What can Akabane disease teach us about other arboviral diseases.

Viruses of the Simbu serogroup cause lesions to foetuses that are seen at birth and that correlate with the stage of pregnancy at which the dam first contracts the virus. The Simbu serogroup comprises arboviruses known to cause outbreaks of abnormal parturitions in domestic ruminants; these abnormalities include abortion, stillbirth, and congenitally deformed neonates. Simbu serogroup members include: Akabane virus (AKAV), Aino virus, Cache Valley virus, and Schmallenberg virus.

Heliotropium europaeum poisoning in cattle and analysis of its pyrrolizidine alkaloid profile.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are carcinogenic and genotoxic phytochemicals found exclusively in angiosperms. The ingestion of PA-containing plants often results in acute and chronic toxicities in man and livestock, targeting mainly the liver. During February 2014, a herd of 15-18-month-old mixed-breed beef cattle (n = 73) from the Galilee region in Israel was accidently fed hay contaminated with 12% Heliotropium europaeum (average total PA intake was 33 mg PA/kg body weight/d).

Acute maduramicin toxicosis in pregnant gilts.

Ionophores are used as feed additives for the control of coccidiosis and growth promotion in farm animals. Reports of maduramicin toxicosis in farm animals are scarce. The present work describes an acute maduramicin toxicosis affecting 22 pregnant gilts, 2 pregnant sows and 2 boars, resulting in a total mortality of 65% within 2days.

Oesophageal sarcomas in dogs: histological and clinical evaluation.

A histological grading system of oesophageal sarcomas has not been established. Thirty-two cases of oesophageal sarcomas have been reviewed for tumour characteristics and clinical outcome. Nineteen dogs underwent surgical intervention to remove oesophageal tumours; ten of them survived (median 278 days).

Incomplete atrioventricular canal complicated by cardiac tamponade and bidirectional shunting in an adult dog.

An incomplete atrioventricular (AV) canal with bidirectional shunting and cardiac tamponade in a 6-year-old dog was initially diagnosed echocardiographically as a common atrium. The dog failed to respond to medical therapy and was euthanized. Upon necropsy, the defect was confirmed as an incomplete AV canal.

A herd level analysis of a Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis outbreak in a dairy cattle herd.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in an Israeli dairy cattle herd is described. The disease was characterized by ulcerative granulomatous lesions, which occurred in an epidemic form. Thirty-two cows and two heifers were affected, the ratio of the number affected to number at risk being 17.