Value of histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction in the confirmatory diagnosis of <i>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</i> infection in rabbits

Leipig, M.; Matiasek, Kaspar; Rinder, Heinz; Janik, Dirk; Emrich, Daniela; Baiker, Kerstin; Hermanns, W.

doi:10.1177/1040638712466394

Cited by 38 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Brain and kidney samples yield the best detection rates for histopathological diagnosis (Leipig et al, 2013). Histologic examination of tissues and observation of the organism is definitive.…”

Section: Encephalitozoonosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

Nowland

Brammer

García

et al. 2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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Section: Encephalitozoonosismentioning

confidence: 99%

Biology and Diseases of Rabbits

Nowland

Brammer

García

et al. 2015

Laboratory Animal Medicine

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“…Antemortem diagnostics were not performed to identify the underlying cause for the neurologic signs or determine if renal failure was present, although blood work performed 6 months previously was within normal limits. The lesions identified in the central nervous system and kidneys on histopathology were consistent with E. cuniculi; however, immunohistochemistry or polymerase chain reaction is required for a definitive diagnosis [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…Encephalitozoonosis is a common disease of rabbits caused by obligate intracellular microsporidia. It can cause a nonsuppurative to granulomatous encephalitis and chronic interstitial nephritis [17]. Patients therefore can show a variety of neurologic signs and/or kidney failure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elevated Testosterone and Progestin Concentrations in a Spayed Female Rabbit with an Adrenal Cortical Adenoma

Baine

Newkirk

Fecteau

et al. 2014

Case Reports in Veterinary Medicine

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This case was described briefly in a recent book chapter (Lennox AM, Fecteau KA: 2014, Endocrine disease. In: BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine, eds. Meredith A, Lord B, pp 274-276. British Small Animal Veterinary Association, Gloucester, UK). In the previous description, the tumor was described as a pheochromocytoma; however, further evaluation suggested that it more closely resembled an adrenal cortical adenoma. A 10-year-old, spayed female rabbit was presented for a behavior change of 8 months' duration. The rabbit was inappropriately urinating and defecating, as well as demonstrating aggressive behaviors such as chasing, biting, and mounting various objects. The rabbit had elevated progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and testosterone concentrations, and ultrasound examination of the abdomen showed a round, homogenous nodule measuring 1.1 × 0.8 × 0.9 cm in the region of the left adrenal gland. Necropsy revealed a unilateral adrenal cortical adenoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first complete description of a female rabbit with an adrenal cortical adenoma documented in the literature. Case PresentationA 10-year-old, spayed female rabbit was presented for a behavior change of 8 months' duration. The rabbit was inappropriately urinating and defecating, as well as demonstrating aggressive behaviors such as chasing, biting, and mounting various objects. The rabbit had been spayed in the first year of life.On physical examination, the only significant finding was an enlarged clitoris ( Figure 1). No significant abnormalities were present on either a complete blood count or biochemistry panel. However, the rabbit had elevated blood levels of progesterone (0.63 ng/mL; reference interval for a spayed female rabbit (RISF) 0.09-0.47 ng/mL), 17-OH progesterone (>25.0 ng/mL, extrapolated result 60.2 ng/mL; RISF 0.7-18.9 ng/mL), and testosterone (1.02 ng/mL; RISF 0.02-0.03 ng/mL) [1]. Cortisol (6.2 ng/mL; RISF 4.9-10.1 ng/mL) and androstenedione (1.2 ng/mL; RISF 0.96-4.0 ng/mL) levels were within normal limits [1]. Cortisol, progesterone, and testosterone assays (Coat-a-Count) were from Siemens Medical Solutions Diagnostics, Los Angeles, CA, and 17-OHP and androstenedione assays (ImmunChem Double Antibody) were from MP Biomedicals, Solon, OH.Ultrasound examination of the abdomen showed a round, homogenous nodule measuring 1.1 × 0.8 cm in the region of the left adrenal gland (normal adrenal gland 0.72 × 0.37 cm) [2]; the nodule had an echogenicity approximately equal to the renal cortex. The right adrenal gland was not identified. The remainder of the examination was unremarkable. Due to the combination of clinical signs, elevated sex hormones, and a potential adrenal gland nodule, adrenal cortical disease was suspected. The owner declined exploratory surgery of the abdomen and adrenalectomy; therefore, medical management was recommended to potentially help alleviate clinical signs. Medical management was declined as well.Six months following diagnosis, the patient was presented for progressive difficulty ambulat...

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“…Head tilting, ataxia, and granulomatous meningoencephalitis are the central nervous system alterations that are mostly reported in encephalitozoonosis in rabbits [15,16]. The occurrence of haematoma, vascular and meningeal hyperaemia in the present study may be due to the inflammation of the brain and meninges as well as vascular thrombosis caused by the parasite [17], or due to physical cranial trauma selfinflicted by the rabbit in response to the nervous disturbances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%