Infection of young foals with Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis following a fatal non-biologic case of Theiler's disease.

Theiler's disease (TD) is a (sub-)acute hepatitis in adult horses and one of the most common causes of acute hepatic failure. Recent findings indicate that equine parvovirus hepatitis (EqPV-H) likely causes TD and that its transmission occurs via iatrogenic and/or natural routes. Following the death of an EqPV-H positive mare with TD, close-contact mares and foals in the same paddock were monitored to evaluate if there was any evidence of EqPV-H.

The impact of the initial public health response to COVID-19 on swine health surveillance in Ontario.

COVID-19 restrictions and the pandemic have affected animal health and food production through the disease's effects on human activities. COVID-19 impact on swine health surveillance can be assessed by investigating submissions and test positivity for pathogens before and after COVID-19 restrictions. PRRSV, Influenza A virus, and PCV-2 are considered important and economically challenging respiratory diseases for the swine populations.

Evaluation of 2 ELISAs to determine seropositivity in horses over a 12-month period.

The blacklegged tick (), which transmits , the causative agent of Lyme disease, has undergone rapid range expansion in Ontario. In horses, Lyme disease remains an enigmatic disease, with limited understanding of the pathogenesis and many issues pertaining to selection and interpretation of laboratory tests. We evaluated seropositivity in naturally exposed horses over a 12-mo period and compared paired samples with 2 common serologic tests.

Seroprevalence and evaluation of risk factors associated with seropositivity for Borrelia burgdorferi in Ontario horses.

Background: Recently, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), which is the vector of Borrelia burgdorferi, has undergone a range expansion from the northeastern and mid-west United States to areas of southeastern Canada, including parts of Ontario. Understanding the seroprevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi in horses and risk factors for exposure is important for monitoring and preventing this emerging disease.

The association of Equine Parvovirus-Hepatitis (EqPV-H) with cases of non-biologic-associated Theiler's disease on a farm in Ontario, Canada.

Theiler's disease was confirmed within a group horses located on a farm in southwestern Ontario during the summer and autumn of 2005. Five sudden deaths occurred between 3 July and 21 August, 2005, none of which were necropsied, however two of the horses showed clinical signs compatible with hepatic encephalopathy prior to death. No horse on the farm had received a biologic product of equine blood origin in the preceding six months.

Neurologic infection in a young dog.

A 14-week-old female Boston terrier-cross dog with intermittent gastroenteritis and an eosinophilia developed progressive neurologic disease with ataxia progressing to uncontrolled paddling. Autopsy revealed larvae in 4 of 7 brain sections, with severe eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Diagnosis was confirmed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing tests of fresh and paraffin-embedded brain in conjunction with the compatible histologic appearance.

Hepatic infection in a miniature horse.

A miniature horse which died following humane seizure from an Ontario farm was emaciated with serous atrophy of fat. Autopsy revealed hepatic atrophy and moderate periportal fibrosis. Eggs and trematodes seen in the liver were identified as This appears to be the first reported case of infection of equids in North America with

Equid herpesvirus 9 (EHV-9) isolates from zebras in Ontario, Canada, 1989 to 2007.

The objective of this study was to identify and partially characterize 3 equid herpesviruses that were isolated postmortem from zebras in Ontario, Canada in 1989, 2002, and 2007. These 3 virus isolates were characterized by plaque morphology, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of their genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and sequence analyses of the full length of the glycoprotein G (gG) gene (ORF70) and a portion of the DNA polymerase gene (ORF30). The isolates were also compared to 3 reference strains of equid herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1).

The first case of porcine epidemic diarrhea in Canada.

In January, 2014, increased mortality was reported in piglets with acute diarrhea on an Ontario farm. Villus atrophy in affected piglets was confined to the small intestine. Samples of colon content were PCR-positive for porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV).

A prospective study of sheep and goat abortion using real-time polymerase chain reaction and cut point estimation shows Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydophila abortus infection concurrently with other major pathogens.

From 2009 to 2011, 163 sheep and 96 goat abortion submissions were received at the Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, for gross and histologic examination, as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Chlamydophila abortus and/or Coxiella burnetii. Additional testing included immunohistochemistry for Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila spp., routine bacterial culture and selective culture for Campylobacter spp.

Beta 2 toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A colitis in a three-day-old foal.

Beta 2 (β2)-toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A was recovered in large numbers from the intestine of a neonatal foal with colitis. The foal had been treated with gentamicin. Necropsy revealed marked distension of cecum and colon with watery, rust-colored homogeneous fluid and gastric infarction.

The emergence of a new strain of porcine circovirus-2 in Ontario and Quebec swine and its association with severe porcine circovirus associated disease--2004-2006.

In the late fall of 2004 more severe lesions of porcine circovirus-2 associated disease (PCVAD) than usual occurred during an outbreak of porcine circovirus-2 (PCV-2) infection in Ontario nursery and grower/finisher pigs. The lesions were of unprecedented severity and included diffuse bronchointerstitial pneumonia, granulomatous enteritis, vasculitis, interstitial nephritis, and new lesions of splenic infarction. Some affected herds had up to 50% mortality.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus in alpaca: abortion and persistent infection.

An alpaca herd in eastern Ontario experienced vague signs of illness, including anorexia and lethargy in 9 animals, 2.5 months after the addition of a chronically ill cria and his dam to the farm. Subsequently 2 alpaca had early pregnancy loss; one aborted at 5.

A degenerative encephalomyelopathy in 7 Kuvasz puppies.

Seven Kuvasz puppies from 2 same-parentage litters developed weakness and ataxia. Six necropsied dogs had lesions in caudate nucleus, cerebellar nuclei and folia, and spinal cord. Lesions seen were felt to be familial or due to the effects of an amprolium-induced thiamine deficiency on the developing brains of these puppies.