The garden dormouse is listed as "near threatened" on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Research on this species concentrates primarily on their hibernating strategies and physiology. However, little is known about infectious entities in this species, even less about neoplastic diseases. This case series presents the first report of different neoplasms in a population of garden dormice () under human care. This report includes six animals (four males, two females, four to seven years old). Four animals were euthanized, and two were found dead in the enclosure. Tissues of the animals were stained with Hematoxylin and eosin. Special staining (methyl green pyronin, desmin, vimentin, and cytokeratin) was performed to confirm diagnoses. Tumors found in these animals consisted of a pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a plasma cell tumor, an osteosarcoma, and three sarcomas. Because of their declining population trend and efforts of reintroduction, knowledge about diseases is imperative, especially, if there might be a genetic influence, which could hinder the success of conservation efforts.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2023-0095 | DOI Listing |
J Zoo Wildl Med
March 2025
Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1160 Vienna, Austria.
The garden dormouse is listed as "near threatened" on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. Research on this species concentrates primarily on their hibernating strategies and physiology. However, little is known about infectious entities in this species, even less about neoplastic diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCryobiology
March 2025
Institute of Biochemistry and Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada.
The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is a fat-storing mammal that undergoes annual periods of hibernation to mitigate the effects of food scarcity, low ambient temperatures, and reduced photoperiod that characterize winter. Like other hibernating species, this animal suppresses its metabolic rate by downregulating nonessential genes and processes in order to prolong available energy stores and limit waste accumulation throughout the season. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs that bind to mRNA and mediate post-transcriptional suppression, making miRNA ideal for modulating widespread changes in gene expression, including global downregulation typified by metabolic rate depression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVirol J
November 2024
Institute of Biotechnology, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio al. 7, Vilnius, LT-10257, Lithuania.
Elife
May 2024
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hibernation is a period of metabolic suppression utilized by many small and large mammal species to survive during winter periods. As the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood, our study aimed to determine whether skeletal muscle myosin and its metabolic efficiency undergo alterations during hibernation to optimize energy utilization. We isolated muscle fibers from small hibernators, and and larger hibernators, and .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Physiol
November 2023
Department of Interdisciplinary Life Sciences, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Telomere dynamics in hibernating species are known to reflect seasonal changes in somatic maintenance. Throughout hibernation, the periodic states of rewarming, known as inter-bout euthermia or arousals, are associated with high metabolic costs including shortening of telomeres. In the active season, if high energetic resources are available, telomere length can be restored in preparation for the upcoming winter.
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