These showed that 5-12% of the keratinocytes in the basal layers of the epithelium proliferated in the two groups. Fewer apoptotic cells were seen in the oral epithelium than in the sulcus in all subjects in both groups. Only in the most apical part of the sulcus, close to the junctional epithelium, did the number of apoptotic keratinocytes exceed the proliferative ones in patients with periodontitis.
Outbreaks of respiratory disease were investigated in reared pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) aged approximately 18 to 32 weeks, released into the semi-wild on four shooting estates in southern England. The clinical signs in the affected birds included swelling of the face and eyes, loss of condition, gasping respirations and coughing. The gross pathology findings included sinusitis, airsacculitis, pleural oedema and lung lesions. The histopathological findings in the affected lungs were characterized by a granulomatous pneumonia. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) was isolated from respiratory tract tissues, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing on three isolates revealed two distinct genotypes, one previously associated with some electrophoretic type (ET) 1 strains and the other a novel genotype that clustered among sequences previously associated with ET 3, ET 4, ET 5 and ET 6 isolates. The localization of ORT within the lung tissue was demonstrated by fluorescent in-situ hybridization in the bronchial exudate of three cases, although not within the granulomatous lesions themselves. In each case, ORT was identified as part of a complex of other respiratory agents including avian paramyxovirus type 2, avian coronavirus, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae and other Mycoplasma species, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, other Pasteurellaceae and Syngamus trachea, suggesting synergism with other agents. Exposure to other intercurrent factors, including adverse weather conditions and internal parasitism, may also have exacerbated the severity of disease.
The entire crop of 18,120 pheasants for the 2000 rearing season (May 8 to August 7) of one estate in the south of England was vaccinated at one day and five weeks of age with a turkey rhinotracheitis (TRT) vaccine. Blood samples and oropharyngeal swabs were taken from the second week's hatching every three weeks throughout the growing season to assess the response of the birds. There was evidence of seroconversion in samples collected three weeks after vaccination, with positive titres being maintained in 33 per cent or more of the population up to at least 22 weeks of age. Positive titres were also recorded in samples taken on December 6 from shot birds between 22 and 30 weeks of age. Positive titres to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were identified in a high proportion of the poults as early as one day of age. Reverse-transcriptase PCR detected IBV-like virus and TRT of the same subtype as the TRT vaccine administered three weeks previously.
KERATITIS and conjunctivitis have been recorded in association with avian poxvirus infection in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) (Gortázar and others 2002), Pasteurella species infection in chickens (Ojo and others 1972), and Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Cryptosporidium species infection in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) (Murakami and others 2002). In chickens, it has been described as a consequence of exposure to ammonia fumes that develop in damp litter and droppings (Riddell 1997); it is described as generally bilateral, with many birds recovering if exposure to ammonia fumes is eliminated. 'Bulgy eye' associated with M gallisepticum and other secondary infections has been recognised in red-legged partridges for many years (Beer 1988). Lesions associated with Aspergillus species were described in the eyes of chickens in 1940 by Reis (Richard 1997), and similar lesions have also been reported in young chicks and in turkeys (Richard 1997). Intraocular invasion by Aspergillus fumigatus in 15-day-old breeder chicks was reported by Beckman and others (1994). Invasion of the anterior chamber of the eye via the cornea by A fumigatus was described as an unusual manifestation of mycotic ophthalmic disease. It was suggested that the most likely pathogenesis in that case was initial damage by fumes or ammonia in the birds' environment leading to corneal epithelial erosions or superficial keratitis. Avian pneumovirus and Newcastle disease (paramyxovirus type 1) can also present with conjunctivitis and unilateral swelling of the head (Alexander 1997); infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) infection in chickens can also cause conjunctivitis. A coronavirus closely related in genome organisation and in gene sequence to IBV was isolated from partridges (Alectoris species) in China (Cavanagh 2005). This short communication describes the investigation of an outbreak of mycotic keratoconjunctivitis in red-legged partridge chicks. Five hundred red-legged partridges introduced from France as day-old chicks (group M) were placed in one 'Burgate' brooder house approximately 2.4 m x 2.4 m square and 1.5 m maximum height. The heat source for the birds was propane gas heaters. For the first week, the birds were retained within a hardboard circle, 2.1 mm in diameter. Super fine Partridge Crumbs (code 5651; Marsdens Feeds) were offered to the birds in flat plastic trays with a considerable amount dispersed throughout the floor of the house. Water was supplied through fountain drinkers, which were replenished at least twice daily. Chopped
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