Death in four RHDV2-vaccinated pet rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 (RHDV2).

OBJECTIVES: To create awareness of single RHDV2 infections and cases of death despite immunisation with RHDV2-specific vaccine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case series of four companion rabbits. Patient signalment, vaccination history, pathology and molecular examinations were obtained from the medical records. RESULTS: The animals died peracutely or with nonspecific symptoms like apathy and inappetence. Pathological examination indicated and molecular biological findings confirmed RHDV2 infection in four animals. Several partner animals died at the same time under the same circumstances. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report of fatalities in RHDV2-vaccinated companion rabbits due to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 infection with documented case and vaccination history. Veterinarians should be aware of possible single fatal RHDV2 infections despite vaccination, should initiate the clarification of suspected cases and inform vaccine manufacturers and competent authorities.

Reduced serine-16 and threonine-17 phospholamban phosphorylation in stunning of conscious dogs: no evidence for any involvement of protein kinase A or protein phosphatases.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac stunning is the consequence of a brief cardiac ischemia. The underlying mechanism is not completely understood. METHODS: Here we induced cardiac transient ischemia in conscious instrumented dogs by means of an occluder in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Contractile performance, monitored by ultrasound crystals, was reduced during and after ischemia in the LAD area. For control in the same animals cardiac performance was measured in the area of left circumflex coronary artery (Ramus circumflexus, RCx). In the RCx area, no decline in contractility was noted. Tissue was obtained from stunned LAD area and from control areas (RCx). RESULTS: Phospholamban phosphorylation on both serine-16 and threonine-17 was reduced in LAD areas compared to RCx areas. Reduced phosphorylation of PLB is known to inhibit cardiac contractility. While phosphorylation of PLB was reduced, the activity of the appropriate protein phosphatases and protein kinases was not different between tissue obtained from LAD or RCx areas. CONCLUSION: Reduced formation of cAMP might underlie the contractile dysfunction in myocardial stunning.