Original article(s)

Inflammatory reactions in dogs are associated with systemic changes in serum, called the acutephase response; changes in the concentration of acute phase proteins in the serum take place.C-reactive protein (CRP) is a positive acute phase protein, which increases during inflammation.The role of inflammation in epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, the inflammatory responsein dogs with idiopathic epilepsy (IE) was investigated. The aims of the study were: 1. to measureserum CRP concentrations in dogs with IE and in healthy dogs, 2. to measure serum CRPconcentrations in dogs with acute cluster seizures and in dogs with isolated seizures and 3. toobserve the evolution of serum CRP concentrations in time after the last seizure. This studyshowed no significant differences in serum CRP concentrations between dogs with IE (7.8 mg/l)and dogs of the control group (8.3 mg/l). Furthermore, the results showed higher mean serumCRP concentrations in dogs with IE exhibiting cluster seizures (11,8 mg/l) than in dogs withisolated seizures (5.7 mg/l). However, these results were not statistically significant (P = 0.077).Finally, no statistically significant decrease in serum CRP concentrations was seen with timeafter the last epileptic seizure in dogs with IE (P = 0.077).

Gastric Helicobacter species are present in the stomach of more than 50% of dogs and cats. Thesebacteria have also been associated with severe gastric pathologies in humans. The route of transmissionbetween pets and from pets to humans remains unclear, but it has been suggested that direct contact mightplay a role. In order to determine whether transfer might occur through contact with saliva and feces, thepresence of Helicobacter DNA was determined in oral swabs and feces of dogs and cats.In this study, 155 saliva samples and141 fecal samples were collected from 106 dogs and 58 cats. From22 dogs, a gastric biopsy sample was also collected, aiming to investigate whether the same Helicobacterspecies found in saliva and/or feces could also be detected in the stomach of these animals. All sampleswere screened for the presence of DNA from gastric Helicobacter species associated with dogs and cats,using species-specific qPCRs and amplicon sequencing.In 43% of the dogs and 41% of the cats, one or more positive samples were found. Helicobacter DNAwas detected in 29 % of the saliva samples, 37 % of the fecal samples and 41% of the gastric biopsies.Several dogs and cats were infected with more than one Helicobacter species. No clear correlationbetween the presence of a Helicobacter species in the stomach of dogs and the detection of this speciesin their saliva and/or feces was shown. Moreover, the present study did not allow to determine whetherthe detected Helicobacter DNA originated from viable Helicobacter bacteria, highlighting the need ofadditional studies in order to determine the importance of saliva and feces in transfer of these gastricHelicobacter species between animals and from animals to humans.

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) has been considered a major pathology in high producingdairy herds for years. These findings were corroborated by several studies in Europe. However,different feeding practices and herds’ production levels are found in Southern Belgium. This studyaimed to ascertain whether dairy cows of several herds from the south of Belgium (Wallonia) witha suspicion of SARA really did present too low ruminal pH values. Twenty-four herds were visitedand 172 cows were sampled using an oropharyngeal device to collect ruminal fluid, i.e. Geishauserprobe. On the samples, three tests were performed: pH measurement, methylene blue reductiontest and microscopic evaluation of protozoa vitality. Based on these analyses, no cows demonstratedpH values lower than 5.5 and, only ten cows could be considered at risk for SARA. By contrast, ineightteen cows, pH values higher than 7.0 were measured and ruminal inactivity was suspected. Inthis study, ruminal alkalosis appeared to be more frequently observed than SARA.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of chloroquine treatment on cystexcretion in calves naturally infected with Giardia duodenalis. The calves were randomly assignedinto two groups based on placebo (group I, n=7 untreated control calves) or treatment (groupII, n=7 calves treated orally with 2.5 mg/kg chloroquine twice daily for five consecutive days).The G. duodenalis isolates were identified by molecular characterization with β-giardin nestedPCR and gene sequence analysis as assemblage A3. Cyst excretion was determined on days 0, 3,7 and 10, before and after treatment. Geometric means of the number of excreted cysts did notchange significantly in the control group during the trial. The reduction in cyst excretion afterchloroquine treatment was 99% on day 3 and 100% on days 7 and 10. Chloroquine treatment ismost probatly practically applicable, relatively inexpensive and highly effective against giardiosisin calves.

Between April 2012 and July 2015, cloacal and/or tracheal swab samples were collected from fourhundred and twenty-four Belgian chicken broiler, breeder and layer flocks. All flocks were kept forproduction purposes and presented clinical signs suggestive of an infectious bronchitis virus (IBV)infection. The samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to detectthe presence of ribonucleic acid (RNA) of IBV. When positive, approximately four hundred base pairs(bp) encoding for the hypervariable region of the IBV S1 protein were sequenced. Sequencing results,cycle threshold (Ct) values and vaccination history were used as criteria to try and distinguish vaccinestrains from field strains.Of all samples examined, 22.4% was negative. In 16.4% of the samples that did contain RNAfrom IBV, the genotype could not be determined. In most cases, this was due to the recovery ofRNA quantities below the lower limit of detection of the sequencing PCR. The remaining positivesubmissions predominantly revealed RNA from IBV strains that belonged to the 4/91–793B (46.8%),D388–QX (25.2%), D274-D207 (5.8%) and Massachusetts (4.0%) genotypes. Estimations indicatedthat approximately 58%, 11%, 37% and 46% of these detections, respectively, were vaccine strains.Infections with types CK/CH/Guandong/Xindadi/0903, Ukr/27/2011, NGA/295/2006 and Q1 wereobserved sporadically.The results indicate that IBV infections are highly prevalent in Belgian chickens and that at leasteight different IBV types were circulating during the monitored period. This underlines the necessityof providing flocks with a strong and broad protective immunity against IBV.

The scoring of the body condition at specific time points during the lactation cycle has proven tobe essential in the nutritional management of modern dairy herds. The ‘Thunder Measure (TM) VetDevice’ has recently been developed by Ingenera SA, Switzerland to accurately and objectively measurethe body condition score (BCS) of dairy cows in the field. Based on a smartphone app linked to alaser device, the system makes an analysis of three dorsal view photographs taken, for example, whencows are lined up in the feed alley. In the present study, the correlation and repeatability of the systemwere examined in comparison with the conventional visual measurement of BCS and ultrasonographicmeasurement of the backfat thickness (BFT). The conventional measurement of the BCS was done bya veterinary surgeon experienced in body condition scoring and by less experienced veterinary undergraduatestudents. The results obtained via the TM Vet Device were only moderately correlated withthe BFT measurements (r=0.38, P<0.001), but were highly correlated (r=0.82, P<0.001) and showedgood agreement with the BCS results obtained by the experienced veterinary surgeon. The BCS resultsobtained by the undergraduate students were highly variable, leading to a highly variable correlationwith the results gathered using the TM Vet Device (r=0.23 (P<0.05) to r=0.74 (P<0.001)). The repeatabilityof the results obtained by the device was very high (91%). Only the repeatability of the resultsobtained by the experienced veterinarian (93%) and the BFT measurement (96%) were higher. In leananimals, some overscoring by the device was noted in comparison with the scores given by the experiencedveterinary surgeon, although this overscoring diminished as the body condition score assignedby the veterinary surgeon increased.The ease to use and the accuracy of the results obtained allow the TM Vet Device to be considereda useful tool in the nutritional management of a modern dairy herd.

The purpose of this study was to describe the radiographic and ultrasonographic appearanceof the esophagus of ten healthy horses. Contrast radiography showed variations in the long-axisshape of the esophagus at the thoracic inlet. Administration of a large volume contrast mediumby intubation showed stasis of contrast material for several minutes in two of the ten horses. Thewall thickness of the non-distended esophagus on ultrasound was 2.6 ± 0.3 mm with significantdifferences depending on the location. Distention of the esophagus by intubation or by a bolusof water or concentrate resulted in a decrease in wall thickness and it facilitated measuring withless variation. Stasis at the thoracic inlet was seen in five of the ten horses, when a water boluswas administered. Ultrasonographic evaluation of 100g spontaneously swallowed commercialconcentrate was better than fluid (water bolus or 2.5mL/kg contrast medium) administration viaintubation to assess esophageal motility at the thoracic inlet. Stasis seen at the thoracic inlet afterbolus administration by intubation should not be regarded as an abnormal finding, and swallowing,with the subsequent peristaltic wave, has a positive influence on the bolus passage time.

A new technique, mini-FLOTAC, has recently been developed for the microscopic diagnosis of infectionswith gastro-intestinal nematodes in domestic animals. In this comparative study of diagnostictechniques, the mini-FLOTAC technique was compared to the commonly used McMaster techniquefor the detection and quantification of gastro-intestinal parasites in livestock as well as for the evaluationof the time needed to perform the assays. One hundred fecal samples (78 horses, 11 bovines, 6sheep and 5 goats) were examined with both the mini-FLOTAC and McMaster technique. This revealedthat more infections with gastro-intestinal parasites could be diagnosed with the mini-FLOTACtechnique than with the McMaster technique, but the comparative study also showed a very high correlation(correlation coefficient = 0.90, p < 0.001) between both techniques regarding the number ofeggs per gram feces (EPG) detected. The time needed to examine the samples with the mini-FLOTACtechnique (13 minutes) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the time needed with the McMastertechnique (6 minutes). This difference in time also depended on the observed EPG value, as with highEPG values, the difference in time between both techniques increased even more. In conclusion, themini-FLOTAC technique can be preferred when an accurate diagnosis of a low infection level is necessary,e.g. to detect anthelmintic resistance. In other circumstances, the faster McMaster technique canbe considered as the preferable technique.

Psoroptic mange, caused by Psoroptes ovis, is a problem on many Flemish farms where Belgianblue beef cattle are bred. Two intensive treatment schedules were evaluated on nine Belgian blue farmswith a persistent mange problem. On farms 1 to 7, all animals were treated twice (with a seven-to-tendaysinterval) with an injectable macrocyclic lactone (ML), while on the two remaining farms, theinitial treatment consisted of one injection with the long acting (LA) formulation of moxidectin (10%).Skin scrapings were taken after treatment, and when living mites were found on at least one animal,all animals (farms 1 to 7) or only positive animals (farms 8 and 9) were treated consecutively with aninjectable ML. On all farms, the treated animals were clinically healthy and P. ovis free at the end ofwinter, after two to nine treatment rounds (two injections with a seven to ten-days interval or one LAinjection). Although mange reappeared on the first seven farms after the subsequent grazing season, thedisease was less severe and easier to control.

Chlamydia psittaci is a gram-negative, obligate, intracellular bacterium, which mainly infectsbirds and mammals. Not much is known about innate immunity initiated by C. psittaci. Thefocus of the present study is on chicken macrophage activation and expression of cytokine,chemokine, caspase-1, iNOS and TLR genes during the early phase and mid-cycle period ofthe developmental cycle of the highly virulent C. psittaci strain 92/1293. C. psittaci significantlyaugmented the transcript levels for all genes investigated, especially during the mid-cycle period.These results demonstrate a robust innate immune response of chicken macrophages initiated bya C. psittaci infection.