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Biomedical subjects

F Ehrensperger

Publications and source records attributed to F Ehrensperger.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Panleukopenia-like syndrome of FeLV caused by co-infection with FeLV and feline panleukopenia virus.

To study the effect of interferon on feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection, 30 specific pathogen free (SPF) cats were infected with the apathogenic FeLV A Glasgow. Unexpectedly, between 5 and 8 weeks after FeLV infection, all 19 cats with persistent FeLV infection but not the FeLV-negative cats died from a panleukopenia-like syndrome. No feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) antigen was found in feces by latex agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or immunoelectron microscopy. No enteropathogenic bacteria were found. Histopathology revealed changes resembling those of FPLV infection such as destruction of crypts and pancytopenia of bone marrow. Neither clinical signs nor seroconversion to FPLV could be induced by transmitting intestinal extracts to two SPF cats. However, FPLV antigen was demonstrated by immunofluorescence assay in intestinal cryostat sections of diseased animals. FPLV could also be demonstrated in intestinal extracts by immunoelectron microscopy, by latex agglutination and ELISA after anti-FPLV antibodies were removed from immune-complexed FPLV by ultracentrifugation over a CsCl gradient at pH 2.0. From these experiments it was concluded that the panleukopenia-like syndrome of FeLV may not be caused by FeLV alone but at least in some cases by co-infection with FeLV and FPLV. In addition, some form of 'cooperation' between FeLV and FPLV must be postulated because neither virus alone induced symptoms.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

An immunohistochemical study of the distribution of border disease virus in persistently infected sheep.

Three seronegative sheep persistently infected with Border disease virus and six seropositive, non-viraemic sheep were examined for the cellular distribution of the agent. These animals originated from a closed flock which had been kept in an isolation facility for 5 years. They were killed and immediately necropsied. There were no gross abnormalities other than reduced body weight of the persistently infected sheep. Two samples of each major organ were collected. The first sample was fixed by immersion in formalin and processed for histological examination, which showed no lesions unequivocally attributable to the viral infection. The second sample was snap-frozen for immunohistochemical examination. This revealed viral antigen in all organs of the persistently infected, but in none of the seropositive animals. The infected cells included smooth muscle cells of hollow organs and blood vessels, epithelial cells of the alimentary tract and urogenital organs, lymphocytes in lymphoid organs, endocrine cells, neurons and glial cell.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Borna disease in naturally infected cattle.

Based on the immunohistochemical demonstration of viral antigen and on the histological brain lesions, Borna disease was diagnosed in a cow and a bull which had suffered from a severe, subacute progressive disorder of the central nervous system. Virus-specific antigen was characteristically localized in neurons, predominantly in the perikaryon and dendrites. In a serum sample available from one of the animals a Borna disease virus antibody titre of 1 in 80 was demonstrated. This is the first report of the natural disease in cattle.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Immunohistological diagnosis of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD).

In the present study the diagnostic use of a biotinylated serum from an immune rabbit was investigated by means of an Avidin-Biotin-Complex (ABC)-Peroxidase method on paraffin sections. 15 cases of RHD which had been verified histologically and/or by haemagglutination test (HA), 4 suspected cases and 3 cases without history of RHD were included (cases 1 to 22). From 5 prospective cases a wider tissue range was examined (cases 23 to 25 and 29 to 30). Furthermore lungs, liver and placenta of 3 fetuses from a RHD affected dam were investigated (cases 26 to 28). The 20 typical cases had intense intranuclear and diffuse intracytoplasmic immunostaining of hepatocytes, predominantly in the periportal areas. In some cases there was also positive staining of macrophages in the lungs (4 cases), spleen (4 cases) and in lymph nodes (1 case). Positive granular staining in the renal mesangial cells of the glomeruli was observed in 1 case. No positive staining was observed in the 3 negative cases. In contrast to other reports (4), crossreactivity of these antigens to Porcine Parvovirus (PPV) could not be confirmed. Furthermore the RHD virus (RHDV) seems not to crossreact with Feline and Bovine Parvoviruses.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Animal model for dermolytic mechanobullous disease: sheep with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa lack collagen VII.

A severe congenital mechanobullous disease with dermolytic blistering and recessive inheritance is described in sheep. The affected animals of wild and inbred flocks of the breed Weisses Alpenschaf (WAS) have blisters of skin, oral mucosa, tongue, and esophagus at birth or within the first week of life. Exungulation occurs early, and severe erosions in the mouth lead to difficulty in feeding. Electron microscopic examination revealed sub-lamina densa splitting in natural or fresh friction blisters and absence of identifiable anchoring fibrils in clinically uninvolved skin. Antigen mapping localized laminin and collagen IV to the blister roof. Indirect immunofluorescence staining with antibodies to collagen VII, the major structural component of the anchoring fibrils, demonstrated a complete absence of reaction in clinically uninvolved tissues of the affected sheep, whereas in normal sheep a strong linear fluorescence was seen at the epithelial-mesenchymal basement membrane zone. Dermal extracts of normal sheep contained intact collagen VII, but epidermal and dermal extracts from the affected sheep lacked this collagen or its fragments in immunoblotting experiments. Based on genetic, clinical, ultrastructural, and immunochemical findings, the sheep disorder corresponds to the severe mutilating subtype of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa in humans and can be used as an animal model to investigate the human disorder.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Type 1 abomasal ulcers in dairy cattle.

Abomasa from 912 randomly selected cows were examined; specimens were obtained at the local slaughter house on 35 days spread over one year. Abomasal lesions were assessed macroscopically and histologically. Additionally, haematological and blood chemistry (urea, aspartate aminotransferase, potassium, chloride, calcium) evaluations and the determination of rumen chloride concentration were performed. Of the 912 abomasa examined, 187 (20.5%) had ulcerative lesions of the mucosa. Lesions were classified from 1 to 4 based on severity as described by Whitlock (1980). All ulcers were classified as type 1 (erosions and non-perforating ulcers); thus, further division into four subtypes 1 a, 1 b, 1 c and 1 d was carried out. Fifty-six abomasa had minimal mucosal defects which were classified as type 1 a. Deeper erosions combined with local hemorrhage, classified as type 1 b, were observed in 54 abomasa. Type 1 c were crater-like ulcers and were seen in 61 abomasa. Sixteen abomasa had type 1 d ulcers which included two forms: ulcers with radial wrinkles converging on a central point, and ulcers with perforated folds. Types 1 a and 1 c occurred mainly in the pyloric region, and types 1 b and 1 d were observed mainly in the fundic region. Type 1 abomasal ulcus could not be diagnosed based on alterations in haematological or blood and rumen chemistry values.

Abomasum↗
PubMed1991

[Pathomorphology of feline dysautonomia (Key-Gaskell syndrome). Histologic, electron microscopic and immunohistologic findings in 4 cats].

The histopathologic, immunohistochemical and electronmicroscopic findings of four dysautonomic cats are presented. The main histopathologic changes were seen in the nervous system, e.g. in sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia that were similarly affected. Acute cases showed a degeneration of most of the neurons, in one subacute case less neurons and degeneration of some of the remaining neurons were present. Degenerating neurons were swollen or shrunken and had pycnotic, eccentric nuclei. The Nissl substance was lost, the cytoplasma stained eosinophilic and was often vacuolated. Degenerating neurons were also seen in some nuclei of cranial nerves. In sympathetic ganglia numbers of glial cells were increased as shown by immunohistochemical markers (GFAP, S-100). The main ultrastructural changes in sympathetic ganglia were eccentric, crenated nuclei, loss of Nissl substance, loss of ribosomes, distended cisternae and vacuoles filled with floccular material. Circular stacks of parallel smooth-membranes and autophagic vacuoles were also often seen. No normal Golgi fields were seen. These findings closely resemble those already described for feline dysautonomia.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

[Spontaneous mixed infections with distemper virus and Toxoplasma in dogs].

During a canine distemper epidemic in Switzerland in 1984/85 six cases of spontaneous mixed infections of distemper virus and Toxoplasma spec. were diagnosed. An etiologic diagnosis was made by immunohistological PAP-labelling. Pathological including histopathological findings are reported. The possibilities of histological identification of the organisms (H & E staining) are compared with immunohistology. The importance of spontaneous opportunistic infections involving protozoa is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Two related cases of cerebellar abnormality in equine fetuses associated with hydrops of fetal membranes.

Hydrops allantois was diagnosed in two Haflinger mares with severe abdominal distension. Both mares were seven months pregnant. Abortion was induced with two injections of prostaglandin six hours apart followed by further manual dilation of the cervix and administration of oxytocin the next day. There were 90 and 95 litres of fluid, respectively, in the allantoic cavities which resembled extracellular fluid with regard to concentrations of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate and chloride, but not total protein. Both fetuses had severe brain abnormalities which were diagnosed as cerebellar and cerebral hypoplasia associated with bilateral hydrocephalus internus and hydranencephaly and cerebellar aplasia, respectively. Both mares were pregnant by the same stallion, but a clear hereditary link was not found.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

[Hypotrichosis and oligodontia, combined with an Xq-deletion, in a calf of the Swiss Holstein breed].

Hypotrichosis and oligodontia associated with a chromosomal anomaly (Xq-deletion) are described in a 11-month old cattle (Simmenthal/Red Holstein cross-breed). This chromosomal anomaly was accompanied with hairlessness and grievous teeth abnormalities. The animal had a very thin haircoat, had only one incisor and between one to three molars per mandible or maxilla. This resulted in reduced food intake, reduced rumination, and retarded growth. Post-mortem examination revealed lesions in the kidneys (bilateral chronic interstitial nephritis), adrenals (hyperplasia), pancreas (focal fibrosis) and abomasum (obstipation and multiple ulcers). Some of these abnormalities are comparable with the human "anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia" (Christ-Siemens-Touraine syndrome) and supports the hypothesis that there are homologies in the X-chromosome of different mammals.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1987

[The Weaver syndrome in cattle. Clinical, biochemical and pathologico-anatomic studies in a Braunvieh/Brown Swiss cow with bovine progressive degenerative myeloencephalopathy].

The clinical signs and pathological lesions, consistent with Bovine Progressive Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (BPDME), are described in a heifer. The animal was an 18-month-old Braunvieh-/Brown Swiss crossbreed with 50% Brown Swiss. Both the sire as well as the dam were related to the bull "B.". The only neurological signs were a posterior ataxia. Mobility and coordination of the front legs were normal. The CK activity of the cerebrospinal fluid was enhanced. There was a moderate to severe degeneration of the white matter consisting of marked axonal degradation and distension and degradation of myelin sheats in all parts of the spinal cord as well as in the medulla oblongata. The lesions were more severe in the descending than in the ascending tracts.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

The histocompatibility of a new bovine pericard graft.

An artificial defect of the umbilical area in ten calves was covered by a pericard graft whose new preparation method has been proved in bovine vessel grafts. Between 2 and 6 months postoperatively (p.o.) two animals at a time were euthanized to sample the graft and its surrounding tissue for histological investigations. On the one hand, there was an inflammatory foreign body type granulomatous reaction, but on the other hand this did not lead to rejection. Within the 6-month observation time the graft fibers were immigrated by the own young collagen fibers. We interpret this as a guide function of the graft fibers. Tiny focal calcifications appeared to be the effect of an intensive tissue irritation which may be caused by an incomplete edulcoration of the chemical substances used during preparation. We recommend a longer edulcoration time to prevent these reactions.

Animals↗