Fatal inanition in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus): Pathological findings in completely emaciated carcasses

Josefsen, Terje D.; Sørensen, Karen Kristine; Mørk, Torill; Mathiesen, Svein D.; Ryeng, Kathrine A.

doi:10.1186/1751-0147-49-27

Cited by 26 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…We hypothesized that while dogs were resting in summer, their muscle fibers would be atrophied relative to the winter condition. And in contrast to other arctic mammals, which downregulate muscle size in winter as a result of starvation (Josefsen et al, 2007), we expected Inuit dogs to upregulate their skeletal muscle size in response to increased work load, sufficient food supply and cold acclimatization. Such upregulation of muscle size is presumably based on changes in fiber size and architecture.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Muscle plasticity of Inuit sled dogs in Greenland

Gerth

Sum

Jackson

et al. 2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYThis study examined flexible adjustments of skeletal muscle size, fiber structure, and capillarization in Inuit sled dogs responding to seasonal changes in temperature, exercise and food supply. Inuit dogs pull sleds in winter and are fed regularly throughout this working season. In summer, they remain chained to rocks without exercise, receiving food intermittently and often fasting for several days. We studied two dog teams in Northern Greenland (Qaanaaq) where dogs are still draught animals vital to Inuit hunters, and one dog team in Western Greenland (Qeqertarsuaq) where this traditional role has been lost. Northern Greenland dogs receive more and higher quality food than those in Western Greenland. We used ultrasonography for repeated muscle size measurements on the same individuals, and transmission electron microscopy on micro-biopsies for summer-winter comparisons of muscle histology, also within individuals. At both study sites, dogs' muscles were significantly thinner in summer than in winter -atrophy attributable to reduced fiber diameter. Sarcomeres from West Greenland dogs showed serious myofilament depletion and expansion of the sarcoplasmatic space between myofibrils during summer. At both study sites, summer samples showed fewer interfibrillar and subsarcolemmal mitochondria, and fewer lipid droplets between myofibrils, than did winter samples. In summer, capillary density was higher and inter-capillary distance smaller than in winter, but the capillaryto-fiber-ratio and number of capillaries associated with single myofibers were constant. Increased capillary density was probably a by-product of differential tissue responses to condition changes rather than a functional adaptation, because thinning of muscle fibers in summer was not accompanied by reduction in the capillary network. Thus, skeletal muscle of Inuit dogs responds flexibly to changes in functional demands. This flexibility is based on differential changes in functional components: mitochondrial numbers, lipid droplet size, and the number of contractile filaments all increase with increasing workload and food supply while the capillary network remains unchanged.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Muscle plasticity of Inuit sled dogs in Greenland

Gerth

Sum

Jackson

et al. 2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…26 Splenic hemosiderophages have been noted in starved reindeer, although their pathogenesis and significance are unknown. 18 While pancreatic zymogen granule depletion-a change noted in starved rats 19 -was noted in almost a third of the dogs, the presence or absence of this finding should not be considered diagnostic, as postmortem studies have shown that the pancreas of dogs autolyzes unpredictably and unevenly, even in experimental conditions. 10 Given these and previous findings, we suggest certain procedures for the postmortem evaluation of an emaciated animal ( Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circumstances, Descriptive Characteristics, and Pathologic Findings in Dogs Suspected of Starving

et al. 2016

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The authors reviewed the case circumstances, population characteristics, gross, and histopathologic findings in 40 cases of emaciated dogs with a suspected diagnosis of starvation. The dogs' estimated age ranged from 3 months to geriatric. Nineteen breeds were represented, including small-breed (n ¼ 11), large-breed (n ¼ 13), and pit bull-type (n ¼ 16) dogs. The median body condition score was 1 out of 9 (Purina scale). Various diseases were identified as the cause of death in 7 dogs, while the cause of death in the other 33 dogs was starvation due to exogenous causes (SEC). Circumstances associated exclusively with SEC included being found in a vacated residence and death during temperature extremes or severe weather. Dogs with SEC did not differ significantly from diseased dogs in body condition score, sex, neuter status, or breed category (small, large, or pit bull type). Gross findings associated exclusively with SEC included severe hair matting and traumatic injuries. Diseased dogs had an empty stomach significantly more often than SEC dogs, which frequently had food and/or foreign material in the stomach. In 5 of the 7 cases where disease was the cause of death, disease involved the gastrointestinal tract. Gross and histopathologic changes commonly found in SEC and diseased dogs included the following: gross loss of muscle mass and absence of subcuticular fat; serous atrophy of omental, perirenal, epicardial, and bone marrow fat; atrophy of the liver, skin, thyroid gland, and testicle; gastric mucosal petechiae and ecchymoses; melena; and splenic hemosiderophages.

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“…Haemosiderin deposition in Kupffer cells was also reported by WBC (× 10 9 /l) 5.3 RBC = erythrocytes; Ht = haematocrit; Hb = haemoglobin concentration; MCV = mean cell volume; MCH = mean cell haemoglobin; MCHC = mean cell haemoglobin concentration; WBC = leucocytes, Ne = neutrophil granulocytes; Eo = eosinophil granulocytes; Ba = basophil granulocytes; Ly = lymphocytes; Mon = monocytes; PLT = platelets Peet and Hepworth (1993) in an ataxic red deer. Diffuse haemosiderosis is a common finding in emaciated animals (Kelly 1993;Josefsen et al 2007), and an increased amount of liver iron in winter has been reported in Svalbard reindeer (Borch-Iohnsen and Nilssen 1987); therefore, liver siderosis can be a result of catabolism of blood and lean tissue during a period of sub-maintenance food intake. On the other hand, according to Watts (1989) copper deficiency impairs Fe absorption, reduces haem synthesis, and increases Fe accumulation in storage tissues.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enzootic ataxia associated with copper deficiency in a farmed red deer: a case report

Vengušt¹,

Švara²,

Gombač³

et al. 2015

Vet. Med. - Czech

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ABSTRACT:The occurrence of enzootic ataxia in a farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus) is reported. A nine-year-old male presented with progressive ataxia, hind limb weakness, sudden falling down while running and temporary inability to rise. Gross and histopathological examinations of organs, haematology, serum biochemistry and measurement of concentrations of copper and molybdenum in the liver were done. Examination of fresh liver tissue and blood serum revealed very low copper concentrations of 15.7 mmol/kg and 1 mmol/l, respectively. Histopathology revealed typical severe bilaterally symmetrical vacuolisation of white matter of pons cerebelli and spinal cord, and hepatic haemosiderosis. According to the clinical signs and laboratory results, a diagnosis of enzootic ataxia due to copper deficiency was made. To the best of our knowledge, these cooper values in blood serum and liver tissue are the lowest ever reported in deer with clinically expressed enzootic ataxia.

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Fatal inanition in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus): Pathological findings in completely emaciated carcasses

Cited by 26 publications

References 21 publications

Muscle plasticity of Inuit sled dogs in Greenland

Muscle plasticity of Inuit sled dogs in Greenland

Circumstances, Descriptive Characteristics, and Pathologic Findings in Dogs Suspected of Starving

Enzootic ataxia associated with copper deficiency in a farmed red deer: a case report

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