Urinary calcium assessment and its relation with age, sex and Encephalitozoon cuniculi serological status in otherwise healthy pet rabbits

Abstract

BackgroundUrinary calcium excretion by rabbits is set proportionately higher than that of other species, giving the rabbit urine its characteristic cloudy appearance. During pregnancy, lactation and growth, or when metabolic disorders interfere in the renal excretion of calcium, it is reported that less calcium is excreted and the urine appears clear. The quantification of the calcium concentration in the urine of rabbits may be of importance in the management of diseases that affect calcium metabolism, especially in kidney disease; however, reference intervals for urinary calcium concentration (UC) are unreported in pet rabbits.MethodsProspective data from 63 healthy pet rabbits were evaluated. An inhouse modified Arsenazo III technique, without acidifying the urine, was used to determine the reference intervals for UC and UC:creatinine ratio. Urinary protein:creatinine ratio, UC, UC:creatinine ratio, urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase concentration (UG), UG:creatinine ratio, phosphorus, plasma total calcium, plasma creatinine, urea and ionised calcium were assessed according to age, sex, neutered status, urine collection method and Encephalitozoon cuniculi IgG status in healthy rabbits.ResultsThe reference intervals for UC and UC:creatinine ratio were 4.2–31.1 mg/dl (1.03–7.78 mmol/l) and less than 0.3, respectively. The results showed that none of these variables was influenced by the parameters evaluated, except for the phosphorus value, which was higher in pet rabbits aged up to 3 years compared with those over 3 years, suggesting that published reference values for plasma phosphorus in rabbits should be adjusted according to age.ConclusionThe modified Arsenazo III technique described in the present work and the established reference values for UC and UCC in pet rabbits could be useful in the management of kidney disease in rabbits. The results showed that E cuniculi IgG seropositivity has no influence on the variables of renal interest in otherwise healthy rabbits.

Molecular Detection of Microsporidia in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

“…Previous studies identified E. cuniculi by PCR in an AIDS patient (genotype III) [ 35 ], Crohn’s disease patients [ 39 ], water samples from Madrid (genotypes I and III) [ 38 ], the Iberian lynx ( Lynx pardinus ) in southern Spain [ 40 ], and captive chimpanzees ( Pan troglodytes ) in Madrid (genotype I) [ 41 ], demonstrating the presence of this species in mainland Spain. Furthermore, other studies reported cases in domestic rabbits in Spain using indirect immunofluorescence testing [ 36 ], histopathological analysis [ 42 , 43 ], or serological analysis [ 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. However, the molecular characterization of E. cuniculi in rabbits from Spain has not been reported previously.…”

Evaluation of urine dipstick for proteinuria assessment in pet rabbits

“…In all sterilized rabbits and in entire females, urine samples were collected by manual expression of the urinary bladder on a surface cleaned without quaternary ammonium disinfectants or chlorhexidine, as recommended by the dipstick manufacturer. In entire male rabbits, the urine samples were obtained via ultrasound‐guided cystocentesis because previous observations indicate that urinalysis of samples from unneutered male rabbits obtained by methods other than cystocentesis can be inaccurate 23 . It has been previously shown that urinalysis results from urine samples obtained by cystocentesis do not differ from those obtained by manual expression of the urinary bladder in rabbits 23 .…”

“…In entire male rabbits, the urine samples were obtained via ultrasound‐guided cystocentesis because previous observations indicate that urinalysis of samples from unneutered male rabbits obtained by methods other than cystocentesis can be inaccurate 23 . It has been previously shown that urinalysis results from urine samples obtained by cystocentesis do not differ from those obtained by manual expression of the urinary bladder in rabbits 23 . A urine volume of 0.5 ml was considered sufficient to perform a complete urinalysis.…”

“…23 It has been previously shown that urinalysis results from urine samples obtained by cystocentesis do not differ from those obtained by manual expression of the urinary bladder in rabbits. 23 A urine volume of 0.5 ml was considered sufficient to perform a complete urinalysis. Urine samples (n = 300) were centrifuged at 9.800 rpm (3.900 × g) for 45 s (StatSpin VT, Iris Sample Processing, Beckman Coulter, Brea, California, USA).…”

“…In the first group, according to the reference UPC interval in pet rabbits described in a previous study using the same measurement method, >0.3 was considered positive, and ≤0.3 was considered negative. 23 In the second group, >0.6 was considered positive, and ≤0.6 was considered negative. 14 The UPDT and UPC groups were compared to determine the statistical variables.…”