1/7. Detection of infectious baboon cytomegalovirus after baboon-to-human liver xenotransplantation.Xenotransplantation is considered to be a solution for the human donor shortage. However, there is a potential risk of transmitting animal infections from the transplanted organ. The known transmissibility and clinical significance of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection after allotransplantation led us to evaluate whether baboon cytomegalovirus (BCMV) transmission could occur after a baboon-to-human liver xenotransplant. We examined serial blood samples from a baboon liver recipient and isolated replication-competent CMV-like agents on days 29, 36, and 42 after xenotransplantation. BCMV and HCMV DNAs were detected in the day 29 isolate, while only HCMV DNA was detected in the other isolates. This is the first report of detecting a replication-competent virus from a source animal after xenotransplantation and is a concern with regard to potential zoonotic transmission to others.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. Disseminated lethal encephalitozoon cuniculi (genotype III) infections in cotton-top tamarins (Oedipomidas oedipus)--a case report.For the first time, Encephalitozoon (E.) cuniculi genotype III ('dog strain') was verified in two cotton-top tamarins (Oedipomidas oedipus) by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, PCR and sequencing. The animals had a disseminated lethal infection with this protist. In earlier reports, genotype III had been found only in domestic dogs, man, emperor tamarins (saguinus imperator) and golden lion tamarins (leontopithecus rosalia). This investigation establishes now that the 'dog strain' can occur in cotton-top tamarins too. This is further evidence for the zoonotic potential of E. cuniculi. Furthermore, free E. cuniculi spores were identified also in blood vessels of several tissues. These findings indicate that during a disseminated infection E. cuniculi spores can occur in peripheral blood, too. We propose that blood should also be included in the investigations for the detection of microsporidia, so that a possible disseminated course of an infection can be detected.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Subacute necrotizing encephalopathy in a pig-tailed macaque (macaca nemestrina) that resembles mitochondrial encephalopathy in humans.A male pig-tailed macaque (macaca nemestrina), approximately 5 years old, was found to be vision-impaired and to have profound behavioral abnormalities, including hyperactivity and self-injurious behavior that was not amenable to amelioration by environmental enrichment. Facial and skeletal dysmorphisms also were noted. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning revealed areas of possible infarction in the occipital lobes and megaventriculosis. At necropsy, following euthanasia for humane reasons, severe polio- and leukoencephalomalacia accompanied by megaventriculosis were seen in both occipital lobes and in several sulci of the parietal and frontal lobes. light microscopic findings included loss of neocortical structure, with necrosis, neuronal loss, astrogliosis, vascular proliferation, mild spongiosis, and demyelination. The extent and severity of lesions were most pronounced in the occipital lobes and were greater in the left than in the right hemisphere. Other lesions included mild bilateral atrophy of the optic nerves, thymic involution, necrotizing dermatitis due to trauma, and a spectrum of spermatozoal abnormalities. The imaging and gross and light microscopic changes found in this animal resemble the mitochondrial encephalopathies of humans; this was corroborated by results of immunohistochemical analysis demonstrating decreased expression of enzymes of the mitochondrial oxidative complex ([OC]-I, -III, and -IV) in brain and muscle, and detection of fibrinogen immunoreactivity in neurons and glial cells. The spermatozoal defects may represent yet another aspect of a mitochondrial defect.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Ampullary carcinoma in a group of aged rhesus macaques (macaca mulatta).Ampullary carcinoma was diagnosed in 6 rhesus macaques that ranged in age from 20 to 35 years. Signalment, premonitory signs of disease, and results of clinical biochemical and hematologic analyses varied among animals. Histologically, the neoplastic cells obliterated the ampulla, with regional spread to the duodenum in all 6 animals and to the pancreas in one animal. Two animals had metastases to the lung, and another two had metastases to the pancreoduodenal lymph nodes and liver. One animal had mesocolonic metastasis. Malignant tumors of the ampullary region are rare in domestic animals, and account for less than 5% of all cancers of the digestive tract in humans.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 3keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. trisomy of chromosome 18 in the baboon (papio hamadryas anubis).trisomy 18 is usually a lethal chromosomal abnormality and is the second most common autosomal trisomy in humans, with an incidence of 1:8000 live births. It is commonly associated with abnormalities of the lower and upper extremities, having the frequency of 95% and 65%, respectively. A newborn female olive baboon (papio hamadryas anubis) was diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation and severe arthrogryposis-like congenital joint deformities. cytogenetic analysis including G-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the congenital abnormalities were associated with chromosomal mosaicism for trisomy 18. Genetic analysis with microsatellites from chromosome 18 confirmed the maternal origin of the extra chromosome 18. This is the first report of trisomy 18 in the baboon, which may be a promising animal model of human disease.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Epizootic of mycobacterium bovis in a zoologic park.An epizootic of mycobacterium bovis in a zoologic park resulted in the death of 4 southern white rhinoceroses and 2 colobus monkeys. Zoo personnel were detected that had positive intradermal tuberculin skin test results after exposure to mycobacterial-infected animals. On the basis of dna fingerprinting, all 3 mycobacterial isolates (from 1 rhinoceros and 2 monkeys) were determined to be genetically similar and probably originated from the same source. The 3 animals (1 rhinoceros and 2 colobus monkeys) that had confirmed infections lived in separate, but adjacent, areas. Aerosolization of bacteria during routine cleaning was believed to have contributed to the unusual distance between infected animals. Tuberculosis has reemerged as a major disease problem in human and veterinary medicine.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.5keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. The zoonotic importance of mycobacterium tuberculosis: transmission from human to monkey.A case of zoonotic mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a marmoset (callithrix jacchus) is reported. Genomic typing of the relevant M. tuberculosis isolates strongly suggests that the marmoset, which was kept as companion animal, acquired the disease from an infected member in the household who had been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis 8 years prior to this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = animal (Clic here for more details about this article) |