Tick-borne encephalitis virus seropositive dog detected in Belgium: screening of the canine population as sentinels for public health.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is an important emerging tick-borne viral infection of humans and dogs in Europe. Currently, TBEV surveillance is virtually nonexistent in Belgium, which is considered nonendemic. A commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adapted for the detection of TBEV-specific IgG-antibodies in canine sera.

Sero-epidemiological study of the presence of hantaviruses in domestic dogs and cats from Belgium.

Hantaviruses are worldwide rodent-borne pathogens infecting humans and other animals mainly through inhalation of aerosols contaminated with rodent excreta. Few data are available on hantavirus serology and geographical distribution in dogs and cats. We therefore screened sera from pet dogs (N=410) and cats (N=124) in two regions of Belgium, using IgG ELISA and IFA.

Nasal swelling due to plasma cell infiltrate in a cat without plasma cell pododermatitis.

A cat with an upper respiratory infection was presented for examination. Close examination of the face revealed a firm, haired rounded swelling on the bridge of the nose. Serum protein electrophoresis demonstrated a mild hypergammaglobulinaemia.

Diesel oil-induced alopecia in two cats.

Two cats were presented for acute onset of rapidly progressive, bilaterally symmetrical hair loss of the ventrum and limbs. Alopecia occurred within 2 weeks after accidental skin exposure to diesel oil. The remaining hair epilated easily in affected areas.

Papular cutaneous lesions in a cat associated with feline infectious peritonitis.

A 7-month-old-intact male domestic shorthair cat was presented with fever, anterior uveitis in the right eye and respiratory distress when handled. These signs along with mild changes in serum protein levels and the exclusion of other potential causes were suggestive of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). As the disease progressed, more clinical signs consistent with FIP, including renal involvement and later pleural effusion, became evident.

Determination of the source of increased serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in blood and peritoneal fluid of colic horses with compromised bowel.

Reasons For Performing Study: Increased plasma (5-HT) concentrations are reported in horses predisposed to develop laminitis and after i.v. infusion of endotoxins.

First diagnosis of Encephalitozoon intestinalis and E. Hellem in a European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) with kidney lesions.

Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Encephalitozoon hellem were diagnosed in the kidneys of a free-ranging European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) with multifocal wedge-shaped chronic interstitial nephritis using real-time PCR and microarray. This is the first description of these microsporidia species in a European brown hare, which are both potential zoonotic agents.

Severe alopecia due to demodicosis in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in Belgium.

Demodex mites are part of the normal fauna of hair follicles of many, if not all, healthy mammal species. Normally these parasites live in harmony with their host, however in states of putative immunosuppression the acarids undergo excessive proliferation and cause clinical disease, which may be localised or generalised. This paper describes four cases of demodicosis in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) with localised to generalised alopecia.

First chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in the northern part of Belgium.

Cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in wild cervids have yet not been reported in Europe, whereas the disease is considered enzootic in free-ranging mule deer, Rocky mountain elk and white-tailed deer in the area of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. New foci of CWD continue to be detected in other parts of the United States. However, no large-scale active epidemiosurveillance of European wild cervids is yet installed in Europe.

First results of chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance in the south-eastern part of Belgium.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has not been reported in Europe, whereas it is considered to be enzootic in free-ranging mule deer, Rocky mountain elk and white-tailed deer in the area of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska, and new foci of CWD have been detected in other parts of the United States. However, no large-scale active epidemiosurveillance of European wild cervids has been installed in Europe. In accordance with the opinion of the European Scientific Steering Committee, a preliminary (active) surveillance scheme was installed, in order to improve the knowledge of the CWD status of the Belgian free-ranging cervids (roe deer and red deer).

TSE detected in a Belgian ARR-homozygous sheep via active surveillance.

It is commonly accepted that scrapie-resistance and -susceptibility in sheep are genetically controlled. Consequently, the selection of sheep with scrapie-resistant genotypes is currently one of the most important objectives of the sheep breeding associations. However, during the last two years, new data have become available on transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) cases in TSE-resistant sheep in several European Union member states.

Patulin produced by an Aspergillus clavatus isolated from feed containing malting residues associated with a lethal neurotoxicosis in cattle.

A severe neurotoxicosis, comprising tremors, ataxia, paresis, recumbency and death, occurred simultaneously among several herds of beef cattle in the region of Flanders (Belgium). After a first multi-toxin screening of some suspected diet elements, verruculogen was detected in a sample of a common feed ingredient. However, when the first animal necropsies revealed serious nervous lesions, including neuronal degeneration of the central nervous system and axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system, further investigations focused on fungal isolation.

The effect of physical structure in maize silage-based diets for beef bulls.

To investigate the influence of physical structure on zootechnical performances, four feeding regimens were evaluated with 52 Belgian Blue double-muscled bulls starting from 327 kg until slaughter (646 kg). All diets were fed ad libitum and consisted of concentrates and maize silage in different ratios. The structural value (SV), currently used in Belgium as an evaluator of physical structure in the diet for dairy cows, amounted to 0.

Detection of polymorphisms in the prion protein gene in the Belgian sheep population: some preliminary data.

The development of clinical signs of TSE/scrapie in sheep has been linked to polymorphisms in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. The most important polymorphisms appear to be at codons 136, 154, and 171. The objective of this study was to investigate the polymorphisms at these codons in the Belgian sheep population, including clinical healthy animals, healthy animals at the slaughterhouse and animals in TSE/scrapie positive farms (including a Nor98 farm).

The use of epostane in an attempt to reproduce cystic endometrial hyperplasia in the bitch.

The aetiology and pathogenesis of spontaneous cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) in the bitch is not yet completely understood. Recent research based on the expression of uterine sex hormone receptors in spontaneous cases of CEH suggested that a temporary progesterone deficiency during late oestrus-early metoestrus may be responsible for the onset of CEH development. In the present study a temporary progesterone deficiency during late oestrus-early metoestrus was experimentally created using an inhibitor of progesterone synthesis, epostane.

An outbreak of histomoniasis in free-range layer hens.

Histomonas meleagridis was held primarily responsible for an outbreak of 6% increased mortality and 11% decreased egg production between weeks 57 and 72 in a flock of free-range layer hens, concurrently infected with Brachyspira-like bacteria. This case can be considered an example of ancient diseases re-emerging in alternative housing systems that are promoted because of animal welfare considerations, but that at the same time allow rapid spread of pathogens in birds for which only few curative drugs are registered. Therefore, new housing methods should be introduced gradually to gain experience with them.

Uterine oestrogen and progesterone receptor expression in experimental pyometra in the bitch.

Pyometra was induced in five bitches by the intraluminal inoculation of a ligated uterine horn in metoestrus with an Escherichia coli suspension, the other horn serving as an uninoculated control. Histologically, the inoculated horns resembled those with naturally occurring pyometra, while the uninoculated horns had an inactive appearance instead of the normal metoestrus appearance. Immunohistochemically, the expression of sex hormone receptors in the inoculated horns corresponded with that in natural cases of pyometra.

Is mechanically induced cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) a suitable model for study of spontaneously occurring CEH in the uterus of the bitch?

Cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) was experimentally reproduced by the intraluminal insertion of a silk wire in the uterus of metestral bitches to obtain a model for the study of spontaneously occurring CEH in the bitch. This mechanically reproduced CEH corresponded histologically very well to spontaneously occurring CEH. With respect to sex hormone receptor expressions, however, there was no similarity.

Estrogen-alpha and progesterone receptor expression in cystic endometrial hyperplasia and pyometra in the bitch.

Estrogen-alpha receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were examined immunohistochemically in uteri of normal bitches, in uteri of bitches with cystic endometrial hyperplasia-mucometra (CEH-M) and in uteri of bitches with endometritis-pyometra (E-P), under exogenous progesterone treatment. In the CEH-M group, the ER- and PR-scores of all uterine cell types were higher than the ER- and PR-scores of normal uteri, although these differences were not always statistically significant. The ER-scores of E-P group were significantly lower than the ER-scores of the normal uteri and CEH-M group.