Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G A Chalmers.
Lipoptena depressa is reported for the first time from Alberta on a 2 1/2-mo-old white-tailed deer fawn. This ked fly is one of four species occurring on deer in North America. The fawn had severe hemorrhagic enteritis of undetermined cause.
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The range of known occurrence of Leptospira interrogans serotype pomona is extended to Alberta in striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis); no evidence of L. sejroe was found. Reacting sera from skunks were confined to the southern portion of Alberta and adjacent Saskatchewan, although a number of reactors were found sufficiently further north in Saskatchewan suggesting that a different mode of infection may be functioning there. Of 95 skunk sera from near a dairy farm infected with serotype pomona 40% were reactors. Of 438 skunk sera from other areas only 5.7% were reactors; that difference was suggestive of transmission from cattle to skunks on the dairy farm. Of 22 skunk sera collected near the dairy farm in summer none were reactors, whereas 52% of skunk sera taken the previous and following winters were. That seasonal difference was not evident among sera from other locations.
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Myopathy and myoglobinuria occurred in a group of feedlot cattle in Alberta following transportation. The condition was associated with a deficiency of selenium (Se) in grain and hay fed to these animals on their premises of origin. Clinical findings in affected animals were characterized by a normal body temperature, stiffness, sternal recumbency and the passage of red or coffee-colored urine. Treatment with injectable Se-vitamin E was followed by the recovery of most affected animals within two weeks.
Twelve cases of oral papillomatosis were detected in wild carnivores of Alberta, ten in coyotes (Canis latrans) and two in wolves (Canis lupus). Lesions ranged from mild with a few small papillomas to severe with much of the surface of the lips, tongue and buccal cavity covered with papillomas. Three of five coyotes with severe papillomatosis were in obvious poor health. The gross and histologic lesions are described and the significance of this disease in wild carnivores is discussed.
From 1971 to 1975, inclusive, 594 pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) were drive trapped in Alberta; subsequently, 74 of these animals were transported to enclosures. Deaths attributable to capture myopathy (CM) occurred in 20 of the trapped pronghorns and in 17 of the pronghorns that were trapped and subsequently transported. Two neonatal pronghorns that had been pursued died with signs and lesions similar to those seen in adult pronghorns affected with CM. The diagnosis of CM was based on history, clinical signs, clinico-pathologic findings, and gross and histologic lesions. Clinical signs of CM included depression, stiffness, weakness, incoordination, recumbency, and paralysis; myoglobinuria was observed in 1 neonatal animal. Of the pronghorns that died, fewer than one-half died acutely during processing, whereas the remainder died from 1 to 13 days following their release. Gross and histologic lesions were observed in the large muscles of the hindlimbs of most affected pronghorns. Values for serum enzymes, potassium, glucose, and creatinine, were higher for drive-trapped pronghorns than for tame, hand-reared pronghorns. These findings indicated extensive damage to muscle and to other organs as a result of the capture procedures.
Acute capture myopathy was diagnosed in 3 elk (Cervus canadensis). In 2 of the elk, hindlimb lameness developed within 10 days of capture. Clinical signs were not observed in the third elk, which was found dead 7 days after its capture. Elks 1 and 2 were euthanatized and all 3 animals were necropsied. In elks 1 and 2, rupture of the semi-membranosus muscle was associated with massive hemorrhage and swelling. Microscopic findings included hemorrhage, edema, myofibril fragmentation, and evidence of attempted muscular regeneration. In elk 3, several of the large muscles of the hindlimbs as well as the biceps brachii muscles of the forelimbs appeared pale, dry, and friable. Except for lack of hemorrhage and edema, microscopic findings in this elk were similar to those of elks 1 and 2.
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Nasal secretions, leukocytes and preputial or vaginal swabs from a group of 15 captive wild ruminants, comprising six pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana), seven fallow deer (Dama dama) and two mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and from 50 free-ranging pronghorns in southern Alberta, were examined for viral agents. Captive animals were given injections of dexamethasone daily for 6 days in attempts to reactivate latent infections. Specimens were collected at 2-3 day intervals from days 0 to 18. Free-ranging pronghorns were sampled only once, at the time of capture. Fifteen viral isolates were obtained from the animals: six isolates of parainfluenza 3 (PI3) from nasal swabs from one fallow deer and one mule deer; five isolates of herpesvirus from leukocytes, vaginal, preputial and nasal swabs from three fallow deer; and four isolates of PI3 from nasal secretions of the 50 free-ranging pronghorns.
A diagnosis of Tyzzer's disease (Bacillus piliformis infection) was made in a group of recently-trapped muskrats (Ondatra zibethica). The major lesions consisted of enteritis and focal necrosis of the liver, with organisms resembling B. piliformis in hepatocytes on the periphery of these foci. The outbreak was associated with recent capture, housing, and the use of sulfaquinoxaline-medicated feed.
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Contagious ecthyma (CE) is reported in bighorn sheep (Ovis c. canadensis) from several national parks in western Canada and in moutain goat (Oreamnos americanus) from Kootenay National Park, British Columbia. (This is the first report of CE in mountain goat.) Diagnosis was based on clinical signs, histopathology, transmission experiments and the demonstration of a proxvirus with the electron microscope. The infection was transmitted from wild to domestic goat, but not to domestic sheep. Most infections, some of them severe, were found in lambs and kids. Clinical signs of disease were similar to those seen in domestic sheep and goats. General body condition was poor and animals had difficulty feeding normally. All infected herds had prolonged contact with areas where salt was provided artificially (i.e., salt blocks, highways and campgrounds). Fewer infected sheep were observed annually when salt blocks were removed from Jasper National Park.
To determine the exposure of free-ranging pronghorns (Antilocapra americana Ord) to selected pathogens, serum samples were obtained from 33 live-trapped animals from southwestern Saskatchewan in 1970, and from 26 and 51 animals from southeastern Alberta, in 1971 and 1972, respectively. Antibodies were found to the agents of parainfluenza 3, bovine virus diarrhea, eastern and western encephalomyelitis, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and the chlamydial group. No serologic reactors were found to the agents of bluetongue, epizootic hemorrhagic disease, brucellosis, or leptospirosis (4 serotypes).
In September, 1973, a live male 2-3 day old white-tailed deer (Odocoileur virginianus) with multiple anomalies of the head and forelimbs was found near Lethbridge, Alberta. Notable gross findings inculded brachygnathia inferior, atypical incisor tooth alignment, medially folded ears, humero-radial arthrogryposis and bowing of the radius and ulna. Hematologic determinations indicated increased erythrocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Histopathologic examination revealed mineralized spherites in the cerebellum and midbrain.
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