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D Elad

Publications and source records attributed to D Elad.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Application of PCR for detection of Clostridium botulinum type D in bovine samples.

Diagnosis of botulism in cows is obtained by detecting the neurotoxin and/or Clostridium botulinum in the suspected animal. The standard method for detecting the toxin is the mouse bioassay. However, in recent years, the use of mice has become very costly and inconvenient in some facilities, and public pressure has been increasing to find alternatives to live animal bioassays. In this manuscript, we describe the use of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedures in the diagnosis field cases of bovine type D botulism. Bovine samples from clinical cases diagnosed as C. botulinum type D according by clinical symptoms and bioassay resulted in expected PCR product ( approximately 497 bp) similar to the C. botulinum type D NCTC 8265 strain while the gene product was confirmed by sequence data.

Animals↗

Disseminated aspergillosis in two dogs in Israel.

Aspergillus terreus, normally a soil or plant saprophyte, causes disseminated systemic infection, involving primarily the skeletal and the cardiopulmonary system in humans and dogs.(1, 2) We describe two cases of German shepherd dogs that were referred to Koret School of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital with a history of anorexia and weakness. Case 1 suffered from neurological deficits, paraparesis and lumbar pain whereas case 2 suffered from unilateral uveitis and exophthalmus. Both dogs were treated symptomatically, but deteriorated progressively despite therapy and were therefore euthanised. Necropsy revealed disseminated aspergillosis, and numerous organs had multiple, miliary, white-yellow foci. Microscopically, these were identified as granulomas, containing fungal hyphae. Affected tissue included brain, heart, kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes and bones (case 2). Aspergillus terreus was isolated from different organs and from urine culture. We suggest that disseminated aspergillosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in German shepherd dogs presenting with ocular disease, neurological deficits, spinal column pain, urinary system disorders, and radiographic evidence of skeletal and/or respiratory pathology.

Animals↗

Quantitative analysis of levels of serum immunoglobulin G against botulinum neurotoxin type D and association with protection in natural outbreaks of cattle botulism.

The recent outbreaks of cattle botulism in vaccinated Israeli dairy cattle prompted us to determine vaccine efficacy and reasons for vaccine failure. Analysis of clinical signs, feeding practice, vaccination history, and epidemic curves enabled us to define a study population in two outbreaks, where high doses of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type D (BoNT/D) were evenly consumed by the affected animal groups. Attack rates among unvaccinated 6- to 24-month-old heifers were 96% (55/57) and 85% (53/62). The attack rates in vaccinated parity 1, 2, and >or=3 cows were 40.4% (21/52), 14.3% (4/28), and 5.6% (3/54), respectively. Vaccine efficacies for these cow groups were 52.5%, 83.2%, and 93.4%, respectively. In younger, unvaccinated 2- to 6-month-old calves, presumably protected by maternal antibodies, the attack rate was 24% (17/71). These differences correlated with significant differences in levels of specific anti-BoNT/D antibody in serum by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA performance for predicting protection was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic analysis and was found to be highly significant, with an area under the curve of 0.941 (standard error, 0.034; 95% confidence interval, 0.875 to 1.008; P < 0.000). No animals with serum ELISA unit levels above 0.33 were affected in these exposed groups. At this cutoff level, the specificity of the ELISA was 100%, sensitivity was 67%, and accuracy was 92%. We concluded that botulinum toxoids can confer adequate protection against natural exposure to lethal doses of BoNT/D; however, the vaccination protocols should be optimized. Our in-house ELISA system will enable us to optimize vaccination protocols in the animal population.

Animals↗

Infant botulism.

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Botulism↗

A herd level analysis of urinary tract infection in dairy cattle.

Cystitis, urethritis and pyelonephritis in cattle most commonly result from ascending urinary tract infection with Corynebacterium renale, Corynebacterium cystidis, Corynebacterium pilosum or Escherichia coli. We describe the clinical, bacteriological, clinical-pathological and epidemiological findings in a dairy cattle herd with urinary tract infection (UTI). Blood and urine samples from 17 calves and 19 cows were submitted to laboratory examinations. Depression, muscle wasting, weakness and frequent urine dribbling were the main characteristics of UTI in calves. Affected cows showed weight loss and an abrupt reduction in feed intake and milk production. Enlargement of the left kidney and loss of normal lobulation were evident on rectal examination. E. coli was the most frequent cause of UTI but C. renale, alpha-haemolytic Streptococcus spp., Proteus spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp. and Oligella urethralis were isolated as well. Differences in total protein and several protein fractions were found between affected and healthy animals.

Animals↗

The detection of an unidentified type of adenovirus in the stools of calves with weak calf syndrome by use of a commercial kit designed for the detection of human adenoviruses.

An outbreak of polyarthritis in newborn calves in a large collective dairy herd was characterized by intra-articular blood-tinged synoviae, blood tainted faeces and massive subcorneal haemorrhages. Faecal samples from eight clinical newborn cases, 10 from unrelated dairy farms and 10 faecal samples from healthy calves were examined by the Rida Quick rotavirus/adenovirus-combi test . A specific adenovirus antigen precipitin-line was seen in the reaction in all the faecal samples from the diseased calves (n = 8), while all the others (n = 20) were negative. In addition, the same positive reaction was noted when one aqueous humor and two synovial samples were tested with this kit. Several other enteropathogens were found sporadically, but no conclusive significance could be attributed to their presence. Bovine viral diarrhoea and infectious bovine rhinothracheitis viruses as well as Chlamydia spp. and Mycoplasma spp. were not involved in this episode.

Adenoviridae↗

Four-year survey of urinary tract infections in calves in Israel.

The prevalence of urinary tract infections in calves aged seven days to three months in three dairy cattle herds ranged from 0.5 to 1.6 per cent, with an average of 1.1 per cent. The mortality rate reached 16.1 per cent. The morbidity rate of the female calves was 1.4 per cent and that of the male calves 0.8 per cent. The bacteria isolated from urine, and from vaginal and preputial swabs were Escherichia coli (35 per cent), Corynebacterium renale (14 per cent), plasma coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (12 per cent), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12 per cent), Proteus species (12 per cent) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (5 per cent). The affected calves had a significantly lower serum concentration of inorganic phosphorus (P < 0.01).

Animals↗

Necrotizing stomatitis associated with Fusobacterium necrophorum in two goats.

Necrotizing stomatitis associated with Fusobacterium necrophorum in two goats is described. Arcanobacterium pyrogenes was the dominant component of the microbial flora cultured under aerobic condition. Treatment with penicillin, at a dose of 50 000 IU/kg for 6 days was used successfully in the cure of the disease.

Animals↗

Natural Clostridium botulinum type C toxicosis in a group of cats.

Clinical signs of botulism were observed in a group of eight cats, four of which died, after being fed pelican carrion. Clostridium botulinum type C was isolated from one cat. The microorganism and its toxin were found in the pelican. This is apparently the first report of natural botulism in cats.

Animal Feed↗

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in Israeli dairy cattle.

Two forms of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in Israeli dairy cattle herds during a survey period of 13 years (1989-2001) are described. The more common form, which was diagnosed in 45 herds, was characterized by ulcerative granulomatous lesions which occurred either sporadically--in 26 herds (with a morbidity rate of up to 5%)--or in an epidemic course in 19 herds. Most (80.6%) of the affected animals were cows; the rest were first-calving cows (16.2%) and heifers (3.2%). The morbidity occurred mostly during the summer months. The ulcerative granulomatous lesions appeared in three clinical forms: cutaneous, mastitic and visceral. Mixed forms were also observed. The morbidity rate was 6.4% and the culling rate reached 16.3% of the affected animals. Most of the strains of C. pseudotuberculosis which were isolated from the abscesses in the cutaneous form of the disease and from milk samples failed to reduce nitrate. A decrease in milk production (6%) and an increase in bulk-milk somatic cell count were noted. Necrotic and ulcerative dermatitis on the heel of the foot occurred in an epidemic course in heifers in only two herds during the winter months, with morbidity rates of 7.5 and 76.2%, respectively. C. pseudotuberculosis isolates from skin lesions and from the soil did reduce nitrate. Clinical, epizootiological and microbiological aspects of the infection are described.

Animals↗

Biomechanical aspects of Peyronie's disease in development stages and following reconstructive surgeries.

Peyronie's disease is a disorder of the penile connective tissues that leads to development of dense fibrous or ossified plaques in the tunica albuginea, causing penile deformity and painful erection. A biomechanical model of the penis was utilized for analyzing the mechanical stresses that develop within its soft tissues during erection in the presence of Peyronie's plaques. The model's simulations demonstrated stress concentrations around nerve roots and blood vessels due to the plaques. These stresses may irritate nerve endings or compress the vascular bed, and thus cause penile deformity and/or painful erection. The model was further used to elaborate the effects of different biological or artificial materials for reconstruction of the penis following plaque removal. Clinical applications of the present model can range from analysis of the etiology of the disease to assisting in the determination of optimal timing for therapeutic interventions and in the selection of patch material for penile reconstructions.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Entropion, corneal ulcer and corneal haemorrhages in a one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius).

An unusual case of entropion, corneal ulcer and corneal haemorrhages in a one-humped camel (Camelus dromedaries) is described. The most prominent clinical findings were entropion of both eyelids, severe blephrospasm, epiphora, conjunctivitis, conjunctival oedema, mucopurulent conjunctival discharges, hyperaemia, lacrimation and photophobia. Corneal ulcers and corneal haemorrhages were also observed.

Animals↗

Influence of diet on the shedding of Candida glabrata by experimentally infected preweaned calves.

The influence of three diets, comprising dam's milk (DM) from the same farm, commercial milk replacer with (CMRL) or without 3.2% lactose (CMR), on the duration and intensity of Candida glabrata shedding in the faeces of preweaned calves following experimental oral infection was examined. Shedding of other potential enteric pathogens was also monitored. The duration and intensity of C. glabrata shedding in DM-fed calves were reduced significantly compared with the calves fed the two diets based on milk replacers. Consequently, feeding calves with DM might disrupt the infective cycle, resulting in the yeast's elimination from a farm. In the CMR and CMRL groups, the periods of intensive shedding of C. glabrata and rotavirus overlapped but no diarrhoea was associated with the shedding of either microorganism. There was no evidence that lactose diminished colonization in vivo.

Animals↗