Use of a GnRH vaccine, GonaCon, for prevention and treatment of adrenocortical disease (ACD) in domestic ferrets.

Adrenocortical disease (ACD) is a common problem in surgically sterilized, middle-aged to old ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). The adrenal tissues of these ferrets develop hyperplasia, adenomas, or adenocarcinomas, which produce steroid hormones including estradiol, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and androstenedione. Major clinical signs attributable to overproduction of these hormones are alopecia (hair loss) in both sexes and a swollen vulva in females. Pruritus, muscle atrophy, hind limb weakness, and sexual activity or aggression are also observed in both sexes. Males can develop prostatic cysts, prostatitis, and urethral obstruction. ACD is thought to be linked to continuous and increased LH secretion, due to lack of gonadal hormone feedback in neutered ferrets. This continuous elevated LH acts on adrenal cortex LH receptors, resulting in adrenal hyperplasia or adrenal tumor. This study investigated whether the immunocontraceptive vaccine GonaCon, a GnRH vaccine developed to reduce the fertility of wildlife species and the spread of disease, could prevent or delay onset of ACD and treat alopecia in ferrets with existing ACD. Results showed that GonaCon provided relief from ACD by causing production of antibodies to GnRH, probably suppressing production and/or release of LH. Treatment caused many ACD symptoms to disappear, allowing the ferrets to return to a normal life. The study also found that the probability of developing ACD was significantly reduced in ferrets treated with GonaCon when young (1-3 years old) compared to untreated control animals. GonaCon caused injection site reaction in some animals when administered as an intramuscular injection but caused few side effects when administered subcutaneously. Both intramuscular and subcutaneous vaccination resulted in similar levels of GnRH antibody titers. Subcutaneous vaccination with GonaCon is thus recommended to prevent the onset of ACD and as a possible treatment for ACD-signs in domestic ferrets.

Diagnóstico prenatal de una masa suprarrenal fetal / Prenatal diagnosis of a fetal adrenal mass

El neuroblastoma es el tumor suprarrenal más frecuente en el feto, generalmente en su variedad quística (benigna). El diagnóstico diferencial hay que realizarlo con la hemorragia suprarrenal, que tiene un pronóstico favorable y una resolución espontánea postparto. La glándula suprarrenal es una estructura muy vascularizada con un tamaño relativo 20 veces superior a la del adulto, por lo que un aumento brusco de la presión intravascular o una agresión hipóxica pueden provocar un sangrado intraglandular. La técnica diagnóstica prenatal de elección es la ecografía. Cuando la hemorragia se produce durante el embarazo se diagnostica habitualmente alrededor de la semana 20 de gestación. Cuando se sospecha una hemorragia suprarrenal se aconseja seguimiento ecográfico en espera de su resolución postnatal. Presentamos el caso de una gestante a la que se le detectó ecográficamente en la semana 20 una tumoración suprarrenal fetal izquierda que fue aumentando de tamaño durante el embarazo. El parto se produjo en la semana 41 y tras el mismo se confirmó la presencia de una tumoración, descartándose adenopatías o metástasis. En el estudio ecográfico al mes de vida se observó una disminución del tamaño tumoral con hiperecogenicidad, por lo que se diagnosticó hemorragia suprarrenal fetal en regresión (AU)

Neuroblastoma, the most common adrenal mass, generally presents as a cystic tumour of benign nature. Differential diagnosis should consider adrenal hemorrhage, condition which carries better prognosis and spontaneous resolution after delivery. Fetal adrenal gland, a vasculari in the gland as a result of high pressure or hypoxic injury. The gold standard method of diagnosis is based on ultrasound. When adrenal bleeding occurs during pregnancy, diagnosis of this condition takes place at around twenty weeks. Then, when adrenal hemorrhage is suspected, conservatory management with follow up scans is advised until spontaneous resolution is reached. A case of twenty week pregnancy in which a growing left adrenal tumour was detected is presented. After delivery, the presence of an isolated tumour not associated with metastasis or lymph nodes was confirmed. Ultrasound follow up one month later showed reduction of size and echogenicity of the tumour which led to the diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage in regression (AU)