Infectious canine hepatitis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in wildlife rescue centres in the UK.

Outbreaks of infectious canine hepatitis are described in red foxes ( ITALIC! Vulpes vulpes) at two wildlife rescue centres in the UK. Disease occurred in two-month-old to four-month-old juvenile foxes, which were held in small enclosures in groups of three to eight animals. The foxes died or were euthanased after a short clinical course, sometimes including neurological signs and jaundice, with a high case fatality rate. Four red foxes submitted for postmortem examination had enlarged, congested livers, with rounded borders and mild accentuation of the lobular pattern. On histological examination, there was random, multifocal to massive hepatic necrosis, along with multifocal vasculitis in the central nervous system (CNS) and mild, multifocal glomerulonephritis. Intranuclear inclusion bodies, typical of canine adenovirus type 1 (CAV-1) infection, were present in hepatocytes, vascular endothelial cells in the CNS, renal glomeruli and renal tubular epithelial cells. CAV-1 was detected in tissues from affected foxes by PCR and sequencing. Congregation of juvenile foxes in wildlife rescue centres is likely to be a risk factor for transmission of CAV-1. Preventive measures in wildlife centres should be implemented to prevent the spread of the virus among conspecifics and to other susceptible species.

An immunohistochemical study of the expression of the hypoxia markers Glut-1 and Ca-IX in canine sarcomas.

Tumor hypoxia has been associated with increased malignancy, likelihood of metastasis, and increased resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in human medicine. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a key transcription factor that is induced by tumor hypoxia and regulates the pathways involved in cellular response and adaptation to the hostile tumor microenvironment. HIF-1 induces transcription of different proteins, including Ca-IX and Glut-1, which are considered endogenous markers of chronic hypoxia in solid tumors in humans. In this study, sections from 40 canine sarcomas (20 histiocytic sarcomas and 20 low-grade soft-tissue sarcomas) were immunostained for these markers. Expression of Glut-1 was scored based on percentage of positive staining cells (0 = <1%; 1 = 1%-50%; 2 = >50%) and intensity of cellular staining (1 = weak; 2 = strong); Ca-IX was scored based on percentage of positive cells (0 = <1%; 1 = 1%-30%; 2 = >30%). Intratumoral microvessel density was measured using CD31 to assess intratumoral neoangiogenesis. Histiocytic sarcomas showed statistically significant higher Glut-1 immunoreactivity and angiogenesis than did low-grade soft-tissue sarcomas. Intratumoral microvessel density in histiocytic sarcomas was positively associated with Glut-1 immunoreactivity score. These findings suggest a potential role of hypoxia in the biology of these tumors and may provide a base for investigation of the potential prognostic use of these markers in naturally occurring canine tumors.

An unusual presentation of Mycobacterium avium spp. paratuberculosis infection in a captive tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus).

This report describes an unusual presentation of paratuberculosis in a captive, 4-year-old female tundra reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). The gross and histological presentation was consistent with clinical paratuberculosis as previously reported for other ruminants, with poor body condition, subcutaneous oedema, granulomatous ileitis (multibacillary), mesenteric lymphadenitis and hepatitis. However, this animal also presented with unusual lung lesions, with necrosis and mineralization similar to that reported for Mycobacterium bovis in other wild and domestic ruminants. The presence of DNA of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in intestine and lung tissue (IS900, Hsp65) and PCR tests for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and other members of the M. avium complex were negative.

Unilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter secondary to ureteric atresia, and uterus unicornis in a young terrier.

A nine-month-old entire female terrier cross was presented with intermittent anorexia, vomiting and recent onset of abdominal pain and distension. A diagnosis of unilateral hydronephrosis was made following ultrasound examination and intravenous urography, but no cause was identified. Subsequent ureteronephrectomy and histology of the affected kidney showed ureteric atresia as the cause of obstruction. Uterus unicornis was also identified and ovariohysterectomy was performed. The combination of structural abnormalities can be explained by an in-utero developmental error of their common embryological precursor, the mesonephric duct.