Fig 6
The typical appearance of wet tail in a hamster. (Courtesy of Peter Fisher, DVM, Virginia Beach, VA.)
Source publication
A variety of disease agents can affect the gastrointestinal tract of the exotic companion mammal, some of which can pose zoonotic health concerns. Many conditions present with nonspecific clinical signs (lethargy, variable degrees of diarrhea, and for most sick rodents, presenting hunched with spiky fur), necessitating additional laboratory testing...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... acute form results in death within 48 hours. The chronic form results in emaciated cachectic animals, with palpable ropey intestines. One common agent associated with this disease is a Campylobacter-like organism, Lawsonia intra- cellularis. The gross lesions are of thickening of the terminal ileum caused by hyperpla- sia of the crypt epithelium (Fig. ...
Context 2
... oral papillomatosis virus has been identified in young rabbits. 38,39 Lesions involve the nonkeratinized mucous epithelial surfaces. These lesions are present pri- marily on the ventral aspect of the tongue, especially in areas abraded by maloccluded teeth (Fig. 16). They are typically solitary papillary growths, which regress. On histo- logic examination, there may be small basophilic intranuclear inclusions within the stratum spinosum, consistent with rabbit oral papillomavirus. ...
Citations
... Rabbits are hindgut fermenters with a large abdominal cavity [2,4,8,9,[14][15][16][17]. The GI tract in rabbits is long and its contents can make up 20% of total body weight [15,18]. ...
... The proximal and distal portions of the colon produce two distinct types of feces, named caecotrophs and hard feces, respectively. The distal colon is long, thin walled, and runs from the fusus coli to the rectum [2,4,9,[17][18][19][20][21][22]24,25]. ...
... In rabbits, GI tract diseases are frequent causes of morbidity and mortality. The proximal duodenum and terminal portion of the ileum are common sites of obstruction due to luminal narrowing [4,6,9] 10, 15,18,[20][21][22][23]. Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome (RGIS) [7,8] is a term that describes a range of clinical signs and concurrent pathologic conditions that affect the digestive system. ...
Background
Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are common in rabbits. Although diagnostic imaging studies can assist clinicians in selecting therapeutic approaches, there are few reports of advanced imaging findings in normal rabbits. Computed tomography (CT) is recognized as a useful tool in dogs and cats, but there are few reports of normal findings on multidetector computed tomography (MDTC) in rabbits. The goals of this study are to describe the CT anatomical imaging appearance of the GI tract and their normal variation in healthy pet rabbits and to obtain the normal wall thickness measurements of normal GI tract structures.
Methods
Twenty-three rabbits were scanned under general anesthesia and the CT abdominal images were analyzed by two experienced radiologists. Location and size of the major GI organs and structures were determined, and wall thickness of the stomach, small and large intestines were measured, including the interobserver agreement. Statistical analysis of quantitative and qualitative variables were performed.
Results
Wall thickness values were established for the different parts of the stomach (cardia: 3.4 ± 0.4mm; fundus: 1.4 ± 0.2mm; body: 1.4 ± 0.1mm; pylorus: 2.9 ± 0.5mm), small intestines (duodenum: 1.4 ± 0.1mm; jejunum: 1.2 ± 0.1mm; ileum: 1.4 ± 0.1mm), and large intestines (cecum: 1.2 ± 0.1mm; colon ascending: 1.4 ± 0.3 mm and descending: 1.3 ± 0.3mm). When distended the stomach did not extend beyond the caudal limits of the L2 vertebra. The cecum occupied the ventral abdominal region from T12/T13 to L7/S1, the sacculus rotundus was identified in 11 of the 23 rabbits. The sacculus rotundus and vermiform cecal appendix were identified only in rabbits with mild large intestinal distension.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
It was possible to use CT to evaluate the different portions of the GI tract that are not normally readily visible on radiographs and ultrasound (US). Normal wall thickness values of the different portion of the GI tract were stablished. These results provide new and important reference values for CT studies in normal pet rabbits and provide data for further studies in rabbits with GI diseases.
... Rabbits are hindgut fermenters with a large abdominal cavity [2,4,8,9,[14][15][16][17]. The GI tract in rabbits is long and its contents can make up 20% of total body weight [15,18]. ...
... The proximal and distal portions of the colon produce two distinct types of feces, named caecotrophs and hard feces, respectively. The distal colon is long, thin walled, and runs from the fusus coli to the rectum [2,4,9,[17][18][19][20][21][22]24,25]. ...
... In rabbits, GI tract diseases are frequent causes of morbidity and mortality. The proximal duodenum and terminal portion of the ileum are common sites of obstruction due to luminal narrowing [4,6,9] 10, 15,18,[20][21][22][23]. Rabbit Gastrointestinal Syndrome (RGIS) [7,8] is a term that describes a range of clinical signs and concurrent pathologic conditions that affect the digestive system. ...
Background
There are few studies describing characteristics of the urinary tract in rabbits using multidetector computed tomography (CT). The aim of this study was to describe the CT appearance and main features of the urinary tract in healthy pet rabbits.
Methods
Twenty-three healthy rabbits underwent plain and contrast-enhanced CT scan under general anesthesia.
Results
Normal renal length was 3.27-3.43 cm. The ureters were identified in the pre-contrast phase, but better delineated in post-contrast phases. Some focal filling defects were observed in the middle and caudal third of the ureters in more than 50% of the animals on post-contrast exams. There was interobserver disagreement regarding the measurements of renal pelvis, ureters, and the exact position of the kidneys in relation to the lumbar vertebrae.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
This study provides a detailed anatomic description of the urinary tract in rabbits from CT imaging and reference values for further investigations.
... Notwithstanding this situation, antibiotics were banned in European Union (EU) and restricted in other countries like Canada as growth promoters [7]. Non-domestic animals, especially captive animals breeding in zoological gardens, were reported to be threatened by GIT pathogens [8], like Escherichia coli, Clostridium spp., Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp., as well as Yersinia spp. ...
... Thus, bacteriocins breakthrough for medical applications is increasing day by day, encouraging therefore research of novel bacteriocinogenic strains. Animals living in captivity as well as domestic or livestock animals are subjected for diverse GIT infectious diseases [8] attributable to diverse pathogens. In direct line, Leotta et al. [9] conducted a large study on 112 animals living in captivity in the Zoo of La Plata City (Argentina) looking for Shiga toxin producing-E. ...
This study aimed at exploring droppings of animals living in captivity in the zoological garden (Zoo) of Lille (France), as novel sources of bacteriocinogenic strains. A collection of 295 bacterial isolates was constituted from droppings of capybara, alpaca, muntjac, zebra, tapir, rhinoceros, binturong, armadillo, saki monkey and cockatoo. Of 295 isolates, 51 exhibited antagonism against a panel of pathogenic target bacteria like Escherichia coli MC4100, Clostridium perfringens DSM 756 and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Newport ATCC6962. Remarkably, within this collection, only 2 Gram-negative bacilli exhibited activity against E. coli MC4100 strain used as target organism. Then, the 16S rDNA sequencing revealed these thereafter cited species, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Weissella cibaria, E. coli, Lactobacillus reuteri, Enterococcus hirae and Enterococcus faecalis. Characterization of this antagonism has revealed 11 strains able producing extracellular protease-sensitive inhibitory compounds. These strains included E. coli ICVB442 and ICVB443, Ent. faecalis ICVB472, ICVB474, ICVB477 ICVB479, ICVB481, ICVB497 and ICVB501 and Ped. pentosaceus ICVB491 and ICVB492. The genomes of the 5 most promising bacteriocinogenic strains were sequenced and analysed with Bagel4 software. Afterwards, this bioinformatics analysis permitted to locate genes encoding bacteriocins like colicin Y (E. coli), enterocin 1071A, enterocin 107 B (Ent. faecalis) and penocin A (Ped. pentosaceus), associating the above-mentioned antibacterial activity of proteinaceous nature to possible production of bacteriocins. All these results enabled us to select different bacteriocinogenic strains for a further characterization in terms of beneficial traits.
... Acute to subacute enteritis and colitis are very common lesions with sugar gliders 17 . These are usually associated with inflammatory lesions in the liver, heart, kidney and brain. ...
Introduction
Applying standard diagnostic anatomical and clinical pathology techniques and criteria to exotic small mammal species is professionally satisfying, but also can be challenging. Our diagnostic pathology practices serve a wide range of small and large zoos, aviaries with mixed species enclosures, pet stores, and private practice veterinary clinicians; our patients encompass a wide range of exotic large and small exotic species. Through these experiences, we have developed or adapted necropsy and other diagnostic techniques for these species, or have encountered some diagnostic challenges and tips from which other diagnostic pathologists can benefit. This presentation selects a few common or challenging diagnostic issues encountered with exotic small mammals, focusing on small “pocket pet species” (such as rodents, rabbits, sugar gliders, hedgehogs), and ferrets. The selected topics include: general necropsy planning to ensure ideal sample collection and submission; sample submission for ancillary testing including immunohistochemistry; recent findings in distinguishing inflammatory bowel disease from intestinal lymphoma in ferrets; and commonly encountered conditions in sugar gliders.
Sugar gliders ( Petaurus breviceps ) are small, nocturnal, and arboreal marsupials native to northern and eastern Australia, New Guinea, and surrounding islands. They inhabit woodlands and forests and shelter by day in leaf-lined nests inside tree hollows. Sugar gliders are omnivorous, and their natural diet includes tree sap and gums from eucalyptus and acacia trees, blossoms, nectar, pollen, manna, honeydew, and a wide variety of insects, arachnids, worms, larvae, eggs, and small vertebrates. Sugar gliders are highly social animals best kept in groups of two or more. Solitary gliders that do not get enough attention are prone to stress-related behaviors. Sugar gliders are relatively difficult to keep and feed properly. Most sugar glider diseases are diet and husbandry related.
Sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) are small nocturnal marsupials that originate from the forests of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Irian Jaya. They are well established within the pet trade across Europe, Asia, and North America, with reports of captive specimens being held as pets as early as the 1830s. Sugar gliders are opportunistic omnivores. Their natural diet is a variety of small invertebrates (insects, spiders, worms), small mammals and birds, eggs, tree sap, gum, nectar, pollen, and flowers. This chapter discusses the clinical evaluation, basic techniques, common medical and surgical conditions, preventative health measures, and radiographic imaging for the gliders. The clinical evaluation includes history‐taking, handling, sex determination, and clinical examination. The basic techniques include sample collection, nutritional support, fluid therapy, anaesthesia, euthanasia, and hospitalisation requirements.
Two newly acquired, one-month-old, intact male pet domestic rats (Rattus norvegicus) that were housed together presented for a wellness examination. One of the rats had malodorous, green-colored, soft feces. A pooled microscopic fecal examination demonstrated presence of Eimeria oocysts. Both rats were treated individually with ponazuril (30 mg/kg p.o.) administered in two treatments 48 hours apart. Three weekly pooled fecal samples following treatment were negative, suggesting clearing of the infection. No adverse clinical signs were noted. Most reported anticoccidian treatments in rodents describe prolonged treatment protocols or administration of treatment in the water, which can result in unnecessary stress and handling, or ineffective and uncontrolled level of drug administration, respectively. This is the first report of the favorable clinical experience of this treatment protocol, suggesting it is efficacious, easy to administer, and safe when treating similar infections in rats.
Cancer incidence in rodent species varies dramatically from a common occurrence in mice and rats to just a limited number of documented cases in chinchillas and degus. This article summarizes common tumors, both benign and malignant, that have been reported to occur in rodents. Outlined are clinical signs, diagnostics, and treatments that have been described for rodents presenting with specific neoplasms.
