Apart from sheep and cattle, which other domestic large animal species have been found to be susceptible to bovine viral diarrhea virus?
North American camelids
(llamas and alpacas)
Are Paramyxoviridae RNA or DNA viruses?
RNA viruses
Which test is currently the most widely used and preferred method of diagnosing rabies infection in animals?
Direct fluorescent antibody testing of brain tissue
Fill in the blanks:
Acid-fast, intranuclear inclusions in the proximal convoluted tubular epithelium of the kidneys are diagnostic for _____ _________?
Lead poisoning
What is the key feature of all cell types primarily targeted by the parvoviruses?
Mitotically active cells
e.g., enterocytes, blood cell precursors in the marrow
Pacheco disease in birds is caused by a virus of which family?
Herpesvirus
What kind of virus is canine parvovirus?
Nonenveloped, single-stranded, DNA virus
What is the mode of transmission of the canine distemper virus?
Aerosol or direct contact with secretions
Are enveloped or nonenveloped viruses more resistant to physical inactivation (heat, detergents, etc.)?
Nonenveloped viruses are more resistant
The lipid membrane of enveloped viruses makes them fragile and more susceptible to inactivation.
Infection with canine parvovirus occurs by which route?
Fecal-oral
Newcastle disease virus causes which hallmark clinical sign in humans?
Conjunctivitis
Usually only with exposure to large quantities of virus.
If rabies virus infection is suspected, which sample(s) would you submit to a state or federal diagnostic laboratory?
Entire carcass or head
Not just brain - minimize human exposure due to zoonotic potential. Refrigerate it; do not freeze it or put in formalin.
Cell-mediated immune rejection of a transplanted organ is an example of which type of hypersensitivity?
Type IV
(delayed-type hypersensitivity)
Do T lymphocytes function primarily in cell-mediated or humoral (antibody) immunity?
Cell-mediated
Which strains of Newcastle disease virus are considered endemic in U.S. domestic poultry, and which are considered exotic or “virulent” in the U.S. context?
- Endemic: low‑virulence (lentogenic) strains (not reportable)
- Virulent: mesogenic/velogenic strains (reportable)
Virulent strains are kept out of U.S. commercial flocks via strict import/surveillance regulations and any detection triggers immediate regulatory action.
In rabies, what is the incubation period, and once clinical signs are apparent, what is the expected survival time?
- Incubation: usually two to three months, rarely up to a year
- Maximal survival after onset of signs: 10 days, irrespective of species (exception: 1 human case report)
Name two members of the genus pestivirus that are clinically relevant in veterinary medicine.
- Bovine viral diarrhea virus
- Border disease virus
- Classical swine fever virus (hog cholera virus)
They can all cause persistent infections, making it difficult to eliminate disease from the herd.
A pig herd presents with sudden deaths, reproductive failures, and some piglets with congenital tremors. Serology shows antibodies to a pestivirus. What virological feature of classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is most important to consider in differentiating it from infections with ruminant pestiviruses like bovine viral diarrhea virus or border disease virus?
CSFV has only one serotype, but specific antibody discrimination tests are needed to confirm CSFV infection
Cross-reactivity with ruminant pestiviruses can confound diagnosis, making targeted serological testing essential.
What is the causative agent of rabbit hemorrhagic disease, and what is its current status in the U.S.?
- Cause: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), a calicivirus
- Status: Reportable
The U.S. is a reportable disease area, with occasional outbreaks of RHDV2 in domestic and wild rabbits. It is endemic in Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia and Africa.
What is a difference between DNA and RNA viruses, and what are the relevant clinical effects?
- RNA viruses replicate with higher mutation rates than DNA viruses because they lack proofreading
- Leads to rapid emergence of immune‑evasive or drug‑resistant strains
DNA viruses are more genetically stable.
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Anesthesia60
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