title: Hematology and serum biochemistry in debilitated, free-ranging raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) infested with sarcoptic mange.
abstract: Frequent outbreaks of Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) have been reported in Japan. Although many raccoon dogs are brought to Kanazawa Zoological Garden (Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan) because of S. scabiei infestation and debilitation, some of them die of asthenia. The clinical status of severely debilitated raccoon dogs must be determined to save their lives. In this study, we compared hematological and serum biochemical values between severely debilitated and nondebilitated raccoon dogs infested with S. scabiei. The total protein, albumin, glucose, and calcium values of debilitated raccoon dogs were significantly lower than those of nondebilitated raccoon dogs. On the other hand, debilitated raccoon dogs had significantly higher aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, sodium, chloride, and phosphorus values than did nondebilitated raccoon dogs. The increase in the blood urea nitrogen value was particularly dramatic. The present study revealed that debilitated raccoon dogs infested with S. scabiei exhibited abnormal hematological values compared with nondebilitated raccoon dogs infested with S. scabiei. Clinically, the raccoon dogs developed malnutrition and sepsis if the mange infestation was untreated. Moreover, dehydration associated with appetite loss may have resulted in insufficient renal perfusion. These findings suggest that chronic S. scabiei infestations debilitated the raccoon dogs and resulted in physiological changes that were detected with hematological and serum biochemical tests.
authors.affiliation: Kanazawa Zoological Gardens, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Japan. nobukido1977@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Nobuhide
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.forename: Chihiro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kamegaya
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Omiya
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003681:Dehydration; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition; D046031:Raccoon Dogs; D012520:Sarcoptes scabiei / Q000502:physiology*; D012532:Scabies / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D012709:Serum Albumin; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D001663:Bilirubin; D002118:Calcium