Spontaneous inclusion body hepatitis in young tamarins: I. Morphological study.

Over a period of 4 years approximately 60% of the new born and juvenile animals in a breeding colony of tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) died a sudden death. Histological examination at necropsy revealed interstitial hepatitis in 22 of the 30 young animals of the present study. The hepatocytes contained intranuclear inclusion bodies in 12 of the 22 cases. Upon ultrastructural examination, tubulovesicular structures and amorphous material were found in the nuclei. The endoplasmic reticulum had proliferated and was closely associated with undulating curved membranes. These morphological alterations resemble those reported in chimpanzees experimentally infected with NANB hepatitis viruses.     

Establishment of a salmonella-free Guinea pig colony

Salmonellosis due to Salmonella typhimurium was enzootic in a guinea pig breeding colony for over 25 years. A Salmonella-free auxiliary colony was established by removing weanlings from the infected colony to a clean area, and preventing infection. Examination of agglutinin titers and necropsy specimens indicated that the auxiliary colony was still free from Salmonella 18 months after its establishment while 24% of the guinea pigs dying in the infected colony yielded Salmonella typhimurium.     

Value and quality of perinatal and infant postmortem examinations: cohort analysis of 400 consecutive deaths.

OBJECTIVES--To evaluate the contribution that perinatal and infant necropsy makes to clinical practice and to see how this might be influenced by the quality of the investigation. DESIGN--Cohort analysis, with data from the all Wales perinatal survey, of perinatal and infant deaths during 1993 of babies born to mothers usually resident in Wales. The clinicopathological classification of death based on clinical details was compared with the classification after necropsy. Similarly, cases in which necropsy yielded new information were identified. The quality of the necropsy was assessed by scoring six aspects of the examination. SUBJECTS--400 consecutive deaths at 20 weeks of gestation to 1 year of age. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Necropsy rate, effect of necropsy on clinicopathological classification, new information disclosed by necropsy, quality of necropsies, and the link between new information and quality of the necropsy. RESULTS--Necropsy was performed in 232 cases (58%). The clinicopathological classification was altered by necropsy in 29 cases (13%). New information was obtained in 60 cases (26%), and in 42 (18%) it disclosed the cause of death. The quality of necropsy was substantially higher when the main cause of death was detected than when nothing new was found. CONCLUSION--Necropsy is underused. Clinicians should be more positive about necropsies and realise how much clinically relevant information can be obtained from a good quality examination.     

A naturally occurring epizootic caused by Sendai virus in breeding and aging rodent colonies. I. Infection in the mouse.

An acute Sendai virus epizootic occurred simultaneously in a breeding colony, in experimental and stock animal rooms, and in a colony of aging mice. During the 2-month period that the infection was at its maximum, death rates were approximately doubled. In some strains, the preweanling death rate reached 100%. RFM and BALB/c mice were most susceptible and NZB mice least susceptible. The mortality during the period of Sendai virus infection was increased for most strains and age groups except for the oldest female RFM and NZB mice. Death rates during the epizootic were lowest in young adult mice (greater than 10 weeks of age) and highest in the very young mice (less than 10 weeks of age) and in the oldest male and the moderately aged female mice. Although a substantial number of older mice died during the epizootic, examination of the age-specific death rates indicated that the increase in deaths remained relatively constant for all ages over 10 weeks. This showed that the older mice were not more susceptible to Sendai virus infection. As a sequela of the epizootic, focal chronic pneumonia was found in 10-40% of the mice coming to necropsy even 1 year later.     

A retrospective study of disease and mortality in zebra finches

Few published reports exist describing morbidity and mortality in domestic zebra finch colonies maintained in a laboratory animal setting. A retrospective study of clinical disease and mortality in quarantined adult zebra finches was performed. Animals were observed during the 2 week quarantine period and for at least 1 month afterwards (42 days). Signs of disease, including feather and beak abnormalities, oculonasal discharge, increased respiratory rate or stridor, abdominal enlargement, pasty vent, diarrhea, lameness and pectoral muscle loss, were evaluated in our colony during this time. History, physical examination, laboratory testing and postmortem evaluation were used to determine causes of clinical disease. Common clinical findings in sick finches included sudden death, ruffled feathers, increased respiratory rate or gape mouthed breathing, pasty vent or frank diarrhea, and beak discoloration. Organisms frequently isolated were Staphylococcus spp., E. coli, Enterobacter spp., and Coccidia spp. Of the finches that died while in the colony (29.5%), 23.0% died in the first week after arrival. Pathogens frequently isolated from tissues cultured at necropsy included: E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp., and Candida albicans. When observed, pathological lesions consisted of air sacculitis, fibrinopurulent polyserositis and ventriculitis.     

Causes of death in marine mammals stranded along the Oregon coast

Sixty-eight marine mammals stranded on the Oregon beaches were examined at necropsy. Gunshot was the primary cause of death in 30% of the pinnipeds examined. Bacterial infections (27%) and parasitism (27%) were also of major importance in the death and debilitation of Oregon marine mammals. Traumatic death or debilitation other than gunshot was observed in 11 animals (16%). Predation, starvation due to neonatal abandonment, viral encephalitis (presumptive diagnosis), dystocia and neoplasia were diagnosed as primary or contributory causes of stranding.     

An encephalomyocarditis virus epizootic in a baboon colony.

Approximately 80 baboon deaths were caused by encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection in a 3060 member research and production colony. The epizootic extended over a 9-month period and occurred in baboons ranging from 1 day to 22 years of age. Acute death was the most common history. When clinical disease was detected, it was characterized by labored respiration associated with acute congestive heart failure. The salient necropsy findings were pulmonary congestion and edema, hydropericardium, hydrothorax, ascites, lymph node and splenic hypertrophy, and pale white-to-tan mottled hearts. The most significant histologic lesion was nonsuppurative necrotizing myocarditis. Placental infection with fetal loss occurred. Diagnosis was confirmed by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, virus culture, and serology. Rarely, EMCV-induced antibody persisted in surviving baboons for more than 24 months. EMCV-infected feral rats were the probable source of the virus and their control stopped the epizootic. No EMCV neutralizing antibody was detected in colony support personnel or chimpanzees.     

Maternal factors affecting reproduction in a breeding colony of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

A breeding colony of cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), composed of imported and colony-born animals and established for 9 years, was evaluated for maternal factors associated with reproductive failure. The factors evaluated included age, gravidity, parity, origin, previous stillbirths, clinical incidents and type of housing. The effects of each factor on pregnancy rate (PR), stillbirth rate (SR), infant mortality rate (IMR) and pregnancy success (PS) were evaluated. The overall colony rates were: PR = 53%, SR = 22%, IMR = 22%, and PS = 60%. Neonatal death rate for the group was 12%. Pregnancy rate was most affected by maternal factors. Clinical incidents occurring during pregnancy were associated with a significant increase in the stillbirth rate, but did not affect infant mortality rate. Maternal age did not affect any of the measures of reproductive output. Pregnancy rate peaked at 6-8 years of age and decreased thereafter, while pregnancy success peaked at 9-11 years of age. Gravidity and parity had a positive linear relationship with pregnancy rate.     

Body composition in baboons: Evaluating a morphometric method

The objective of this study was to determine whether noninvasive morphometric measurements of olive baboons (Papio cynocephalus anubis) can reliably predict lean body mass and fat mass in this species. Crown-rump length, triceps circumference, and skinfold measures at the neck, subscapular, suprailiac, and triceps sites were obtained prior to necropsy from 21 clinically normal infant baboons at 18 weeks of age and from 22 clinically normal adolescent baboons at 5 years of age. At necropsy, the lean body mass and body fat mass were measured using gravimetric methods. Pearson's correlations and regression analysis were used to test the relationship between direct measures of lean and fat mass obtained at necropsy with calculated estimates based on morphometric measures obtained prior to death. Our null hypothesis was that the morphometric measures (individually or in combination) were not related to direct measures of fat mass or lean mass. Non-linear and multiple regression estimators, by age and gender, were derived and provided increased predictability. Our results indicate that (1) morphometric measures can accurately predict lean body mass in male and female baboons; (2) morphometric measures used to predict lean body mass change with age; (3) morphometric measures are strongly associated with body fat mass at 18 weeks of age but are not as strongly associated with body fat mass in 5-year-old baboons; (4) triceps circumference provides the best single indicator of lean body mass for both genders and age periods; (5) baboons are like humans in that adolescent females tend to accumulate body fat while males of the same age tend to develop lean mass; and (6) combinations of these morphometric measurements explain between 70% and 100% of the variability and can be used to estimate lean and fat mass in baboons.     

Scleractinian coral diseases in south Florida: incidence, species susceptibility, and mortality

There are limited quantitative data available documenting the natural, or non-epizootic, occurrence of scleractinian coral diseases over multiple years. Individual coral colonies exhibiting black band disease (BBD), white plague (WP), dark spots syndrome (DSS), and white band disease (WBD) were monitored 3 times per year on 5 south Florida reefs over a 2 yr period. Surveys included measurements of coral population composition, coral diversity, disease type, coral species affected, colony size, percent of colony affected, and the number of lesions or active infections per colony. Data on re-infections of the same colonies, multiple infections per colony, disease duration, disease-associated tissue mortality, and coral recruitment are also presented. A total of 674 coral colonies exhibiting coral diseases were tagged and monitored. DSS was the most common syndrome (n = 620 infected colonies), but BBD and WP infections caused the largest amount of coral tissue death. The only disease that exhibited a linear increase in incidence with elevated temperature was BBD. DSS and BBD were the most persistent conditions, and WP infections were comparatively short-lived, with obvious signs of disease typically disappearing after 2 to 3 mo. The only disease that caused total colony death as oppposed to partial mortality during the survey period was WBD. WP and DSS incidence was significantly positively correlated with the relative frequency of the species most commonly affected by each disease at each study site. Of the 61 colonies examined in the recruitment survey, only 5 scleractinian coral recruits were identified. The most commonly recorded colonizer of exposed coral skeleton was filamentous/turf algae, thus indicating the potential for a shift towards algal-dominated reef communities.     

Adult survival of Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla in a Pacific colony

Breeding Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla survived at a mean annual rate of 0.926 in four years at a colony in Alaska. Survival rates observed in sexed males (0.930) and females (0.937) did not differ significantly. The rate of return among nonbreeding Kittiwakes (0.839) was lower than that of known breeders, presumably because more nonbreeders moved away from the study plots where they were marked. Individual nonbreeders frequented sites up to 5 km apart on the same island, while a few established breeders moved up to 2.5 km between years. Mate retention in breeding Kittiwakes averaged 69% in three years. Among pairs that split, the cause of changing mates was about equally divided between death (46%) and divorce (54%). Average adult life expectancy was estimated at 13.0 years. Combined with annual productivity averaging 0.17 chick per nest, the observed survival was insufficient for maintaining population size. Rather, an irregular decline observed in the study colony since 1981 is consistent with the model of a closed population with little or no recruitment. Compared to their Atlantic counterparts, Pacific Kittiwakes have low productivity and high survival. The question arises whether differences reflect phenotypic plasticity or genetically determined variation in population parameters.     

Necropsy survey of gastric ulcers in a population of aged donkeys: prevalence, lesion description and risk factors

There is no information about the prevalence of gastric ulceration in donkeys or potential risk factors for its presence in donkeys. The donkey is a stoic, hardy animal that has not previously been thought to suffer from this disease. However, gastric ulceration was found to be a problem in a population of non-working UK donkeys resident at the Donkey Sanctuary and its prevalence was estimated by examining necropsy data over a 2-year period during 2005 to 2006. Associations with clinical and management factors were determined. In total, 426 donkeys were examined at necropsy to determine the presence of gastric ulceration. Lesions were described and scored according to a four-point scale. Management and clinical data from these donkeys were analysed to identify potential risk factors for the presence of gastric ulceration. Terminal blood samples were also studied to determine whether animals were exhibiting hyperlipaemia prior to death. Results showed that 41% (n = 174) of the donkeys studied had evidence of gastric ulceration at necropsy. Most (49%) of the ulcers were of a medium size (area of 2 cm2 - <10 cm2) and the most common site for ulcers was the margo plicatus. Of the donkeys examined, 18% had hyperlipaemia prior to or death or euthanasia and this was a risk factor for donkeys developing gastric ulceration; 62% of hyperlipaemia cases also displayed gastric ulceration (P < 0.001). Kidney disease was a potential risk factor (P = 0.02), with 74% of these animals having gastric ulceration. Donkeys that died or were euthanased due to respiratory disease were at a decreased risk of developing ulceration (P = 0.01) Donkeys fed a carbohydrate-based diet were more likely (P < 0.001) to have gastric ulceration than those fed a fibre-only diet, with 55% having gastric ulceration compared with 33% in the fibre-only group. This study has shown that gastric ulceration is commonly observed in donkeys at necropsy and may be extensive.     

Lymphoblastic lymphoma in a colony of N:NIH(S)-bg-nu-xid mice.

During a 1-year period, 28 animals from a breeding colony of N:NIH(S)-bg-nu-xid mice were discovered to have rapidly enlarging subcutaneous swellings in the ventral, cervical, and axillary regions. Five of the mice also had hind limb paresis. Twenty-two of the mice were heterozygous nude females, five were homozygous nude males, and one was a homozygous nude female. All of the above mice were homo- or hemizygous for the beige and X-linked immunodeficiency mutations. The average age of the mice was 8.3 months. Generalized enlargement of the peripheral and internal lymph nodes was present at the time of necropsy examination. Other lesions commonly noted at necropsy included splenomegaly (15 mice), pale and thickened ventral lumbar spinal musculature (11 mice), and opaque, thickened meninges of the brain (10 mice). Histologic examination consistently disclosed infiltrates of neoplastic lymphoblasts in multiple tissues including lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, and meninges of the brain and spinal cord. The cells were positive for IgG on immunofluorescent staining, suggesting that the tumors were of B cell origin. The neoplasms observed in these mice have several similarities to tumors found in immunodeficient humans, suggesting that these mice may serve as useful animal models of lymphoma.     

Death certification in general practice: review of records.

The records of death that had been certified by general practitioners in one practice over 18 years were assessed in the light of the recent joint publications of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Pathologists. Over this period roughly 30% of the deaths in the practice population occurred outside hospital and a total of 262 certificates were issued. A review of 262 counterfoils of records of death certification showed that 12 counterfoils (4.6%) had no age and sex mentioned, and three counterfoils did not describe the place of death. The average age at death outside hospital was 71.6 years--the age of women being 75.1 years compared with that of men of 68.2 years. Only 2% of patients had had a necropsy. The common causes of death stated in the certificates were: cardiovascular 41%, carcinoma 35%, respiratory 15%, and stroke 8%. All contributory causes are also mentioned. Ninety seven per cent of the patients were seen after death by the doctors in the practice and 68% had been seen in the two days preceding death. We emphasise the importance of keeping accurate records of deaths in general practice for audit and research as well as for planning services for terminally ill and recently bereaved patients.     

Detection of early secretory antigenic target-6 antibody for diagnosis of tuberculosis in non-human primates

Tuberculosis is one of the most economically devastating, zoonotic infections of captive non-human primates. The limitations of the tuberculin skin test, which is currently used to diagnose tuberculosis in living non-human primates, make it necessary to find new, simple, and economical diagnostic methods. We describe use of an enzyme-linked immunoassay to detect IgG antibodies against early secretory antigenic target (ESAT)-6, a small protein secreted by virulent tubercle bacilli, in paired (pre- and post-outbreak) sera from 57 non-human primates involved in an outbreak of Mycobacterium bovis infection in a research colony. Of 25 animals with tuberculosis lesions at necropsy, 22 (88%) had high serum levels of the ESAT-6 antibody. The ESAT-6 antibody was found in 16% (5/32) of post-outbreak sera from animals in which tuberculosis could not be confirmed at necropsy. The strong association between the ESAT-6 antibody and tuberculosis in non-human primates documented in this study, together with the robustness of the serologic assay, make the ESAT-6 ELISA a valuable tool for diagnosis of tuberculosis in captive non-human primates.     

Impact of Thelohania solenopsae (Microsporidia: Thelohaniidae) on polygyne colonies of red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Three studies were conducted to assess the effects of the entomopathogen Thelohania solenopsae on polygynous, red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, colonies. A total of 57 of 122 queens (46.7%) from nine, field-collected, polygyne, S. invicta colonies, was infected with T. solenopsae. Infection rate of queens for each colony ranged from 25 to 75%. Laboratory colonies of polygyne S. invicta, with three to 12 queens, were inoculated and infected with T. solenopsae. Brood levels in all infected colonies declined to 0 after 26-52 wk. Brood did not reappear in any of the colonies after 3-11 wk, even though in two of the eight infected colonies, five fertile queens that were uninfected were recovered. Thus, polygyne, S. invicta colonies infected with T solenopsae, which were confined and isolated under laboratory conditions, did not recover. Field plots that contained polygynous S. invicta colonies, which were infected with T solenopsae, were monitored over a 2-yr period. Infection rates increased during the study and reached a maximum of 9.3%. Fire ant nest density and colony sizes fluctuated over time, with maximum reduction of 63% per plot. In general, fire ant reductions were attributed to smaller colony sizes. T. solenopsae infections in polygynous S. invicta can result in a slow colony decline and death. Under field conditions, the prolonged colony death may mask the impact of T. solenopsae by allowing for concurrent reinfestations.     

Receptors for C3 and IgG on macrophage, neutrophil and eosinophil colony cells grown in vitro.

Macrophage, neutrophil, and eosinophil colony cells from bone marrow culture in semisolid agar medium were studied for membrane C3 and IgG receptors. The capacity of these cells to bind either erythrocytes-19S antibody-complement (EAC) or erythrocyte-7S antibody (EA7S) complexes was measured using the rosette method. Whereas macrophage and neutrophil colony cells showed receptors for both C3 and IgG, eosinophil colony cells appear to bear only IgG receptors. Studies correlating colony age and the presence of receptors showed that 60 to 70% of the cells from 3-day-old macrophage colonies were reactive for EAC and EA7S contrasting with 80 to 90% of the cells from 6- to 12-day-old colonies. Neutrophils behaved somewhat differently: EAC and EA7S reactive cells were seen in colonies after 4 or 5 days in culture and comprised only 50 to 60% of the colony population. Eosinophilic colonies showed 50 to 60% EA7S reactive cells after 6 to 7 days in culture, but no EAC reactive cells were found among these colonies at any time. The characteristics and properties of the receptors detected on colony cells were similar to those on macrophages and neutrophils from normal peritoneal fluid or bone marrow. Most macrophage colony cells were actively phagocytic whereas neutrophils and eosinophilic colony cells failed to show phagocytosis under the same conditions.     

Serological studies in Nectomys squamipes demonstrate the low sensitivity of coprological exams for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis

The existence of wild rodents naturally infected by Schistosoma mansoni is a drawback for schistosomiasis control programs. As a consequence, it is necessary to have a precise diagnosis of S. mansoni infection in wild rodents (water rats; Nectomys squamipes), the species seemingly involved in the transmission of schistosomiasis at Sumindouro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A total of 78 specimens of N. squamipes was captured in an endemic area at Vale do Pamparr?o and Porteira Verde, Sumidouro, Brazil; 5 more were born in captivity and experimentally infected. The sensitivity and specificity of the coprological method of Kato-Katz and serological methods, i.e., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB), were compared. The rodents were subsequently killed and necropsied to confirm infection. The prevalences observed using ELISA (48%) and WB (41%) were equivalent to those found at necropsy (41%). The ELISA showed a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 87%, whereas the WB showed a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 89%. The Kato-Katz method exhibited 50% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The differences found among the ELISA, WB, and necropsy, when compared with Kato-Katz, may be related to the low sensitivity of the coprological method. Serological methods should be used for more reliable epidemiological information.     

Community study of the causes of "natural" sudden death.

Three hundred and fifty cases of "natural" sudden death within six hours of onset of symptoms in people ranging in age from 18 to 69 years in Wandsworth were studied using a detailed necropsy protocol to determine the cause of death. Sudden death occurred in 28 (8%) Asians and blacks, but because of the small number they were excluded from the study, leaving 322 cases. Ischaemic heart disease accounted for 189 (59%) of the 322 sudden deaths (155 (65%) men; 34 (41%) women) and no proportional increase in instantaneous compared with non-instantaneous sudden death was found. Non-ischaemic cardiac disease was the cause of sudden death in 24 cases (7.5%). Non-cardiac disease included pulmonary emboli, aortic aneurysms, and intracerebral haemorrhage and caused 89 (27.6%) deaths. Alcohol was the cause of nine deaths (2.8%) and in 11 (3.4%) cases (six men and five women) no cause of death was found. This study shows that although ischaemic heart disease is the single largest cause of sudden natural death there are other major causes.     

Trichobezoars in two saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis)

Two captive-born Saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) died unexpectedly in the primate colony at the Peruvian Primatological Project. At necropsy, a firm, mobile, oblong, obscure mass was discovered in the stomach of each. They were removed and determined to be trichobezoars.