engleski

FIRST REPORTED CASE OF LEPORINE DYSAUTONOMIA IN CROATIA

Leporine dysautonomia (or dysautonomia of hares) is an idiopathic disorder associated with degeneration of neurons of the peripheral nervous system, with a loss of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve function. The disease has so far been described in rabbits and hares from Great Britain, and a similar disorder has also been described in horses (grass sickness), dogs and cats (Key-Gaskell syndrome). We are describing the first case of leporine dysautonomia in a rabbit from Croatia. A female rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of unknown age and breed was submitted for necropsy to the Department of Veterinary Pathology. No history data was provided except the existence of unspecified neurologic signs. The rabbit was subjected to a full necropsy and representative slices of all organs were fixed in 10% neutral, buffered formalin, routinely dehydrated, embedded into paraffin and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Gross findings included cachexia, dehydration, dilated intestines and urinary bladder. The small intestine was filled with small amounts of orange mushy content and gas. The large intestine was filled with a moderate amount of mushy, green content and small amounts of gas, without the presence of caecotrophs. The mucosa of the entire intestine was grossly normal. Other organs did not show gross lesions, but were dark red in colour, indicating congestion. Due to the presence of all permanent teeth and thymus, the rabbit was presumed to be juvenile to young adult. Histologic findings included severe vacuolation of neurons of the submucous and myenteric plexus in the intestinal tract. Based on gross and microscopic pathologic findings, leporine dysautonomia was diagnosed. Dysautonomia is a disorder that rarely affects rabbits. However, based on the results of the current report, the disorder is present in Croatia and it has to be considered as a possible differential diagnosis in animals with neurological symptoms and mild gross findings including cachexia and distension of the intestines and urinary bladder.

leporine dysautonomia, Croatia, rabbit, histology

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