Retrospective investigation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcome in 146 exotic animals.

The outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) were retrospectively evaluated in 146 exotic animals including 20 pet birds, 47 rabbits, 34 hamsters, 18 ferrets, 7 turtles and 20 other small mammals in cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) at presentation or during hospitalization at an animal clinic. The rates of return of spontaneous circulation, survival after CPR and discharge were 9.3, 2.3 and 1.2%, respectively. The mean success rate of CPR in animals included in this study was lower than those previously reported in dogs and cats. This might have been because of the challenges in effective chest compression, airway management and monitoring as well as establishment of intravenous catheterization route in exotic animals.

Incidence of anaphylactic reactions after propofol administration in dogs.

Propofol is an anesthetic agent suspended in an emulsion system that includes egg yolk lecithin and soybean oil, because of which, there is concern about the use of propofol in patients allergic to these substances. We examined the association between propofol administration and incidence of adverse events in dogs with allergy to egg yolk lecithin and soybean oil. On the basis of the findings of an allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) test, 14 dogs with high levels (high-IgE group) and 7 dogs with low levels (normal-IgE group) of IgE were selected. Following intravenous administration of propofol, the incidence of anaphylactic reactions and plasma histamine concentrations under general anesthesia maintained with isoflurane throughout surgery were compared between the two groups. The frequency of anaphylactic reactions and plasma histamine concentrations were compared by the chi-square test and Student t-test, respectively. The statistical significance for both tests was set at P<0.05. In the high- and normal-IgE groups, the average frequencies of anaphylactic reactions after propofol administration were 21.4 and 14.3%, and the mean plasma histamine concentrations were 167.9 ± 94.5 nM and 65.7 ± 40.3 nM, respectively. Animals of neither groups experienced shock-like symptoms. These results revealed that propofol might be relatively safe, although careful perioperative anesthesia monitoring and standby protocols are required when using propofol in dogs with a history of allergic diseases or high chicken- or soybean-specific IgE levels.

Establishment of serological test to detect antibody against ferret coronavirus.

Since there is no available serological methods to detect antibodies to ferret coronavirus (FRCoV), an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using recombinant partial nucleocapsid (N) proteins of the ferret coronavirus (FRCoV) Yamaguchi-1 strain was developed to establish a serological method for detection of FRCoV infection. Many serum samples collected from ferrets recognized both a.a. 1-179 and a.a. 180-374 of the N protein, but two serum samples did not a.a. 180-374 of the N protein. This different reactivity was also confirmed by immunoblot analysis using the serum from the ferret.Therefore, the a.a. 1-179 of the N protein was used as an ELISA antigen. Serological test was carried out using sera or plasma of ferrets in Japan. Surprisingly, 89% ferrets in Japan had been infected with FRCoV. These results indicated that our established ELISA using a.a. 1-179 of the N protein is useful for detection of antibody to FRCoV for diagnosis and seroepidemiology of FRCoV infection.

Osteoblastic osteosarcoma in a rabbit.

An osteosarcoma developed in the tarsal joint region involving the distal tibia of a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Micrometastases were present in the lungs. Histologically the tumor was composed of ovoid to short-spindle cells with abundant giant cells, producing irregular islands of osteoids. The tumor cells were immunopositive with antiosteocalcin monoclonal antibody, consistent with their derivation from osteoblasts. According to review of 10 published cases, productive osteoblasic osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor in rabbits, with half of all cases developing in the skull or facial bones.

Atypical fibrosarcomas derived from cutaneous ganglion cell-like cells in 2 domestic Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus).

Androgen-dependent atypical fibromas are benign tumors derived from ganglion-cell-like cells that are particular to Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). Masses excised from 2 hamsters were composed of pleomorphic ganglion cell-like cells supported by small to moderate amounts of collagenous matrix. Intracytoplasmic fibrils were present in silver-stained sections, and immunohistochemistry showed that the cells expressed vimentin, androgen receptor, and, in one case, estrogen receptor α. In contrast to previously reported atypical fibromas, these tumors had features of anaplasia and were locally invasive. We diagnosed the tumors as atypical fibrosarcomas and consider them an unusual malignant counterpart of atypical fibroma.

Radiographic measurement of cardiac size in 27 rabbits.

Right lateral position (RL) chest radiograms were obtained from 27 heart disease-free rabbits, and cardiac sizes were compared according to body weight (<1.6 vs. > or =1.6 kg) and gender (female vs. male). Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in RL-long axis (RL-LA) and RL-vertebral heart size (RL-VHS). RL-LA was 4.22 +/- 0.25 and 4.48 +/- 0.3, and RL-VHS was 7.55 +/- 0.38 and 7.99 +/- 0.58, in the <1.6 kg (n=12) and > or =1.6 kg (n=15) groups, respectively. These values should prove useful as new diagnostic indices for cardiac disease in rabbits.

Radiographic measurement of cardiac size in 64 ferrets.

As ferrets can suffer from a wide variety of cardiac disorders, indicators for detecting cardiac abnormalities on plain chest radiography are necessary. A total of 64 ferrets without heart disease underwent radiography in the right lateral (RL) and ventrodorsal positions (VD), and the lengths of the RL-sixth dorsal vertebra (6th DV), RL- and VD-long axis (LA) and RL- and VD-short axis (SA), RL- and VD- vertebral heart size, VD-length of the eighth costa (LEC) and VD-thoracic width at the eighth thoracic vertebra (8th TV) were measured to establish standard values of normal cardiac appearance. We evaluated statistical differences between genders and ferrets weighing < 1 kg and > or = 1 kg for a total of 38 items. As a result, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in all items, including some differences that have been reported previously. In particular, the present study established highly accurate standard values for weight differences. Standard values calculated based on the 6th DV and a relational expression obtained by the regression coefficient of the ratio of VD-SA to VD-8th TV, VD-8th TV=2.887 + (0.769 x VD-SA), were considered useful for evaluating normal cardiac morphology in ferrets.

Cytomorphological and immunohistochemical features of lymphoma in ferrets.

Twenty ferrets with histopathologically diagnosed lymphoma were classified cytomorphologically and immunohistochemically. According to site of origin, multicentric, gastrointestinal, mediastinal and cutaneous lymphomas accounted for 8 (40%), 9 (45%), 2 (10%) and 1 case (5%), respectively. According to the National Cancer Institute Working Formulation (NCI-WF), low-, high- and intermediate-grade lymphomas accounted for 4 (20%), 4 (20%) and 12 cases (60%), respectively. The 4 low-grade lymphomas showed no mitotic figures, whereas all 4 high-grade lymphomas exhibited > or = 3 mitotic figures (median,6). Higher grade thus appears to be associated with a higher number of mitotic figures. Immunohistochemical examination of 18 specimens, excluding 2 insufficient specimens, showed that 16 (88.9%) and 2 (11.1%) lymphomas were of T-cell origin and B-cell origin, respectively. According to the combination of the NCI-WF and immunophenotypes, all 4 low-grade lymphomas (2 multicentric, 1 gastrointestinal, and 1 cutaneous lymphoma) were classified as diffuse small lymphocytic lymphoma of T-cell origin. Of the 12 intermediate-grade lymphomas (6 multicentric, 4 gastrointestinal, and 2 mediastinal lymphomas), 11 were classified as diffuse mixed-cell lymphoma, and 1 as diffuse large cell lymphoma. Of these 11 lymphomas, 2 (both multicentric) were of B-cell origin, 7 (3 multicentric, 3 gastrointestinal, 1 mediastinal) were of T-cell origin, and 2 (1 multicentric, 1 mediastinal) were of unknown cell origin. The remaining 1 lymphoma (gastrointestinal) was of T-cell origin. All 4 high-grade lymphomas (gastrointestinal) were classified as diffuse immunoblastic lymphoma of T-cell origin.

Spontaneous fibrosarcoma in a Djungarian hamster (phodopus sungorus).

A 1.5-y-old female Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) presented with a large subcutaneous mass surrounding the right shoulder. Radiography revealed dislocation of the right humeral articulation and osteolytic lesions of the right scapula. Histologically, the mass was composed of spindle to stellate cells arranged in fascicles interwoven with delicate collagen fibers, and neoplastic cells infiltrated the bone, skeletal muscle, and subcutaneous tissues. Neoplastic cells stained intensely positive for vimentin and negative for S100 protein, neurofilament, and desmin. A minority of neoplastic cells (10% to 20%) stained moderately for smooth muscle actin. The mass was diagnosed as a fibrosarcoma. Although fibrosarcomas are relatively common in dogs and cats, this is the first report of fibrosarcoma in a domestic Djungarian hamster.

A case of lymphoma developing in the rabbit cecum.

A rare lymphoma that developed in the cecum of a domestic pet rabbit (6 years old, male, crossbred) was examined pathologically. The tumor consisted of proliferating neoplastic lymphoid cells, which were strongly stained with anti-CD79alpha monoclonal antibody. Electron microscopy revealed the tumor cells were composed of rough endoplasmic reticula and/or dilated rough endoplasmic reticula filled with moderately electron-dense material. These findings indicated the present case was rare digestive tract lymphoma originated from B-lymphocytic lineage in the cecum.