RESUMO
The huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is an endangered cervid endemic to southern Argentina and Chile. Here we report foot lesions in 24 huemul from Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile, between 2005 and 2010. Affected deer displayed variably severe clinical signs, including lameness and soft tissue swelling of the limbs proximal to the hoof or in the interdigital space, ulceration of the swollen tissues, and some developed severe proliferative tissue changes that caused various types of abnormal wear, entrapment, and/or displacement of the hooves and/or dewclaws. Animals showed signs of intense pain and reduced mobility followed by loss of body condition and recumbency, which often preceded death. The disease affected both genders and all age categories. Morbidity and mortality reached 80% and 40%, respectively. Diagnostics were restricted to a limited number of cases from which samples were available. Histology revealed severe papillomatous epidermal hyperplasia and superficial dermatitis. Electron microscopy identified viral particles consistent with viruses in the Chordopoxvirinae subfamily. The presence of parapoxvirus DNA was confirmed by a pan-poxvirus PCR assay, showing high identity (98%) with bovine papular stomatitis virus and pseudocowpoxvirus. This is the first report of foot disease in huemul deer in Chile, putatively attributed to poxvirus. Given the high morbidity and mortality observed, this virus might pose a considerable conservation threat to huemul deer in Chilean Patagonia. Moreover, this report highlights a need for improved monitoring of huemul populations and synergistic, rapid response efforts to adequately address disease events that threaten the species.
Assuntos
Conservação dos Recursos Naturais , DNA Viral/sangue , Cervos/virologia , Espécies em Perigo de Extinção , Doenças do Pé , Parapoxvirus/metabolismo , Infecções por Poxviridae , Animais , Chile , Doenças do Pé/sangue , Doenças do Pé/veterinária , Doenças do Pé/virologia , Parques Recreativos , Infecções por Poxviridae/sangue , Infecções por Poxviridae/veterinária , Infecções por Poxviridae/virologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether plasma protein concentrations were altered in ponies with alimentary laminitis. ANIMALS: 12 adult ponies. PROCEDURE: Acute laminitis was induced in 6 ponies by oral administration of carbohydrate (85% corn starch, 15% wood flour); the other 6 ponies were used as controls. A physical examination was performed and blood samples were collected immediately before and 4, 8, 12, 24, and 28 hours after administration of carbohydrate. Plasma protein concentrations were determined by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: 19 plasma proteins ranging from a molecular weight of 24,000 to a molecular weight of 350,000 were identified in all 12 ponies. Plasma concentrations of proteins with molecular weights of 350,000 (fibrinogen), 130,000 (ceruloplasmin), 118,000 (c-reactive protein), 67,000 (alpha1-antitrypsin I), 65,000 (alpha1-antitrypsin II), 50,000 (haptoglobulin), and 45,000 (acid glycoprotein) were significantly increased in ponies with laminitis, compared with concentrations in control ponies. CONCLUSION: Changes in plasma protein concentrations are detectable within 4 hours after the onset of alimentary laminitis in ponies. Clinical Relevance-Measurement of plasma protein concentrations may be useful in monitoring the progression of laminitis in ponies.