Clinical and Pathologic Features of a Suspected Selenium Deficiency in Captive Plains Zebras

Previous studies have shown that selenium (Se) deficiency is associated with nutritional myopathy, known as white muscle disease (WMD), in horses. However, correlations between Se deficiency and clinical findings, such as hematologic biochemical values and pathological features, have not been evaluated in captive plains zebras. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical and pathologic features that may be caused by a Se deficiency in the captive plains zebra. Clinical findings, feed analyses, hematologic biochemical analyses, response to treatment, and pathologic examination were assessed in six affected plains zebras. The dietary concentration of Se in feed was also tested. Sudden death occurred in two cases during the first day of the onset of symptoms. Two zebras died at 4 days and two zebras survived after treatment. The clinical signs in affected animals were characterized by general weakness, astasia, and abnormal postural positions. The Se concentration in hay from the breeding stable was low, based on the reference value. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was lower compared with the equine reference value. Multiple areas of subcutaneous steatitis and pale skeletal muscle and myocardium were revealed at gross necropsy. Degeneration and necrosis of myocardial and skeletal muscles, as well as congestion of the liver, lung, and kidney were found via histopathological examination. No suspected bacterial infections were found. Feed analyses, response to treatment, serum GSH-Px activity, and pathological features suggest that Se deficiency may have caused the disease in the six affected captive plains zebra.

Predictive Blood Chemistry Parameters for Pansteatitis-Affected Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

One of the largest river systems in South Africa, the Olifants River, has experienced significant changes in water quality due to anthropogenic activities. Since 2005, there have been various “outbreaks” of the inflammatory disease pansteatitis in several vertebrate species. Large-scale pansteatitis-related mortality events have decimated the crocodile population at Lake Loskop and decreased the population at Kruger National Park. Most pansteatitis-related diagnoses within the region are conducted post-mortem by either gross pathology or histology. The application of a non-lethal approach to assess the prevalence and pervasiveness of pansteatitis in the Olifants River region would be of great importance for the development of a management plan for this disease. In this study, several plasma-based biomarkers accurately classified pansteatitis in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) collected from Lake Loskop using a commercially available benchtop blood chemistry analyzer combined with data interpretation via artificial neural network analysis. According to the model, four blood chemistry parameters (calcium, sodium, total protein and albumin), in combination with total length, diagnose pansteatitis to a predictive accuracy of 92 percent. In addition, several morphometric traits (total length, age, weight) were also associated with pansteatitis. On-going research will focus on further evaluating the use of blood chemistry to classify pansteatitis across different species, trophic levels, and within different sites along the Olifants River.

Blood alpha-Tocopherol, selenium, and glutathione peroxidase changes and adipose tissue fatty acid changes in kittens with experimental steatitis (yellow fat disease): a comparative study between the domestic shorthaired and Siamese breed

Twenty domestic shorthaired (DSH) and 20 Siamese (S) kittens were allocated into 4 breed-specific groups, of 10 kittens each, that were fed exclusively cooked sardines (F groups) or commercial feline canned food based on oily fish (C groups) for a 4-month period. Clinical signs were scored every 15 d along with body weight recording and blood sampling for the measurement of alpha-tocopherol and selenium (Se) concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were obtained per month to determine its fatty acid composition. Steatitis, reproduced in all 20 F-group kittens, was accompanied by systemic signs in 5 DSH and 6 S animals. The severity of the disease reached its zenith at the second week in the DSH-F-group kittens and the fourth and sixth week in the S-F-group kittens. alpha-Tocopherol plasma level was significantly lower in F groups compared to their corresponding controls, whereas the opposite was true for Se and red blood cell GSH-Px activity. In conclusion, the results of this study have shown that although the morbidity rate is not different between the two breeds, the delay of Siamese cats to develop symptomatic steatitis is presumably attributed to an inherent resistance as a result of the long-standing evolution of more efficient antioxidant mechanisms. Also, the changes in fatty acid composition of the adipose tissue lipids are associated with the progression of the age, breed, and diet and probably with the inflammatory changes of the adipose tissue.

Feline pansteatitis revisited: hazards of unbalanced home-made diets

Pansteatitis is caused by the consumption of high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and/or the insufficient intake of vitamin E, leading to inflammation of adipose tissue. This disease has been related to fish-based diets. However, non-conventional diets must also be considered. The authors present case records of two cats with pansteatitis, for which diet consisted mostly of pig's brain, comparing them with eight cases of disease in cats eating mainly oily fish. Cats fed pig's brain did not show clinical signs, while cats eating oily fish presented inappetence, depression, reluctance to move and subcutaneous nodules painful on palpation. Cats eating pig's brain did not show any change in blood parameters, while cats fed oily fish presented leukocytosis and anaemia. Histological examination confirmed pansteatitis in all cats, independently of the diet. All animals except one of the cats eating oily fish recovered after medical treatment and change of the feeding regime.

Pansteatitis in a free-ranging red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

A free-ranging juvenile female red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) that was unable to fly was admitted to a rehabilitation center and died 1 day later. Hematology and serum chemistry abnormalities included moderate regenerative anemia, elevated creatine kinase, and hyperphosphatemia. Necropsy revealed a generalized steatitis, and histology showed a necrotizing and granulomatous pansteatitis with intralesional pigment compatible with ceroid. There was also moderate diffuse myodegeneration, mild multifocal cardiomyopathy, and mild multifocal hepatic necrosis. These changes and lesions resemble those caused by vitamin E deficiency in mammals and fish-eating birds.

Vitamin E deficiency and pansteatitis in juvenile boat-billed herons (Cochlearius cochlearius)

Steatitis due to vitamin E deficiency occurred in three 10-wk-old boat-billed herons (Cochlearius cochlearius) despite daily placement of a powdered vitamin supplement on the fish that was subsequently washed off by the parents. Physical findings included emaciation, yellow-brown subcutaneous nodules, a firm distended coelom, stomatitis, and yellow-white, submucosal pharyngeal nodules. Clinical pathology revealed heterophilic leukocytosis, anemia, hypoproteinemia, and low plasma alpha (alpha)-tocopherol levels (1.94 microg/ml and 2.14 microg/ml). Two of the chicks died of severe, diffuse pansteatitis and respiratory aspergillosis.

Density distribution and physicochemical properties of plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in the goose, Anser anser, a potential model of liver steatosis

The fractionation and physicochemical characterization of the complex molecular components composing the plasma lipoprotein spectrum in the goose, a potential model of liver steatosis, are described. Twenty lipoprotein subfractions (d less than 1.222 g/ml) were separated by isopycnic density gradient ultracentrifugation, and characterized according to their chemical composition, particle size and particle heterogeneity, electrophoretic mobility, and apolipoprotein content. Analytical ultracentrifugal analyses showed high density lipoproteins (HDL) to predominate (approximately 450 mg/dl plasma), the peak of its distribution occurring at d approximately 1.090 g/ml (F1.21 approximately 2.5). The HDL class displayed marked density heterogeneity, HDL1-like particles being detected up to a lower density limit of approximately 1.020 g/ml, particle size decreasing progressively from 17-19 nm at d 1.024-1.028 g/ml to 10.5-12 nm (d 1.055-1.065 g/ml), and then remaining constant (approximately 9 nm) at densities greater than 1.065 g/ml. HDL subfractions displayed multiple size species; five subspecies were present over the range d 1.103-1.183 g/ml with diameters of 10.5, 9.9, 9.0, 8.2, and 7.5 nm, four in the range d 1.090-1.103 g/ml (diameters 10.5, 9.9, 9.0, and 8.2 nm) and three over the range d 1.076-1.090 g/ml (diameters 10.5, 9.9, and 9.0 nm). ApoA-I (Mr 25,000-27,000) was the major apolipoprotein in all goose HDL subfractions, while the minor components (apparent Mr 100,000, 91,000, 64,000, 58,000, approximately 42,000, 18,000 and apoC-like proteins) showed marked quantitative and qualitative variation across this density range (i.e., 1.055-1.165 g/ml). The d 1.063 g/ml boundary for separation of goose low density lipoproteins (LDL) from HDL was inappropriate, since HDL-like particles were present in the density interval 1.024-1.063 g/ml, while particles enriched in apoB (Mr approximately 540,000) and resembling LDL in size (approximately 20.5 nm) were detected up to a density of approximately 1.076 g/ml. Goose LDL itself was a major component of the profile (90-172 mg/dl) with a single peak of high flotation rate (Sf approximately 10.5). The physicochemical properties and apolipoprotein content of intermediate density lipoproteins (IDL) and LDL varied but little over the range d 1.013-1.040 g/ml, presenting as two particle species (diameters 20.5 and 21 nm) of essentially constant chemical composition; LDL (d 1.019-1.040 g/ml) were separated from HDL1 by gel filtration chromatography and appeared to contain primarily apoB with lesser amounts of apoA-I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Plasma and erythrocyte lipids. Relation between globular dystrophies and hepatic lesion in ethylism]

Human red cell and plasma lipids are determined in alcoholic patients with various forms of liver diseases including steatosis, cirrhosis and hepatitis. No relation between serum lipids and red cell lipids content have could be demonstrated. A relation is shown between morphology and lipids red cells content, different anatomopathologic states of liver and erythrocyte morphology. In steatosis red cells phospholipids (specially phosphatidyl choline) are increased. In cirrhosis red cells show an increased of both cholesterol and phospholipids content. Target cells show an inchanged cholesterol-phospholipids ratio when acanthocytes show and increased cholesterol phospholipids ratio by a greater increase of cholesterol than phospholipids.