Vladimir Jekl

Usefulness of detection of specific IgM and IgG antibodies for diagnosis of clinical encephalitozoonosis in pet rabbits

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an obligate intracellular pathogen that has wide host distribution, but primary affects rabbits. This study presents a seroepidemiological study of E. cuniculi infection in 500 pet rabbits from the Czech Republic using ELISA capable of measuring IgM and IgG antibodies. Specific IgM antibodies, reflecting acute, reactivated infection or reinfection, were detected in 32.4% of all rabbits. IgG antibodies indicating chronic infection, were presented in 68.0% of all rabbits. The highest detection rate of IgM (54.4%) and IgG (86.1%) antibodies was ascertained in rabbits with neurological symptoms (n=79, group I). In rabbits with renal disorders (n=47, group II) 36.2% animals were specific IgM and 80.9% IgG positive. Out of 9 rabbits with ocular disorders (group III), 44.4% were positive for anti-E. cuniculi IgM and 77.8% for IgG antibodies. In rabbits with multiple signs (neurological and renal or ocular, n=16, group IV), 43.8% animals were specific IgM and 68.8% IgG positive. Out of 287 rabbits with other disease (group V), 26.5% were positive for anti-E. cuniculi IgM and 64.1% for IgG antibodies. However, the high presence of IgM (24.2%) and IgG (51.6%) antibodies was detected in clinically healthy rabbits (n=62, group VI). Toxoplasma gondii infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis for neurological and ocular disorders in rabbits. Using ELISA, 19.2% from all rabbits were positive for specific anti-T. gondii IgG. The highest seropositivity was detected in group III (44.4%). Simultaneous testing of IgM and IgG specific antibodies give an indication of the infection status. Presence of IgM antibodies is indicative for active infection with requirement to institute proper antimicrosporidial therapy. As active infection was detected in considerably high numbers of rabbits with clinical signs that are not usually associated with E. cuniculi, and even in asymptomatic rabbits, detection of both isotypes of specific antibodies should be a routine part of a health check in rabbits.

Quantitative and qualitative assessments of intraoral lesions in 180 small herbivorous mammals

Between 2002 and 2005 210 rabbits, 257 guinea pigs and 123 chinchillas were examined; oral disease was diagnosed in 38·1 per cent of the rabbits, 23·4 per cent of the guinea pigs and 32·5 per cent of the chinchillas. In the rabbits, the maxillary right P3, mandibular right P3, P4 and M1 and mandibular left P3, P4, and M1 were the teeth most frequently affected; in the guinea pigs, the mandibular right P4 and both the mandibular left incisor and P4 were most often affected; and in the chinchillas the maxillary right P4 and M1 and maxillary left P4 were most often affected. The incisors and first mandibular cheek teeth of the guinea pigs were significantly more often affected than those in the chinchillas or rabbits. Bilateral lesions of the maxillary cheek teeth were significantly more common in the chinchillas. The highest incidence of gingival hyperplasia was recorded in the rabbits. The incidence of gingival erosions and gingivitis were significantly higher in the chinchillas.

Diseases in pet degus: a retrospective study in 300 animals

INTRODUCTION Degus are commonly used as laboratory animals; however, over the past few years, they have become increasingly popular as pets. OBJECTIVES The aim of this article was to present disease prevalence in 300 pet degus divided in two age groups (under and above two years). METHODS Medical records of degus (Octodon degus), which were presented to the authors clinic in the period from January 2007 to December 2009, were reviewed. RESULTS The most common diseases in degus were (1) acquired dental disease (60·0%) with significantly higher prevalence in older animals (P<0.001), (2) skin alopecia due to fur chewing (13·33%) and (3) lens cataracts (13·33%). Other common disorders included traumatic injuries to soft tissues (bite wounds and tail slip), traumatic fractures and dietary diarrhoea. Reproductive disorders were most commonly associated with dystocia and pathological changes in the post-natal period. Only 38 degus in a total of 300 animals were healthy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This is the first study to describe the disease prevalence in two age groups of pet degus. The majority of diseases were caused by improper diet, self-mutilation and improper handling; as such client education is necessary to avoid such a high disease prevalence.

Diseases in pet guinea pigs: a retrospective study in 1000 animals

Guinea pigs are commonly kept as pet animals; however, information about particular disease prevalence is lacking. The objective of this article was to present disease prevalence in 1000 pet guinea pigs from private owners divided into three age groups: under two years; between two and five years; and above five years. Medical records of guinea pigs (Cavia aperea f. porcellus) that were presented to the authors’ clinic in the period from January 2008 to August 2013 were reviewed. The most commonly diagnosed disease in guinea pigs was dental disease (36.3 per cent), with higher prevalence in the middle age group (P<0.001) and in males (P<0.001) rather than females. Skin problems were seen as the second most common disease (33.3 per cent), with higher prevalence in male guinea pigs (P<0.001) and in animals younger than two years (P<0.001). Ovarian cystic disease was the third most commonly seen disorder, with higher prevalence in females older than two years (P<0.001). Other common health disorders included gastrointestinal stasis, heterotopic ciliary body calcifications, fatty eye and tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. Only 81 guinea pigs from a total of 1000 animals were healthy. This is the first study to describe the disease prevalence in three age groups of pet guinea pigs.

Fasting and postprandial serum bile acid concentrations in 10 healthy female red-eared terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans)

The fasting and postprandial serum concentrations of bile acids and other blood constituents were measured in a group of 10 clinically healthy, female, six-year-old captive red-eared terrapins (Trachemys scripta elegans). The terrapins were housed in a temperate room and maintained in four aquaria in which the water temperature ranged from 24 to 27°C and the temperature above the basking site ranged from 27 to 30°C. The serum concentrations of bile acids were measured four times in a period of five months, and at the second sampling the fasting and two postprandial (after 24 and 48 hours) serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, glucose, uric acid, cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and bile acids were determined. Coelioscopy revealed vitellogenic and previtellogenic follicles on the ovaries of all the terrapins, and eggs with calcified shells were detected in two of them. The livers were mostly pink to deep yellow in colour, with sharp edges, a smooth serosal surface, distinct large superficial vessels, and multifocal melanin deposits. Liver biopsies revealed fine, more or less oil red O-positive lipid droplets in all the hepatocytes, but in none of the cases was it considered to be pathological lipidosis. The mean (sd) bile acid concentrations ranged from 7·35 (4·52) to 10·04 (7·40) μmol/l. The fasting and postprandial concentrations were 3·1 (2·3), 4·5 (5·4) (24 hours) and 2·2 (1·5) (48 hours) μmol/l. High concentrations between 27·6 and 66·6 μmol/l were associated with lipaemia. There were no significant differences between the biochemical profiles of the fasting and postprandial serum samples.

Impact of pelleted diets with different mineral compositions on the crown size of mandibular cheek teeth and mandibular relative density in degus (Octodon degus)

The impact of pelleted diets with different mineral compositions on the crown size of the mandibular cheek teeth, as well as the mandibular bone and cheek teeth density, in degus (Octodon degus) was investigated. A total of 28 animals were randomly divided into four groups and fed different calcium or phosphorous dietary content, in the presence or absence of UV light, for 14 months. Dental radiographs and CT images of the head were taken, and the crown size of premolar and molar teeth was recorded. Apical and coronal crown elongation of all cheek teeth and significantly smaller relative cheek teeth and mandibular densities were recorded in degus fed a high-phosphorus diet with an improper calcium:phosphorus ratio. A diet with a calcium:phosphorus ratio of 1:1 was also responsible for the rapid development of dental disease with subsequent severe health impairment.

Blood sampling from the cranial vena cava in the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus).

This paper describes blood sampling from the cranial vena cava (CVC) in the Norway rat. In order to limit stress, the blood sampling should be done under short-term inhalation anaesthesia, for example, an oxygen/isoflurane mixture. The injection site is just cranial to the first rib, 0.3–0.8 cm lateral to the manubrium when the animal is in dorsal recumbency. The needle, attached to a syringe, is inserted at 30° in the direction of the opposite femoral head. After penetration of the skin, negative pressure is developed in the syringe and the insertion of the needle is continued for another 0.2–1 cm in the given direction until blood begins to flow. The amount of blood sampled ranges from 0.8 to 2.5 mL depending on the body weight of the patient. A trial on 50 rats aged 5–24 months included 25 rats sampled once, eight rats sampled twice with an interval of seven days, 11 rats sampled twice with an interval of three weeks and four rats sampled four times with intervals of four weeks – a total of 87 blood samplings. The serious complications quoted in association with blood sampling from the CVC in other experimental animals (vascular lacerations, heart puncture, serious haemorrhage, tracheal and throat trauma) were not observed in our study. There were only four blood samplings (4.5%) with mild haemorrhage from the injection site, due to erroneous sampling from the jugular vein.

Extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction in two ferrets (Mustela putorius furo)

This report describes extrahepatic bile duct obstruction in two ferrets, which were presented with anorexia, chronic weight loss and general weakness. Physical examination revealed lethargy, cachexia, dehydration, abdominal pain and icterus. Marked haematological, serum chemistry and urinalysis abnormalities included hyperbilirubinaemia (65·5 and 114·2 μmol/L), high concentrations of alanine transaminase (1327·53 and 2578·88 IU/L) and biluribinuria. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed thickening of the bile duct together with the gall bladder wall. The common bile duct was obviously distended. Choledochotomy revealed inspissated bile with fragile green gelatinous plugs that was removed to allow the bile to flow into the duodenum. Cytology and culture of the biliary tract contents were negative for bacteria. Laboratory analyses of biliary plugs showed presence of only protein substances, without detectable mineral composition. Histopathological examination of the liver showed diffuse steatosis and non-specific cholangiohepatitis in both cases.

Effect of high phosphorus diet on tooth microstructure of rodent incisors

Enamel hypoplasia and disruption of dentinogenesis are the most common abnormalities of development and mineralization of human teeth. Several reports are available in the literature on the influence of dietary calcium on the formation of human and rodent tooth; however, the information about the influence of dietary phosphorus on the tooth formation is scarce. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the chronic effect of high phosphorus diet and improper dietary calcium to phosphorus ratio on the mandibular incisor microstructure in a hystricomorph rodent--Octodon degu--using macroscopic observation, histopathological examination, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The present study shows that enamel and dentin development is disturbed under high phosphorus diet and improper calcium to phosphorus ratio. Disturbed mineral metabolism resulted in enamel depigmentation, enamel hypoplasia, enamel pitting and altered dentin morphology. The results suggest that more attention should be focused on dietary phosphorus content when facing altered tooth structure in young patients with deciduous or permanent dentition. Furthermore, we showed that degus can be used as an experimental animal model for the study of the developmental teeth disturbances.

Lethal Encephalitozoon cuniculi genotype III infection in Steppe lemmings (Lagurus lagurus).

Microsporidia are ubiquitous, spore-forming, intracellular parasites infecting invertebrates and vertebrates. Some of them are important opportunistic pathogens in humans, including three species of genus Encephalitozoon. Intraspecies genetic variation with a different range of hosts is known in Encephalitozoon cuniculi distinguishing four genotypes. Recently, E. cuniculi is often observed in pet animals, mainly E. cuniculi genotype I in pet rabbits. This study described a fatal encephalitozoonosis in a group of pet rodents Steppe lemmings (Lagurus lagurus). The animals were presented with progressive weight loss, aggression, cannibalism, purulent conjunctivitis and hind limb paresis. Death occurred within 48 h after the onset of clinical signs. The group comprised of 15 animals was affected and died within a period of three months. Post-mortal examination did not show any macroscopic changes. Microsporidial vacuoles with typical spores were found in brain and kidney tissues and E. cuniculi DNA in all tested organs. The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of rRNA gene showed 100% homology with E. cuniculi genotype III previously identified in dogs, tamarin colonies from zoos, swine, birds and humans. Pet lemmings could represent a new potential source of the infection for their breeders.