Lesions observed on by-caught harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) along the Belgian and northern France coastline, from 1997 to 2006

in Proceeding of the annual conference (2008)

Morphological alterations in oxidative muscles and mitochondrial structure associated with equine atypical myopathy

in Equine Veterinary Journal (2007), 39(1), 26-32

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is a lack of well documented studies about muscular lesions in equine atypical myopathy (EAM). OBJECTIVES: To characterise morphopathological changes of striated ... [more ▼]

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is a lack of well documented studies about muscular lesions in equine atypical myopathy (EAM). OBJECTIVES: To characterise morphopathological changes of striated muscles and myocardium, to progress understanding of this disease. METHODS: Thirty-two horses age 0.5-7 years kept on pasture were referred for a sudden ataxia/myoglobinuria syndrome. Clinical examination (stiffness, muscle pain, muscle fasciculations, abnormal gait, recumbency, myoglobinuria, tachycardia, sweating) and plasma CPK, LDH and AST levels were consistent with extensive myonecrosis and, together with anamnestic data, with so-called 'equine atypical myopathy' (EAM), a disease of unknown aetiology reported since 1939. Macroscopic and microscopic (histology, histoenzymology, ultrastructure) lesions were evaluated. RESULTS: Necropsic examination revealed large areas of muscle necrosis, the extent and severity of which varied between cases and muscles, but which were clearly more constant and severe in respiratory and postural muscles and in the myocardium. Histology highlighted a multifocal and monophasic process compatible with Zenker degeneration/necrosis that mostly and segmentally affected type 1 fibres. Histochemical evaluation revealed a weak and disorganised pattern of NADH tetrazolium reductase staining, the absence of calcium salts precipitates and a dramatic accumulation of lipid droplets. Ultrastructural examination often revealed fibres of which the sole modifications were altered mitochondria and sarcoplasmic lipidosis. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, the data suggest that a primary alteration of mitochondria should be considered, although secondary mitochondrial abnormalities have yet to be ruled out. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The morphological features gathered here reveal that EAM shares most of the characteristics of toxic myopathies. [less ▲]

Lesions observed on harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) stranded on the Dutch coast in 2006

(2007)

Morphological alterations in oxidative muscles and mitochondrial structure associated with equine atypical myopathy

in Equine Veterinary Journal (2006), 39(1), 26-32

Reasons for performing study: There is a lack of well documented studies about muscular lesions in Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM). Objectives: To characterize morphopathological changes of striated ... [more ▼]

Reasons for performing study: There is a lack of well documented studies about muscular lesions in Equine Atypical Myopathy (EAM). Objectives: To characterize morphopathological changes of striated muscles and myocardium, with the aim to progress in the understanding of this disease. Methods: Thirty-two 0.5- to 7-year-old horses kept on pasture were referred for a sudden ataxia/myoglobinuria syndrome. Clinical examination (stiffness, muscle pain, muscle fasciculations, abnormal gait, recumbency, myoglobinuria, tachycardia, sweating) and plasma CPK, LDH and AST levels were consistent with extensive myonecrosis and, together with anamnestic data, with so-called “Equine Atypical Myopathy” (EAM), a disease of unknown etiology repeatedly reported in the literature since 1939. Macroscopic and microscopic (histology, histoenzymology, ultrastructure) lesions were evaluated. Results: Necropsic examination revealed large areas of muscle necrosis, the extent and severity of which varied between cases and muscles, but which were clearly more constant and severe in respiratory and postural muscles and in the myocardium. Histology highlighted a multifocal and monophasic process compatible with Zenker degeneration/necrosis that mostly and segmentally affected type-1 fibres. Histochemical evaluation revealed a weak and disorganized pattern of NADH tetrazolium reductase staining, the absence of calcium salts precipitates and a dramatic accumulation of lipid droplets. Ultrastructural examination often revealed fibres of which the sole modifications were altered mitochondria and sarcoplasmic lipidosis. Conclusions: Taken together, the data suggest that a primary alteration of mitochondria should be considered, although secondary mitochondrial abnormalities have yet to be ruled out. Potential relevance: The morphologic features gathered here reveal that EAM shares most of the characteristics of toxic myopathies. [less ▲]

By-caught cetaceans stranded along the Belgian and northern France coastline : are they a good control population ?

in annual proceeding (2006)

Lesions observed on by-caught harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) along the Belgian and northern France coastline, from 1995 to 2005

in annual proceeding (2005)

Population-level retrospective study of neurologically expressed disorders in ruminants before the onset of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Belgium, a BSE risk III country.

in Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2005), 43(2), 862-9

A retrospective epidemiological study (n = 7,875) of neurologically expressed disorders (NED) in ruminants before the onset of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy epidemic (years studied, 1980 to 1997 ... [more ▼]

A retrospective epidemiological study (n = 7,875) of neurologically expressed disorders (NED) in ruminants before the onset of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy epidemic (years studied, 1980 to 1997) was carried out in Belgium. The archives of all veterinary laboratories and rabies and transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) epidemiosurveillance networks were consulted. For all species, a significantly higher number of NED with virological causes (rabies) was reported south of the Sambre-Meuse Valley. During the period 1992 to 1997, for which the data were complete, (i) the predicted annual incidence of NED varied significantly as a function of species and area (higher numbers in areas where rabies was present) but was always above 100 cases per million, and (ii) the mean incidence of suspected TSE cases and, among them, those investigated by histopathological examination varied significantly as a function of species and area. The positive predictive value of a presumptive clinical diagnosis of NED ranged from 0.13 (game) to 0.63 (sheep). Knowledge of the positive predictive value permits the definition of a reference point before certain actions (e.g., awareness and training campaigns) are undertaken. It also shows the usefulness of a systematic necropsy or complementary laboratory tests to establish an etiological diagnosis. TSE analysis of a small, targeted historical sampling (n = 48) permitted the confirmation of one case and uncovered another case of scrapie. The results of the present study help to develop and maintain the quality of the worldwide clinical epidemiological networks for TSE, especially in countries that in the past imported live animals, animal products, and feedstuffs from countries with TSE cases. [less ▲]

Severe fungal pneumonia in harbour porpoises stranded on belgian and french coastline in 2003

in Annual proceedings of the 18th annual conference of the European Cetacean Society (2004)

North Sea seabirds and marine mammals: pathology and ecotoxicology

Report (2004)

Les Bancs de Flandres accueillent, en hiver, une importante population d'oiseaux pélagiques. Dans le passé, ils étaient également largement fréquentés par les mammifères marins. De nos jours, on ne les ... [more ▼]

Les Bancs de Flandres accueillent, en hiver, une importante population d'oiseaux pélagiques. Dans le passé, ils étaient également largement fréquentés par les mammifères marins. De nos jours, on ne les observe que très rarement et, chaque année, quelques-uns d'entre eux et des centaines d'oiseaux sont trouvés échoués le long de la côte flamande. Ces espèces doivent être protégées, et le but de ce projet de recherche est d'étudier l'état de santé de leurs populations, son évolution temporelle, les pathologies observées et les contaminants associés, ainsi que les causes possibles de mortalités inhabituelles. La nuisance d'origine humaine la plus importante pour les oiseaux marins semble être la pollution par les hydrocarbures, mais les causes effectives des échouages des oiseaux qui ne sont pas mazoutés, et de la rareté des mammifères, restent inconnues (autres pollutions chimiques, diminution de la nourriture disponible, maladies... ?). [less ▲]

Modulating skeletal muscle mass by postnatal, muscle-specific inactivation of the myostatin gene.

in Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) (2003), 35(4), 227-38

By using a conditional gene targeting approach exploiting the cre-lox system, we show that postnatal inactivation of the myostatin gene in striated muscle is sufficient to cause a generalized muscular ... [more ▼]

By using a conditional gene targeting approach exploiting the cre-lox system, we show that postnatal inactivation of the myostatin gene in striated muscle is sufficient to cause a generalized muscular hypertrophy of the same magnitude as that observed for constitutive myostatin knockout mice. This formally demonstrates that striated muscle is the production site of functional myostatin and that this member of the TGFbeta family of growth and differentiation factors regulates muscle mass not only during early embryogenesis but throughout development. It indicates that myostatin antagonist could be used to treat muscle wasting and to promote muscle growth in man and animals. [less ▲]