Impairment of renal function and electrolyte balance in rabbit hemorrhagic disease.

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) induced viral fulminant hepatitis in adult rabbits. We investigated the damage of renal function and electrolyte balance in experimentally infected rabbit by measuring the related serum parameters to elucidate the pathogenesis of RHDV as an index for medical treatment. Nineteen New Zealand White rabbits, ten females and nine males, were each intramuscularly inoculated with 0.5 ml 50% rabbit lethal dose (RLD(50)) rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. Blood samples were collected at 0 hr post inoculation (HPI) and every 6 hr from 18 HPI repeatedly through 66 HPI. After virus inoculation, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CREA) and sodium (Na(+)) were elevated to a highly significant level (p<0.0001), whereas serum potassium (K(+)) was moderately elevated to a significant level (p<0.05). Hypoglycemia developed highly significantly (p<0.0001). Serum chloride ion (Cl(-)) was the only parameter which did not change significantly (p=0.077). No significant sexual difference was observed among these parameters. Renal insufficiency progressed from 36 hr, as indicated by the increases in BUN and CREA; significant changes in electrolytes resulting in the increased osmolality of extracellular fluid that induced flow disturbance which consequently destroy the homeostasis in cells. Therefore, the later impairments in renal function and electrolyte balance might be an important threat for rabbits which might have survived from acute fulminant hepatitis in RHD.

Osteoclastic-like giant cell tumour in a cat.

An 11-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented with an epulis. A hemispherical mass, 8mm in maximum diameter, without a peduncle and bright reddish in colour, was observed on the gingiva of the left mandible. Radiography failed to show any infiltrating osteolysis. The epulis was surgically removed via gingival incision around the margin to the depth of connective tissue layer. Histopathological examination indicated that the epulis contained a large number of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) intermixed with mononuclear mesenchymal cells in a loose fibrovascular stroma. Mitotic cells were found, mainly in the centre of the mass. MGCs were stained positive by the tartrase resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, indicating osteoclasts activity. Immunohistochemical staining for proliferating-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was observed within the majority of mononucleated cells, whereas multinucleated cells did not stain. An osteoclast-like giant cell tumour was concluded in this case. The origin of epulis is likely from the periosteal tissue. The cat recovered uneventfully and no recurrence has been noted for 3 years thereafter.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma with intracranial metastasis in a dog.

This report concerns a case of pancreatic carcinoma with widespread metastases to many organs including intracranial metastasis. An eleven-year-old, male, mixed-breed dog showed emaciation, ataxia, and multiple visible tumors within the neck. A MRI examination of the patient was conducted because of ataxia, and it was found that the intracranial invasive growth had resulted in compression of the brain stem. Necropsy was performed after the patient died. Based on gross and microscopic examination, the primary tumor cells were located in the left lobe of the pancreas and widespread metastasis was found into various organs, including the brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, tonsils, serosal surface of the esophagus, and submandibular, pulmonary hilar, mediastinal, and mesenteric lymph nodes. This case indicates that pancreatic adenocarcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis list when cervical neck masses are detected.

Immunogenicity and efficacy of three recombinant subunit Pasteurella multocida toxin vaccines against progressive atrophic rhinitis in pigs.

Three short fragments of recombinant subunit Pasteurella multocida toxin (rsPMT) were constructed for evaluation as candidate vaccines against progressive atrophic rhinitis (PAR) of swine. PMT-specific antibody secreting cells and evidence of cellular immunity were detected in rsPMT-immunized pigs following authentic PMT challenge or homologous antigen booster. Piglets immunized with rsPMT fragments containing either the N-terminal or the C-terminal portions of PMT developed high titers of neutralizing antibodies. Pregnant sows immunized with rsPMT had higher levels of maternal antibodies in their colostrum than did those immunized with a conventional PAR-toxoid vaccine. Offspring from rsPMT vaccinated sows had better survival after challenge with a five-fold lethal dose of authentic PMT and had better growth performance after challenge with a sublethal dose of toxin. Our findings indicate these non-toxic rsPMT proteins are attractive candidates for development of a subunit vaccine against PAR in pigs.