JVDI 2006 Summaries:

Molecular and antigenic characterization of a Mycoplasma bovis strain causing an

outbreak of infectious keratoconjunctiv. J Vet Diagn Invest 18:41–51 (2006). An
unusually high incidence of infectious keratoconjunctivitis followed by pneumonia and
arthritis was observed in beef calves of a managed herd. No Moraxella spp. or bacteria
other than Mycoplasma spp. were obtained from conjunctival and nasal swabs.

Disseminated transmissible venereal tumor in a dog. J Vet Diagn Invest 18:130–133

(2006). Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT) -no breed or sex predilection and a low
metastatic rate. Neoplastic nodules in the subcutis , lung, anterior mediastinum, liver,
spleen, kidney, and superficial and deep lymph nodes in both abdominal and thoracic
cavities. Immunohistochemical staining, the neoplastic cells were positive for lysozyme
and Vimentin but were negative for cytokeratin, desmin, CD3, and CD79a. The diagnosis
of the TVT was further upported by the identification and analysis of long interspersed
nuclear elements (LINE) from paraffin-embedded tumor tissue.

Histochemical and immunohistochemical evidence of a bacterium associated with

esions of epizootic bovine abortion. J Vet Diagn Invest 18:76–80 (2006) : Epizootic
bovine abortion (EBA), a tick-transmitted disease resulting in late-term abortion or
premature calving. The etiologic agent is susceptible to antibiotics and identification of a
unique 16S deltaproteobacterial rDNA gene sequence in 90% of thymus tissues from
aborted fetuses have supported the role of a bacterial infection as the cause of EBA. A
modified Steiner silver stain revealed small numbers of intracytoplasmic bacterial rods.
Immunohistochemical staining was positive for histiocytic cells in the thymus and in
many organs with inflammatory lesions.

Survey of equine cutaneous neoplasia in the Pacific Northwest. J Vet Diagn Invest
18:123–126 (2006). Sarcoids (51.4%), Squamous cell arcinoma (18.3%), Ocular
squamous cell carcinoma was most common in paints and quarter horses, and
penile/preputial squamous cell carcinoma was ost common in appaloosas and quarter
horses. Findings suggest that equine sarcoid and squamous cell carcinoma occur more
frequently in the Pacific northwest than in the northeastern United States.

A devastating outbreak of malignant catarrhal fever in a bison feedlot. J Vet Diagn

Invest 18:119–123 (2006). Diagnosis was made by detection of ovine herpesvirus 2
(sheep-associated MCF irus) DNA in tissues or peripheral blood by polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), and by histological examination of tissue lesions. Greater susceptibility
of bison than beef cattle to MCF, and the lack of horizontal transmission from clinically
affected bison to herdmates.

Naturally occurring Mycoplasma bovis–associated pneumonia and polyarthritis in

feedlot beef calves. J Vet Diagn Invest 18:29–40 (2006). Cranioventral
bronchopneumonia with multiple foci of caseous necrosis. Mycoplasma bovis was
consistently identified in these lesions, but also commonly in healthy lungs and those
with pneumonia of other causes. Focal lesions of coagulation necrosis, typical of
pneumonic pasteurellosis, were often infected with both Mannheimia haemolytica and M.
bovis. Arthritis was present in 25 of 54 (46%) calves with M. bovis pneumonia, and all
calves with arthritis had pneumonia. BVDV infection was more common in calves with
lesions of bacterial.

Diseases and pathogens associated with mortality in Ontario beef feedlots. J Vet
Diagn Invest 18:18–28 (2006). IN order of prevalence-- Fibrinosuppurative
bronchopneumonia (49%), caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia or arthritis (or both) caused
by Mycoplasma bovis (36%), viral respiratory disease (19%), BVDV-related diseases
(21%), Histophilus somni myocarditis (8%), ruminal bloat (2%), and miscellaneous
diseases (8%). Viral infections identified were BVDV (35%), bovine respiratory
syncytial virus (9%), bovine herpesvirus-1 (6%), parainfluenza-3 virus (3%), and bovine
coronavirus (2%). Bacteria isolated from the lungs included M. bovis (82%),
Mycoplasma arginini (72%), Ureaplasma diversum (25%), Mannheimia haemolytica
(27%), Pasteurella multocida (19%), H. somni (14%), and Arcanobacterium pyogenes
(19%).

Thallium toxicosis in a Pit Bull Terrier. J Vet Diagn Invest 18:134–137 (2006-
Signs- conscious proprioceptive deficits, and a hemorrhagic diarrhea before death. A
severe, acute necrotizing enterocolitis was evident Liver and kidney thallium
concentrations were 18 and 26 ppm, respectively. The source of the thallium was a
person with the intent to harm family members.