The locus for bovine dilated cardiomyopathy maps to chromosome 18.

Bovine dilated cardiomyopathy (BDCMP) is a severe and terminal disease of the heart muscle observed in Holstein-Friesian cattle over the last 30 years. There is strong evidence for an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance for BDCMP. The objective of this study was to genetically map BDCMP, with the ultimate goal of identifying the causative mutation.

[Pilot project for eradicating maedi-visna in Walliser blacknose sheep].

Maedi-Visna is a lentiviral disease of sheep with a worldwide distribution. The transmission of the virus occurs primarily via colostrum and milk from the infected ewe to its newborn lamb but also horizontally between sheep. The most obvious clinical symptoms are progressive dyspnea and emaciation.

Evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance of a major gene for bovine dilated cardiomyopathy.

The objective of this study was to establish the mode of inheritance of bovine dilated cardiomyopathy (BDCMP). We analyzed a pedigree comprising 75 animals in three age classes and five diagnostic classes based on clinical and pathological findings using the Pedigree Analysis Package. Segregation analyses were performed under three models, a major gene model, a mixed model, and an environment model.

[Diagnosis and therapy of the rupture of both cruciate ligaments, the medial collateral ligament and abscission of both menisci in a ram. A case report].

This report describes the case history of a 1.5-year-old ram admitted to the Clinic for Food Animals and Horses, University of Berne, Switzerland, because of an acute severe lameness of the left rear limb. Clinical and radiographic examination revealed disruption of the stifle joint with rupture of both cruciate ligaments, the medial collateral ligament, and disruption of both menisci from their attachments.

Detection of alpha- and epsilon-toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type D in sheep and goats using a DNA amplification technique (PCR).

Clostridium perfringens isolated from sheep and goat with enterotoxaemia at necropsy and from healthy animals at slaughter were typed using specific PCR assays for the detection of the alpha-, beta- and epsilon-toxin genes. Clostridium perfringens isolated from all 52 animals with pathological signs of enterotoxaemia showed the presence of the alpha- and epsilon-toxin genes but were devoid of the beta-toxin gene. These strains could therefore be identified as type D, characteristic for clostridial enterotoxaemia of sheep, lambs and goats.

[Occurrence of white liver dis in lambs in Switzerland].

The white liver disease was first observed in the canton of Berne in 1985. Until 1995 we could observe the outbreak of the disease in seven flocks. The first clinical signs were anorexia, then delayed growth, weight loss and finally cachexy.

[Cerebral listeriosis in cattle: literature review and retrospective analysis of individual cases].

Between 1990 and 1994, 89 cattle with signs of affection of the central nervous system were referred to the Clinic for Food Animals and Horses, University of Bern; in 17 cases of which, cerebral listeriosis was diagnosed. History, clinical, hematologic findings and cerebrospinal fluid analysis at admission were evaluated retrospectively. Four cattle were slaughtered after cerebral listeriosis had been diagnosed clinically because of economic reasons.

[Frequency and etiology of calf losses and calf diseases in cow-calf farms. I. Methods of data collection, calf mortality, and calf morbidity].

An observational study was initiated to provide general information on calf health and estimates of frequency and of economic impact of calf diseases in farms with extensive beef production. The study was planned as a cohort study and included all calves born during the calving season of 1993/94 in 105 cow-calf farms in western Switzerland. The total preweaning mortality was 8.

[Clinical findings and pathology of congenital polycystic renal disease in the goat].

The clinical and pathomorphological findings of the spongy (cases 1, 2 and 3) and large-vacuol polycystic kidney disease in four kids are presented. The age of the goats ranged from one week to three months. In case 1 clinical examination including laboratory testing was performed, whereas in cases 2, 3 and 4 only the kidneys were available.

[Reference values of electrodiagnostic and laboratory studies in young Wallis Schwarzhals goats].

Laboratory testing in 10 "Walliser Schwarzhals"-goats included red and white blood cell count, electrolytes, liver enzymes, trace elements and urinalysis, protein determination and cell count of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was also performed. Electrodiagnostic testing included electromyography (EMG) of the head and spinal muscles, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of the right and left peroneal nerve, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and electroencephalography (EEG). MNCV of the peroneal nerve was 72 +/- 9.

[PCR: a look behind the scenes at bovine viral diarrhea virus].

As indicated by their nucleotide sequences bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVD-virus) are genetically quite heterogenous. Despite differences in the nucleotide sequence in the NS3 region, we found that the derived amino acid sequence of all viral strains analyzed was identical and differed from that of classical swine fever viruses, thus allowing differentiation between bovine and porcine pestiviruses. Remarkably, the BVD viral strains were isolated over a time period of some 40 years in Europe, North America and New Zealand.

[The epidemiology of contagious lung disease in Switzerland].

Although contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) has not been diagnosed in Switzerland since 1895, anti-CBPP antibodies were detected in several cattle that had been imported from Switzerland to Italy. In order to clarify the current disease situation in Switzerland, detailed epidemiological investigations were performed, including the control of 200,000 slaughter cattle in 108 abattoirs and serological testing of more than 2200 animals from 134 farms. The data collected in the slaughterhouses showed a prevalence of suspect lung lesions of 0.

[Clinical and pathologico-anatomic findings in a leiomyosarcoma of the jejunum of a sheep].

This paper describes a leiomyosarcoma found in the distal part of the jejunum of a 7 year old, East Friesian dairy sheep. The animal showed a progressive emaciation during 3 months, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, relative lymphocytopenia and increased levels of serum urea. On histology, the tumor was characterized by anaplasia, cellular and nuclear polymorphism and also by regressive processes and local invasion.

[Congenital cavernous hemangioma in a brown Swiss calf, a rare oral blastoma. Case report].

A congenital cavernous hemangioma was found in the pars incisiva of a newborn Brown-Swiss calf. The tumour was characterized by locally invasive and destructive growth. Histopathological investigation showed a tumour that could be clearly distinguished from a capillary hemangioma as well as from a malignant hemangioendothelioma.

[First description of a desmoid tumor in a goat and comparative observations to human fibromatosis. Case report].

The macroscopical, histological, and ultrastructural aspects of the abdominal and extra-abdominal desmoid tumour are reported in a 1 1/2-year old goat (breed: Nera-Verzasca, Tessin mountain goat). Macroscopically, the disease was characterized by glassy, whitish, very hard, plate-forming masses found in the abdominal wall and in the medial aspect of the upper hind limbs. Histologically, the masses consisted of well differentiated fibroblasts which locally infiltrated the surrounding tissues.

[Oral aspergillosis in a goat--a stomatologic problem. Case report].

This report describes a case of chronic and granulomatous proliferation in the lower jaw of a six-year-old female Saanen goat due to Aspergillae spp. Within the granulomatous lesion, foreign body and Langhans type giant cells were present in addition to the common granuloma components, such as lymphocytes, epithelioid cells and fibroblasts. Hyphae with a configuration typical of Aspergillae spp.

[Functional pyloric stenosis in sheep].

The clinical findings, the autopsy and the histology of functional pyloric stenosis in three sheep between four and eight years old are described. A chronic ulcer with structural alterations of the pyloric protuberance was found in the first animal. In the second sheep there were several polyps in the pylorus, and in the third erosions throughout the whole pylorus, and a few hyperplastic areas of epithelium at the junction between pylorus and duodenum.

[Myocardial fibrosis and degeneration with heart failure (cardiomyopathy) in two goats].

Myocardial fibrosis and degeneration of unknown etiology is described in two adult, female goats of the Saanen and Pfauen breeds. Both animals presented with clinical signs of cardiac failure with subcutaneous edema, hydrothorax and ascites. The pathological lesions were characterized by cardiomegaly with ventricular and auricular dilatation and hypertrophy, massive subcutaneous edema and body cavity edema.

[Chlamydia infections in sheep and goats. With a reference to its significance as a zoonosis].

Infections by Chlamydia psittaci are found worldwide in many species of mammal, including man, and birds. Small ruminants are affected mainly with abortion in the later phase of gestation. Additionally pneumonia and lesions in other organs can be observed.

[Epitheliogenesis imperfecta in lambs].

In a herd of 23 ewes of the White Alp breed, a congenital epitheliogenesis imperfecta was observed in five twin-births. All lambs originated from the same father. Except in one case, only one of the twins was affected.

[Pathology of bovine cardiomyopathy].

Pathological findings from 389 SimmentalxRed Holstein cattle and from 11 Holstein/Friesian cattle with cardiomyopathy (CMP) are described. The average age of affected animals was 34 months; the majority of cases was observed between October and March. The hallmark of the disease was cardiomegaly with ventricular and atrial dilation and hypertrophy, as well as myocardial fibrosis, in part accompanied by myofibrillar degeneration.

Cutaneous lymphosarcoma of helper/inducer T-cell origin in a calf.

A calf with a lymphoproliferative disease resembling human mycosis fungoides, had multiple, ulcerated skin nodules with enlarged regional lymph nodes. Tumor cells were 10-15 micron in diameter and had round to oval nuclei without indentations. Mitoses were regularly present.

[Pregnancy toxemia of small ruminants with special reference to pathomorphology].

Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is a metabolic disease which causes significant economic losses in small ruminants, especially sheep. Animals are usually affected in the last few weeks of pregnancy, the uterus contains mostly two or more well developed fetuses. A qualitatively insufficient feeding program together with the significant glucose consumption of the rapidly growing fetuses induces progredient hypoglycemia and ketosis.