No abstract

Infections of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) can cause a rapid, highly lethal, hemorrhagic disease, which primarily affects juvenile animals up to the age of four years. So far, the majority of deaths have been attributed to infections with genotype EEHV1 or, more rarely, EEHV3 and EEHV4. Here, we report the pathological characteristics of the first fatality linked to EEHV5 infection, and describe the complete viral DNA sequence. Gross post-mortem and histological findings were indistinguishable from lethal cases previously attributed to other EEHV genotypes, and the presence of characteristic herpesviral inclusions in capillary endothelial cells at several sites was consistent with the diagnosis of acute EEHV infection. Molecular analysis confirmed the presence of EEHV5 DNA and was followed by sequencing of the viral genome directly from post-mortem material. The genome is 180,800 bp in size and contains 120 predicted protein-coding genes, five of which are fragmented and presumably nonfunctional. The seven families of paralogous genes recognized in EEHV1 are also represented in EEHV5. The overall degree of divergence (37%) between the EEHV5 and EEHV1 genomes, and phylogenetic analysis of eight conserved genes, support the proposed classification of EEHV5 into a new species (Elephantid herpesvirus 5).

nal haemorrhages and prolonged bleeding from wounds or after surgery (Ramsey and others 1996, Brennan and others 2004, Morgan and others 2005). In neurological cases, paresis, depression, seizures, spinal pain, behavioural changes, ataxia and loss of vision have been described as potential results of aberrant nematode migration or subdural haemorrhage (Patteson and others 1993). This short communication reports on five fatal, presumably autochthonous, cases of A vasorum infection in dogs from northern England and the West Midlands that occurred within the last six months and were only diagnosed by means of a full postmortem examination. Case 1 A one-year-old neutered male labrador was referred to the Small Animal Teaching Hospital, at the University of Liverpool, as an emergency case following epistaxis and collapse on April 14, 2008. The owner reported that the dog had been born in and lived in Manchester, Lancashire. It had not travelled outside this area and had not undergone any prophylactic worming. The dog had a history of profuse bleeding after neutering two months previously. Epistaxis had begun four weeks before referral. The animal was comatose on presentation at the hospital. It was hyperthermic (39•8°C) and neutrophilic (13•9 x 10 9 /l, reference range 2•00 to 12•00 10 9 /l), and had a mildly decreased platelet count (142•000 µl, reference range 175 to 500 µl) and an elevated sodium level (163 mmol/l, reference range 144 to 160 mmol/l). Mucosal bleeding time was four minutes 30 seconds and within normal limits. The wholeblood clotting time was prolonged to more than two hours. Neurological examination revealed right-sided Horner's syndrome and a lack of papillary and gag reflexes, while palpebral reflexes were present. Ophthalmic examination did not provide evidence of retinal haemorrhage. Thoracic radiographs showed a marked alveolar pattern affecting most of the lung fields. Magnetic resonance imaging identified marked subdural haemorrhage with compression of the cerebrum and brainstem and cerebellar herniation. The dog's prognosis was poor. It was euthanased and a postmortem examination was performed. Grossly, focal subdural haemorrhage over the left hemisphere with compression of the left occipital and parietal lobes was observed. The lungs were diffusely reddened and consolidated. Histological examination of the brain confirmed the gross findings and identified occasional intravascular nematode larvae. The main findings in the lungs were multifocal haemorrhages and/or granulomatous infiltrates, in association with variable numbers of nematode eggs, also seen within alveoli and larger blood vessels. Eggs were oval, thin walled and approximately 50 to 90 µm in diameter, and contained fine eosinophilic granules. Larvae were approximately 15 µm wide and contained basophilic and eosinophilic granular material. Adult nematodes were occasionally seen within larger blood vessels (cross sections). They had a width of 265 to 308 µm and exhibited a thin smooth cuticle, a thin hypodermis with lateral cords, ...

DERMOID sinus (also termed pilonidal sinus, pilonidal cyst or dermoid cyst) is a developmental anomaly characterised by incomplete separation of the skin from the neural tube during embryonic development (Lord and others 1957, Mann and Stratton 1966, Antin 1970. Six different types of dermoid sinus exist and classification is based on their relationship to the supraspinous ligament (Mann and Stratton 1966, Kiviranta and others 2011). This short communication describes the clinical, MRI and histopathological features of a type IV dermoid sinus and spina bifida in a young Victorian bulldog.An 11-month-old male Victorian bulldog was referred for investigation of progressive paraparesis, moderate hindlimb ataxia and moderate proprioceptive deficits in both hindlimbs. At physical examination, it was noted that the hair was growing in a spiral fashion on the dorsal midline in the mid-thoracic region. A small, fluctuating mass was palpable subcutaneously and evoked considerable pain for the dog; the mass was continuous with a firm fistulous cord attached to the underlying tissues. A round-shaped opening in the skin (diameter 0.5 cm) containing no exudates was found after clipping of the hair.Radiographs of the thoracic and thoracolumbar spine were unremarkable. MRI scans (Vet-MR Grande; Esaote) of the dog's thoracic region were obtained in three planes of orientation before and after the intravenous administration of 0.1 mmol/kg gadolinium (Magnevist; Schering). Transverse T1-weighted and T2-weighted images revealed an invagination of the epidermal and dermal tissues towards the spinous process of T8. A fistular tract was visible connecting the spinal cord with the opened skin layers. The normal morphology of T8 was lost: this vertebra lacked a normal vertebral arch and the spinous process seemed to be separated into two lateral sections between which the fistular tract lay. The spinal cord presented a diffuse and homogeneous hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images from T5 to T11. The MRI findings were consistent with a type IV dermoid sinus associated with spinal cord oedema and spina bifida at T8. Cisternal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed mild albuminocytological dissociation, supporting the diagnosis of a compressive/traumatic lesion (Meinkoth and Crystal 1999). Aerobic and anaerobic culture was performed on CSF samples, which yielded no bacterial growth.Under general anaesthesia, the dog was positioned in sternal recumbency and the dorsal thoracic region was surgically prepared. After blunt dissection via the layers deep to the skin, a fistulous tube extending within the bone tissue of the spinous process of T8 was noted (Fig 1). A dorsal laminectomy was carried out and the spinal cord was exposed. The sinus tract extended into the spinal cord and the external sheath of the sinus was in continuity with the dura. The lumen of the fistular tract contained hair (Fig 2). A durotomy was carried out and the intraspinal sinus tract was excised, routinely fixed in formalin and submitted for histopathological ...

The mitotic count (MC) is an important histological parameter for prognostication of malignant neoplasms. However, it has inter- and intraobserver discrepancies due to difficulties in selecting the region of interest (MC-ROI) and in identifying or classifying mitotic figures (MFs). Recent progress in the field of artificial intelligence has allowed the development of high-performance algorithms that may improve standardization of the MC. As algorithmic predictions are not flawless, computer-assisted review by pathologists may ensure reliability. In the present study, we compared partial (MC-ROI preselection) and full (additional visualization of MF candidates and display of algorithmic confidence values) computer-assisted MC analysis to the routine (unaided) MC analysis by 23 pathologists for whole-slide images of 50 canine cutaneous mast cell tumors (ccMCTs). Algorithmic predictions aimed to assist pathologists in detecting mitotic hotspot locations, reducing omission of MFs, and improving classification against imposters. The interobserver consistency for the MC significantly increased with computer assistance (interobserver correlation coefficient, ICC = 0.92) compared to the unaided approach (ICC = 0.70). Classification into prognostic stratifications had a higher accuracy with computer assistance. The algorithmically preselected hotspot MC-ROIs had a consistently higher MCs than the manually selected MC-ROIs. Compared to a ground truth (developed with immunohistochemistry for phosphohistone H3), pathologist performance in detecting individual MF was augmented when using computer assistance (F1-score of 0.68 increased to 0.79) with a reduction in false negatives by 38%. The results of this study demonstrate that computer assistance may lead to more reproducible and accurate MCs in ccMCTs.