2000-2003 Records
8-11-05: KDR Rockmelon was necropsied by Drs. Clark and Patterson at DCPAH, with histopathology reviewed by Dr Bergin and others. The conclusions were: Salivary gland: sialoadenitis with karyomegaly and intranuclear eosinophilic viral inclusions, squamous cell carcinoma. Lung: alveolar histiocytosis with mild hemosiderosis. Splean: mild spenitis and hemosiderosis. Thyroid gland: adenoma. Parathyroid gland: adenoma. The comments read, 'Sialoadenitis in this rat in association with intralesional intranasal inclusion bodies in indicative of infection with SDA virus which is a corona virus. This virus is highly infectious and replicated in epithelial cells of the nasopharynx, salivary gland and harderian gland. Although infection with this virus is associated with high morbitity and low mortality, affected rats are rendered more susceptible to secondary infections with Sendai virus and Mycoplasma species organisms. The squamous cell carcinoma may have originated in a salivary gland duct as the SDA virus causes metaplasia of the glandular epithelium. Other microscopic lesions in this rat were considered to be incidental findings commonly found in aged animals. Alveolar histiocytosis also referred to as a lipid pneumonia, may represent residual foci of inflammation or a deficit in pulmonary clearance mechanisms.' The diagnosis was an educated guess at best for all pathologists involved, and they recommended further testing. Rocky sired one litter with TSR Leela in Oct 2004; there were 14 pups in the 'Soul' litter.
8-11-05: KDR Rockmelon had blood drawn for University of Missouri's Comprehensive serology panel for rats. Blood was also submitted for a full chemistry panel at Missouri and a full CBC at DCPAH. Results are pending. Rocky is our first submission in our pet hairless rat health database and results and database information will be released shortly.
6-29-05: HSD:sd Green of EKO was necropsied by Drs. McKnight and Kiupel at DCPAH. The conclusions were: Lung: multifocal peribronchial and perivascular lymphoplasmacytic interstitial pneumonia; multifocal necrotizing bronchpneumonia. Spleen: mild hyperplasia of periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths. Lymph node: mild sinus histiocytosis. The comments read, 'The cause of pneumonia in this animal is due to infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis. This is a common bacterial cause of pneumonia in rats. The pulmonary necrosis observed is suggestive of an early secondary bacterial infection as well. However, bacteriology testing did not identify any other bacterial agents. Other changes are associated with the immune response to the bacterium.' Green had no litters.
6-22-05: HSD:sd Green of EKO had blood drawn for University of Missouri's Comprehensive serology panel for rats. Results were negative for everything excepting Mycoplasma pulmonis and Theilers Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (GDVII), which were reported as NA. The summary read, 'No significant serologic titers were detected.' The comments read, 'One of more samples showed a high degree of non-specific adhereence (NA) or non-specific fluorescence (NF) by MFI or IFA respectively. It is not possible to conclusively interpret such results. Serum samples particularly prone to this problem are often: a) partially hemolyzed, b) obtained from animals older than six months of age, c) obtained from strains subject to autoimmune disorders, or d) obtained from animals whose immune system is nonspecifially stimulated because of injury, neoplasm, other noninfectious disease processes, or other types of antigenic stimulation. Additionally, a variety of experimental manipulations of rodents may cause non-specific binding. Submission of serum samples from appropriate cohort or sentinel animals should be considered in order for us to be able to provide more conclusive serologic test results.' Further discussion of this case with Dr Steffen of RADIL and Drs McKnight and Kiupel of of DCPAH renforced that the NA results were nothing to worry about and were a "freak" result with "less than 1 in 1,000 chances" of being positive for TMEV. (However, plans are underway for a core pathogen serology panel to be done in the near future, just to be very sure.) Official copies of these results are available by contacting me with your address for a snail-mail copy.