Granulomatous orchitis associated with Histoplasma-like organisms in porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)

摘要

Although porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) are found throughout Alaska, Canada and nearly half of the USA (Dodge 1982), only a few diseases or pathological conditions have been reported in this species. This short communication documents granulomatouslesions associated with Histoplasma-like organisms in testicles of two porcupines from Pennsylvania, USA. Between 1989 and 1992, 53 adult porcupines (38 females and 15 males) were examined from State Gamelands number 13 in north-east Pennsylvania, USA (Hamir and Rupprecht 2000). These animals were used in the experimental development and subsequent field evaluation of an oral vacciniarabies glycoprotein (V-RG) recombinant virus vaccine (Rupprecht and others 1986). The porcupines were either euthanasedand postmortem examinations carried out in the field, or were transported to a laboratory where they were used to evaluate V-RG in non-target species (Rupprecht and others 1992). These animals were then subsequently euthanased by intravenous administration of sodium pentabarbitol and postmortem examinations were performed.