Presumptive hemophagocytic syndrome associated with immune-mediated anemia in two Miniature Dachshunds

This report describes the cases of two Miniature Dachshunds who were suspected to have immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and were treated with immunosuppressive therapy. However, progression of anemia, increases in C-reactive protein (CRP) and total-bilirubin (T-Bil) levels, splenomegaly, transition to nonregenerative anemia, and thrombocytopenia occurred after the treatment. Splenectomy and bone-marrow aspirations were performed subsequently. Both dogs were diagnosed with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) associated with IMHA. Unfortunately, they died 9 and 6 days later. These findings indicate that some cases of refractory IMHA have the pathogenicity of HPS. HPS should be included as a differential diagnosis of refractory IMHA concurrent with thrombocytopenia. Continuously elevated CRP and T-Bil levels may be helpful indicators in the detection of HPS associated with IMHA.     

Successive deaths of a captive snow leopard (Uncia uncia) and a serval (Leptailurus serval) by infection with feline panleukopenia virus at Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

Feline parvoviruses were isolated from frozen samples of intestines taken from a snow leopard (Uncia uncia) and a serval (Leptailurus serval) that died successively at Sapporo Maruyama Zoo in Hokkaido, Japan. Isolates possessed an antigenic epitope for both the feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV) and mink enteritis virus, identified with a hemagglutination inhibition test. Sequencing analyses of the VP2 region of the isolates revealed that the two isolates were identical and of the FPLV-type. These results suggested that FPLV was introduced from a feral cat which entered the zoo and transmitted the virus inside the zoo.     

Population Statistics and Biological Traits of Endangered Kiso Horse

The objective of this study was to clarify the current status of endangered Kiso horse, population statistics and biological traits, in order to take a step for the conservation by scientific approach. We surveyed 125 Kiso horses (86.2% of the whole breed), analyzed the construction of the population, and calculated the coefficient of inbreeding and effective population size. Moreover, we confirmed coat color variations and the traditional traits of the Kiso horse, and measured their height at the withers and chest circumference to clarify their physical characteristics. The population pyramid of the horses was stationary or contractive, suggesting a reduction of the population in the near future. The effective population size of the horse (47.9) suggested that the diversity was much less than their census size, and the high coefficient of inbreeding, 0.11 ± 0.07 on average, suggested that the horses were surely inbred. The horses had only 4 coat colors; bay, dark bay, buckskin dun, and chestnut, and 116 horses (92.8%) were bayish color, suggesting the fixation in their coat color. Moreover, the majority of them had dorsal stripe (83 horses; 66.4%), and the average heights at withers(131.9 ± 4.4 cm) and chest circumference (167.1 ± 10.1 cm) were not significantly different between males and females.     

Reproductive phenotypes in mice with targeted disruption of the 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene

In the corpus luteum of rats and mice, 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20alpha-HSD) catalyzes the conversion of progesterone to a biologically inactive metabolite, 20alpha-dihydroprogesterone (20alpha-OHP). The reduction of progesterone by 20alpha-HSD is believed to be important for functional luteolysis in these rodent species. In addition to the corpus luteum, expression of 20alpha-HSD has been demonstrated in tissues such as the placenta, endometrial epithelia, and fetal skin, although the roles it plays in the latter tissues remain to be determined. To determine the contribution of 20alpha-HSD to functional luteolysis and to the rodent reproductive system more generally, we generated a strain of mice with targeted disruption of the 20alpha-HSD gene. In the 20alpha-HSD-/- mice we obtained, which lacked the genomic region essential for catalytic reaction, neither 20alpha-HSD activity in the corpus luteum nor an increase in the serum concentrations of 20alpha-OHP during pseudopregnancy or pregnancy was detected. The durations of the estrous cycle, pseudopregnancy, and pregnancy were significantly prolonged in the 20alpha-HSD-/- mice, although the serum progesterone levels decreased to levels low enough for delivery of pups at term of pregnancy. In addition, the number of pups, especially live pups, was markedly decreased in the 20alpha-HSD-/- mice. These findings suggest that the role of 20alpha-HSD in functional luteolysis is relatively minor but that it is involved in the survival of newborn mice.     

Effects of oral administration of furosemide and torsemide in healthy dogs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diuretic effects, tolerability, and adverse effects of furosemide and torsemide after short- and long-term administration in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 8 mixed-breed dogs. PROCEDURES: In a crossover study, furosemide (2 mg/kg), torsemide (0.2 mg/kg), or placebo (bifidobacterium [1 mg/kg]) was administered orally to each dog every 12 hours for 14 days. Blood and urine samples were collected before the study (baseline data) and at intervals on the 1st (short-term administration) and 14th day (long-term administration) of treatment for assessment of urine volume and specific gravity and selected clinicopathologic variables including BUN, creatinine, and aldosterone concentrations, and creatinine clearance. RESULTS: Compared with the baseline value, short-term administration of furosemide or torsemide immediately increased urine volume significantly; after long-term administration of either drug, urine specific gravity decreased significantly. Compared with the effect of placebo, the 24-hour urine volume was significantly increased after short-term administra-tion of furosemide or torsemide. In addition, it was significantly increased after long-term administration of torsemide, compared with that of short-term administration. Long-term administration of furosemide or torsemide increased the BUN and plasma creatinine con-centrations, compared with the baseline value. Compared with the baseline value, plasma aldosterone concentration was significantly increased after long-term administration of either drug and was significantly higher after torsemide treatment than after furosemide treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs, diuretic resistance developed after 14 days of furosemide, but not torsemide, administration; however, both loop diuretics were associated with increased BUN and plasma creatinine concentrations, compared with values before treatment.     

Fate mapping of gallbladder progenitors in posteroventral foregut endoderm of mouse early somite-stage embryos

In early embryogenesis, the posteroventral foregut endoderm gives rise to the budding endodermal organs including the liver, ventral pancreas and gallbladder during early somitogenesis. Despite the detailed fate maps of the liver and pancreatic progenitors in the mouse foregut endoderm, the exact location of the gallbladder progenitors remains unclear. In this study, we performed a DiI fate-mapping analysis using whole-embryo cultures of mouse early somite-stage embryos. Here, we show that the majority of gallbladder progenitors in 9–11-somite-stage embryos are located in the lateral-most domain of the foregut endoderm at the first intersomite junction level along the anteroposterior axis. This definition of their location highlights a novel entry point to understanding of the molecular mechanisms of initial specification of the gallbladder.     

Sex and age differences in meat composition of Yeso sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) reared for a short period after capture in the wild

Yeso sika deer captured in winter around Lake Akan in Hokkaido were reared for 8–10 months at Tokyo University of Agriculture in Abashiri. Six 1‐year‐old females and males and six 2‐year‐old or older (adult) females and males were slaughtered and their carcasses were processed. The chemical composition, mineral contents and fatty acid composition of the loin were measured. No marked influence of gender or age was noted in the chemical composition of loin. In the mineral contents, significant differences were noted. The potassium and sulfur contents were lower and the sodium content was higher in adult deer meat (P < 0.05, respectively) and the potassium content was higher in male deer meat (P < 0.05). Arsenic, cadmium or lead were not detected. In the unsaturated fatty acid, a significant interaction was detected (P < 0.05), and it was high in 1‐year‐old female deer meat and low in 1‐year‐old male deer meat. Significant gender or age differences were noted only in the mineral contents in the loin of deer reared for a short period after capture.