Casuïstiek(en)

An outbreak of TSE/scrapie is described in a flock of Hampshire Down sheep in Belgium. After the diagnosis was confirmed in an animal that had been sold, screening was performed on 16 other farms, that also had bought animals from the farm at issue. Half of these herds proved to be positive. In the primary focus, two sheep were affected. Genotyping for the determination of the sensibility to TSE/scrapie was performed.

This case report describes the first recorded clinical outbreak of equine viral arteritis on a stud in Belgium. Abortion was the only clinical sign observed. Virus was isolated and identified by means of an immunofluorescence staining. Serological examination showed that 95.5% of the horses were positive for antibodies to equine arteritis virus.

The present article describes for the first time a clinical outbreak of a polyomavirus infection in shamas (Copsychus malabaricus). Three out of four shamas became ill and died within 14 days after introduction in a passerine aviary. Other birds in the aviary remained clinically healthy. The diagnosis of polyomavirus infection was made by electron microscopic examination of the liver of a bird that died.

Eggs of pinworms were found during a routine examination of the faeces of a goat from a farm in Flanders. Further investigation on this farm revealed a prevalence of over 80% in the lactating animals. All recovered worms were adult specimen of Skrjabinema spp. This is the first report of this nematode in Flanders, Belgium. The question whether or not treatment is necessary as well as the possible therapies are discussed.

In 1996 and 1997 a new epizootic enteric rabbit disease appeared in Europe. Since then the disease has also been reported in other parts of the world. Its main symptoms are caused by paresis of the intestinal tract. The causative agent is still unknown. The disease has been reported in meat rabbits and does, as well as in pet rabbits. The present report concerns a naturally occurring case of this disease in a specific-pathogen-free (SPF) rabbit colony. In the intestinal contents of one animal sacrificed for thorough examination, rotavirus and an apathogenic type of Escherichia coli were detected. From the ileal wall Providencia rettgeri was isolated, which is unlikely, however, to be of pathogenic significance. Histological and electron-microscopical analyses did not reveal any pathognomonic lesions.

This case report discusses the perinatal death of a Belgian Blue and White calf due to an intra-abdominal haemorrhage after parturition. It was caused by persistent bleeding of the umbilical arteries. These arteries were retracted but did not show any constriction. Keywords: Calf - Perinatal Death - Umbilicus - Arteria Umbilicalis

This paper describes an inguinal hernia in a 12-year-old gelding. The cause of the symptoms was not detected during clinical examination and the diagnosis was made during surgery. Most probably, the rarity of the condition was the underlying reason for this diagnostic failure.

A West Highland White Terrier was presented with several lesions on the mucocutaneous junctions as a result of demodicosis. The dog responded well to a treatment with cephalosporins and oral ivermectine.

A spongiform degeneration of the white matter in 2 out of 8 Australian cattle dog littermates is described histologically. On the neurological examination, these dogs showed sternal decubitus, inability to walk and loss of coordination. A cerebellar ataxia was suspected. Microscopically, marked vacuolation of the white matter was observed in the cerebrum, cerebellum and dorsal funiculus of the spinal cord. A severe hypertrophy of astrocytes with pale and swollen nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm was also observed. This pathology has been described in several animals species but this is the first description in the Australian cattle dog.

This case report describes an infiltrative lipoma in a horse. A slow-growing mass, detected early after birth, was present at the caudal aspect of the foreleg (antebrachium) of a 2-year-old gelding. Cytological features were that of a benign lipoma. Surgical resection was attempted but failed due to the infiltrative nature of the mass. Consequently, the horse was euthanized. Histopathology revealed an infiltrative lipoma. This tumor is histologically benign but surgical resection is usually impossible due to its infiltrative nature.