We review the molecular and epidemiological characteristics of cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) and the diagnosis and pathogenesis of associated disease, with six different strains detected in cetaceans worldwide. CeMV has caused epidemics with high mortality in odontocetes in Europe, the USA and Australia. It represents a distinct species within the Morbillivirus genus. Although most CeMV strains are phylogenetically closely related, recent data indicate that morbilliviruses recovered from Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), from Western Australia, and a Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), from Brazil, are divergent. The signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) cell receptor for CeMV has been characterized in cetaceans. It shares higher amino acid identity with the ruminant SLAM than with the receptors of carnivores or humans, reflecting the evolutionary history of these mammalian taxa. In Delphinidae, three amino acid substitutions may result in a higher affinity for the virus. Infection is diagnosed by histology, immunohistochemistry, virus isolation, RT-PCR, and serology. Classical CeMV-associated lesions include bronchointerstitial pneumonia, encephalitis, syncytia, and lymphoid depletion associated with immunosuppression. Cetaceans that survive the acute disease may develop fatal secondary infections and chronic encephalitis. Endemically infected, gregarious odontocetes probably serve as reservoirs and vectors. Transmission likely occurs through the inhalation of aerosolized virus but mother to fetus transmission was also reported.

A juvenile offshore bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found stranded with neurological signs and unable to swim or float unassisted. It subsequently died, succumbing to a combination of severe pneumonia and encephalitis. Morbillivirus serum neutralisation test serology was positive (titre 1:16) for cetacean morbillivirus and negative for both phocine distemper virus and canine distemper virus. There was concurrent thymic and lymph node lymphoid depletion and necrosis, together with intranuclear and intracytoplasmic acidophilic viral inclusion bodies and multinucleate syncytia within multiple organs. Paramyxovirus capsids were identified in lung sections via electron microscopy and morbillivirus antigen was demonstrated within sections of lung, thymus and brain by immunohistochemistry. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for morbillivirus nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) genes were positive and phylogenetic gene product sequence analysis revealed 98% and 94% sequence identity to dolphin morbillivirus, respectively. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a cetacean mortality due to morbillivirus infection occurring in the southern hemisphere. Morbillivirus infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of stranded live or dead cetaceans in Australian waters, particularly if animals display neurological signs.

1 Effects of the antihistamines, terfenadine (60 mg) and astemizole (10 and 20 mg), on performance (visuo-motor coordination, arithmetical ability and digit symbol substitition) and on mood were studied in six healthy adult females. The study was double-blind, placebo controlled and included an antihistamine with known central effects (triprolidine 10 mg in sustained release form). 2 There were no changes in performance after terfenadine (60 mg) and astemizole (10 and 20 mg). Triprolidine (10 mg) caused a decrement in visuo-motor coordination (P < 0.01) 0.5 h after ingestion which lasted until 3.5 h (P < 0.001). The subjects assessed their performance as impaired from 1.5-3.5 h (P < 0.05) with triprolidine (10 mg), and their mood assessments were also altered. 3 Terfenadine (60 mg) and astemizole (10 and 20 mg) are likely to prove useful antihistamines for those involved in skilled activity.

The central effects of various antihistamines were studied using a variety of tests of performance, including visuo-motor co-ordination and dynamic visual acuity, as well as paper and pencil tests and critical flicker fusion. The possible relationship between performance and sedation was also studied using digit symbol substitution and latencies to drowsy sleep. There was high degree of correlation between drowsiness, as indicated by the relative ease with which individuals fell asleep over the day, and impaired performance, but it was not possible to establish the relationship for each time of the day. These findings lend some support to the suggestion that impaired performance with antihistamines may be a non-specific effect of sedation.

We describe a fibrosarcoma in a 12-year-old Quarterhorse ¥ Arabian gelding as a sequela to equine influenza vaccination. Shortly after the second vaccination, swelling at the site was noticed by the owner and it continued to increase in size over the following 6 months. Biopsy of the mass indicated a fibrosarcoma had developed at the vaccination site. It was approximately 20 cm in diameter and elevated well above the level of the skin. There was no clinical evidence of metastases to the lungs or local lymph nodes. Surgical resection of the mass was performed and the wound healed by first and second intention. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining confirmed a myofibroblastic fibrosarcoma with multifocal osseous metaplasia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first equine case of a vaccineassociated fibrosarcoma.

1 The effect of N-desmethyldiazepam (nordiazepam, 5 and 10 mg) and potassium clorazepate (15 mg, a precursor of nordiazepam) on sleep was studied in six healthy adult males. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used for sleep measures, and analogue scales were used for subjective assessments of well-being and sleep quality. 2 Effects on total sleep time were limited to the night of ingestion. There were increases with nordiazepam (5 and 10 mg) (P = 0.05 and 0.001 respectively), and with clorazepate (15 mg

1Brotizolam, a triazolo-1 ,4-thienodiazepine, was studied in healthy young adults. Electroencephalographic sleep variables and subjective effects, and performance on a visuo-motor coordination task were measured. 2 In the sleep studies six males each ingested 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg brotizolam overnight. All doses increased total sleep time, improved the sleep efficiency index, and reduced drowsy sleep and number of awakenings. Brotizolam 0.4 and 0.6 mg also reduced awake activity and increased stage 2 sleep. There was some evidence of a delay to the first REM period, but only 0.6 mg reduced the total duration of REM sleep. There were no changes in slow wave sleep. 3 In the performance studies six females each ingested 0.4mg in the morning and 0.2,0.4 and 0.6mg brotizolam at night. After morning ingestion of 0.4 mg there was impaired performance from 0.5 to 5.5 h. There were no residual effects after 0.2 mg brotizolam, but with 0.4 mg there was a residual effect at 9.5 h, and 0.6 mg led to impairments up to 15.0 h after ingestion. 4 Brotizolam is a short-acting hypnotic. In doses around 0.2 mg it has useful hypnotic activity free of adverse effects on sleep and residual effects on performance. With 0.4 mg the hypnotic effect is enhanced with only minimal residual effects.

1 The effect of the 1,5-benzodiazepines, clobazam (10 and 20 mg) and triflubazam (20 and 40 mg), on sleep was studied in six healthy males using electroencephalography for sleep measures and analogue scales for subjective assessments of well being and sleep quality.