ABSTRACT
Cytomegalic inclusion disease (CID) in the salivary gland of African hedgehogs (Atelerix arbiventris) has been reported before, and is suspected to reflect a cytomegalovirus infection. However, a recent ultrastructural study reported that African hedgehog CID reflected oncocytic metaplasia, mimicking a cytomegalovirus infection. We examined the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands of a 1-year-old male African hedgehog. Histologically, there were multiple foci composed of cytomegalic cells with intranuclear inclusion bodies. Ultrastructurally, viral particles (109-118â¯nm in diameter) were observed in the nuclei of the cytomegalic cells. There were numerous vesicles containing various numbers of enveloped viruses in the cytoplasm. We also attempted to detect viral DNA fragments by degenerate polymerase chain reaction and obtained amplicons of a predicted size. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the virus is a betaherpesvirus, comparatively related to human and rodent cytomegaloviruses. The present study suggested that African hedgehog CIDs also include those caused by the cytomegalovirus.
Subject(s)
Cytomegalovirus Infections/veterinary , Hedgehogs , Animals , MaleABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate seasonal influences on thyroid hormone levels of healthy outdoor dogs in Hokkaido. We surveyed serum basal total thyroxine (tT4), free thyroxine (fT4), and canine thyroid-stimulating hormone (cTSH) levels, and tT4 levels after administration of TSH for a year. Basal tT4 levels decreased in January, and increased in August and September. fT4 levels increased in January and November. No significant seasonal variation was found in cTSH. tT4 levels after administration of TSH in August and November increased. These results suggested that the thyroid gland may have been activated in November. We should take seasonal variation into consideration when thyroid function is tested.