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Between 1990 and 1994, 89 cattle with signs of affection of the central nervous system were referred to the Clinic for Food Animals and Horses, University of Bern; in 17 cases of which, cerebral listeriosis was diagnosed. History, clinical, hematologic findings and cerebrospinal fluid analysis at admission were evaluated retrospectively. Four cattle were slaughtered after cerebral listeriosis had been diagnosed clinically because of economic reasons. Therapy, consisting of administration of penicillin (i.m./i.v.), intravenous fluids (including bicarbonate replacement), and oral fluids and rumen juice was initiated in the remaining 13 cases. Five of the 13 cattle were refractory to treatment and had to be euthanatized, one to two days after initiation of therapy. Clinical diagnosis of cerebral listeriosis was confirmed by histological examination of brain stem tissue in all nine cattle that were slaughtered or euthanatized; however, Listeria monocytogenes was isolated by standard culturing of brain stem tissue in two of these cases only. Eight to 62 months after discharge from the clinic, telephone interview with the owners of the surviving animals revealed that recovery had been uneventful and satisfactory in all of the eight cases.

The clinical and pathomorphological findings of the spongy (cases 1, 2 and 3) and large-vacuol polycystic kidney disease in four kids are presented. The age of the goats ranged from one week to three months. In case 1 clinical examination including laboratory testing was performed, whereas in cases 2, 3 and 4 only the kidneys were available. Based upon the neurological examination a forebrain lesion was localized in case 1. Laboratory examinations revealed an azotemia and uremic encephalopathy was suspected. Gross pathology demonstrated bilateral polycystic kidneys and proliferation and ectasy of the intrahepatic choledochus system. Histopathology of the brain showed multiple alterations, such as malacia, edema, inflammation and a hemorrhagic area. As in other species, a genetical background of the disease is suspected because the twin of case 1 demonstrated similar symptoms.

Laboratory testing in 10 "Walliser Schwarzhals"-goats included red and white blood cell count, electrolytes, liver enzymes, trace elements and urinalysis, protein determination and cell count of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was also performed. Electrodiagnostic testing included electromyography (EMG) of the head and spinal muscles, motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) of the right and left peroneal nerve, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) and electroencephalography (EEG). MNCV of the peroneal nerve was 72 +/- 9.24 m/s. Latency and amplitude of the BAEP for P1 was 2.15 +/- 0.08 ms respectively 2.23 +/- 0.7 microV and for P5 5.09 +/- 0.15 ms respectively 0.68 +/- 0.24 microV. P2 (3.2 +/- 0.14 ms/1.37 +/- 0.32 microV) and P3 (3.9 +/- 0.13 ms/0.84 +/- 0.14 microV) were equally distributed between P1 and P5. Whereas the results of EMG and BAEP were similar to those of other species, the electroencephalographic findings consisted of three different patterns depending on duration and depth of isofluran anesthesia. Pattern I had a rhythmic high amplitude (80 microV) and low frequency (1-2 Hz) pattern with aperiodic intervals of relative electric silence. Pattern II was characterized by increased duration of HALF (150 microV), associated with spindles of low amplitude (20-30 microV) and high frequency (10 Hz). Pattern III had generalized delta-activity of high amplitude (70-200 microV). All the results are discussed briefly.

This paper describes a leiomyosarcoma found in the distal part of the jejunum of a 7 year old, East Friesian dairy sheep. The animal showed a progressive emaciation during 3 months, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, relative lymphocytopenia and increased levels of serum urea. On histology, the tumor was characterized by anaplasia, cellular and nuclear polymorphism and also by regressive processes and local invasion. Characteristic features such as numerous mitotic figures and giant cells were also observed.

A congenital cavernous hemangioma was found in the pars incisiva of a newborn Brown-Swiss calf. The tumour was characterized by locally invasive and destructive growth. Histopathological investigation showed a tumour that could be clearly distinguished from a capillary hemangioma as well as from a malignant hemangioendothelioma.

The macroscopical, histological, and ultrastructural aspects of the abdominal and extra-abdominal desmoid tumour are reported in a 1 1/2-year old goat (breed: Nera-Verzasca, Tessin mountain goat). Macroscopically, the disease was characterized by glassy, whitish, very hard, plate-forming masses found in the abdominal wall and in the medial aspect of the upper hind limbs. Histologically, the masses consisted of well differentiated fibroblasts which locally infiltrated the surrounding tissues. No capsule formation was found. On electron microscopy, the cells appeared to be active, young, collagen-producing fibroblasts. The pathogenesis of this disease is unknown.

This report describes a case of chronic and granulomatous proliferation in the lower jaw of a six-year-old female Saanen goat due to Aspergillae spp. Within the granulomatous lesion, foreign body and Langhans type giant cells were present in addition to the common granuloma components, such as lymphocytes, epithelioid cells and fibroblasts. Hyphae with a configuration typical of Aspergillae spp. could be demonstrated within the lesions by the use of special stains. The prognosis of this disease in the advanced stage is poor.

The clinical findings, the autopsy and the histology of functional pyloric stenosis in three sheep between four and eight years old are described. A chronic ulcer with structural alterations of the pyloric protuberance was found in the first animal. In the second sheep there were several polyps in the pylorus, and in the third erosions throughout the whole pylorus, and a few hyperplastic areas of epithelium at the junction between pylorus and duodenum. The abomasum was moderately to extremely congested and the contents weighed between 6.7 and 13 kg. In addition to these findings chronic and unspecific abomaso-duodenitis was found in all three sheep. These three cases can be attributed to the distal functional pyloric stenosis (Hoflund syndrome).

Myocardial fibrosis and degeneration of unknown etiology is described in two adult, female goats of the Saanen and Pfauen breeds. Both animals presented with clinical signs of cardiac failure with subcutaneous edema, hydrothorax and ascites. The pathological lesions were characterized by cardiomegaly with ventricular and auricular dilatation and hypertrophy, massive subcutaneous edema and body cavity edema. The first goat additionally showed chronic liver congestion due to cardiac failure. Histologically, the most prominent changes were focally extensive cardiomyocyte degeneration and cardiac fibrosis. The clinical history and pathologic lesions are comparable to those of dilatative cardiomyopathy in SixRH cattle.

Infections by Chlamydia psittaci are found worldwide in many species of mammal, including man, and birds. Small ruminants are affected mainly with abortion in the later phase of gestation. Additionally pneumonia and lesions in other organs can be observed. Pathological and clinico-epidemiological aspects of the infection with C. psittaci in small ruminants are described and discussed. The description of a case of conjunctivitis acquired by one of the authors through contact with infectious material alerts to the significance of C. psittaci as an agent able to cause zoonotic infections.

Pregnancy toxemia (PT) is a metabolic disease which causes significant economic losses in small ruminants, especially sheep. Animals are usually affected in the last few weeks of pregnancy, the uterus contains mostly two or more well developed fetuses. A qualitatively insufficient feeding program together with the significant glucose consumption of the rapidly growing fetuses induces progredient hypoglycemia and ketosis. Other factors like stress and decreased ruminal volume may help trigger the metabolic breakdown. The most prominent macroscopic lesion is the extensive fatty infiltration of the liver. Adrenal cortex and proximal tubular epithelium of the kidney are similarly affected. Focal degenerative changes in contractile and conductory myocardial cells may also occur. The frequency of the disease in the necropsy material from our institute is reviewed over a period of 8 years and pathology and pathogenesis of PT are discussed.