Search

Four wild chelonians (two three-toed box turtles [Terrapene triunguis] and two red-eared sliders [Trachemys scripta elegans]) were presented to an academic wildlife rehabilitation center after presumably being hit by a car. Physical examinations revealed various carapace, bridge, and plastron fractures, as well as a lack of motor function of different limbs. A craniodorsal-caudoventral oblique view or caudodorsal-cranioventral oblique radiographic view made at 45° to the frontal plane (Cr45D-CdV and Cd45D-CrV oblique views, respectively), along with standard views (i.e., dorsoventral, right lateral, craniocaudal views), were performed. The oblique views allowed for visualization of different pectoral girdle or pelvic girdle fractures that were not visualized or clearly identified on the standard views. Based on the four clinical cases described here, the addition of Cr45D-CdV or Cd45D-CrV oblique views to the standard views may be beneficial, especially when advance imaging such as computed tomography is not available. These oblique views can be used to better assess chelonian pectoral and pelvic girdles because these structures are superimposed in standard radiographs. Future studies investigating the diagnostic accuracy of detecting pelvic and pectoral girdle fractures using these views are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited information on the prevalence and etiology of urolithiasis, although it is considered a common condition in chelonians. Several hypotheses regarding urolith formation in chelonians have been proposed, but none has been tested by epidemiological research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of urolithiasis in a large number of chelonians and to evaluate the association between housing and dietary conditions and urolithiasis in African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata). Records of all client-owned chelonians that underwent radiographs at two institutions were extracted. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were built to explore associations between the presence of urolithiasis and husbandry variables. Prevalence of urolithiasis was 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.3–5.9%; 46/1,033) among all chelonians. Terrestrial chelonians had 64 times the odds (odds ratio [OR]: 64.2; 95% CI: 15.4–266.6; P < 0.001) of presenting urolithiasis compared with aquatic chelonians. African spurred tortoises had 22 times the odds (OR: 22.3; 95% CI: 7.7–64.5; P < 0.001) of presenting urolithiasis compared with other terrestrial chelonians. African spurred tortoises living in a confined indoor area had 3 times the odds of presenting urolithiasis compared with the tortoises living outdoors (OR: 3.01; 95% CI: 1.06–8.55; P = 0.038), and African spurred tortoises that were not fed any fruit had 0.31 times the odds of presenting urolithiasis compared with the tortoises fed fruit (OR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.10–0.99; P = 0.049). Certain chelonians in captivity are at higher risk than others of suffering urolithiasis. African spurred tortoises in a confined indoor area had the highest risk of developing urolithiasis. As a precaution, avoiding fruit should be considered in the diet of African spurred tortoises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small intestinal obstruction in rabbits, although demonstrated to be common, is still poorly characterized. The objective of this study was to report features of small intestinal obstruction caused by trichobezoars in rabbits upon CT and their clinical outcomes. Rabbits with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction that underwent CT scanning were included in this study. From each CT scan, obstruction location, appearance, Hounsfield units, size (mm), volume (mm3), distance from the stomach, and diameter of the small intestine proximal and distal to it, were extracted. Nine rabbits were included in the study. All rabbits presented for anorexia and had a distended or enlarged stomach (7) or abdomen (2). CT scan showed a non‐contrast‐enhancing, ovoid, smoothly marginated structure with a hyperattenuating rim, heterogeneous center, and variable amount of centrally located gas, in the duodenum (5), the jejunum (2), or the ileum (2). The density of the trichobezoars ranged from −156 to 58 HU (median, −44 HU) and volume ranged from 86.1 to 633.8 mm3 (median, 320.6 mm3). Three rabbits underwent medical management. Two of them survived, and one of them died. Six rabbits underwent surgery, of which three were successfully discharged from the hospital. CT proved to be a valuable imaging modality in rabbits with a suspected intestinal obstruction to provide the exact location of the obstruction and the characteristics of the obstructive material. The location and size of the trichobezoar may have relevant clinical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To evaluate selected gastrointestinal side effects of high-concentration buprenorphine (HCB) in healthy rabbits. ANIMALS 10 healthy New Zealand White rabbits ranging in body weight between 3.0 and 3.8 kg. METHODS Eight, 6-month-old, New Zealand White rabbits received a single injection of HCB SC (0.24 mg/kg). The rabbits were previously randomized to receive SC and oral saline as a control. Two rabbits received saline for the purpose of blinding the outcome assessors. Food and water consumption, fecal and urine production, and fecal pellet number were recorded for all rabbits before HCB administration and the 3 days postinjection. RESULTS A clinically and statistically significant decrease in food and water consumption was observed in rabbits receiving an injection of HCB, compared to rabbits receiving saline. In the 24 hours after injection, HCB-treated rabbits consumed a median of 17 g of food (range, 0 to 82 g), while saline-treated rabbits consumed 122 g of food (31 to 181 g). Rabbits receiving HCB injections also produced significantly less feces both in terms of pellet numbers and overall quantity, along with decreased urine production. CLINICAL RELEVANCE A single administration of HCB has a clinically significant impact on multiple physiological functions in healthy rabbits. Administration of this drug could potentially worsen clinical signs of anorexia and decrease defecation in healthy rabbits. The effects of HCB on diseased or painful rabbits are not yet known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rabbits are extremely sensitive to pain. There is evidence on whether non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory medication should be administered before or after surgery in rabbits. Objectives: In this study, we compared the pain scores and behaviours of rabbits administered meloxicam before or after routine castration. Methods: Forty‐two healthy rabbits undergoing castration were randomly assigned to receive meloxicam (1 mg/kg SC) 1 h before or upon recovery from anaesthesia. Several parameters were recorded, including the occurrence of eating, defecating and pain scores postoperatively and change in heart rate intraoperatively. Results: At 4 h after surgery, eating was observed in 43% (9/21) of rabbits that received meloxicam before neutering and in 29% (6/21) of rabbits that received meloxicam after. The morning after the surgery, eating was observed in 62% (13/21) of rabbits that received meloxicam before neutering and in 57% (12/21) of rabbits that received meloxicam after. The odds of not eating increased by 1.16 times (1.03–1.29; p = 0.01) per month of age, whereas there was no significant association between eating and administration of meloxicam before or after surgery, body weight and time. Similarly, defecation, pain score and change in heart rate did not differ in animals receiving meloxicam before or after surgery. Conclusions: Administration of meloxicam in rabbits undergoing castration before or after surgery does not have a relevant effect on eating, defecating or pain score. Younger rabbits show less obvious signs of pain and are more likely to resume eating habits sooner after surgery compared to older rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the prevalence of lizards presenting to a university teaching hospital that had an IV catheter placed, the catheterization sites used, and complications arising with the placement of the catheter both in the short and long term. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University teaching hospital. Animals: Twenty‐one lizards, including inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps; 15/21), green iguanas (Iguana iguana; 4/21), and veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus; 2/21). Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Of 129 lizard consultations performed between September 27, 2018 and September 27, 2021, 21 catheters were placed, resulting in an overall prevalence of 16.3%. Reasons for catheter placement included hospitalization for fluid therapy (10/21 [47.6%]), anesthesia or surgery ± hospitalization (7/21 [33.3%]), computed tomography scan with contrast (2/21 [9.5%]), euthanasia only (1/21 [4.8%]), and CPR only (1/21 [4.8%]). All catheters were placed in the ventral coccygeal vein via a ventral approach. Sedation was used in 6 of 21 (28.6%) of the catheters placed. Seven of the catheters (35%) were used for administration of fluids only, 4 (20%) were used for administering drugs/medications only, and 9 (45%) catheters administered both fluids and drugs/medications. No complications were noticed in any of the lizards that had catheters placed, both in the short and long term. Conclusions: Based on the retrospective evaluation of medical records at a veterinary teaching hospital, IV catheter placement in lizards is feasible, including in conscious animals, with roughly 1 consultation out of 6 resulting in a catheter placed. The most frequent reason for catheter placement was for administration of fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Some species of turtle and tortoise are vulnerable or declared threatened and pathogens such as Mycoplasmopsis agassizii can cause severe declines in their populations. Diagnosis and control of transmissible disease is the key for limiting the spread of pathogens in collection of animals. Sequencing and sharing sequences of mycoplasmas obtained from reptiles is important to improve diagnostic tests and to monitor the species affinity and the cross-species transmission potential of mycoplasmas. This study stresses the important role of practitioners in proper collection and sharing of data for appropriate analysis. The results obtained show that M. agasizii is detectable in different specimens and how is important to collect the proper sample to avoid false negative results. Not only animals with upper respiratory diseases should be considered as potentially infected, because M. agassizii sequences were found also in asymptomatic animals and in tortoises with stomatitis without respiratory signs. Coinfection with or infection due to other pathogens should be also considered. Mycoplasmopsis agassizii causes the Upper Respiratory Tract Disease (URTD) in tortoises. The severity of the disease usually ranges from mild to severe respiratory signs. Animals can recover, die, or become asymptomatic carriers and are source of infection for other tortoises. This study describes (i) the clinical history and the results obtained in ten years of diagnostic PCR activity for detecting M. agassizii in different species of captive tortoises in Italy, and (ii) the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of M. agassizii. A total of 26.0% out of 169 samples resulted positive by PCR and 32 out of 75 (42.7%) animals with symptoms were positive. Sequences ob-tained from the PCR products were conserved, differed from the sequence of the M. agassizii type strain PS6, and were identical to many M. agassizii sequences deposited in databases. In particular, the sequences were identical or very similar to sequences obtained previously from tortoises in It-aly. Since samples collected from different anatomical sites resulted positive, it is suggested that pools of conjunctival, nasal and oral swabs are tested for diagnostic purpose in both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian palm civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), or toddy cats, belong to the family Viverridae. Little is known about the pathology of these animals and few articles have been published, mainly concerning their important role as wild reservoir hosts for severe infectious diseases of domestic animals and human beings. A 4-year-old, female Asian palm civet was found dead by the owner. At necropsy, large amount of adipose tissue was found in the subcutis and in the peritoneal cavity. Most of the pancreas appeared red, translucent. Hepatomegaly, discoloration of the liver were evident, with multifocal areas of degeneration, characterized by white nodular lesions. Histologically, the pancreas showed severe interstitial and perilobular necrosis and extensive haemorrhages, with separation of the interstitium, mild reactive inflammation at the periphery of the pancreatic lobules. Liver showed multifocal foci of vacuolar degeneration, lipidic accumulation, sometimes associated to hepatocyte necrosis. A diagnosis of acute severe hemorrhagic-necrotizing pancreatitis (or acute pancreatic necrosis) associated with pancreatic and hepatic lipidosis was made. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case report of acute lethal pancreatitis in an Asian palm civet. Although the exact cause of the disease remains undetermined, a hypothesis of the cause and pathogenesis is discussed, pointing out dietary indiscretion and consequent overweight as possible important risk factors.

Background: Currently, a standardised technique to obtain pulse rate in reptiles is lacking. We evaluated the feasibility of obtaining a temporoorbital pulse rate in ball pythons of various ages and sizes and whether it agreed with the heart rate. Methods: Heart rate and pulse rate were recorded in 40 ball pythons (Python regius) weighing between 0.05 and 2.2 kg using a standard veterinary ultrasonic Doppler flow detector. The temporoorbital pulse rate was obtained on the dorsal aspect of the head at the level of the temporoorbital artery. Each measurement was performed in a randomised fashion by two operators, who were blinded to each other's results. Results: Pulse rate and heart rate were successfully obtained for all snakes. The median heart rate was 60 beats per minute (bpm) (range 48‒88 bpm), and the median pulse rate was 60 bpm (range 48‒88 bpm). The mean difference between the pulse rate and heart rate was 1.2 beats (95% limits of agreement: ‒10.6 to 13.0). When pulse rate and heart rate were measured at the same time, they were synchronous. Limitations: Only healthy snakes were included. Conclusions: Temporoorbital pulse rates can be easily obtained in ball pythons of any size. This novel method to assess peripheral pulse allows for a more complete cardiovascular evaluation in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the agreement between 3 point-of-care (POC) devices and a reference laboratory for measuring β-hydroxybutyrate (β-HB) concentration in African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) whole blood (WB) and plasma samples and the precision of each POC device for measuring β-HB concentration in plasma samples. ANIMALS 48 healthy African penguins. PROCEDURES Blood was obtained from the right jugular vein of each penguin, and β-HB concentration was measured on each POC device using fresh WB and heparinized plasma and at the reference laboratory using plasma. β-HB concentration was measured in plasma on each POC device. RESULTS All devices overestimated serum β-HB concentrations on average by 0.46 mM relative to the reference laboratory. WB samples had less error than plasma for meters A and C. Meter A had the lowest total error observed (26.4%) and the lowest mean difference (0.19 mmol/L) relative to the reference laboratory. Controlling for other factors, the magnitude of disagreement was not affected by sex, age, packed cell volume, or serum total solids concentration. CLINICAL RELEVANCE WB, not plasma, should be used for measurement of β-HB concentration on the POC meters tested. Meter A showed good correlation with the reference laboratory for WB. The use of POC devices for the measurement of β-HB concentration may be acceptable when laboratory analyzers are not available. Further research is needed for clinical application and the diagnostic value of POC meters compared with reference laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To determine (1) the relationship, (2) the difference, and (3) the diagnostic discordance between blood total calcium concentration (tCa) and ionized calcium concentration (iCa) in a population of client-owned chelonian patients. ANIMALS 161 consecutively admitted client-owned chelonians. PROCEDURES Results for tCa, iCa, and other variables were extracted from records. Bound calcium concentration (tea - iCa) was calculated. General linear models were developed to evaluate factors affecting tCa, iCa and bound calcium concentrations. Diagnostic discordance between tCa and iCa was assessed. RESULTS iCa decreased with increasing albumin concentration, it was not influenced by sex, and it was lower in chelonians with disorders of the reproductive tract than in those with disorders of the endocrine/hemopoietic and urinary systems. Total calcium and bound calcium concentrations increased with increasing albumin concentration; they were higher in females and in chelonians with disorders of the reproductive tract. Of the 161 chelonians, 93 (57.7%; 95% Cl, 49.7% to 65.5%) would have had a different diagnosis of calcium status based on tCa and iCa results (ie, diagnostic discordance). A 2.2 mmol/L cutoff value for bound calcium could differentiate chelonians with and without disorders of the reproductive tract with a sensitivity (95% CD of 81.8% (64.5% to 93.0%) and specificity of 76.4% (68.0% to 83.5%). CLINICALRELEVANCE tCa and iCa were related and were associated with albumin concentrations in chelonians. Evaluation of tCa or iCa alone is likely to result in underdiagnosis of alterations of the calcium status. Calculation of bound calcium concentration could help identify chelonians with reproductive disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present report is to describe feasibility and gross postmortem results of oblique prefemoral ovariectomy in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) performed by veterinarians in a teaching environment. Sixteen red-eared sliders were included in a teaching workshop. The turtles were anesthetized and placed in dorsolateral recumbency at an oblique 45-degree angle by use of folded towels. After prefemoral access to the celom and placement of a retractor with elastic bands, the ipsilateral follicles were exteriorized via gentle maneuvering with cotton tip applicators and excised after application of titanium clips and cautery with bipolar radiosurgery. On 14 of the 16 chelonians (87.5%) surgery was successfully completed. Of the two chelonians that did not have the surgical procedure completed, one had marked celomitis with adhesion of the ovaries to the liver and one had immature ovaries. At the end of the surgical procedures all chelonians were euthanized and postmortem was performed. The 14 chelonians that had surgery completed had no evident remaining ovarian tissue on gross postmortem. A survey completed by the attendants 9 mo after the workshop showed that a minority of the respondents (1/17) found the procedure difficult and that one of the seven respondents that performed the surgery after the workshop was not able to complete the procedure. This report indicates that oblique prefemoral ovariectomy in mature red-eared sliders can be effectively taught to veterinarians during a workshop, and that if the procedure is completed, the chances of leaving ovarian remnants are low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]