagnosis of Paratuberculosis infection, antibody ELISA, fecal bacterioscopy and IFN-γ ELISA were performed on these animals and the prevalence of these tests were 10.4%, 5.44% and 4.96% respectively and 4 (0.95%) of the cattle were positive for each of the diagnostic methods for Map infection. As a result, it was concluded that IFN-γ test, which gives similar results to intradermal tuberculin test results, can also be used in the antemortem diagnosis of Bovine Tuberculosis. Also, in the comparative intradermal tuberculin test for the diagnosis of Tuberculosis infection, avian PPD positive animals were found to play a decisive role in the detection of nonspecific reactions or Paratuberculosis infected animals, supported by other tests used for the diagnosis of Paratuberculosis.

Clinicopathological discrepancies in the diagnoses of childhood causes of death in the CHAMPS network: An analysis of antemortem diagnostic inaccuracies

IntroductionDetermining aetiology of severe illness can be difficult, especially in settings with limited diagnostic resources, yet critical for providing life-saving care. Our objective was to describe the accuracy of antemortem...

Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence and risk factors in cats in Rio de Janeiro

Seroprevalence studies on cats are essential for monitoring the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii infection. The present research investigated anti-T. gondii antibodies, risk factors, clinical signs, hematology and serum biochemistry in cats from different regions of Rio de Janeiro. An overall 18.7% (17/91) of the cats were seroreactive, and age was associated with increased chances of seroprevalence of anti-T. gondii antibodies. Clinical signs, hematology and serum biochemistry parameters did not help achieve an antemortem diagnosis of cat toxoplasmosis. The parasite circulates in cats from three major regions of Rio de Janeiro, and the present data set will contribute to future epidemiological studies in this endemic state of Brazil.

SERUM AND ASCITES FLUID BIOCHEMICAL PROFILEOF EFFUSIVE-TYPE FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease occurring in cats worldwide caused by Feline Coronavirus. Antemortem diagnosis of FIP is difficult due to non-specific clinical and laboratory signs. Rapid and reliable diagnosis is essential for prognostic purposes. The study was aimed to evaluate the serum biochemical profile and ascites of cats with effusive FIP. This study used five cats suspected of effusive FIP as a samples. Diagnosis was based on clinical examination, Rivalta and rapid test of FIP antibodies to ascites samples. Blood serum and ascites fluid were collected for examination of total protein, albumin, globulin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio. Clinical examination results showed that 5/5 (100%) cats had ascites. Rivalta test on ascites sample was positive for exudate and antibody rapid test was positive for FIP. The biochemical test showed an average total serum protein and ascites fluid of 7.14 ± 1.36 g/dL and 6.12 ± 0.33 g/dL (P<0.05); hypoalbuminemia was found in serum samples with an average of 1.94 ± 0.33 g/dL and ascites fluid albumin of 1.69 ± 0.32 g/dL (P<0.05), serum globulin had an average of 5.06 ± 1.32 g/dL and ascites globulin of 4.80 ± 0.88 g/dL (P>0.05). All cats had a low mean A/G ratio of 0.37 ± 0.36 in serum and 0.34 ± 0.01 in ascites (P>0.05). Concluded that the biochemical profile of serum and ascites in effusive FIP included normal total protein, hypoalbuminemia, normal serum globulin and decreased A/G ratio. Moreover, significant statistical discrepancy in serum and ascites biochemical profiles only occurred in total protein and albumin, but not in globulin and A/G ratio.

PARROT BORNAVIRUSES IN PSITTACINES KEPT IN CAPTIVITY IN THE STATE OF SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL.

Parrot bornaviruses are responsible for proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and factors associated with Parrot bornaviruses infection in psittacines kept in captivity in a state in the southern region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 192 birds from two facilities (A and B) in 2019, using choanal, esophageal, and cloacal swabs and feathers, totaling 768 samples subjected to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), for the matrix (M) protein gene with a final product of 350 base pairs (bp). Genetic sequencing of three positive samples was performed by the Sanger method. In the study, the overall virus occurrence was 35.9% (69/192), with 40.4% (42/104) in Facility A and 30.7% (27/88) in Facility B. Sequencing analysis of the samples revealed the presence of Parrot bornavirus 2 (PaBV-2) in both facilities. Swab samples from the choanal (40/69), esophageal (30/69), cloacal (35/69), and feather (15/69) tested positive, facilitating the molecular diagnosis of Parrot bornaviruses. The results indicated that there is no single ideal sample type for antemortem molecular diagnosis of this virus. Simultaneously testing all four samples at the same time point yielded more diagnoses than testing any single sample among the four. Most of the 29 sampled psittacine species were native, and 46.9% of the birds (90/192) consisted of endangered species. Among the psittacines that tested positive, 88.4% (61/69) were clinically healthy, and 8.7% (6/69) exhibited clinical or behavioral signs, including behavioral changes, alterations in feathering, and changes in body score at the time of collection. This study showcases the application of minimally invasive sampling for diagnosing Parrot bornaviruses, enabling sample collection when the birds are restrained for clinical evaluation. This approach facilitates a prompt and effective antemortem diagnosis, thereby serving as an efficient screening method for parrots kept in captivity.

The discrepancy of antemortem clinical diagnosis and postmortem autopsy diagnosis of lung pathologies in under-five deaths and the reasons for discrepancies: a case series analysis

BackgroundDiagnostic autopsy is the most reliable approach to definitively ascertain the cause of death and evaluate the accuracy of antemortem clinical diagnoses. Identifying diagnostic discrepancies is vital to understanding common gaps in antemortem clinical diagnoses and modifying antemortem diagnostic approaches to increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of diagnostic discrepancies between antemortem clinical diagnoses and postmortem autopsies on lung pathologies and to understand the reasons for diagnostic discrepancies among cases included in Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) in Ethiopia.MethodsA clinical case series study of deaths among children under-five in the CHAMPS study at three sites in Ethiopia between October 2019 and April 2022 was conducted. The antemortem clinical diagnoses and postmortem pathological diagnoses of the lung were compared for each case. Two senior physicians assessed the findings for both agreement and disagreement. McNemar’s test was used to assess for statistically significant differences between antemortem and postmortem diagnoses.ResultsSeventy-five cases were included (73.3% male). Over half (54.7%) died between the 1st and 7th day of life. Sepsis (66.7%), pneumonia (6.7%), and meconium aspiration syndrome (5.0%) were the most common immediate causes of death. Half (52%) of cases were correctly diagnosed antemortem. The magnitude of diagnostic discrepancy was 35% (95% CI: 20-47%). The most common contributing factors to diagnostic discrepancy were gaps in knowledge (22/75, 35.5%) and problems in consultation and teamwork (22/75, 35.5%).ConclusionsMisdiagnoses were common among young children who died with positive lung pathology findings. In-service education initiatives and multidisciplinary collaboration are needed to mitigate high rates of diagnostic discrepancies among young children to potentially prevent future deaths.

An overview of mycotoxicoses in rabbits.

Mycotoxicoses are usually a consideration in large animal species but can affect companion animals as well. Due to increasing interest and the ease of using rabbits as laboratory models, a growing number of published experimental studies discuss the effects of various mycotoxins on this species. However, the available evidence is fragmented and heterogeneous, and has not recently been collated in a review, to my knowledge. Although mycotoxicoses in rabbits are typically subclinical, clinical signs can include weight loss, anorexia, gastrointestinal disorders, stunted growth, reproductive abnormalities, and susceptibility to infections. An antemortem diagnosis typically relies on a comprehensive clinical history, and assessment of clinical signs and relevant laboratory findings, with confirmation of exposure achieved through the measurement of mycotoxin concentrations in feed or target organs. My review focuses on the clinicopathologic and histopathologic effects of the mycotoxins most important in rabbits, including fumonisins, ochratoxins, aflatoxins, trichothecenes, and zearalenone. This review offers a thorough overview of the effects of mycotoxins in rabbits, serving as a one-stop resource for veterinary practitioners, diagnosticians, and researchers.

Biomarkers associated with vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease following influenza A virus infection in swine

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a major pathogen in the swine industry. Whole-inactivated virus (WIV) vaccines in swine are highly effective against homologous viruses but provide limited protection to antigenically divergent viruses and may lead to vaccine-associated enhanced respiratory disease (VAERD) after heterologous infection. Although VAERD is reproducible in laboratory studies, clinical diagnosis is challenging, as it would require both knowledge of prior vaccine history and evidence of severe disease by assessment of pathologic lesions at necropsy following infection with a heterologous virus. The objective of this study was to identify potential biomarkers for VAERD for antemortem clinical diagnosis. Naïve pigs were split into two groups, and one group was vaccinated with IAV WIV vaccine. All pigs were then challenged with a heterologous virus to induce VAERD in the vaccinated group and necropsied at 5 days post infection (dpi). Blood was collected on 0, 1, 3, and 5 dpi, and assessed by hematology, plasma chemistry, acute phase proteins, and citrullinated H3 histone (CitH3) assays. Additionally, cytokine and CitH3 levels were assessed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected at necropsy. Compared to nonvaccinated challenged pigs, blood collected from vaccinated and challenged (V/C) pigs with VAERD had elevated white blood cells and neutrophils, elevated C-reactive protein and haptoglobin acute phase proteins, and elevated CitH3. In BALF, the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 and CitH3 were elevated in V/C pigs. In conclusion, a profile of elevated white blood cells and neutrophils, elevated C-reactive protein and haptoglobin, and elevated CitH3 may be relevant for a clinical antemortem IAV VAERD diagnosis.

Limited usefulness of the IS6110 touchdown-PCR in blood for tuberculin skin test false-negative cattle with serological response to Mycobacterium bovis.

Ante-mortem diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is based mainly on the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the ɣ-IFN release assay (IGRA). Some infected animals escape screening tests, thus, limit herd sanitation. Previous reports have suggested a predominant pattern of multi-organ lesions attributable to Mycobacterium bovis (the causative agent of bTB) bacteraemia. A case-control study was conducted to investigate blood PCR as an alternative tool for improving ante-mortem detection of TST false-negative bovines. Cases comprised 70 TST false-negative bovines (cases), which were serology positive, and controls included 81 TST positive bovines; all of them confirmed as infected with M. bovis. Detection of the IS6110 target through touchdown blood-PCR (IS6110 TD-PCR) was performed. The positivity of the blood-PCR was 27.2% in the control group. This performance was similar to the 15% obtained among cases (p = 0.134). Most cases identified by the IS6110 TD-PCR exhibited focalized lesions (p = 0.002). Results demonstrated that blood-PCR could detect TST false-negative cattle, even if they are negative for IGRA. Considering that cases exhibited humoral response to M. bovis, further studies conducted in a pre-serological stage could provide evidence about the real contribution of the technique in herds.