scholarly journals Deslorelin treatment of hyperoestrogenism in neutered ferrets (Mustela putorius furo): a case report

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 2) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Prohaczik ◽  
M. Kulcsar ◽  
Gy. Huszenicza

Hyperoestrogenism causing progressive alopecia in neutered ferrets may be induced by ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) and nodular hyperplasia of the adrenocortex (hyperadrenocorticism, NHA). The objective of the study was to determine whether a slow-release implant of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, deslorelin, has any value in therapy of hyperoestrogenism of adrenocortical origin (NHA). Three supposed cases of NHA with alopecia and other clinical signs of hyperoestrogenism (<i>n</i> = 2 spayed females in oestrous and <i>n</i> = 1 castrated male) were treated with a subcutaneous implant of 4.7 mg deslorelin acetate. Blood samples were collected, and plasma levels of estradiol (E<sub>2</sub>) were determined just before, and some weeks after treatment. For realistic monitoring, blood samples for E<sub>2</sub> determination were also taken from intact, healthy (untreated control) females after the beginning of heat (<i>n</i> = 5), or 9–21 days after, with hCG induced ovulation (<i>n</i> = 6), or out of breeding season (<i>n</i> = 3). Before treatment, all three alopecic ferrets showed elevated E<sub>2</sub> concentrations (99.45–139.9 pmol/l) similar to the untreated control females in oestrous (61.6–123.02 pmol/l) (<i>P</i> = 0.229). Some weeks after the deslorelin administration, the hair of these ferrets began to grow again and the elevated E<sub>2</sub> concentrations significantly decreased compared to the pre-treatment values (<i>P</i> = 0.035). E2 concentrations reached the basal level (12.89–16.08 pmol/l) typical for that of the untreated control females in anoestrus or in luteal phase (12.0–30.58 pmol/l) (<i>P</i> = 0.137). All treated ferrets were examined again 19–21 months after implant insertion (the implant still being present) and all of them had normal hair and were clinically healthy. These observations prove that deslorelin can suppress the E<sub>2</sub> production of NHA, and is therefore a useful tool in the therapy of hormonal alopecia neutered ferrets.

2006 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 720-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy Jackman ◽  
David J Everest ◽  
Mary Jo Schmerr ◽  
Mohammed Khawaja ◽  
Pat Keep ◽  
...  

Abstract An analytical method is described for detection of endogenous disease-associated prion protein in the buffy coat fraction from the blood of sheep infected with scrapie. The method has been improved and evaluated for its performance in the preclinical diagnosis of ovine transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The test system uses a protocol for sample preparation that includes extraction and concentration and a test method that uses a liquid-phase competitive immunoassay for prion protein. Antibodies directed to a peptide sequence at the C-terminus of the prion protein (PrP) and a fluorescein-labeled peptide conjugate are used in the assay. Free zone capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence for detection is used to separate the antibody-bound fluorescently labeled peptide and free labeled peptide. In this assay, the PrP competes with the fluorescently labeled peptide for limited antibody binding sites, which results in a reduction of the peak representing the immunocomplex of the antibody bound to the fluorescently labeled peptide. When blood samples from scrapie-infected sheep aged 712 months and of the scrapie-susceptible PrP genotypes VRQ/VRQ and VRQ/ARQ were analyzed, the abnormal PrP was found in blood samples. These results correlated with the post-mortem diagnosis of scrapie. The sheep were preclinical and appeared normal at the time of testing but later died with clinical disease approximately 12 months after testing. In older animals, and those with clinical signs, a smaller percentage of animals tested positive. This study has demonstrated that this technology can be used as a sensitive, rapid preclinical test to detect the disease-associated PrP in the blood of scrapie-infected sheep. Improvements in the extraction protocol and capillary electrophoresis conditions will enhance the robustness of this test.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Legesse Garedew ◽  
Semaria Solomon ◽  
Yoseph Worku ◽  
Hilina Worku ◽  
Debela Gemeda ◽  
...  

Background. Diagnosis using reliable tools and treatment followingin vitroantimicrobial susceptibility tests are critical to proper addressing of antibiotic-resistantSalmonellainfection.Methodology. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the practice of diagnosis and treatment of salmonellosis in Addis Ababa. Tube Widal test (for blood samples only), culture, biochemical and carbohydrate fermentation, serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were employed for both blood and stool samples.Results. Of all the diseases listed in the diagnosis, nontyphoidal (n=72, 13.71%) and typhoidal (n=47, 8.95%) salmonellosis were the second and third common diseases. Among the 288 blood samples, almost half were positive for O, H, or both antigens. However, only 1 (0.68%) of the positive blood samples yieldedSalmonellaisolate during culture. The study demonstrated low specificity (0.68%) and positive predictive value (48.78%) of Widal test. Conversely, the test showed 100% sensitivity and negative predictive values.Salmonellaisolates were identified from 7 (7.07%) of 99 stool samples. Two-thirds of salmonellosis suspected patients received antibiotic treatment. However, only half of the confirmed salmonellosis patients were treated with appropriate antibiotics. All of the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone but resistant to ampicillin.Conclusions. Majority of the patients who participated in this study were wrongly diagnosed using symptoms, clinical signs, and tube Widal test. Consequently, most of the patients received inappropriate treatment.


2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (08) ◽  
pp. 511-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parisa Badiee ◽  
Abdolvahab Alborzi

Introduction:  Invasive aspergillosis is a severe complication of cytotoxic chemotherapies and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The aim of this study was to assess the utility of a real-time PCR assay for the early diagnosis of Aspergillus species in blood samples from BMT patients. Methodology: Blood specimens (n = 993) from patients (n = 82) scheduled for BMT were collected prior to transplant and for 100 days post transplantation.  The specimens were later tested using an Aspergillus-specific real-time PCR assay. Cultures of clinical samples, along with sonography and computerized tomographic scans, were performed as standard of care. Results: Aspergillus DNA was positive in 94 sequential blood samples from 13 patients with clinical and radiological signs of infection. Samples from three of these patients were PCR-positive for Aspergillus in the first week of admission, prior to transplantation. Four patients with aspergillosis were cured with antifungal agents and nine died. An additional 12 patients without clinical signs of infection were PCR-positive on one occasion each, while two patients with clinical signs of infection were PCR-negative. Compared to routine methods of aspergillosis diagnosis, the respective sensitivity, specificity, negative, and positive predictive values of the PCR method by patient were 86.6%, 82%, 96.5% and 52%. Conclusions: The results show that Aspergillus infections in the blood of bone marrow transplant patients can be dectected by PCR methods. Early detection of Aspergillus infections by PCR has the potential to positively impact patient mortality rate and provide cost savings to hospitals.


Author(s):  
Yuzhao Huang ◽  
Yuchen He ◽  
Meagan J. Makarcyzk ◽  
Hang Lin

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is a procedure used to treat articular cartilage injuries and prevent the onset of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. In vitro expansion of chondrocytes, a necessary step in ACI, results in the generation of senescent cells that adversely affect the quality and quantity of newly formed cartilage. Recently, a senolytic peptide, fork head box O transcription factor 4-D-Retro-Inverso (FOXO4-DRI), was reported to selectively kill the senescent fibroblasts. In this study, we hypothesized that FOXO4-DRI treatment could remove the senescent cells in the expanded chondrocytes, thus enhancing their potential in generating high-quality cartilage. To simulate the in vitro expansion for ACI, chondrocytes isolated from healthy donors were expanded to population doubling level (PDL) 9, representing chondrocytes ready for implantation. Cells at PDL3 were also used to serve as the minimally expanded control. Results showed that the treatment of FOXO4-DRI removed more than half of the cells in PDL9 but did not significantly affect the cell number of PDL3 chondrocytes. Compared to the untreated control, the senescence level in FOXO4-DRI treated PDL9 chondrocytes was significantly reduced. Based on the result from standard pellet culture, FOXO4-DRI pre-treatment did not enhance the chondrogenic potential of PDL9 chondrocytes. However, the cartilage tissue generated from FOXO4-DRI pretreated PDL9 cells displayed lower expression of senescence-relevant secretory factors than that from the untreated control group. Taken together, FOXO4-DRI is able to remove the senescent cells in PDL9 chondrocytes, but its utility in promoting cartilage formation from the in vitro expanded chondrocytes needs further investigation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis E. Raez ◽  
Kathleen Danenberg ◽  
Daniel Sumarriva ◽  
Joshua Usher ◽  
Jacob Sands ◽  
...  

Aim: We report an exploratory analysis of cfRNA as a biomarker to monitor clinical responses in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), breast cancer, and colorectal cancer (CRC). An analysis of cfRNA as a method for measuring PD-L1 expression with comparison to clinical responses was also performed in the NSCLC cohort. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 127 patients with metastatic disease that were undergoing therapy, 52 with NSCLC, 50 with breast cancer, and 25 with CRC. cfRNA was purified from fractionated plasma, and following reverse transcription (RT), total cfRNA and gene expression of PD-L1were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using beta-actin expression as a surrogate for relative amounts of cfDNA and cfRNA. For the concordance study of liquid biopsies and tissue biopsies, the isolated RNA was analyzed by RNAseq for the expressions of 13 genes. We had to close the study early due to a lack of follow-up during the Covid-19 pandemic. Results: We collected a total of 373 blood samples. Mean cfRNA PCR signals after RT were about 50-fold higher than those of cfDNA. cfRNA was detected in all patients, while cfDNA was detected in 88% of them. A high concordance was found for the expression levels of 13 genes between blood and solid tumor tissue. Changes in cfRNA levels followed over the course of treatments were associated with response to therapy, increasing in progressive disease (PD) and falling when a partial response (PR) occurred. The expression of PD-L1 over time in patients treated with immunotherapy decreased with PR but increased with PD. Pre-treatment levels of PD-L1 were predictive of response in patients treated with immunotherapy. Conclusion: Changes in cfRNA correlate with clinical response to the therapy. Total cfRNA may be useful in predicting clinical outcomes. PD-L1 gene expression may provide a biomarker to predict response to PD-L1 inhibition.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joël Vourchakbé ◽  
Arnol Auvaker Tiofack ◽  
Mbida Mpoame ◽  
Gustave Simo

Abstract Background Equine trypanosomiases are complex infectious diseases with overlapping clinical signs defined by their mode of transmission. Despite their economic impacts, these diseases have been neglected by the scientific community, the veterinary authorities and regulatory organizations. To fill the observed knowledge gap, we undertook the identification of different trypanosome species and subspecies naturally infecting horses and donkeys within the Chadian sleeping sickness focus. The end objective, being to investigate the potential role of these domestic animals as reservoirs of the human infective Trypanosoma brucei gambienseMethod Blood samples were collected from 155 donkeys and 131 horses in three human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) foci of Chad. Rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and capillary tube centrifugation (CTC) test were used to search for trypanosome infections. DNA was extracted from each blood sample and different trypanosome species and subspecies were identified with molecular tools.Results From 286 blood samples collected, 54 (18.9%) and 36 (12.6%) were respectively positive for RDT and CTC. PCR revealed 144 (50.3%) animals with trypanosome infections. The kappa Cohen coefficients used to evaluate the concordance between the diagnostic methods were low; ranging from 0.087±0.0473 to 0.48 ± 0.0698. Trypanosomes of the subgenus Trypanozoon were the most prevalent (29.4%), followed by T. congolense forest (11.5%), T. congolense savannah (4.9%) and T. vivax (4.5%). Two donkeys and one horse from the Maro HAT focus were found with T. b. gambiense infections. Between animal species and HAT foci, no significant differences were observed in the infection rates of different trypanosomes. Conclusion This study revealed several trypanosome species and sub species in donkeys and horses, highlighting the existence of AAT in HAT foci of Chad. The identification of T. b. gambiense in donkeys and horses suggests considering these animals as potential reservoir for HAT in Chad. The presence of both human-infective and human non infective trypanosomes species highlights the need for developing joined control strategies for HAT and AAT.


Author(s):  
Amanda D. Wong ◽  
Delphine Laniesse ◽  
Alex zur Linden ◽  
Ameet Singh ◽  
Leonardo Susta ◽  
...  

Abstract CASE DESCRIPTION A 5.5-year-old 0.929-kg spayed female domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) underwent serial abdominal ultrasonographic and clinicopathologic examinations after multiple renal cysts were detected bilaterally during a routine examination. CLINICAL FINDINGS The ferret was apparently healthy at the start of the monitoring period and had no clinical signs for > 20 months. Four months after the initial examination, the largest cyst became increasingly mineralized; 17 months after detection, it had increased in size and become amorphous, and the ferret’s plasma BUN concentration was mildly high. Within 21 months after the first visit, a nodule was detectable, and hydronephrosis developed in the kidney with the largest cyst. Findings for fine-needle aspirates from the nodule were consistent with renal carcinoma. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Contrast-enhanced CT revealed severe unilateral nephromegaly with no contrast uptake in the affected ureter. Following surgical removal of the affected kidney, histologic examination identified renal adenocarcinoma replacing the entire renal cortex and medulla. The ferret was euthanized postoperatively because of declining condition. On necropsy, metastasis to a mesenteric lymph node was identified; comorbidities included 2 other neoplasms and acute, severe injury of the contralateral kidney. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Neoplastic transformation of a renal cyst was suspected in the ferret of this report on the basis of observed ultrasonographic changes over time and extensive infiltration of the neoplasm throughout the affected kidney. Renal cysts are linked to renal neoplasia in other species, and the findings for this patient supported the need for periodic monitoring of renal cysts in ferrets.


1997 ◽  
Vol 140 (10) ◽  
pp. 249-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Meyers ◽  
T. Bowman ◽  
G. Blodgett ◽  
H. S. Conboy ◽  
T. Gimenez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Vol 187 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Stadler ◽  
Julia Ade ◽  
Mathias Ritzmann ◽  
Katharina Hoelzle ◽  
Ludwig E Hoelzle

BackgroundIn a fattening farm in Southern Germany, skin alterations (urticaria, haemorrhagic diathesis) and high fever were observed in 30% of the pigs 2 weeks after arrival. Feed intake was severely compromised in affected pigs.MethodsAfter detailed clinical observation, blood samples from affected pigs were collected for haematological, PCR and serological investigations. In addition, pathological investigations were performed on one pig.Results and conclusionAnalysis of blood parameters revealed a normocytic, normochromic anaemia. A novel porcine haemoplasma species was detected in blood samples of affected pigs and spleen sample of the necropsied pig by PCR. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rDNA showed 99% identity to a novel porcine haemoplasma (‘Candidatus (Ca.) M. haemosuis’) species which has recently been described in China. Interestingly, this is the first report of ‘Ca. M. haemosuis’ in pigs with clinical signs resembling those of Mycoplasma (M) suis and the first description of this novel haemoplasma species outside Asia. On-farm affected pigs were treated with oxytetracycline and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Clinical signs improved after implementation of treatment and optimisation of management procedures. This case might indicate that other porcine haemoplasma species than M suis can induce fever and skin alterations and may have an economic impact on affected farms.


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