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Biomedical subjects

J S Agerholm

Publications and source records attributed to J S Agerholm.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Natural and experimental infection of sheep with European bat lyssavirus type-1 of Danish bat origin.

In 1998 and 2002, European bat lyssavirus type-1 (EBLV-1) was demonstrated in brain tissue of five Danish sheep suffering from neurological disorders. Four of the five sheep also had encephalic listeriosis. The animals originated from four flocks on pastures within a limited area of western Jutland. In a serological investigation in two of the herds, from which three of the diseased animals originated, EBLV-1 neutralizing antibodies were detected in only one of 69 sheep. In follow-up surveys, 2110 sheep sera collected at Danish slaughterhouses during 2000 were all negative for EBLV-1-antibodies, and EBLV-1 was not demonstrated in 87 ruminants displaying neurological symptoms. To investigate the pathogenic effects of EBLV-1, four sheep were inoculated intralabially with either brain material from one of the naturally infected sheep or virus isolated from the same sheep. These animals developed EBLV-1 neutralizing antibodies at 5-9 weeks post-inoculation but did not exhibit neurological signs during a 33-week observation period. It was speculated that the immune response prevented viral dissemination to the brain, resulting in an abortive peripheral infection. It was concluded that EBLV-1 can infect sheep under natural conditions as an incidental event.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Renal lipofuscinosis in Danish slaughter cattle.

A study was performed to characterize dark brown or black discoloured kidneys ("black kidneys") in Danish slaughter cattle and to investigate the aetiology and pathogenesis. In 133 939 cattle entering four abattoirs, 359 cases of "black kidneys" were recorded. Of these, 57 cases were submitted for macroscopical, microscopical, and ultrastructural examination. A pigment with characteristics similar to those of lipofuscin was found in secondary lysosomes in epithelial cells of the proximal tubules. Pigment accumulation was the cause of discoloration, with a positive correlation between the discoloration of the renal cortex and the degree of pigment accumulation. Cases occurred only in cattle of the Holstein breed or the Red Danish Dairy breed and mainly in animals aged 3 years or older. In these breeds, prevalences of 0.44% and 2.51% were found, respectively. Epidemiological analyses indicated that affected animals aged 4.5 to 6.5 years or 7.5 to 8.5 years were culled more frequently than unaffected cattle. Epidemiological and genealogical analyses strongly indicated a genetic aetiology with simple autosomal recessive inheritance.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Evaluation of the inheritance of the complex vertebral malformation syndrome by breeding studies.

To investigate the congenital complex vertebral malformation syndrome (CVM) in Holstein calves, two breeding studies were performed including 262 and 363 cows, respectively. Cows were selected from the Danish Cattle Database based on pedigree and insemination records. Selected cows were progeny of sires with an established heterozygous CVM genotype and pregnant after insemination with semen from another sire with heterozygous CVM genotype. Following calving the breeders should state, if the calf was normal and was requested to submit dead calves for necropsy. In both studies, significantly fewer CVM affected calves than expected were obtained; a finding probably reflecting extensive intrauterine mortality in CVM affected foetuses. The findings illustrate increased intrauterine mortality as a major potential bias in observational studies of inherited disorders.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2002

Survey of laboratory findings in suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Denmark from 1990 to 2000.

A survey of the laboratory findings in suspected cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Denmark from 1 June 1990 to 31 December 2000 is presented. During this period BSE was a notifiable disease, and the heads of suspected cases were submitted according to the legislation on BSE. A total of 176 submissions were made, mostly from bovines with neurological disorders and mainly during the last 3 years of this period. Lesions or other laboratory findings consistent with severe neurological disorders were found in 115 cases. The most frequent diagnosis was encephalic listeriosis (35.8% of submissions) followed by other forms of inflammatory lesions. A wide range of lesions were diagnosed less prevalent. BSE was diagnosed twice. The first case occurred in an imported cow in 1992, while the second confirmed case was diagnosed in a native cow in February 2000. A marked increase in the number of submissions occurred following the detection of BSE in February 2000.

Age Distribution↗
PubMed2001

Complex vertebral malformation in holstein calves.

A recently observed lethal congenital defect of purebred Holstein calves is reported. Eighteen genetically related calves were necropsied. One calf had been aborted on gestation day 159, and the others were delivered between day 250 and day 285. Birth weights were reduced. The defect was characterized by shortening of the cervical and thoracic parts of the vertebral column due to multiple hemivertebrae, fused and misshaped vertebrae, and scoliosis. Symmetrical flexures of the carpal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joint in combination with a slight lateral rotation of the phalanges also were present. Similar low-grade arthrogryposis was present in the posterior limbs. Fifty percent of the calves had heart malformation. Other malformations occurred in a few calves. Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) is proposed as the designation for this defect. A genetic etiology is indicated because cases occurred following breeding between genetically related individuals. Two common ancestors were found; both were former elite sires of US Holstein origin. Because of the widespread international use of semen from sires occurring in the pedigrees of affected calves, CVM is expected to occur in several countries.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2001

Complex vertebral malformation in a holstein calf: report of a case in the USA.

Complex vertebral malformation (CVM), a familial syndrome of Holstein calves, has been reported in aborted fetuses and in prematurely born, stillborn, and neonatal calves. Affected calves have anomalies in the vertebral column, including hemivertebrae, fused and misshapen vertebrae and ribs, scoliosis, and vertebral synostosis. Concurrent low body weight, symmetrical arthrogryposis, and cardiac anomalies have been documented in affected calves. The syndrome was identified and characterized in Holstein cattle in Denmark; however, a global distribution of this genetic disorder is likely based on identification of common ancestral sires widely used for artificial insemination. This is the first documented case of CVM in a Holstein calf in the USA.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2000

Abscess disease, caseous lymphadenitis, and pulmonary adenomatosis in imported sheep.

The occurrence of abscess disease, caseous lymphadenitis, and pulmonary adenomatosis in sheep in Denmark is reported for the first time. Subcutaneous abscesses were observed in imported 4- to 5-month-old lambs of the Lacaune breed 10 days after arrival in Denmark. Abscesses were mostly located in the head, neck and shoulder regions close to the regional lymph nodes. Bacteriological examinations revealed growth of Staphylococcus aureus ssp. anaerobius in all animals with subcutaneously located abscesses containing a viscous white-yellow odourless mass. In addition, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated from abscesses in one animal and lesions consistent with pulmonary adenomatosis were found in four animals.

Abscess↗
PubMed1999

Experimental infection of pregnant cows with Bacillus licheniformis bacteria.

To study the abortifacient potential and fetoplacental tropism of Bacillus licheniformis bacteria, eight cows in the sixth to eighth month of gestation were inoculated intravenously either once (n = 4) or on four successive days (n = 4) with B. licheniformis at doses ranging from 10(9) to 10(12) colony-forming units. Cows were euthanatized and necropsied prior to abortion (n = 2), at the time of abortion (n = 2), or at calving (n = 4). Live-born calves (n = 5) were euthanatized immediately after delivery and necropsied. B. licheniformis was reisolated from placentomes/endometrium in six of eight (75%) cows and from one fetus aborted 43 days after inoculation. Lesions associated with B. licheniformis were restricted to the pregnant uterus, with the exception of one cow, which developed pneumonia. Necrosis in the fetal compartment of the placenta were present in three of four (75%) cows of both inoculation groups. Lesions were mainly restricted to fetal membranes and especially to the fetal side of the placentomes. Necrosis and diffuse neutrophil infiltrations of both villi and intervillous areas occurred in the fetal part of the placenta, and the placentomal interface was distended by bacteria, neutrophils, erythrocytes, and debris. Within trophoblasts, bacteria were located both free in the cytoplasm and in cytoplasmatic vesicles. Inflammation was present in three of eight (38%) calves. Placental and fetal lesions were similar to those found in cases of spontaneous abortions associated with B. licheniformis. The abortifacient potential of B. licheniformis and the tropism for the bovine placenta is demonstrated here for the first time.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1997

A retrospective study of the inheritance of peromelia in Angora goats.

Peromelia, agenesia of the distal parts of the limbs, has been reported as a congenital defect in several animal species. In Angora goats, cases occur in a familiar pattern consistent with an autosomal recessively inherited defect. To obtain further evidence on the inheritance of peromelia in Angora goats, breeding results for goats being daughters of known carriers and which were then mated to a known carrier were analysed. Of 45 kids born in 1993 and 1994, five kids had peromelia. This corresponded to the expected 7:1 segregation. The difference between the number of affected male and female kids was not statistically significant. Peromelia affected kids occurred significantly more frequently among goats selected in the breeding study than among other goats in the respective herds. The study demonstrated that peromelia is inherited as an autosomal recessive defect. Based on knowledge obtained in a previous study, the genotype probably has varying degrees of expressivity.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Diagnostic studies of abortion in Danish dairy herds.

Diagnostic findings in 218 aborted bovine foetuses are reported. The materials were examined in a matched case-control study of 69 Danish dairy herds with a sudden increase in the number of abortions and a corresponding 69 control herds. Foetuses aborted during the subsequent 6-month period were examined to identify the cause of abortion if possible. A total of 186 specimens were submitted from case herds and 32 from control herds. A likely cause of abortion was diagnosed in 73 foetuses. The most common cause was bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV: 13%) followed by Neospora caninum infection (10%), mycosis (5%) and Bacillus licheniformis infection (4%). Foetal and/or placental lesions were found in a further 27 cases. Only BVDV infection and neosporosis were diagnosed in more than one foetus per herd and only protozoal associated abortions occurred significantly more frequently in the case, rather than in the control, herds.

Abortion, Septic↗
PubMed1997

A preliminary study on the pathogenicity of Bacillus licheniformis bacteria in immunodepressed mice.

The pathogenicity of 13 strains of Bacillus licheniformis was studied in immunodepressed mice. The strains had been isolated from cases of bovine abortions (n = 5), bovine feedstuffs (n = 3), soil (n = 1), and grain products (n = 2). The origin of two strains was unknown. Groups of 10 mice were inoculated intravenously with B. licheniformis bacteria at doses from < 10(6) to 10(10) colony-forming units. Following 7 days of infection, the animals were euthanized and examined bacteriologically, histologically, and immunohistochemically using a PAP technique based on primary polyclonal rabbit anti-B. licheniformis antibodies. B. licheniformis bacteria were reisolated from the liver, spleen or kidneys of mice in all groups. Inflammatory lesions were present in mice of all immunodepressed groups, but only brain and pulmonic lesions were definitely attributed to B. licheniformis infection, as strong immunostaining was found within these lesions. It is concluded that all strains of B. licheniformis examined were pathogenic for immunodepressed mice, and that spontaneous infections may be established by bacterial strains to which susceptible individuals are accidentally exposed.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Inheritance of spinal dysmyelination in calves.

A study was performed to establish the inheritance of spinal dysmyelination in cross-bred American Brown Swiss calves. Daughters of a carrier bull were mated to another carrier resulting in 254 calves. 228 calves were found to be normal while 25 calves were affected with spinal dysmyelination. One calf was excluded from the study. The number of affected males and females did not differ significantly. The ratio between normal and affected calves corresponded to the 7:1 ratio expected in the experimental design used. It is therefore concluded that spinal dysmyelination is an autosomal recessively inherited defect. All cases in Denmark can be traced to a single American Brown Swiss bull.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A retrospective study of bovine abortions associated with Bacillus licheniformis.

A retrospective study of bovine abortions associated with Bacillus licheniformis is described. The material consisted of 2445 bovine abortions submitted for diagnostics from 1986 through 1993. Initially, B. licheniformis had been isolated from 81 cases. Sections of these cases were re-examined microscopically and immunohistochemically by a PAP technique using a primary antibody against B. licheniformis. Of these abortions, 47 were most likely associated with B. licheniformis as tissue lesions with immunostained bacteria were present in these. In the remaining cases the diagnosis may not have been established due to the lack of sufficient materials, or the isolation of the bacterium was considered to be a result of contamination. In four cases concomitant infections with B. licheniformis and bovine virus diarrhoea virus were present. Abortions caused by B. licheniformis were predominantly seen during the winter months and in late pregnancy. The most common lesions were necrotizing placentitis followed by fetal multifocal suppurative bronchopneumonia. Immunohistochemically, B. licheniformis was demonstrated in association with tissue lesions and intracellularly in trophoblasts. The pattern of bacterial isolations, especially from the placenta, lungs, and abomasal contents, combined with the histological findings points to B. licheniformis abortions as being of haematogenous origin with subsequent transplacental spread to the fetus.

Abortion, Septic↗
PubMed1995

Experimental infection in mice with Bacillus licheniformis.

The pathogenicity of Bacillus licheniformis was assessed in normal and immunodepressed BALB/c mice. The animals were challenged intravenously with 4 x 10(7) colony forming units of B. licheniformis (ATCC 14580) and both normal and immunodepressed mice were susceptible. However, the infection was more severe in the immunosuppressed animals. In normal mice, lesions were restricted to the liver and kidneys, while lesions also occurred in other organs of immunodepressed mice. By crossed immunoelectrophoresis it was shown that antigens of B. licheniformis are potent immunogens, and the bacteria could be identified in tissue sections by immunostaining. Immunohistochemically, B. licheniformis was demonstrated in hepatic and pulmonic macrophages, and from some animals the bacteria were also reisolated.

Animals↗