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Biomedical subjects

V R Simpson

Publications and source records attributed to V R Simpson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Fatal adiaspiromycosis in a wild Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra).

Postmortem examination of an immature otter which died in the wild showed that large areas of the lungs were swollen and firm, with emphysema and haemorrhage in the remaining areas. Histopathological examination revealed large numbers of fungal adiaspores and an unusually severe inflammatory response. It was considered that respiratory impairment was the primary cause of the otter's death.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Pulmonary pathology of harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded in England and Wales between 1990 and 1996.

The pathological changes observed in the lungs of 197 freshly dead to moderately decomposed harbour porpoises (Phocoenaphocoena) stranded in England and Wales between October 1990 and December 1996 were reviewed. In 135 (69 per cent of the cases) macroscopic nematode infections of the bronchial tract with Pseudalius inflexus and Torynurus convolutus, either singly or in combination, were recorded, and 106 (54 per cent) also had P inflexus within the pulmonary blood vessels. All the macroscopically parasitised porpoises were adults or juveniles although two neonates had histological evidence of nematode infection. There were 62 cases of mild to severe, subacute to chronic bronchitis and bronchiolitis, 113 cases of mild to severe chronic granulomatous interstitial pneumonia, and 34 cases of mild to severe vasculitis or thrombovasculitis of pulmonary blood vessels attributable to these nematode infections. In 35 cases necropurulent or purulent (broncho)pneumonias were attributed either to secondary bacterial infections of the lungs or to septicaemias associated in seven cases with Streptococcus canis, in two cases with group B Salmonella species, in one case with Escherichia coli and in one case with Streptococcus lactis. The pulmonary lesions in 67 animals known or diagnosed to have been entrapped in fishing gear were non-specific and included persistent foam in the airways in 45 cases, diffuse congestion in 53, oedema in 50, and multifocal intra-alveolar haemorrhage in 33 cases. Seven cases of acute fibrinous or chronic fibrous pleuritis, seven cases of chronic necropurulent pneumonia associated with mycotic infections, four porpoises with traumatic lesions of the thorax and other parts of the body consistent with fatal attack from bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and one case of diffuse bronchointerstitial pneumonia associated with generalised morbillivirus infection were also recorded.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

In vitro isolation of Neospora caninum from a stillborn calf in the UK.

Neospora caninum was isolated in Vero cell culture from the brain of a stillborn calf. This isolate (designated NC-LivB1) is the first to be obtained from cattle in the United Kingdom and was confirmed as N. caninum by immunofluorescence with specific antibodies and by internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence analysis. Differences were found between NC-LivB1, other bovine isolates and canine isolates of N. caninum and closely related protozoal parasites, using random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD - PCR) techniques.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Causes of mortality and non-fatal conditions among grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) found dead on the coasts of England, Wales and the Isle of Man.

A survey of the diseases detectable in 141 grey seals stranded on the coasts of England and Wales away from breeding colonies was carried out between mid-1989 and early 1997. The most common fatal conditions in pups less than three weeks of age were trauma (24 per cent of deaths) and dystocia (12 per cent); in pups more than three weeks of age thy were starvation (22 per cent) and pneumonia (22 per cent); in juveniles they were drowning in fishing gear (30 per cent) and starvation (19 per cent), and in adults a variety of respiratory diseases were the most common causes of death (45 per cent). Many other diseases, both fatal and non-fatal, were recorded.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Antibodies to Brucella in marine mammals around the coast of England and Wales.

Following the isolation of previously unrecognised species of Brucella from stranded seals and cetaceans in Scotland and northern England, a serological survey was carried out to investigate the range of marine mammal species which may have been exposed to Brucella species around the coasts of England and Wales, the prevalence of infection and the temporal and geographical distribution of seropositive animals. Serum collected from 153 stranded marine mammals from the coasts of England and Wales between 1989 and 1995 were tested by competitive and indirect ELISA. Positive titres were recorded for six of 62 (10 per cent) grey seals (Halichoerus grypus), one of 12 (8 per cent) common seals (Phoca vitulina), 11 of 35 (31 per cent) harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) and nine of 29 (31 per cent) common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) tested. Positive titres were also found in a striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), a killer whale (Orcinus orca) and a pilot whale (Globicephala melas). The seropositive animals were from all around the coasts of England and Wales and the first seropositive sample was from a common dolphin in 1990.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Health status of otters (Lutra lutra) in south-west England based on postmortem findings.

Seventy-seven wild otters found dead in south-west England between 1988 and 1996 were examined postmortem. Road traffic accidents were responsible for 64 of the deaths and there were marked seasonal peaks. Bite wounds were present in 12 animals and five were considered to have died from their injuries. The animals' general nutritional state was good, but the males were in overall poorer condition than the females. There was little evidence of infectious disease and the results suggested a young, generally healthy population. Adrenal hypertrophy was observed in males dying of bite wounds and in lactating or pregnant females. Convoluted, modular uteri were observed in three females.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1997

Entanglement in fishing gear and other causes of death in cetaceans stranded on the coasts of England and Wales.

Between August 1990 and September 1995 the carcases of 422 cetaceans of 12 species that had died around the coasts of England and Wales were examined. There were 234 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), 138 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), and 50 individuals of 10 other species of dolphins and whales. The cause of death was diagnosed in the harbour porpoises and common dolphins was entanglement in fishing gear (bycatch). Of the cases in which the cause of death was established, 66 (38 per cent) of 176 harbour porpoises, 86 (80 percent) of 108 common dolphins, and six (19 per cent) of 31 individuals of other species had been bycaught. Neonatal starvation, pneumonia and generalised infections accounted for a further 31 per cent of the diagnosed causes of death in harbour porpoises. The proportion of stranded common dolphins that had been bycaught was consistently high except during 1995, but the proportion of stranded harbour porpoises which had been bycaught increased in each successive year.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Poisoning of dairy heifers by mercurous chloride.

Mercury poisoning was diagnosed in four dairy heifers, three of which died. The clinical signs were variable and included salivation, excessive thirst, extreme depression and severe diarrhoea. Postmortem examinations revealed inflammation and ulceration of the alimentary tract, pulmonary and cardiac haemorrhages, pallor of the kidney cortices and perirenal oedema. The kidney mercury concentrations were in the range 58 to 91 micrograms/g wet tissue. It is believed that the animals were poisoned by the ingestion of soil contaminated with mercurous chloride.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Cornwall.

A post mortem examination on a young fox which had been observed to be clinically ill revealed a severe infection with Angiostrongylus vasorum. A further 11 foxes were examined and four were infected with the parasite; three of these also had advanced lesions of sarcoptic mange. The cases all occurred outside the previously defined focus of endemic infection for dogs in Cornwall and they appear to be the first recorded cases of A vasorum in foxes in the United Kingdom.

Angiostrongylus↗
PubMed1994

Thrombocytopenic purpura in lambs given bovine colostrum.

Newborn lambs which had been given colostrum from a single cow developed thrombocytopenia and seven died. The clinical signs included purpura, haemoglobinuria, melaena, dullness and lethargy. The lambs died at one to two days old. Post mortem examination revealed widespread haemorrhages throughout the body. Lambs given small amounts of colostrum developed a transient thrombocytopenia but did not die.

Animal Feed↗