An outbreak of Bordetella bronchiseptica pneumonia in a colony of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

An outbreak of Bordetella bronchiseptica pneumonia occurred in a breeding colony of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). 16 animals, all except one under 12 months of age, died suddenly. Extensive lesions of pneumonia and pleurisy were found at necropsy and B. bronchiseptica was isolated from the nasopharynx, trachea and lungs. Older animals had only a mild rhinitis. Colonization of the nasal mucosa occurred in 71 of 156 marmosets.     

Possible health hazards associated with the collection and handling of post-mortem zoological material

Zoologists handling post-mortem material are at risk to infection by a number of potentially dangerous pathogens. The incidence of such infections is small but that is no reason for complacency. The possible sources of infection and precautions to be taken are reviewed and an annotated checklist of potentially dangerous diseases which might be associated with post-mortem material is given.     

An outbreak of viral hepatitis B associated with transfer factor administration

An outbreak of viral hepatitis B in patients of the allergological clinic of the teaching hospital in Olomouc in connection with application of the crude non ultrafiltrated transfer factor is described. The epidemic was the first one of this kind observed in Czechoslovakia in connection with this blood derivative. A total of 32 persons from 13 districts in Czechoslovakia fell ill, yet thanks to close cooperation of epidemiologists of many districts and regions of Czechoslovakia the epidemic was brought under control in its full extent.     

Sample collection and restraint techniques used for common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a small-bodied, adaptable New World primate from secondary forests in Brazil that is used in various types of research, such as reproductive biology, neuroendocrinology, behavioral research, neuroscience, infectious disease, and drug development. Because of their small body size, adaptability to a variety of conditions, unique physiologic characteristics, family social structure, and calm demeanor, they have become the primate of choice for certain research areas. However, because of their small body size, the amount and type of samples that can be obtained from them can prove to be challenging. The objective of the study reported here is to review some techniques developed for obtaining samples or data from marmoset monkeys in a variety of research settings and includes restraint methods that work well for the type of sample collection required.     

Recovery and sequence analysis of hepatitis a virus from springwater implicated in an outbreak of acute viral hepatitis

An outbreak of acute hepatitis A virus in North Carolina was linked to drinking water from a contaminated shallow spring by phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis A virus (HAV) genomic sequences. Detection of HAV and fecal indicators in the water provided useful and timely information to assist with public health prevention and control measures.     

An ethometric analysis in a zoological garden: Modification of ungulate behavior by the visual presence of a predator

Zoological gardens often juxtapose enclosures of predator and prey for educational purposes under the assumption that the predator and prey habituate to each other. To determine if prey are aware of the predator, we studied an exhibit with five species of African ungulates separated by a dry moat from their natural predator, the African lion. Using both focal and scan sampling, activity budgets of ungulates in response to various predator behaviors were quantified. Interindividual distances also were recorded as a measure of the degree of herding relative to predator behavior. Ungulates spent significantly less time in seven behaviors (Lying Down, Feeding, Drinking, Sniffing Ground, Sniffing Each Other, Defecating, Urinating) when the predator was visually present than when the predator was visually absent. Five of these behaviors (Drinking, Sniffing Ground, Sniffing Each Other, Defecating, Urinating) occurred at low frequencies and durations. Interindividual distances, on the other hand, varied little, although intraspecific distances were significantly shorter than interspecific distances. The changes in ungulate behavior indicate an awareness of the predator; for example, less time was spent with the head down (Feeding, Drinking, Sniffing Ground) when the predator was present, allowing more time for predator surveillance. These results indicate that the ungulates in this zoo exhibit modify their behavior when a lion is visually present. These modifications, though, seem to have no deleterious effects on ungulate behavior.     

An outbreak of tuberculosis in a group of experimental baboons

A spontaneous outbreak of tuberculosis occurred in an isolated group of 21 baboons being used in an adenovirus type 12 oncogenesis study. Seventeen of the 21 animals were affected. Diagnosis was made by intradermal skin test, chest radiographs, and peripheral blood counts. Confirmation of the diagnosis was by gross and histopathology and culturing of the causative organism. Intradermal tuberculin skin tests were performed simultaneously in the eyelid (intrapalpebral) and abdomen. Fifteen of 16 baboons tested having tuberculosis showed significant reactions in the abdominal skin, whereas only 5 of the 16 had reactions in the eyelid. Infection was respiratory with extensive pathology in the pulmonary viscera. The pathology resembled that of simian tuberculosis, with miliary lesions in the spleen, liver, and in several cases, other abdominal viscera. It was characterized by caseation necrosis and an absence of calcification. Histologically, the lesions resembled the disease described in the great apes rather than the lower monkeys, with numerous Langhans giant cells. The causative organism resembled the human typeMycobacterium tuberculosis morphologically and culturally.These studies were supported in part by USPHS grant numbers GM-FR13252-02 and FR-00278-03.     

An outbreak of ornithosis at a textile factory

For the first time an outbreak of ornithosis at a textile factory is described. The data on the specific epidemiological features of the outbreak, the specific clinical features of the disease, the results of catamnestic observations and the study of the titers of specific antibodies in the complement fixation test are presented.     

An outbreak of trichinellosis in Hungary

In a small village of Hungary, a human trichinellosis outbreak (affecting eight people) occurred in January-February, 2009. In the outbreak investigation (i) Trichinella spiralis larvae were detected in meat products derived from the pigs slaughtered in the backyard of one of the patients (a foxhunter) in December 2008, and in a brown rat captured in the same backyard; (ii) sera of 24 pigs held in 11 yards of the village and that of some dogs of the foxhunter were found Trichinella-positive; (iii) sera of five villagers who could not be infected in the particular outbreak were also found reactive in Trichinella-specific laboratory tests. The followings helped the rise of an outbreak: the geographical position and the presence of empty houses favoured the multiplication of rats; there was no extermination of rats in the previous years; there was no meat inspection; raw meat and improperly processed meat products were tasted at the pig-slaughter; villagers gave tastes to each other. People were informed on the symptoms, the way of transmission, and the possibilities of prevention of trichinellosis by experts. With the help of local authorities, all the properties including the grounds with empty houses were involved in the extermination of rodents.     

光纤光谱仪在动物学研究中的应用

如何定量化研究动物的颜色是动物学研究的一项重要内容。许多动物的视觉范围比人类宽,但以往都以人类主观对颜色进行分类,并没有很好地对其进行量化。光纤光谱仪能够精细量化动物的颜色,包括人眼无法探测的紫外光（UV）部分。介绍了光纤光谱仪的组成和工作原理,概述了光谱仪在动物学研究中的应用。利用光谱仪对动物颜色的定量化分析,可为动物学研究提供更客观和科学的数据。