Hyperoxaluria, hyperglycoluria and renal oxalosis in Gilbert's potoroos (Potorous gilbertii).

CASE REPORT: Six Gilbert's potoroos (Potorous gilbertii) in a captive colony, five of which were closely related, died or were euthanased with severe renal disease. Clinical signs were mostly non-specific. Renal calculi were seen on ultrasound of two affected potoroos and oxalate crystalluria was seen in two of three affected potoroos that had urine samples examined. Necropsies revealed extensive severe renal oxalosis in all affected potoroos. These findings and markedly increased concentrations of glycolate in the urine of the four affected potoroos for which it was measured, confirmed a disorder of oxalate metabolism and suggested a condition similar to primary hyperoxaluria type 1 in humans. Liver alanine : glyoxylate aminotransferase activity and intracellular location were assessed as normal in one affected potoroo, which is inconsistent with human primary hyperoxaluria type 1. Although a condition similar to human primary hyperoxaluria type 2 or 3 was not ruled out, other clinicopathological findings were not consistent with those seen in humans with these conditions. A lack of faecal oxalate-degrading activity was observed in two affected potoroos in which it was measured, whereas oxalate-degrading activity was variably present in healthy captive and wild potoroos. CONCLUSION: Although the pathogenesis of renal oxalosis in these cases was not clear, the biochemical findings of elevated urinary oxalate and glycolate excretion indicate an abnormality of oxalate metabolism. The familial pattern of disease suggests it could be an inherited condition.

Cryptococcosis in Gilbert's and long-nosed potoroo.

Two cases of fatal cryptococcosis are described, one of Cryptococcus neoformans infection in a Gilbert's potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) and one of Cryptococcus gattii infection in a long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus). The diagnoses were confirmed by culture and specific immunohistochemistry, respectively. The long-nosed potoroo tested positive using the latex cryptococcal antigen test (LCAT), whereas the Gilbert's potoroo had a negative LCAT result despite having advanced disease of some duration. In both cases, the clinical presentation was a progressive neurologic disease associated with a central nervous system infection. Pulmonary infection was also observed in the long-nosed potoroo. Specific treatment with antifungal agents was unsuccessful in the long-nosed potoroo.