Femoral fracture repair in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) / Tratamento de fratura femoral em ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Background: Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are increasingly popular as pets. They require similar medical and surgical care as small animals, and orthopedic lesions are more and more common. Fracture diagnosis is based on history, orthopedic exam, and diagnostic imaging. The preferred treatment for femur fractures is surgery, which has a favorable outcome in the majority of cases. However, surgical fracture repair in ferrets can be challenging due to the small size of the bones. The objective of this paper is to report the surgical repair of a femoral fracture in a ferret using an external skeletal fixation system type IA connected to an intramedullary pin (tie-in configuration). Case: An adult ferret was referred to the veterinary hospital after being stepped on. The ferret was diagnosed with an oblique diaphyseal fracture of the left femur and surgery was recommended. Open fracture reduction was performed with a 1 mm intramedullary pin (Kirschner wire) placed in a retrograde direction into the proximal bone segment. After fracture reduction, the intramedullary pin was inserted into the distal bone segment. The external skeletal fixator type IA was created by the insertion of a 1.5 mm Schanz pin into the distal diaphysis and another, also 1.5 mm, inserted into the proximal metaphysis, both percutaneously. The three pins were connected externally to an aluminum bar with the [...]

Femoral fracture repair in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) / Tratamento de fratura femoral em ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Background: Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are increasingly popular as pets. They require similar medical and surgical care as small animals, and orthopedic lesions are more and more common. Fracture diagnosis is based on history, orthopedic exam, and diagnostic imaging. The preferred treatment for femur fractures is surgery, which has a favorable outcome in the majority of cases. However, surgical fracture repair in ferrets can be challenging due to the small size of the bones. The objective of this paper is to report the surgical repair of a femoral fracture in a ferret using an external skeletal fixation system type IA connected to an intramedullary pin (tie-in configuration). Case: An adult ferret was referred to the veterinary hospital after being stepped on. The ferret was diagnosed with an oblique diaphyseal fracture of the left femur and surgery was recommended. Open fracture reduction was performed with a 1 mm intramedullary pin (Kirschner wire) placed in a retrograde direction into the proximal bone segment. After fracture reduction, the intramedullary pin was inserted into the distal bone segment. The external skeletal fixator type IA was created by the insertion of a 1.5 mm Schanz pin into the distal diaphysis and another, also 1.5 mm, inserted into the proximal metaphysis, both percutaneously. The three pins were connected externally to an aluminum bar with the [...](AU)

Ocorrência de Dioctophyma renale em Galictis cuja / Occurrence of Dioctophyma renale in Galictis cuja

A dioctofimose é uma parasitose causada pelo Dioctophyma renale (Goeze, 1782) de ocorrência mundial e acomete animais domésticos e silvestres. Em março de 2010, um exemplar adulto (macho) de Galictis cuja (Molina, 1782), encontrado morto por atropelamento no município de Guaíra, Paraná foi encaminhado ao laboratório de Patologia Veterinária de Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Campus Palotina, para a realização da necropsia. O cadáver apresentava bom estado nutricional e autólise moderada. Foram observados três exemplares de parasitos na cavidade abdominal, mas os rins encontravam-se preservados. Os parasitos foram fixados em formol acético e encaminhados ao laboratório de Parasitologia Veterinária da UFPR para identificação. Os exemplares coletados foram identificados como Dioctophyma renale, sendo duas fêmeas, uma com 39cm de comprimento por 4mm de largura e a outra com 16cm de comprimento por 4mm de largura e, um macho com 16cm de comprimento por 3mm de largura. O presente trabalho relata a ocorrência de parasitismo por D. renale em G. cuja na região oeste do estado do Paraná.(AU)

Dioctophymosis is a parasitic disease caused by Dioctophyma renale (Goeze, 1782) with a worldwide occurrence and affects domestic animals as well as wildlife. In March 2010, a ferret adult male, Galictis cuja (Molina, 1782), found dead by trampling in the county of Guaíra, state of Paraná, Brazil, was necropsied in the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory at Campus Palotina, Federal University of Paraná. The animal was in good nutritional condition and moderate autolysis. Three specimens of parasites were found in the abdominal cavity, but the kidneys were preserved. The parasites were fixed in acetic formaldehyde and sent to the Veterinary Laboratory of Parasitology, Campus Palotina, for identification. The parasites were identified as Dioctophyma renale, two females, one a 39cm long and 4mm wide and the other 16cm long and 4mm wide, and a male 16cm long and 3mm wide. This paper reports D. renale parasitism in G. cuja in the western of Paraná state, Brazil.(AU)

Anatomia ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais de furões europeus hígidos / Ultrasonographic anatomy of abdominal lymph nodes in the normal ferret

Nos últimos anos o furão (Mustela putorius furo) tornou-se um conhecido animal de estimação sendo observada uma população em constante crescimento no Brasil, e por conseqüência cada vez mais presente em clínicas veterinárias. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a anatomia ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais de furões-europeus hígidos. Foram utilizados 20 animais, dentre os quais nove eram machos e onze fêmeas, com idade média total de três anos. Localizaram-se em 100 por cento dos furões os linfonodos mesentéricos, em 55 por cento dos animais os linfonodos pancreático-duodenal e esplênico, em 20 por cento o linfonodo gástrico e em 5 por cento o linfonodo hepático. Conclui-se que a localização e características ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais em furões são muito similares aos linfonodos abdominais de gatos, sendo este estudo uma orientação preliminar para a localização dos linfonodos abdominais de furões hígidos.(AU)

In recent years the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has become popular pet featuring a ever growing population in Brazil, and being increasingly found in veterinary clinics. This study aimed to evaluate the ultrasound anatomy of abdominal lymph nodes of healthy ferrets. We used 20 animals, nine of which males and eleven females, with overall mean age of three years. We located the mesenteric lymph nodes in 100 percent of the ferrets, the pancreatic-duodenal lymph nodes and the splenic ones in 55 percent, the gastric lymph node in 20 percent, and the hepatic lymph node in 5 percent. We measured their lengths. It is concluded that the location and sonographic characteristics of the abdominal lymph nodes in ferrets are very similar to the abdominal lymph nodes of cats. This is a preliminary orientation for the location of abdominal lymph nodes of healthy ferrets.(AU)

T-cell lymphoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 12 years old ferret was attended with clinical history of prostration and anorexia. The animal died a few hours after consultation. After necropsy, a histopathological exam of a liver tumor was carried out. The morphologic diagnosis was consistent with multicentric lymphoma. Immunohistochemical exam of the neoplastic cells was made additionally, and confirmed the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma.

T-cell lymphoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 12 years old ferret was attended with clinical history of prostration and anorexia. The animal died a few hours after consultation. After necropsy, a histopathological exam of a liver tumor was carried out. The morphologic diagnosis was consistent with multicentric lymphoma. Immunohistochemical exam of the neoplastic cells was made additionally, and confirmed the diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma.(AU)

Occurrence of ferret enteric coronavirus in Brazil (Preliminary Report) / Ocorrência de coronavírus entérico de ferrets no Brasil - Nota Prévia

Ferret enteric coronavirus (FECV) is associated to the epizootic catarrhal enteritis (ECE) in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). In this study, we report the occurrence of this agent in four diarrheic stool samples of domestic ferrets, analyzed by negative staining transmission electron microscopy and a specific RT-PCR assay targeting the nucleocapsid (N) gene. These findings are the first report of FECV in Brazil and address the importance of this virus on the etiology of enteric disorders in ferrets.(AU)

Coronavírus entérico de furões (FECV) é associado à enterite catarral epizoótica (ECE) em furões (Mustela putorius furo). Neste estudo, relatamos a ocorrência deste agente em quatro amostras fecais diarreicas de furões domésticos, analisadas por microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (contrastação negativa) e RT-PCR específica e direcionada ao gene de nucleocapsídeo (N). Estes achados constituem o primeiro relato de FECV no Brasil e remetem para a importância deste vírus na etiologia de quadros entéricos nestes animais.(AU)

Sebaceous epithelioma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

An eight years-old male ferret presented a ventral abdominal nodular mass near the inguinal region. On clinical examination, a warty nodular mass in the abdomen was detected and the ferret was submitted to excisional biopsy by surgical procedure. At histopathology, adenomatous structures with preponderance of basophilic reserve cells, some sebocytes and showing squamous differentiation were observed. The diagnosis of sebaceous epithelioma was established based on clinical presentation and histopathologic findings. The animal recovered and at the moment no complication was reported.

Sebaceous epithelioma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

An eight years-old male ferret presented a ventral abdominal nodular mass near the inguinal region. On clinical examination, a warty nodular mass in the abdomen was detected and the ferret was submitted to excisional biopsy by surgical procedure. At histopathology, adenomatous structures with preponderance of basophilic reserve cells, some sebocytes and showing squamous differentiation were observed. The diagnosis of sebaceous epithelioma was established based on clinical presentation and histopathologic findings. The animal recovered and at the moment no complication was reported.