OBJECTIVE To develop a noninvasive biomarker-based detection system specific for Mycobacterium bovis for monitoring infection in wild animals. SAMPLE Serum samples from 8 experimentally infected yearling white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and 3 age-matched control deer and from 393 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hunter-harvested white-tailed deer in northwest Minnesota. PROCEDURES 8 yearling deer were inoculated with 2 × 10(8) CFUs of virulent M bovis strain 1315 (day 0), and sera were obtained on days 0, 19, 48, and 60; sera were obtained from 3 uninoculated control deer on those same days. Sera from these deer and 9 M bovis-positive hunter-harvested deer were tested for 3 Mycobacterium-specific biomarkers (MB1895c, MB2515c, and polyketide synthase 5) by use of an indirect ELISA. That same ELISA was used to test sera obtained from 384 exposed noninfected deer in northwest Minnesota from 2007 through 2010, concurrent with an outbreak of tuberculosis involving cattle and deer in that region. RESULTS ELISA results revealed that tuberculosis infection could be detected as early as 48 days after inoculation in experimentally infected deer. Results for 384 deer sera revealed that prevalence of tuberculosis decreased over the 4-year period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that the prevalence of tuberculosis in Minnesota deer decreased after 2009 but tuberculosis may have persisted (as subclinical disease) at extremely low levels, as indicated by the presence of low concentrations of circulating biomarkers. Biomarker-based diagnostic tests may offer a specific approach for early identification of M bovis infection.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether infrared thermographic images obtained the morning after overnight heat abatement could be used as the basis for diagnostic algorithms to predict subsequent heat stress events in feedlot cattle exposed to high ambient temperatures. ANIMALS 60 crossbred beef heifers (mean ± SD body weight, 385.8 ± 20.3 kg). PROCEDURES Calves were housed in groups of 20 in 3 pens without any shade. During the 6 am and 3 pm hours on each of 10 days during a 14-day period when the daily ambient temperature was forecasted to be > 29.4°C, an investigator walked outside each pen and obtained profile digital thermal images of and assigned panting scores to calves near the periphery of the pen. Relationships between infrared thermographic data and panting scores were evaluated with artificial learning models. RESULTS Afternoon panting score was positively associated with morning but not afternoon thermographic data (body surface temperature). Evaluation of multiple artificial learning models indicated that morning body surface temperature was not an accurate predictor of an afternoon heat stress event, and thermographic data were of little predictive benefit, compared with morning and forecasted weather conditions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated infrared thermography was an objective method to monitor beef calves for heat stress in research settings. However, thermographic data obtained in the morning did not accurately predict which calves would develop heat stress later in the day. The use of infrared thermography as a diagnostic tool for monitoring heat stress in feedlot cattle requires further investigation.

Ultrasonography is not often used in feline dermatology. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness and applicability of ultrasonography for skin evaluation in 21 clinically healthy cats. Ultrasonographic examination was conducted in 4 cutaneous regions (frontal, dorsal neck, sacral, and abdominal) using an 18-MHz linear-sequential-array transducer. Findings were assessed using histomorphometric analysis of skin samples set as reference standards. Morphologic evaluation, thickness measurements, measurement variability, and comparison between regions and genders were carried out. The ultrasonographic pattern of feline skin was characterized by 3 distinct layers of different echogenicity and echostructure. Skin was thickest at the dorsal neck region and thinnest at the abdominal region. Skin at the frontal region and dorsal neck region was thicker in males. Variability was < 10% in all regions. No apparent correspondence was found between ultrasonographic and histometric measurements of skin thickness. Collectively, these findings suggest that ultrasonography is a simple, noninvasive, and reproducible technique that allows cutaneous layers to be identified and accurately measures skin thickness in cats.

Interpretation of laboratory data is very important and based on comparison with reference intervals in routine practice. Leukocyte term includes all white blood cells and their precursors. These cells use blood circulation for going to the original tissues from their original locations. Total leukocyte count can be changed by various physiologic and pharmacologic reasons. In healthy cats, lymphocytes are the second most frequent leukocyte in the blood. Compared to middle-aged or old cats, young animals have higher absolute lymphocyte counts. The medical records of cats referred to the Ankara University Small Animal Hospitalfor general examination between April 2016 and August 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Complete bloodcount (CBC) data includes red blood cell (RBC) count, haemoglobin, haematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume(MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red blood celldistribution width, platelet count, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes,eosinophils and basophils.Of 5292 cats, 191 cats at the age between 0 and 1 and with CBC data were included in the study. CBCswere obtained from all 191 cats at the first visit. The relationship of hematological data to the reference range issummarized in Table 2. It was observed that 25.7% of the cats had leucocyte counts below the reference intervaland 3% had above the reference interval. Considering neutrophil counts, it is seen that 23.3% were lower and4.5% were higher. According to the results of 191 hemogram tests, lymphocyte counts of 39 cats (19.3%) andmonocyte counts of 9 cats (4,5%) were found to be low.This is a novel study that includes the results of detailed examination of breed and age distributionof complete blood count results at the first clinical visits of cats. According to our retrospective screening results,it is seen that the relation of monocyte numbers with age is statistically significant. (p = 0.018) The biggestdifference between the two age groups in the study is the pre- and post-adolescence periods. It is important toprecisely know the results of CBC test in the first visit to the clinic and to take the necessary precautions toeliminate the abnormal results before vaccination.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the usefulness of diffusion and perfusion MRI of the cerebrum in cats with familial spontaneous epilepsy (FSECs) and identify microstructural and functional deficit zones in affected cats. ANIMALS 19 FSECs and 12 healthy cats. PROCEDURES Diffusion-weighted, diffusion tensor, and perfusion-weighted MRI of the cerebrum were performed during interictal periods in FSECs. Imaging findings were compared between FSECs and control cats. Diffusion (apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy) and perfusion (relative cerebral blood volume [rCBV], relative cerebral blood flow [rCBF], and mean transit time) variables were measured bilaterally in the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, parietal cortex gray matter, and subcortical white matter. Asymmetry of these variables in each region was also evaluated and compared between FSECs and control cats. RESULTS The apparent diffusion coefficient of the total amygdala of FSECs was significantly higher, compared with that of control cats. The fractional anisotropy of the right side and total hippocampus of FSECs was significantly lower, compared with that of control cats. The left and right sides and total hippocampal rCBV and rCBF were significantly lower in FSECs than in control cats. The rCBV and rCBF of the parietal cortex gray matter in FSECs were significantly lower than in control cats. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In FSECs, diffusion and perfusion MRI detected microstructural changes and hypoperfusion (lowered function) in the cerebrum during interictal periods from that of healthy cats. These findings indicated that diffusion and perfusion MRI may be useful for noninvasive evaluation of epileptogenic foci in cats.

Transabdominal ultrasonography has been popularly used in animal reproduction for the assessment of pregnancy status and foetal viability where as transvaginal method for pregnancy diagnosis is rarely used for pregnancy diagnosis in goats. The study was conducted in 74 Attappady Black goats from Government Goat Farm, Attappady and Livestock Research Station, Thiruvizhamkunnu to evaluate the accuracy of trans-vaginal methods and to identify the fetal characteristics from day 20 to 75. Transvaginal ultrasonographic examination was performed using endocavity transducer with frequency of 6.5 to 8 MHz. Observations were made in all the pregnant does at three different stages of pregnancy i.e., 20-35 days, 35-55 days and 55-75 days. Does were diagnosed as pregnant from the observation of gestational sac, embryo or foetus, embryonic or foetal heartbeat, placentomes or foetal skeleton. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and overall accuracy along gestation period were 98.03, 92.3, 96.15, 96 and 95.62%, respectively. It is concluded from the present study that transvaginal ultrasonography can be used for herd pregnancy diagnosis at early stages from day 20 to 45 of pregnancy diagnosis in goats.

In Peninsular Malaysia, footand-mouth disease (FMD) has been reported since early 1860 which then became sporadic, causing outbreaks every year. Since then, Peninsular Malaysia has become endemic with FMD. The aim of this study is to provide findings of the current FMD occurrence and its serotyping in Peninsular Malaysia. An identification of Foot and Mouth Disease serotype was carried out in Peninsular Malaysia by the Regional Veterinary Laboratory Kota Bharu (RVLKB) only. Epithelial tissue samples were received from 10 states throughout Peninsular Malaysia from 2012 until 2016. Indirect sandwich ELISA was performed using ELISA kit for FMDV antigen detection supplied from the Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright Laboratory. All findings and results in this paper were based on samples received by RVLKB and does not reflect overall cases reported to State DVS or to DVS Malaysia. From the results, 2013 had the highest samples positive for FMDV (35% from 43 samples), followed by 2014 (31% from 80 samples), 2012 (24% from 122 samples), 2015 (21% from 39 samples) and the lowest is 2016 (17% from 194 samples). The FMDV serotypes detected throughout 2012 to 2016 from 110 positive samples were Serotype O (80%), followed by Serotype A (20%) and none from Serotype Asia 1. Strict regulation, FMD vaccine evaluation by LPB ELISA and strict animal movement shall be considered to achieve FMD free for upcoming Year 2020.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate gene expression and DNA copy number in adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) and in ADSC-derived neurosphere-like cell clusters (ADSC-NSCs) generated from tissues of chronically paraplegic dogs. ANIMALS 14 client-owned paraplegic dogs. PROCEDURES Dorsal subcutaneous adipose tissue (< 1 cm3) was collected under general anesthesia; ADSCs were isolated and cultured. Third-passage ADSCs were cultured in neural cell induction medium to generate ADSC-NSCs. Relative gene expression of mesenchymal cell surface marker CD90 and neural progenitor marker nestin was assessed in ADSCs and ADSC-NSCs from 3 dogs by quantitative real-time PCR assay; expression of these and various neural lineage genes was evaluated for the same dogs by reverse transcription PCR assay. Percentages of cells expressing CD90, nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and tubulin β 3 class III (TUJ1) proteins were determined by flow cytometry for all dogs. The DNA copy number stability (in samples from 6 dogs) and neural cell differentiation (14 dogs) were assessed with array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis and immunocytochemical evaluation, respectively. RESULTS ADSCs and ADSC-NSCs expressed neural cell progenitor and differentiation markers; GFAP and microtubule-associated protein 2 were expressed by ADSC-NSCs but not ADSCs. Relative gene expression of CD90 and nestin was subjectively higher in ADSC-NSCs than in ADSCs. Percentages of ADSC-NSCs expressing nestin, GFAP, and TUJ1 proteins were substantially higher than those of ADSCs. Cells expressing neuronal and glial markers were generated from ADSC-NSCs and had no DNA copy number instability detectable by the methods used. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested ADSCs can potentially be a safe and clinically relevant autologous source for canine neural progenitor cells. Further research is needed to verify these findings.