Search

The aim of this study was to determine whether serum levels of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone are significant diagnostic tools for the confirmation of specific reproductive diseases associated with hyperes - trogenism. Thirty-one adult ferrets (Mustela putorrius furo) were divided into five groups. The levels of serum 17beta-estradiol differed significantly when comparing females with ovarian tumors (817.80 ± 433.90 pmol/l) to intact (83.50 ± 32.53 pmol/l) and spayed, healthy females (73.17 ± 0.41 pmol/l) as well as to females with prolonged estrus (274.75 ± 192.40 pmol/l). Concentrations of serum progesterone differed significantly when comparing females with ovarian tumours (2.10 ± 1.85 ng/ml) to intact (0.40 ± 0.40 ng/ml) and spayed, healthy females (0.30 ± 0.12 ng/ml). Our study has made it clear that a determination of serum concentrations of 17-beta estradiol and progesterone is not sufficient for distinguishing between prolonged estrus and the presence of ovarian tumours. Therefore, it is advisable to employ other clinical procedures, such as ones allowing organ visualization. Increased concentrations of 17beta-estradiol in ferrets persisted for two weeks after hCG administration. This is particularly important in clinical practice, as negative effects of estrogens on bone marrow could persist for more than 14 days. Therefore, ferrets should be clinically monitored for a longer period of time.

The aim of this study was to present outbreaks of infections with presumptive viral aetiology in boid snakes kept in different private collections in the Czech Republic. A total number of 16 boid snakes ( Boa constric- tor) from five private snake collections were included in this study. The patients exhibited neurological depres - sion, dehydration, chronic anorexia, recurrent regurgitation of food, weak muscle tone and stargazing. The blood profile of patients was characterised by extremely low haematocrit. Hyperuricaemia, hypoglycaemia and/or high concentration of phosphorus were measured in some snakes, but not in all patients. All examined faecal samples were negative for the presence of any species of protozoan parasites as well as for eggs of metazoan parasites. Antibodies against the ophidian paramyxovirus in serum samples were determined by a haemagglutination-inhi - bition assay. This serologic assay was in the suspect range in one snake. Samples of different tissues from snakes that died or were euthanised were collected for necropsy and prepared for a histological examination. Histology results indicated IBD at least in six snakes, basophilic intracytoplasmatic inclusion bodies were detected in the liver, kidneys, lungs, intestine, stomach, hearth, spleen and pancreas of these patients. More specific assays are needed for the clinical diagnosis and control of viral infections in reptilian breeding collections.

A six year old male iguana (Iguana iguana) was brought to our clinic after a fall from a height of 1.5 meters. The patient showed apathy, dehydration, and paresis of all the limbs. Postural reflexes, palpebral reflex, and response to painful stimuli were minimal. The patient had extremely high levels of uric acid (1 734.0 µmol/l) and phosphorus (9.80 mmol/l), ratio of calcium to phosphorus (0.18), leucocytosis (23.3×10 9 /l) with heterophilia (17.10×10 9 /l), and high activity of ALT, AST and CK (2.09, 6.59, and 260.0 µkat/l). Tracheoscopy and pneumoscopy revealed presence of blood clots in the trachea and lungs with haemorrhage within the parenchyma. Based on the results of the clinical examination, endoscopy and laboratory diagnostics, the clinical diagnosis was chronic kidney failure, liver lipidosis and lung haemorrhage. Because of a very poor prognosis, the patient was eutha- nised. At necropsy, the signs of visceral gout and hepatomegaly with diffuse yellowish white discoloration and with dotted brown pigmentation were also observed. The kidneys were enlarged, and stained brown grayish. The gross and histopathological examination confirmed the clinical diagnosis of visceral gout, chronic kidney failure, liver steatosis and granulomatous pneumonia, with lung haemorrhage associated with urate deposits in lung tissue and posttraumatic status.