Experimental infection of native north Carolina salamanders with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

Chytridiomycosis is an often fatal fungal disease of amphibians caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This disease has been implicated in the worldwide decline of many anuran species, but studies of chytridiomycosis in wild salamanders are limited. Between August 2006 and December 2006, we tested wild amphibians in North Carolina, USA (n=212) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Efficacy of tinidazole for treatment of cats experimentally infected with Tritrichomonas foetus.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of tinidazole for treatment of cats with experimentally induced Tritrichomonas foetus infection.

Animals: 8 specific-pathogen-free kittens.

Procedures: Tinidazole was tested for activity against a feline isolate of T foetus in vitro.

A highly specific PCR assay for detecting the fish ectoparasite Amyloodinium ocellatum.

Amyloodiniosis, caused by the dinoflagellate ectoparasite Amyloodinium ocellatum, is one of the most serious diseases affecting marine fish in warm and temperate waters. Current diagnostic methods rely entirely on the microscopic identification of parasites on the skin or gills of infested fish. However, subclinical infestations usually go undetected, while no method of detecting the free-swimming, infective (dinospore) stage has been devised.

Efficacy of ronidazole for treatment of feline Tritrichomonas foetus infection.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of ronidazole (RDZ), tinidazole (TDZ), and metronidazole (MDZ) against Tritrichomonas foetus in vitro and of RDZ for treatment of feline naturally occurring or experimentally induced T. foetus infection.

Animals: A cat naturally infected with T.

Outcome of cats with diarrhea and Tritrichomonas foetus infection.

Objective: To determine the long-term outcome of cats infected with Tritrichomonas foetus and identify treatment and management strategies influencing resolution of infection or associated diarrhea.

Design: Prospective study.

Sample Population: 26 cats with T.

Use of a commercially available culture system for diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of and optimize a commercially available culture system for sensitive and specific in-clinic culture of Tritrichomonas foetus from cat feces.

Design: Prospective study.

Sample Population: Samples of freshly voided feces from 117 purebred cats and pure cultures of T.