Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on December 14, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Gazette Letters
Letters
BOVINE TB
Mycobacterium bovis in an Egyptian mongoose BOVINE TB is a chronic and contagious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) that has been reported in numerous wildlife species worldwide (de Lisle and others 2002, Delahay and others 2007). In July 2011, a juvenile male Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) was found dead due to vehicular trauma in Idanhaa-Nova, Portugal, and submitted to the histopathology service of the Department of Animal Science at the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco’s School of Agriculture, for postmortem examination. On gross examination, the animal showed poor body condition. Postmortem examination was conducted and all major organs and structures were evaluated grossly. The animal had significant head trauma; all other organs were free of significant alterations. After postmortem examination, samples of liver, spleen, lungs, kidney, intestine and lymph nodes were collected for histopathology, bacteriological culture and direct PCR analysis. Ziehl-Neelsen staining was performed on smears of touch imprint cytology of different tissues obtained at postmortem examination. On histopathological analysis gross and microscopic lesions consistent with M bovis 376 | Veterinary Record | October 19, 2013
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on December 14, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Gazette Letters infection were not observed. The ZiehlNeelsen method applied to the smears of touch imprint cytologies revealed acid-fast rods in the mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, liver and kidney. Acid-fast organisms were isolated from mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes tissue samples via culture. The colonies were visible after 14 weeks’ incubation in Middlebrook 7H11 medium supplemented with OADC and sodium pyruvate without glycerol. These organisms were identified as MTC members (a 372 bp fragment) based on Cousins and others (1991) and as M bovis by a multiplex PCR method to differentiate MTC members based on Warren and others (2006). In addition, direct PCR-positive results were obtained in mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. There are few epidemiologic studies of mycobacterial infections in carnivores. As far as we are aware, although M bovis infection has been reported in a wild carnivore (Delahay and others 2007), this is the first case of M bovis infection reported in an Egyptian mongoose. The lack of gross or microscopic lesions, also reported in other carnivores (BruningFann and others 2001, Martín-Atance and others 2005), suggests either recent infection, or that the development of visible lesions was impaired due to the relative resistance of these animals to tuberculosis. The potential role of this species as a reservoir of infection will require further investigation.
quantitative assessment of the relative risks to cattle. Veterinary Journal 173, 287-301 MARTÍN-ATANCE, P., PALOMARES, F., GONZÁLEZ-CANDELA, M., REVILLA, E., CUBERO, M. J., CALZADA, J. & LEÓNVIZCAÍNO, L. (2005) Bovine tuberculosis in a free ranging red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Doñana National Park (Spain). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41, 435-436 WARREN, R. M., GEY VAN PITTIUS, N. C., BARNARD, M., HESSELING, A., ENGELKE, E., DE KOCK, M. & OTHERS (2006) Differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by PCR amplification of genomic regions of difference. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 10, 818-822
doi: 10.1136/vr.f6231
A. C. Matos, L. Figueira, M. H. Martins, School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal e-mail: [email protected] M. Matos, M. Morais, A. P. Dias, Genetics and Biotechnology Department, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto-Douro, 5001801 Vila Real, Portugal A. C. Coelho, Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary and Animal Science Center, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
References
BRUNING-FANN, C. S., SCHMITT, S. M., FITZGERALD, S. D., FIERKE, J. S., FRIEDRICH, P. D., KANEENE, J. B. & OTHERS (2001) Bovine tuberculosis in free-ranging carnivores from Michigan. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 37, 58-64 COUSINS, D. V., WILTON, S. D. & FRANCIS, B. R. (1991) Use of DNA amplification for the rapid identification of Mycobacterium bovis. Veterinary Microbiology 27, 187-195 DE LISLE, G. W., BENGIS, R. G., SCHMITT, S. M. & O’BRIEN, D. J. (2002) Tuberculosis in free-ranging wildlife: detection, diagnosis and management. Revue scientifique et technique 21, 317-334 DELAHAY, R. J., SMITH, G. C., BARLOW, A. M., WALKER, N., HARRIS, A., CLIFTON-HADLEY, R. S. & CHEESEMAN, C. L. (2007) Bovine tuberculosis infection in wild mammals in the South-West region of England: a survey of prevalence and a semi-
October 19, 2013 | Veterinary Record | 377
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on December 14, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Mycobacterium bovis in an Egyptian mongoose A. C. Matos, L. Figueira, M. H. Martins, M. Matos, M. Morais, A. P. Dias and A. C. Coelho Veterinary Record 2013 173: 376-377
doi: 10.1136/vr.f6231 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/173/15/376.2
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 6 articles, 2 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/173/15/376.2#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
ErrataAn erratum has been published regarding this article. Please see next page or: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/173/21/532.2.full.pdf
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
Letters Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass; www.rvc.ac.uk/VetCompass), a collaborative not-for-profit research project led by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). The VetCompass project collates and analyses anonymised clinical record data to create studies that are directly relevant to veterinary general practitioners and support the practice of evidence-based medicine. The VetCompass DMVD study aims to identify factors associated with survival in the practice setting by evaluating basic clinical measurements and cardiac biomarker levels (NT-pro-BNP and cardiac troponin I) in dogs with DMVD. The results will be of direct relevance to veterinary surgeons working in primary care and will greatly enhance our advice to clients when managing dogs with DMVD. Practices with recent versions of RxWorks, Teleos, ezVetPro and Vet-One practice management systems should be able to share de-identified animal data with the VetCompass project and participate in the DMVD study. To recruit dogs with DMVD into this study, veterinary surgeons at participating practices simply obtain owner consent, take a blood sample for the new Idexx cardiac assays (provided free of charge to participating practices) and record baseline measurements such as heart rate and murmur intensity at the time of study entry. The DMVD diagnosis can be based on clinical examination alone and does not need to be confirmed by echocardiogram. Sampling can be done at any disease stage; from dogs with asymptomatic murmurs to those with severe disease receiving long-term treatment. The clinical notes of recruited dogs will be regularly uploaded to the secure VetCompass database at the RVC, allowing the clinical progress of these dogs to be followed over time. In addition to making a valuable contribution to research, benefits of participation will include free analysis of the new Idexx cardiac biomarker assays, free RVC CPD and regular updates on the study. Practices will be provided with leaflets and posters to promote their involvement to clients. Participation within VetCompass will also facilitate clinical audit and practice-based research. No personal client or financial information is shared; all
data collection is fully compliant with data protection legislation. The RCVS endorses the aims of the VetCompass project. More information is available from Maddy Mattin using the details below.
LANGUAGE
Maddy Mattin, Adrian Boswood, David Church, Dave Brodbelt, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA e-mail: [email protected] telephone: 07757 750492, 01707 667168 doi: 10.1136/vr.f7075
A CAPTION to a photograph in a recent disease surveillance report referred to schistosomus reflexus in a calf (VR, November 16, 2013, vol 173, p 470). This grammatical error should grate with anyone who has had a classical education and this I pointed out in your Letters column a generation ago. During my years at university I tried to convince the staff but was ridiculed for pedantry. Shistosoma is from the Greek where all nouns ending in –oma are neuter and the plural schistosomata. Being neuter, and if one must use a Latin adjective to describe a Greek noun, its gender must agree: hence the correct term should be ‘schistosoma reflexum’ and the adjectival plural ‘reflexa’. This may not seem to many of great importance, but exactitude is important, as the following example shows. A client’s pedigree beef herd suffered a brucellosis breakdown after buying in a group of pregnant crossbred heifers. During this period the client’s brother wished to import to his ranch in South America one of his pedigree bulls. In the export documents was the question, ‘Has any endemic disease occurred in the herd during the past six months?’ This was discussed with the Ministry Export Division because the answer is ‘No’. As the risk to the importing herd was very small the bull duly went. Why? Because the author of the document should not have used ‘endemic’ but ‘enzootic’, in which latter case the export would have been barred. Pedantry OK. Ergo caveat compositor (so writer beware)!
RABIES
Reporting rabies risk LET us suppose it is 10 minutes past six on a Friday evening in Kent and I have been presented with a five-month old bichon puppy showing neurological signs. The pup was purchased in a market in Belgium the day before. It has an ID chip with an unfamiliar array of digits and no supporting passport or vaccination record. What can I do to keep the community safe from a rabies risk when the three rather unkempt men who presented the dog have angrily stormed off with the pup because I wouldn’t ‘just give it an injection’? Who should I call? How quickly will they respond? Will anyone respond? M. V. Dale, Brooksden, High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3DT doi: 10.1136/vr.f7077
RABIES
Pre-exposure vaccination against rabies I WOULD like to express my gratitude to the many colleagues who wrote to me following the inclusion of my Viewpoint article on the subject of pre-exposure rabies vaccinations for vets (VR, October 12, vol 173, pp 348-349). I was particularly surprised and delighted to receive a letter from the office of Professor the Lord Trees, informing me that he wished to take the matter further and, to that end, he had tabled two questions in Parliament for written answers from Her Majesty’s Government. Jude Dawson, Commercial Street, Rothwell, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS26 0AW
doi: 10.1136/vr.f7083
532 | Veterinary Record | November 30, 2013
Grammatical exactitude
T. W. Brodrick, The Watch House, 1 The Suttons, Camber, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7SA e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.f7079
Correction Mycobacterium bovis in an Egyptian mongoose (VR, October 19, 2013, vol 173, pp 376-377; doi: 10.1136/vr.f6231). The name of M. L. Pinto was omitted from the list of contributing authors on this letter. The error is regretted.
doi: 10.1136/vr.f7078
Gazette Letters
Letters
BOVINE TB
Mycobacterium bovis in an Egyptian mongoose BOVINE TB is a chronic and contagious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) that has been reported in numerous wildlife species worldwide (de Lisle and others 2002, Delahay and others 2007). In July 2011, a juvenile male Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) was found dead due to vehicular trauma in Idanhaa-Nova, Portugal, and submitted to the histopathology service of the Department of Animal Science at the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco’s School of Agriculture, for postmortem examination. On gross examination, the animal showed poor body condition. Postmortem examination was conducted and all major organs and structures were evaluated grossly. The animal had significant head trauma; all other organs were free of significant alterations. After postmortem examination, samples of liver, spleen, lungs, kidney, intestine and lymph nodes were collected for histopathology, bacteriological culture and direct PCR analysis. Ziehl-Neelsen staining was performed on smears of touch imprint cytology of different tissues obtained at postmortem examination. On histopathological analysis gross and microscopic lesions consistent with M bovis 376 | Veterinary Record | October 19, 2013
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on December 14, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Gazette Letters infection were not observed. The ZiehlNeelsen method applied to the smears of touch imprint cytologies revealed acid-fast rods in the mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, liver and kidney. Acid-fast organisms were isolated from mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes tissue samples via culture. The colonies were visible after 14 weeks’ incubation in Middlebrook 7H11 medium supplemented with OADC and sodium pyruvate without glycerol. These organisms were identified as MTC members (a 372 bp fragment) based on Cousins and others (1991) and as M bovis by a multiplex PCR method to differentiate MTC members based on Warren and others (2006). In addition, direct PCR-positive results were obtained in mesenteric and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. There are few epidemiologic studies of mycobacterial infections in carnivores. As far as we are aware, although M bovis infection has been reported in a wild carnivore (Delahay and others 2007), this is the first case of M bovis infection reported in an Egyptian mongoose. The lack of gross or microscopic lesions, also reported in other carnivores (BruningFann and others 2001, Martín-Atance and others 2005), suggests either recent infection, or that the development of visible lesions was impaired due to the relative resistance of these animals to tuberculosis. The potential role of this species as a reservoir of infection will require further investigation.
quantitative assessment of the relative risks to cattle. Veterinary Journal 173, 287-301 MARTÍN-ATANCE, P., PALOMARES, F., GONZÁLEZ-CANDELA, M., REVILLA, E., CUBERO, M. J., CALZADA, J. & LEÓNVIZCAÍNO, L. (2005) Bovine tuberculosis in a free ranging red fox (Vulpes vulpes) from Doñana National Park (Spain). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 41, 435-436 WARREN, R. M., GEY VAN PITTIUS, N. C., BARNARD, M., HESSELING, A., ENGELKE, E., DE KOCK, M. & OTHERS (2006) Differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by PCR amplification of genomic regions of difference. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 10, 818-822
doi: 10.1136/vr.f6231
A. C. Matos, L. Figueira, M. H. Martins, School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal e-mail: [email protected] M. Matos, M. Morais, A. P. Dias, Genetics and Biotechnology Department, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto-Douro, 5001801 Vila Real, Portugal A. C. Coelho, Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary and Animal Science Center, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
References
BRUNING-FANN, C. S., SCHMITT, S. M., FITZGERALD, S. D., FIERKE, J. S., FRIEDRICH, P. D., KANEENE, J. B. & OTHERS (2001) Bovine tuberculosis in free-ranging carnivores from Michigan. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 37, 58-64 COUSINS, D. V., WILTON, S. D. & FRANCIS, B. R. (1991) Use of DNA amplification for the rapid identification of Mycobacterium bovis. Veterinary Microbiology 27, 187-195 DE LISLE, G. W., BENGIS, R. G., SCHMITT, S. M. & O’BRIEN, D. J. (2002) Tuberculosis in free-ranging wildlife: detection, diagnosis and management. Revue scientifique et technique 21, 317-334 DELAHAY, R. J., SMITH, G. C., BARLOW, A. M., WALKER, N., HARRIS, A., CLIFTON-HADLEY, R. S. & CHEESEMAN, C. L. (2007) Bovine tuberculosis infection in wild mammals in the South-West region of England: a survey of prevalence and a semi-
October 19, 2013 | Veterinary Record | 377
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on December 14, 2014 - Published by group.bmj.com
Mycobacterium bovis in an Egyptian mongoose A. C. Matos, L. Figueira, M. H. Martins, M. Matos, M. Morais, A. P. Dias and A. C. Coelho Veterinary Record 2013 173: 376-377
doi: 10.1136/vr.f6231 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/173/15/376.2
These include:
References Email alerting service
This article cites 6 articles, 2 of which you can access for free at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/173/15/376.2#BIBL Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
ErrataAn erratum has been published regarding this article. Please see next page or: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/173/21/532.2.full.pdf
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
Letters Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass; www.rvc.ac.uk/VetCompass), a collaborative not-for-profit research project led by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). The VetCompass project collates and analyses anonymised clinical record data to create studies that are directly relevant to veterinary general practitioners and support the practice of evidence-based medicine. The VetCompass DMVD study aims to identify factors associated with survival in the practice setting by evaluating basic clinical measurements and cardiac biomarker levels (NT-pro-BNP and cardiac troponin I) in dogs with DMVD. The results will be of direct relevance to veterinary surgeons working in primary care and will greatly enhance our advice to clients when managing dogs with DMVD. Practices with recent versions of RxWorks, Teleos, ezVetPro and Vet-One practice management systems should be able to share de-identified animal data with the VetCompass project and participate in the DMVD study. To recruit dogs with DMVD into this study, veterinary surgeons at participating practices simply obtain owner consent, take a blood sample for the new Idexx cardiac assays (provided free of charge to participating practices) and record baseline measurements such as heart rate and murmur intensity at the time of study entry. The DMVD diagnosis can be based on clinical examination alone and does not need to be confirmed by echocardiogram. Sampling can be done at any disease stage; from dogs with asymptomatic murmurs to those with severe disease receiving long-term treatment. The clinical notes of recruited dogs will be regularly uploaded to the secure VetCompass database at the RVC, allowing the clinical progress of these dogs to be followed over time. In addition to making a valuable contribution to research, benefits of participation will include free analysis of the new Idexx cardiac biomarker assays, free RVC CPD and regular updates on the study. Practices will be provided with leaflets and posters to promote their involvement to clients. Participation within VetCompass will also facilitate clinical audit and practice-based research. No personal client or financial information is shared; all
data collection is fully compliant with data protection legislation. The RCVS endorses the aims of the VetCompass project. More information is available from Maddy Mattin using the details below.
LANGUAGE
Maddy Mattin, Adrian Boswood, David Church, Dave Brodbelt, Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health Group, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA e-mail: [email protected] telephone: 07757 750492, 01707 667168 doi: 10.1136/vr.f7075
A CAPTION to a photograph in a recent disease surveillance report referred to schistosomus reflexus in a calf (VR, November 16, 2013, vol 173, p 470). This grammatical error should grate with anyone who has had a classical education and this I pointed out in your Letters column a generation ago. During my years at university I tried to convince the staff but was ridiculed for pedantry. Shistosoma is from the Greek where all nouns ending in –oma are neuter and the plural schistosomata. Being neuter, and if one must use a Latin adjective to describe a Greek noun, its gender must agree: hence the correct term should be ‘schistosoma reflexum’ and the adjectival plural ‘reflexa’. This may not seem to many of great importance, but exactitude is important, as the following example shows. A client’s pedigree beef herd suffered a brucellosis breakdown after buying in a group of pregnant crossbred heifers. During this period the client’s brother wished to import to his ranch in South America one of his pedigree bulls. In the export documents was the question, ‘Has any endemic disease occurred in the herd during the past six months?’ This was discussed with the Ministry Export Division because the answer is ‘No’. As the risk to the importing herd was very small the bull duly went. Why? Because the author of the document should not have used ‘endemic’ but ‘enzootic’, in which latter case the export would have been barred. Pedantry OK. Ergo caveat compositor (so writer beware)!
RABIES
Reporting rabies risk LET us suppose it is 10 minutes past six on a Friday evening in Kent and I have been presented with a five-month old bichon puppy showing neurological signs. The pup was purchased in a market in Belgium the day before. It has an ID chip with an unfamiliar array of digits and no supporting passport or vaccination record. What can I do to keep the community safe from a rabies risk when the three rather unkempt men who presented the dog have angrily stormed off with the pup because I wouldn’t ‘just give it an injection’? Who should I call? How quickly will they respond? Will anyone respond? M. V. Dale, Brooksden, High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3DT doi: 10.1136/vr.f7077
RABIES
Pre-exposure vaccination against rabies I WOULD like to express my gratitude to the many colleagues who wrote to me following the inclusion of my Viewpoint article on the subject of pre-exposure rabies vaccinations for vets (VR, October 12, vol 173, pp 348-349). I was particularly surprised and delighted to receive a letter from the office of Professor the Lord Trees, informing me that he wished to take the matter further and, to that end, he had tabled two questions in Parliament for written answers from Her Majesty’s Government. Jude Dawson, Commercial Street, Rothwell, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS26 0AW
doi: 10.1136/vr.f7083
532 | Veterinary Record | November 30, 2013
Grammatical exactitude
T. W. Brodrick, The Watch House, 1 The Suttons, Camber, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7SA e-mail: [email protected] doi: 10.1136/vr.f7079
Correction Mycobacterium bovis in an Egyptian mongoose (VR, October 19, 2013, vol 173, pp 376-377; doi: 10.1136/vr.f6231). The name of M. L. Pinto was omitted from the list of contributing authors on this letter. The error is regretted.
doi: 10.1136/vr.f7078
