Serological evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in wild animals in Japan

One hundred and thirty-four (26%) of 511 sera from 11 wild animal species in eight prefectures in Japan had antibody titers to Coxiella burnetii by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. High prevalences were observed in Japanese black bears (Ursus thibetanus) (78%), Hokkaido deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) (69%), Japanese hares (Lepus brachyurus) (63%), Japanese deer (Cervus nippon centralis) (56%), and to some extent in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) (28%). A low prevalence (13%) was observed in nutrias (Myocastor coypus). Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus), wild rats (Muroides sp.), raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus), wild pigs (Sus scrofa leucomystax), and masked palm civets (Paguma larvata) had no detectable antibodies to C. burnetii. Thus, six of 11 wild animal species in Japan were exposed to C. burnetii. Based on the high prevalences in some species, they may be a potential source of infection to both domestic animal and human populations.     

Transgenic animals

Molecular biological technique has enabled us to create numerous transgenic animals characterized by enhanced or reduced expression of target gene products. These animal models are very useful not only to study the physiological roles of target gene products but also to evaluate the clinical usefulness of newly developed drugs and other therapeutic measures. Unfortunately, we still do not have a genetically engineered animal model that spontaneously develops acute coronary syndrome. However, there are several transgenic mice showing abnormal lipid metabolism and developing premature atherosclerosis. In this chapter, recent advance in the field of atherosclerotic animal models will be summarized.     

Transgenic animals as models of neurodegenerative diseases in humans

Neurodegenerative diseases are of major socioeconomic importance and represent an enormous challenge for the scientific and medical communities. Advances in molecular genetics during the past decade have begun to provide approaches for the establishment of animal models for these disorders using transgenic technology. Their analysis will lead to better understanding of disease pathogenesis and will be invaluable for the identification of novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents. With the current pace of genomic research, the generation of transgenic animal models, reproducing in full the pathology and symptoms of even complex disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, must now be considered achievable.     

Inhibition of tumorigenesis in animals

Animal models are an important component of chemopreventive research. They provide a means of identifying effective compounds, of carrying out fundamental investigations into their mechanisms of action, of determining how they can be used optimally, of evaluating toxicity and, ultimately, of providing an information base for developing intervention trials in humans. They are available for evaluating the effects of chemopreventive agents on the occurrence of cancer in most major organ sites. For some cancers, improved models are required. One such is squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchi, a major cancer in humans. There are three major groups of animal models: the first group involves administration of chemical or physical carcinogens to produce carcinogenesis; the second group consists of mice in which viruses, usually endogenous, are the major causative agents; and the third group entails use of transgenic mice. Most chemopreventive agents investigated in animal models can be placed into three broad categories: compounds preventing attacking molecules from reaching or reacting with critical target sites (blocking agents); compounds decreasing sensitivity of target tissues to carcinogenic stimuli; and compounds preventing the evolution of the neoplastic process (suppressing agents). There is increasing interest in the use of agent combinations rather than single agents as a means of obtaining increased efficacy and minimizing toxicity. Combinations studied thus far entail the use of at least one suppressing agent, in combination with either a blocking agent or a second suppressing agent. The development of optimal strategies for human intervention trials can be facilitated by the use of animal models mimicking the neoplastic process in humans. It is important to exploit this potential to its maximum degree.     

Immune changes in test animals during spaceflight

Over the past two decades, it has become apparent that changes in immune parameters occur in cosmonauts and astronauts after spaceflight. Therefore, interest has been generated in the use of animal surrogates to better understand the nature and extent of these changes, the mechanism of these changes, and to allow the possible development of countermeasures. Among the changes noted in animals after spaceflight are alterations in lymphocytic blastogenesis, cytokine function, natural killer cell activity, and colony-stimulating factors. The nature and significance of spaceflight-induced changes in immune responses will be the focus of this review.     

Measuring food intake in wild animals: primates

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease is a rapidly lethal infection caused by a calicivirus, characterized by acute liver damage and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Following morphological criteria and using a specific in situ labeling technique, we have found that liver cell death induced upon infection is due to apoptosis, and that programmed cell death is a constant feature in rabbits experimentally infected with RHDV. The process affected mainly hepatocytes, but also macrophages and endothelial cells presented morphologic hallmarks of apoptosis, expressing all these cell types viral antigens as determined by immunohistochemistry. The occurrence of programmed cell death was correlated with the appearance of the RHDV induced pathology in tissues by DNA fragmentation detection in situ. Hepatocyte apoptosis produced extensive parenchymal destruction causing a lethal, acute fulminant hepatitis that is characteristic of RHD. Apoptosis of intravascular monocytes and endothelial cell was observed together with fibrin thrombi in blood vessels. Since apoptotic cells are known sites of enhanced procoagulant activity, apoptosis of these cell populations might constitute a first step in the pathogenesis of DIC and a common pathway to other viral hemorrhagic fevers. In conclusion, apoptosis in RHD may be determinant in the development of the pathogenesis of this disease.     

Working with laboratory animals: general principles and practical considerations

Laboratory animals play an indispensable role in research discovery and technological advances, and they will continue to yield basic, exciting, and prodigious information that can enrich the future of people and other animals. For both ethical and scientific reasons, all-individuals whose work requires the use of laboratory animals must take the time to conduct a thorough review of the literature to determine what animal models are available and which are the most relevant, and they must learn and understand the uniqueness of the selected species, breed, and strain. Scientists have the privilege, but not the right, to use animals as experimental subjects. This privilege must not be abused. Therefore, it is imperative that before working with any laboratory animal, you know your "subject."     

Transgenic animals in toxicology

Recent advances have been made in the characterization of a number of transgenic animal models. These animal models have provided a powerful toxicological tool for studying in vivo chemical effects and have increased our understanding of the role of specific genetic alterations as predisposing factors for chemical carcinogenesis. The goal of this symposium was to introduce the development of transgenic animals and the utilization of transgenics in toxicology research focusing on understanding tissue-specific mutation, chemical effects, and cancer. The production of transgenic animals, including gene insertions and gene knockouts, and the utilization of transgenic technology for studying multistage carcinogenesis and tumor suppressor genes are described. Data on the application and implications of transgenics as a genetic endpoint are also discussed. The use of transgenic animals in toxicology should improve our understanding of the role of specific genetic alterations in the carcinogenic process and lead to improved estimations of human health risks.     

Peritoneal dialysis in small laboratory animals

Healthy rats and guinea-pigs were treated with a simple method of continuous peritoneal dialysis for 12, 24 and 48 h. Increasing with time, both animal species developed severe hypoproteinemia and hemoconcentration due to protein loss into the dialyzate fluid. These changes were associated with a high mortality rate, when Sterofundin was used for dialysis. Therefore, protein loss should be substituted and the type of dialyzate must be considered in experimental long-term dialysis using these small laboratory animals.     

Special challenges of maintaining wild animals in captivity in Australia and New Zealand: prevention of infectious and parasitic diseases

The authors review infectious and parasitic diseases of eutherians (excluding marine mammals), marsupials, reptiles and birds in Australia and New Zealand. The diseases discussed are those which are common and/or more likely to affect humans. The emphasis is placed on the type of animal affected, the epidemiology, and hence the control or prevention measures necessary. Clinical signs, pathology and treatment are not considered in any detail.     

Use of laboratory animals in the teaching of emergency procedures

The Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics uses animal laboratory sessions to train emergency medicine residents in manipulative skills. Certain animals realistically represent the human for these purposes and are delineated for various procedures. On the other hand, animal tissue characteristics and anatomical landmarks generally differ from those of humans. How procedures such as cricothyreotomy; tracheostomy, tube thoracostomy, thoractomy, cardiac repair, aortic cross clamping, venous cutdown, peritoneal lavage, abdominal stab wound exploration and laparotomy can be performed and must be modified is discussed. A rational procedural sequence is required to maintain the animal's vitality through the end of the session.     

Cleft palate in domestic animals: epidemiologic features

Among 331 animals with cleft palate in a veterinary clinic-hospital population, cats, mixed breed dogs and German Shepherd Dogs had low risk for cleft palate; high rates were seen in English Bulldogs, some small purebred dogs and Charolais cattle, where cleft palate occurred as part of a syndrome of multiple malformations. Many of the epidemiologic characteristics resemble features of cleft palate in humans and suggest animal breeds suitable for exploration as animal models for use by experimental teratologists, developmental biologists, and clinicians.     

Comparative cell morphology in the peripheral blood film from exotic and native animals

Haematological investigation is an important part of disease diagnosis. This is particularly so when investigating individual animal disease. It may also be important when investigating diseases in groups of animals, but the opportunity to perform necropsies to directly detect diseases processes often diminishes its usefulness. Haematological investigation is essentially similar for all species. The presence of nucleated erythrocytes and thrombocytes in nonmammals requires alteration of haemoglobin measurement and cell counting. In addition, it may cause some confusion in identification of cells in peripheral blood films. Examination of blood films is an important component of haematological investigation and provides useful information on erythroid, leukocytic and platelet/thrombocytic alterations. Interpretation of alterations is essentially similar for all species. However, cell identification can at times be difficult. There are five basic leukocytes in all species: neutrophil (mammals) or heterophil (nonmammals), eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte and monocyte. In nonmammals it may be difficult at times to distinguish between heterophils and eosinophils. In addition, lymphocytes may be confused with thrombocytes. However, a common-sense approach to the examination of the peripheral blood film will minimise this confusion.     

Hydrophobins and fungal infection of plants and animals

Hydrophobins are among the most important structural proteins produced by fungi. Their least-understood function is how they act to promote infection-related morphogenesis. Although the hydrophobin of at least one plant pathogen appears to be involved as a signal molecule in pathogenesis, a role for hydrophobins in animal pathogenesis has not been convincingly documented.     

A reconsideration of psychological precursors of sudden death in infrahuman animals.

Psychological notions of helplessness–hopelessness have been invoked as hypotheses to account for many cases of sudden death in animals and man. At issue in this review is the validity of what is essentially an untestable concept in infrahuman animals—the role the psychological state of helplessness plays in animal sudden death. Recent research using the classic animal model of sudden death is integrated with the equally important issue of whether or not the term "sudden death" is a valid construct for all situations. It is suggested that caution should be used in extrapolating from infrahuman research that links aversive emotional states in humans with abnormal behavior and psychosomatic pathology. (66 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in animals

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in animals are known for centuries. In particular scrapie in sheep and goats occurs worldwide; it spreads as a natural disease and is genetically controlled. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the United States (Wyoming and Colorado) also spreads as natural disease among free ranging and captive elk and mule deer. In contrast, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) of mink in fur producing farms is caused by contaminated feed; the source of this food contamination is still controversial. The only occurrence of a TSE in an avian species was reported from a flock of ostriches in a German zoo. The origin of the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Great Britain could be traced back to feeding concentrates containing animal proteins contaminated with the agent of sheep scrapie. BSE was introduced into other countries, e.g. Switzerland and France, through the import of contaminated feeds from Great Britain. In addition, sporadic cases of TSE occurred in 10 other species, in particular domestic cats and zoo animals, e.g. antelopes and large cats. The diagnosis is based on the neuropathological examination of the brain as well as the demonstration of the disease specific protease resistant prion protein (PrPres). The first measures against the disease aim at eliminating the risk factors. The most important is the prohibition of feeding animal protein concentrates to ruminants. Thanks to this measure the incidence of BSE diminished remarkably. To protect consumers of beef products, in countries with BSE the potentially infectious organs of all cattle are confiscated at slaughter. Yet, in Great Britain this measure was introduced only at a point of time when BSE had already spread all over the country. Therefore, there is a strong probability of an exposition of consumers of beef with the BSE agent, which might have caused the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (nvCJD).     

Genetic resistance to bacterial diseases of animals

Despite traditional disease control measures, losses attributable to infectious diseases continue to impede the livestock industries. An alternative approach to this problem is genetic disease resistance involving both immune and non-immune mechanisms, which is the inherent capacity of a previously unexposed animal to resist disease when challenged by pathogens. Although the nurturing environment influences variability in disease expression, natural resistance has been found to be inheritable and is transmitted from parent to offspring. Thus, an alternative approach to enhancing animal health management systems is to increase the overall level of genetic resistance at herd and population levels by using selective breeding programmes. The purpose of this review is to bring veterinarians, regulatory officials, industry representatives and animal technicians up to date with the principles and applications of genetic resistance as an adjunct to traditional interventions to control bacterial diseases of livestock. Although genetic resistance to bacterial diseases is often regulated by multiple genes controlling different processes of the host-pathogen interaction, the genetics of natural resistance is being unravelled increasingly by identification and characterisation of candidate genes, microsatellite markers and comparative gene mapping, to develop more practical methods of application.     

Special challenges of maintaining wild animals in captivity in North America

The maintenance of wild animals in captivity in North America is regulated by a number of different laws and government agencies in each country. Member institutions of zoo and aquarium associations in Canada, the United States of America and Mexico experience an extra tier of regulation in the form of industry standards, which are sometimes stricter than those imposed by government. Climate, natural disasters and harmful pest species all contribute to the challenge of keeping animals in certain locales. Vigilance against zoonotic disease transmission is maintained through industry and government-mandated sanitation standards, which are fortified by reporting regulations of local, regional and Federal health agencies. Current controversies in the keeping of particular taxa in North America include the threat to non-human primate breeding programmes precipitated by strict new import regulations, the fear of herpesvirus B infection, and commercial airline transport bans. Successive human fatalities among elephant handlers have prompted the industry and governments to re-examine the manner in which these potentially dangerous creatures are maintained in captivity.     

What research with animals is telling us about alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder

The substantial advances in understanding fetal alcohol syndrome over the past 20 years were made in large part because of research with animals. This review illustrates recent progress in animal research by focusing primarily on the central nervous system effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. Current findings suggest further progress in understanding consequences, risk factors, mechanisms, prevention and treatment will depend on continued research with animals.     

Production of monozygotic multiple offspring in agricultural domestic animals

The production of monozygotic twins/multiplets in livestock animal can be achieved either by microsurgical bisection of embryos at the morular- or blastocyst stage, isolation and proliferation of blastomeres from early cleavage stages or nuclear transfer. While the success rates of micro-surgical bisection are high in ruminants (pregnancy rates approximately 50%, twinning rates 20-40%) in polyovulatory species such as swine, the efficiency is low with an average of 20% embryonic survival and 2% monozygotic twins that can positively identified via DNA-fingerprinting. Isolated blastomeres from multicellular embryos still possess great developmental capacity in vitro to progress to the blastocyst stage. However, their development in vivo is markedly reduced. This article summarizes the results obtained by the authors during several years of investigation. The results show for the first time that identical twins can be obtained in pigs which have been demonstrated to be a useful tool in biomedical research.