The tongue of an adult degu was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. It consists of an apex, corpus, and radix and contains a lingual prominence. The aim of this study was to describe the course of muscle fascicles of the proper lingual muscle, the presence and nature of the lingual salivary glands, and particularly the appearance and distribution of the lingual papillae. Three major types of papillae have been observed: filiform, conical, and vallate. The dorsal surface of the lingual apex extends in caudally bent filiform papillae with two spines. The lingual corpus bears long filiform papillae with a single tip. The lingual radix contains crown-like papillae in the region of the prominence and conical papillae in the remaining areas. Two oval vallate papillae were discovered caudally on the lingual radix. This first description of the lingual structures in a degu could be used for comparative studies or as basic data for differentiation of lingual morphology in this species.
- MeSH
- Tongue anatomy & histology ultrastructure MeSH
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning * MeSH
- Microscopy MeSH
- Octodon anatomy & histology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Alzheimerova demence (AD) je neurodegenerativní onemocnění s nejvyšší prevalencí, které nelze v současné době vyléčit. Dvěma základními formami AD jsou forma familiární (autozomálně dominantní onemocnění s časným nástupem rozvoje) a forma sporadická (jejímž nejrizikovějším faktorem je věk). K testování léků a získání informací o mechanismu onemocnění je nezbytné používat animální modely, které by odpovídaly kognitivním, behaviorálním a neuropatologickým symptomům onemocnění. Transgenní animální modely odpovídají spíše familiární formě AD, jejíž pravděpodobnost výskytu je velmi nízká (5 %). Z tohoto důvodu sílí v poslední době snaha vyvinout netransgenní model ("natural animal model") častěji se vyskytující sporadické formy AD, který by poskytl doplňující informace o změnách mozku, ke kterým dochází během stárnutí. Přestože nalezení ideálního "natural" animálního modelu sporadické formy AD je stále výzvou, existuje několik modelů, které se mu alespoň přibližují, například makak rhesus, bígl nebo osmák degu. Cílem této práce je shrnout animální modely s přirozeným rozvojem patologií, pro které je nejrizikovějším faktorem vysoký věk.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neuro-degenerative disorder with the highest prevalence in the population and for which we do not have a cure so far. Two basic forms of AD were described: familial form (autosomal dominant disease with early onset) and sporadic form (where the age is the most important risk factor). The animal models are useful for drug development and obtaining information about the mechanism of the disease. They should follow cognitive, behavioural and neuropathological symptoms of the disease as observed in humans. Transgenic animal model is a commonly used model but represents rather familial form of AD which probability of occurrence is very low (5%). Thus, there is an effort to find a non-transgenic natural animal model which would be relevant to the sporadic form of AD and give us additional information about changes in the brain during the aging. Even though finding of an ideal natural animal model of sporadic form of AD is challenging some models are very close to the ideal like a rhesus macaque, beagle or common degu. The aim of this article is to sum up existing animal models of the natural development of pathologies emerging during aging.
- MeSH
- Alzheimer Disease * MeSH
- Amyloid beta-Peptides MeSH
- Rabbits MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Lemur MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Macaca MeSH
- Disease Models, Animal * MeSH
- Brain pathology MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Octodon MeSH
- Dogs MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rabbits MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Dogs MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Review MeSH
Dental disease is among the most common causes for chinchillas and degus to present to veterinarians. Most animals with dental disease present with weight loss, reduced food intake/anorexia, and drooling. Degus commonly present with dyspnea. Dental disease has been primarily referred to as elongation and malocclusion of the cheek teeth. Periodontal disease, caries, and tooth resorption are common diseases in chinchillas, but are missed frequently during routine intraoral examination, even performed under general anesthesia. A diagnostic evaluation, including endoscopy-guided intraoral examination and diagnostic imaging of the skull, is necessary to detect oral disorders and to perform the appropriate therapy.
- MeSH
- Chinchilla anatomy & histology MeSH
- Rodent Diseases pathology MeSH
- Octodon anatomy & histology MeSH
- Stomatognathic Diseases pathology veterinary MeSH
- Mouth anatomy & histology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Degus are commonly used as laboratory animals; however, over the past few years, they have become increasingly popular as pets. Objectives: The aim of this article was to present disease prevalence in 300 pet degus divided in two age groups (under and above two years). METHODS: Medical records of degus (Octodon degus), which were presented to the author's clinic in the period from January 2007 to December 2009, were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common diseases in degus were (1) acquired dental disease (60·0%) with significantly higher prevalence in older animals (P<0.001), (2) skin alopecia due to fur chewing (13·33%) and (3) lens cataracts (13·33%). Other common disorders included traumatic injuries to soft tissues (bite wounds and tail slip), traumatic fractures and dietary diarrhoea. Reproductive disorders were most commonly associated with dystocia and pathological changes in the post-natal period. Only 38 degus in a total of 300 animals were healthy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first study to describe the disease prevalence in two age groups of pet degus. The majority of diseases were caused by improper diet, self-mutilation and improper handling; as such client education is necessary to avoid such a high disease prevalence.
- MeSH
- Animal Husbandry education methods standards MeSH
- Rodent Diseases epidemiology etiology MeSH
- Octodon MeSH
- Prevalence MeSH
- Wounds and Injuries epidemiology etiology veterinary MeSH
- Retrospective Studies MeSH
- Age Factors MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The purpose of this study was to gain information concerning chronology of postnatal dental eruption in degus (Octodon degu). Specific findings pertain to the estimation of postnatal age at tooth emergence through the gingiva and to the age when a particular tooth is in functional occlusion. Fifty newborn degu pups were included in this study. The oral cavity endoscopy was carried out under isoflurane anesthesia in all animals 3 to 4 and 24-hours after birth, then at 1-day intervals until the age of 40-days, and subsequently at 2-day intervals until 75-days of age. Tooth emergence was considered to have occurred when any portion of the crown had penetrated the gingiva. The stage when the teeth come into occlusion was defined as the functional occlusion. The degus were born with completely erupted permanent incisors that were already in functional occlusion. All the premolar teeth and all the first molar teeth erupted on days 2 - 3 and 4 - 5 of life, respectively. The first signs offunctional occlusion ofall the first 2 cheek teeth were observed on days 9 - 11. Maxillary and mandibular second molar teeth emerged between days 17 - 19 and 18 - 20, respectively. First signs of functional occlusion were observed on days 30 - 31 and 31 - 33for maxillary and mandibular second molar teeth, respectively. Maxillary third molar teeth emerged on days 38 - 44 and erupted into occlusion on days 48 - 58. Mandibular third molar teeth emerged on days 39 - 46 and erupted into occlusion on days 58 - 72.
- MeSH
- Diagnosis, Oral MeSH
- Endoscopy veterinary MeSH
- Molar growth & development MeSH
- Animals, Newborn MeSH
- Octodon physiology MeSH
- Tooth Eruption physiology MeSH
- Incisor growth & development MeSH
- Age Factors MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Thirty-five juvenile (mean age 6.3 weeks) and 35 adult (mean age 2.0 years) healthy degus (Octodon degus) were studied to investigate selected haematological and plasma biochemistry parameters. Animals were anaesthetised with isoflurane, and blood was withdrawn from the cranial vena cava. Erythrocyte, haematocrit and neutrophil counts (including the percentage of neutrophils) were significantly higher in the adult degus than in the juveniles. In contrast, the reticulocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, number of platelets and percentage of lymphocytes were significantly lower in the adult animals. Total protein and globulin levels were significantly higher in the adult degus. The albumin:globulin ratio and plasma levels of urea nitrogen, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, potassium, total calcium and inorganic phosphorus were significantly lower in adults than in juveniles.
- MeSH
- Alanine Transaminase blood MeSH
- Alkaline Phosphatase blood MeSH
- Aspartate Aminotransferases blood MeSH
- Blood Chemical Analysis veterinary MeSH
- Erythrocyte Indices veterinary MeSH
- Hematologic Tests veterinary MeSH
- Blood Glucose analysis MeSH
- Erythrocyte Volume veterinary MeSH
- Octodon blood MeSH
- Leukocyte Count veterinary MeSH
- Lymphocyte Count veterinary MeSH
- Reference Values MeSH
- Serum Albumin MeSH
- Aging blood MeSH
- Age Factors MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The impact of pelleted diets with different mineral compositions on the crown size of the mandibular cheek teeth, as well as the mandibular bone and cheek teeth density, in degus (Octodon degus) was investigated. A total of 28 animals were randomly divided into four groups and fed different calcium or phosphorous dietary content, in the presence or absence of UV light, for 14 months. Dental radiographs and CT images of the head were taken, and the crown size of premolar and molar teeth was recorded. Apical and coronal crown elongation of all cheek teeth and significantly smaller relative cheek teeth and mandibular densities were recorded in degus fed a high-phosphorus diet with an improper calcium:phosphorus ratio. A diet with a calcium:phosphorus ratio of 1:1 was also responsible for the rapid development of dental disease with subsequent severe health impairment.
- MeSH
- Diet veterinary MeSH
- Phosphorus, Dietary administration & dosage pharmacology MeSH
- Bone Density drug effects radiation effects MeSH
- Animal Feed analysis MeSH
- Mandible drug effects radiation effects radiography MeSH
- Minerals analysis MeSH
- Molar drug effects radiation effects MeSH
- Rodent Diseases etiology MeSH
- Octodon MeSH
- Stomatognathic Diseases etiology veterinary MeSH
- Ultraviolet Rays adverse effects MeSH
- Calcium, Dietary administration & dosage pharmacology MeSH
- Tooth Crown drug effects radiation effects MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH
