Case Description—A 5-year-old 2.23-kg (4.91-lb) spayed female Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was evaluated because of a history of lethargy, polyuria, and polydipsia of 1 month's duration. The referring veterinarian made a presumptive diagnosis of hypercalcemia of unknown etiology on the basis of a plasma total calcium concentration of 14.0 mg/dL. Clinical Findings—Physical examination findings were unremarkable. Hematologic and plasma biochemical analysis revealed nonregenerative, normocytic, normochromic anemia (PCV, 28%) with heteropenia (23%; 1,334 heterophils/mL) and a total plasma calcium concentration of 16 mg/dL. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examination revealed radiodense and hyperechoic structures in both renal pelves and right unilateral nephrolithiasis. Treatment and Outcome—Nephrotomy was performed via laparotomy with a right lateral approach. A nephrolith composed of calcium carbonate and carbonate apatite was removed from the right renal pelvis. The rabbit's plasma tested positive for antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi by means of an indirect immunofluorescence assay, and fenbendazole (20 mg/kg [9.1 mg/lb], PO, q 24 h) was administered for 28 days. Although plasma calcium concentration was not substantially decreased after treatment (values were 14.1 and 15.1 mg/dL 1 week and 3 months after surgery, respectively), the patient did not have clinical signs of hypercalcemia and died of unrelated causes approximately 1 year after surgery. Clinical Relevance—To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a nephrotomy performed in a rabbit via a lateral abdominal approach. This approach allowed easy location of the kidney and also reduced manipulation, thus decreasing the risk of damaging the abdominal viscera and potentially decreasing postoperative pain.

The majority of pandemic 2009 H1N1 (A(H1N1)pdm09) influenza virus (IV) caused mild symptoms in most infected patients, however, a greater rate of severe disease was observed in healthy young adults and children without co-morbid conditions. The purpose of this work was to study in ferrets the dynamics of infection of two contemporary strains of human A(H1N1)pdm09 IV, one isolated from a patient showing mild disease and the other one from a fatal case. Viral strains isolated from a patient showing mild disease-M (A/CastillaLaMancha/RR5661/2009) or from a fatal case-F (A/CastillaLaMancha/RR5911/2009), both without known comorbid conditions, were inoculated in two groups of ferrets and clinical and pathological conditions were analysed. Mild to severe clinical symptoms were observed in animals from both groups. A clinical score distribution was applied in which ferrets with mild clinical signs were distributed on a non-severe group (NS) and ferrets with severe clinical signs on a severe group (S), regardless of the virus used in the infection. Animals on S showed a significant decrease in body weight compared to animals on NS at 4 to 7 days post-infection (dpi). Clinical progress correlated with histopathological findings. Concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A (SAA) increased on both groups after 2 dpi. Clinically severe infected ferrets showed a stronger antibody response and higher viral titres after infection (p = 0.001). The severity in the progress of infection was independent from the virus used for infection suggesting that the host immune response was determinant in the outcome of the infection. The diversity observed in ferrets mimicked the variability found in the human population.

Severe cases after pH1N1 infection are consequence of interstitial pneumonia triggered by alveolar viral replication and an exacerbated host immune response, characterized by the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the influx of inflammatory leukocytes to the lungs. Different lung cell populations have been suggested as culprits in the unregulated innate immune responses observed in these cases. This study aims to clarify this question by studying the different induction of innate immune molecules by the distinct lung anatomic compartments (vascular, alveolar and bronchiolar) of ferrets intratracheally infected with a human pH1N1 viral isolate, by means of laser microdissection techniques. The obtained results were then analysed in relation to viral quantification in the different anatomic areas and the histopathological lesions observed. More severe lung lesions were observed at 24 h post infection (hpi) correlating with viral antigen detection in bronchiolar and alveolar epithelial cells. However, high levels of viral RNA were detected in all anatomic compartments throughout infection. Bronchiolar areas were the first source of IFN-α and most pro-inflammatory cytokines, through the activation of RIG-I. In contrast, vascular areas contributed with the highest induction of CCL2 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, through the activation of TLR3.

The presence of a cloaca in the reproductive tract of marsupials may predispose them to ascending infections. A 7‐year‐old, entire, female sugar glider presented with abdominal swelling. Whole‐body radiographs and abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass in the abdomen. Initial treatment included meloxicam, buprenorphine and subcutaneous fluids. Abdominal exploratory surgery revealed a severe purulent distention of the reproductive tract with multiple adhesions to the intestines, both ureters, urinary bladder and spleen. Because reproductive tissue removal was not feasible, an incision in the mass was performed, the pus aspirated and it was flushed with saline. A biopsy of the affected tissue was indicative of chronic suppurative endometritis. The microbiological culture and biochemical characterisation revealed Kocuria kristinae . The animal was discharged with azithromycin for 1 month and there were no complications over the ensuing 9‐month period. This pathogen should be considered in the differential diagnosis of reproductive tract infections in female sugar gliders.