Hedgehogs and sugar gliders: respiratory anatomy, physiology, and disease

Geriatric Hedgehogs

African hedgehogs are susceptible to aging changes like those of other small exotic mammals. Common conditions of the geriatric hedgehog include heart disease, chronic renal disease, and dental/periodontal disease. Hedgehogs are unique in that they have an unusually short life span and a propensity for neoplasia. These 2 factors make it especially common for exotic animal practitioners to encounter geriatric hedgehogs affected by one of the many conditions outlined in this article.

An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) colony in Japan

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A novel adenovirus outbreak occurred in a colony of African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs).

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An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) infection was confirmed in 13 APHs.

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AhAdV-1 was isolated from one APH.

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Five APHs died during the outbreak and AhAdV-1 can cause fatal pneumonia in a case.

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AhAdV-1 should be monitored as a potential cause of emerging infections in APHs.

An African pygmy hedgehog adenovirus 1 (AhAdV-1) outbreak in a colony of 24 African pygmy hedgehogs (APHs) with a case of fatal pneumonia occurred in Japan. Thirteen out of a colony of 15 APHs with respiratory symptoms were diagnosed with AhAdV-1 infection based on the detection of AhAdV-1 genome in throat/nasal swabs and further one APH was diagnosed on isolation of the virus. Five infected APHs died during the outbreak and AhAdV-1 caused severe pneumonia and death in one case. After the outbreak, persistent AhAdV-1 infection was suggested in one surviving APH. AhAdV-1 is a novel adenovirus and is suspected to be an emerging pathogen.

Pulmonary hyalinosis in captive sugar gliders ( Petaurus breviceps)

Pulmonary hyalinosis is an idiopathic, typically incidental lesion of old dogs, characterized by multifocal aggregates of epithelioid and multinucleate macrophages that surround periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive hyaline material in airways. Lung lesions resembling pulmonary hyalinosis were observed in 6 captive adult sugar gliders ( Petaurus breviceps; 5 females and 1 male) in a retrospective review of 18 autopsied animals. Clinical signs for 3 of the sugar gliders included lethargy, tachypnea, and dyspnea. At autopsy, 5 of 6 animals had comorbid lesions that were the primary cause of death. Gross pulmonary lesions were characterized by mildly firm, discolored, vaguely nodular areas of parenchyma. Histologic examination of the lung revealed granulomatous inflammation with intracellular and extracellular amphophilic hyaline bodies within alveoli and airways. Hyaline bodies were positive for PAS and oil red O staining, blue via crystal violet staining, and displayed birefringence under polarized light, similar to findings in dogs with pulmonary hyalinosis.