The Authors describe the lesions found in three newborn lambs coming from a farm located in a mountain district of Tuscany, in which episodes of abortion and postnatal mortality were previously reported. The animais died within 24-96 hours from birth, showing a syndrome characterized by severe ataxia, opisthotonos, weakness, difficulty in sucking, diarrhoea and reduction of body weight. The necropsy revealed arthrogriphosis (2 cases), atrpphy of the hind limb muscles, congestion and hemorrhages of the gastroenteric tract (2 cases). A mild reduction of the thymus mass was also noticed. The severest changes involved the CNS. In two cases false porencephalic cavities were found in the frontal lobes and in one case a plain hydranencephaly was present. Histologically, evidence of hypomyelinogenesis was observed in all cases in addition to inflammatory changes characterized by focal leukomalacia, gitter cells proliferation, astrocytosis, presence of few mineralized debris and disordered arrangement of Purkinje cells. An iminunoliistocheinical staining employing a polyclonal swine anti-pestivirus peroxidase-labeled antibody was performed in order to verify the presence of viral antigens in CNS samples. Positiveness was detected in neurons and reactive glial cells. The results are consistent with a congenital pestivirus infection (Border Disease virus or Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus). Further investigations (serology and virus isolation) carried out on the ewes of the infected flock are necessary to identify the actual viral aetiology.
Pestivirus-related pathology in lambs. A report of three cases. Atti XII° Meeting of European Society of Veterinary Pathology, Mondovì, September 18th-22th,
RENZONI, Giacomo;
1994-01-01
Abstract
The Authors describe the lesions found in three newborn lambs coming from a farm located in a mountain district of Tuscany, in which episodes of abortion and postnatal mortality were previously reported. The animais died within 24-96 hours from birth, showing a syndrome characterized by severe ataxia, opisthotonos, weakness, difficulty in sucking, diarrhoea and reduction of body weight. The necropsy revealed arthrogriphosis (2 cases), atrpphy of the hind limb muscles, congestion and hemorrhages of the gastroenteric tract (2 cases). A mild reduction of the thymus mass was also noticed. The severest changes involved the CNS. In two cases false porencephalic cavities were found in the frontal lobes and in one case a plain hydranencephaly was present. Histologically, evidence of hypomyelinogenesis was observed in all cases in addition to inflammatory changes characterized by focal leukomalacia, gitter cells proliferation, astrocytosis, presence of few mineralized debris and disordered arrangement of Purkinje cells. An iminunoliistocheinical staining employing a polyclonal swine anti-pestivirus peroxidase-labeled antibody was performed in order to verify the presence of viral antigens in CNS samples. Positiveness was detected in neurons and reactive glial cells. The results are consistent with a congenital pestivirus infection (Border Disease virus or Bovine Viral Diarrhoea virus). Further investigations (serology and virus isolation) carried out on the ewes of the infected flock are necessary to identify the actual viral aetiology.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
