ABSTRACT
In this study we determined the causes of mortality and disease in a total of 325 lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) in northern Spain between 2000 and 2018. Risk factors such as the species, age, sex, time of year and origin were also considered. Clinical signs, gross and histopathological findings and ancillary test results were the basis for the final diagnoses that were reviewed to classify and identify the different disorders. A total of 26 different conditions were identified. A single cause of death or illness was detected in 267 animals. They were grouped into parasitic conditions (n= 65; 24.34%) represented by encephalitozoonosis, hepatic coccidiosis, hepatoperitoneal cysticercosis, intestinal coccidiosis, parasitic gastritis and cutaneous ectoparasitosis; bacterial diseases (n = 56; 20.97%) including pseudotuberculosis, blue breast, skin abscesses, tularemia, pneumonic pasteurellosis and staphylococcal infections; nutritional and metabolic diseases (n = 48; 17.97%) with epizootic rabbit enteropathy, hepatic steatosis and pregnancy toxemia as prominent diseases; viral infections (n= 31; 11.61%) comprising rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis and miscellaneous causes (n = 31; 11.61%) where rabbit enteritis complex, renal conditions (nephrosis), heat stroke, and arterial bone metaplasia were included; neoplasms (n = 12; 4.49%) represented by uterine adenocarcinoma, mammary adenocarcinoma, cutaneous fibroma, intestinal lymphoma and hepatic cholangiocarcinoma; toxicoses (n = 11; 4.11%); trauma-related injuries (n = 9; 3.37%) and finally congenital diseases (n = 4; 1.49%). In 58 animals of the study, some of these conditions were presented jointly. We discuss the detection frequency, possible causes or associated factors of the different pathologies as well as the importance of the different variables considered.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Progress in cardiovascular regenerative medicine research requires the availability of appropriate experimental animal models that are as close to humans as feasible. Our objective was to assess the validity of a porcine endovascular model of myocardial infarction and reperfusion. METHODS: Fifteen domestic pigs (Large White race) were anesthetized and pre-medicated with amiodarone. Endovascular fluoroscopy-guided coronary procedures were performed to occlude the mid-left anterior descending artery using a coronary angioplasty balloon. Occlusion was confirmed by angiography and electrocardiography. After 75 min the balloon catheter system was withdrawn and the presence of reperfusion flow was verified. The animals were sacrificed after 1 and 2 weeks of follow-up, the hearts were explanted, and the extent of myocardial infarction with respect to the left ventricle was quantified. RESULTS: Overall survival rate was 67%. Five animals died prematurely: 3 showing signs of heart failure, 1 had reperfusion failure (final TIMI flow grade 1) and 1 succumbed to acute stress. The most common adverse event was ventricular fibrillation (87% of the animals) and defibrillation was effective in all affected animals. The extent of myocardial infarct in the animals followed-up for 1 and 2 weeks was similar (20.4+/-4.3% vs. 20.9+/-2.8%, respectively; p=0.8) but was significantly greater in the animals that died prematurely (29.5+/-3.6%, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The endovascular porcine model we have explored constitutes a feasible and reproducible alternative for the evaluation of human myocardial infarction and reperfusion.
