Panda mouse- case presentation

67668506_2745972975432468_1475995593221341184_nDr Spas Spasov

Veterinary Center Dr Antonov

Varna, Bulgaria

Case presentation

Whole family of Panda mice (two adults and 12 babies) were presented at the clinic with acute and severe Pruritus and progressive history of hair loss for the past two weeks.894602907_220806952540902_4939403224386895872_n

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clinical signs:

Severe Pruritus, Hypotrichosis, Seborrhea and secondary scratch wounds.

These symptoms are presented in all of the 14 mice.

Diagnostics:

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Scotch tape samples from two of the babies and both adults.

All samples were positive for the parasite Myocoptes musculinus (dozens – male, female and eggs).

copro 1

Coproparazitologic sample

copro 2

Coproparazitologic sample

Fecal samples (native and flotation) were done – both were negative for endoparasites and positive for mites (adults and eggs).

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Treatment:

Once a week – Ivermectine spot on and disinfection of the enclosure.

 

Data:

Myocoptes musculinus is the most common parasite in mice.

Typical affected areas are the neck, the head and the shoulders.

Oral Ivermectin doesn’t seem to be very effective. Environmental sanitation is vital.

There’s no data of zoonotic aspect .

REFERENCES:

Small Animal Dermatology 7th edition

PSITTACINE BEAK AND FEATHER DISEASE (PBFD)

22789068_1470407493007067_8559896759169020355_n-e1509292305812Dr Daniela Drumea

Tazyvet

Bucharest, Romania

 

 

Psittacine circoviral disease (PCD) affects parrots and related species and is often fatal to birds that contact it. They can become infected through the oral cavity, nasal passages, and through the cloaca. High concentration of the virus are shed in feather dust from infected birds.

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Bobita, was one of those unfortunate birds. He is a juvenile male cockatiel, bought from a pet-shop about 3 months ago, when he was 4 months.

The owner noticed that the bird is singing more and more rarely, and when he does, the voice is hoarse. Beside this, he also noticed that the animal is losing his feathers. The owner thought it might be a hypovitaminosis, so he started to give him vitamins. When he noticed bleeding on the base of the feathers he scared and made the decision to bring him to the vet.

Clinical presentation:

During the consultation we noticed that the bird easily loses his plumage, he does not have any destructive feather behaviors or feather picking. He had a poor feather quality, they were more discolored than normal and the shape was abnormally (curved and stunting of the feathers). A part of the feathers on the head was lost. Feather dystrophy, hemorrhage within the pulp and circumferential constrictions of the feather shaft were observed. The beak started to pigment and there was a slight exfoliation, claws were longer than normal.

Differential diagnosis

Ectoparasites, viruses (circovirus [PBFD], polyomavirus), genetic conditions. Other factors that may negatively affect feather condition are low humidity, exposure to aerosols, cigarette smoke or other toxins, malnutrition and chronic systemic illnesses (hepatopathy, nephropathy).

Diagnosis

Microscopic examination of the pulp and feather were performed. In the examined samples there were no evidence of fungal, bacterial or parasitic infections. A PCR exam was performed from growing feathers pulp to detect PBFD virus DNA.

A positive PBFD- PCR result has been received.58004052_813644272342082_91552377580027904_n 58682417_2826329927441468_8642168322101608448_n 58629935_602178353581986_2865223522689482752_n

Treatment and prognosis

Because the disease is not in a very advanced stage supportive treatment focused on the stabilization of the immune system, a balanced diet and a stress free environment was recommended. The most important prevention is the hygiene of the cage and educating the owner how to disinfect, because they represent a risk   of spreading the disease.

Feather loss might be acceptable, but beak and claws changes are painful and usually a reason for euthanasia

Non-epidermolytic ichthyosis in rabbit- case report

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Dr Spas Spasov

Dr Spas Spasov
United Veterinary Clinic
Bulgaria
Varna.

 

   Case presentation:

Rabbit nine months old , female  entire.She was presented  to the clinic with a history of progressive hair loss over the last two months. The rabbit came as a second opinion from another practice where she was treated for mange mites for a month with Doramectin and  a month treatment for dermatophytes without result of both treatments.
A clinical examination found:
Generalised alopecia, yellow crusty skin,pododermatitis over the pelvic limbs and  abnormal skin elasticity.

 

 Diagnostic approach.

*microscopic examination- Negative for ectoparasites
*Punch biopsy-  There is  diffuse thickening of the  epidermis characterized by laminated stratum corneum with disproportionate  thickness than the underlying nucleated epidermis. Focal parakeratosis is also present. The epidermis is mildly to moderately achantotic. The follicular infundibulum is greatly distended by keratin. The granular layer of the epidermis exhibits different sizes of keratohyalin granules (hypergranulosis). Superficial dermis  lacks  follicular and adnexal structures. Few intact sebaceous glands are present. There is  no evidence of  neoplastic cells, parasitic/mycotic/fungal or bacterial elements in the examinated sections. The histological appearace is consistent with non-epidermolytic ichthyosis.spas-1spas

 

   Treatment:

Treatment was undertaken to support body hydration, using megaderm( omega three  and six fatty acids,linolenic acid,GLA,EPA,DHA )in order to  strengthen the skin structure.  pain medication(meloxicam 0.2mg/kg ), and antibiotic therapy(Procaine penicillin 150,000 IU per mL. Benzathine penicillin 150,000 IU per mL. ) to control the bacterial infection of the feet.
There was an option for treatment microneedle therapy, but the sample for histopathological study did not showed hair follicles.

After one month of therapy the  rabbits skin had  significantly improved.  However pododermatitis had worsened and abscesses had formed  over the limbs.
Due to failure of antibiotic  therapy and deteriorationof pododermatitis, the decision was to euthanase the rabbit.

 

   Discussion

Ichthyosis is a inherited genetic disorder that occurs both in humans and in animals characterized by diffuse  keratinization  of the surface layer of the skin.  The disease develops as a result of gene mutation that is passed from generation to generation.
Ichthyosis studies are more for dogs and cats, and not so much about rabbits. There is not much information regarding the classification of rabbit Ichthyosis and details of treatment or maintenance therapy.
Affected BreedsThe West Highland White Terrier and the Golden Retriever are the breeds most predisposed to this disease

Encephalitozoon cuniculi – associated Phacoclastic Uveitis with Second Glaucoma in Rabbit

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Dr Vesela Elenkova

Dr Vesela Elenkova – master scintific in veterinary ophthalmology and surgery, veterinary clinic “Eskovet”– Bulgaria, Sofia

Case presentation :

A nine month female rabbit presented for a right eye lesion of two weeks duration. There was cataract on the same eye from birth. The referring veterinarian had prescribed a course of topical and systemic antibiotics but it continued to deteriorate. The eye was become very painful. The lesion appeared as a whitish-yellow mass into the hyperemic iris, slightly protruding into the anterior chamber. There was a mature cataract formation and the pupil was mydriatic with no response to light. The intraocular pressure (IOP) of the affected eye was 40. On the other was 11and it was not clamped. Fluorescein staining was negative for corneal lesions on both eyes. On the ultrasound examination there was no changes into the posterior segment of the affected eye.

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The right eye of the rabbit with E.culiculi-assosiated lens-induced uveitis. Note the mature cataract, the large mass into the hyperemic iris and the midriatic pupil not responding to light. IOP is 40.

There was only seen the hyperechogenic lens and the lesion in the iris. The rabbit was in pain when touched and didn’t want to eat well.

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Ultrasound image of the eye. Note the hyperehogenic lens and the 7mm lesion behind the iris. The posterior chamber is not affected.

The patient history and appearance of the lesion were compatible with Encephalitozoon cuniculi-induced phacoclastic uveitis, and a tentative diagnosis was made. Other diagnostic defferentials included granuloma caused by Pasteurella or other bacterial infections, but they were unlikely considering cataract formation. Diagnostic included complete blood count, biochemical profile and serology testing.
The complete blood count and serum biochemical profile were within normal limits. The serum IgG-antibodies were not so high, but the IgM-antibodies indicate active infection in most cases. They bought are not indicative for utero infection.

We opted medical management. 12570932_1258201610860482_1705138233_nExcept of the antibiotic therapy (with enrofloxacin PO and ciprofloxacin eye drops), the treatment was continued with fenbendazole at 20 mg/kg PO q24h for 28 days. 12607270_1258201650860478_1726829549_nPrednisolone acetate ophthalmic drops were prescribed to treat the uveitis and dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate drops for the eye pressure.

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The left eye of the rabbit appeared unaffected

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After one week recheck. The iris is not so hyperemic and IOP is 6.

After 1-week recheck, the lesion had not changed, hyperemia was decreased, the IOP had become low – 6. There was no pain in the eye and the rabbit was doing well. The pupil still does not respond to light. After 2 weeks more, there was no change. The rabbit was in very good condition, but the vision in the right eye was compromised. Surgery might be necessary in the future depending on progression of the lesion, discomfort, and long term effects on the eye.

Discussion

Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) is a protozoal parasite. The parasite primarily affects rabbits, but cases have been reported in sheep, goats, dogs, cats, monkeys, guinea pigs, foxes, pigs and humans. It is a recognized zoonosis, but the zoonotic risk seems to be minimal to healthy individuals observing basic hygiene and to date there have been no reported cases of direct transmission from a rabbit to a human. However, those individuals who are immunosuppressed should implement strict hygiene and if possible avoid animals suspected or confirmed of being infected with E. cuniculi. Spores are shed in infected animals’ urine and transmission is usually by ingestion of contaminated food or water, or less commonly by inhalation of spores. Transmission from mother to young (transplacental) also occurs so that offspring are born infected. Most of the time, these organisms do not cause any obvious clinical disease. When E. cuniculi reach nerve tissue, rabbits can experience neurologic impairment, characterized by partial or complete paralysis, loss of coordination, seizures and head tilting.
E.cuniculi-assosiated phacoclastic uveitis is recognized in rabbits. There is no sex predisposition and the condition is often seen in younger rabbits. The mechanism by which the protozoan causes cataract is unclear in detail, but its lifecycle gives clues as to aetiopathogenesis of cataract. Passage of parasite between adult and young happen in utero with the parasite circulating in the fetus and sometimes ending up residing in the developing lens. The parasite migrates through the anterior lens capsule causing liberation of lens protein into the iris and anterior chamber and subsequent development of lens-induced uveitis, however, the posterior chamber usually remains unaffected. Normally this uveitis presents as a white-yellow mass in or near the pupil, sometimes with neovascularisation rendering it red or pink.
Serum ELISA antibody titers are helpful in making a diagnosis, however, serology only indicates past exposure and is not diagnostic of or necessarily correlated with clinical disease and infection. Immunofluorescence assay and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of tissue, urine and feces samples, as well as cerebrospinal fluid and removed lens material. These test looks for antigens, unlike serology, which test for antibodies. Simultaneous testing of IgG and IgM-specific antibodies can give an indication of infection status because IgM antibodies indicate active infection. If transmission is transplacental, bought IgG and IgM antibodies may be low.
In this cases treatment options include antiprotozoal medication, topical corticosteroids for the uveitis, surgery to remove the affected lens and granuloma if it is possible. The other option is enucleation, but it is not common if the eye is functional, because it is unlikely to eradicate the infection. In other cases the eye may atrophy without surgery (phthisis bulbi).

Conclusion

E.cuniculi-assosiated phacoclastic uveitis should be always suspected for rabbits presenting with ocular lesions and uveitis and oral antiprotozoal medications are always recommended, as affected rabbits may develop infection in the brain and encephalitis, that can lead to death.

Polycystic kideny disease (PKD) in ferret

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Dr Krasimira Kodjanikolova, DVM, Mr Sc Imaging diagnostic

Dr Krasimira Kodjanikolova, DVM, Mr Sc Imaging diagnostic

Veterinary Clinic NOVA, sofia,Bulgaria

Clinical case

Ferret Sunny, 5 years old, castrated

Anamnesis :

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Fluid therapy in ferret

The feret presented at the clinic apatic,not active from 1 month, the appetite went down, dehydratated.

Exam:

Normal temperature

Blood test: light form of anemia, the biochemical part of the test was normal.

Ultrasound examination:

Ultrasonographic evaluation indicates the presence of cysts of varying size in the right kidney, as the body has lost its normal arhistructure.

Single cyst in the left kidney associated with renal pelvis;

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Right kidney

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Cyst of the right kidney

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Right Adrenal Gland

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Right Adrenal Gland

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Left kidney

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Left Adrenal Gland

Adrenal glands –without changes.

Treatment:

Fluid therapy and NSAID