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Three African spurred tortoises (Centrochelys sulcata) were referred for inappetence and lethargy of 1 week’s duration. On presentation, one animal was confirmed dead and submitted for necropsy. The conspecifics were treated symptomatically for upper respiratory tract disease. The deceased individual tested negative for Herpes-, Rana- and Picornavirus but positive forMycoplasma agassizii by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), however, without exhibiting pathological changes consistent with this infection. Instead, systemic mycosis was diagnosed, with isolation of Candida steatolytica. This allowed effective targeted treatment of the remaining animals. Candida steatolytica is commonly isolated from rotting fruits and has so far been rarely associated with clinical disease. In the present cases, the most likely source of infection was pruned vine shoots and leaves, which the tortoises had access to in their outdoor paddock. This case highlights the significance of rapid and comprehensive post-mortem diagnostics with swift interdisciplinary communication to allow effective handling of challenging cases.

Multiple occurrences of yolk sac retention prompted a retrospective investigation in a recently formed colony of captive Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). Necropsy reports of 141 parent-reared penguin chicks that died between January 2014 and December 2018 were reviewed for evidence of yolk sac retention, defined as the presence of a yolk sac at postmortem examination of a chick aged 7 d or greater, and analyzed by demographic and pathological variables for identification of risk factors. Fifty-nine (65%) chicks that died at age 7 d or greater had a retained yolk sac at postmortem examination, revealing that this was a common condition in penguins in this population. Chicks that retained their yolk sac were also more likely to present with minimal gut contents (P = 0.02), have a prominent bursa of Fabricius (P < 0.01), and be the first chick hatched of their clutch (P = 0.02). Parental experience and age were not predictive of yolk sac retention, but there was a trend for chicks with retained yolk sacs to present with a poorer body condition, reduced weight, and reduced crown-rump length compared to chicks without a retained yolk sac. Histopathological and bacteriological findings of retained yolk sacs were not significantly different from those of chicks under 7 d of age. Although likely to be multifactorial, the association between yolk sac retention and indicators of suboptimal feed intake and growth (empty gastrointestinal tract, poor body condition score, decreased crown-rump length, and decreased weight at death) is hypothesized to be a result of parental neglect, leading to starvation and absorption arrest of the yolk, as previously indicated in broiler chicks.

Subacute ruminal acidosis is a common disease in captive non-domesticated ruminants and is mainly diagnosed by rumen fluid pH and rumen histology. Furthermore, differences in ruminant gastrointestinal histology have been hypothesized to correlate with the browser-grazer continuum. Twelve surplus addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus) were divided into two groups, fed either their usual diet, consisting of a concentrate feed with a limited amount of hay, or a diet of unlimited hay only, for 3 months. After culling, descriptive and morphometric histology and pH measurements were compared between groups. Significant variations in cellular subpopulations were noted between groups, with roughage-fed individuals presenting primarily with balloon cells of the Stratum corneum and living layer cell vacuolization, whereas parakeratosis and intermediate-type cells were more frequent in the concentrate-fed group. Lesions typical of subacute ruminal acidosis were significantly more pronounced in concentrate-fed individuals. Ruminal pH measurements did not differ significantly, but were more consistent in forage-fed individuals, indicating a more stable reticuloruminal environment. The results indicate that ruminal histology may be more appropriate in assessing ruminal health compared to a single post-mortem pH measurement. It is proposed that Stratum corneum balloon cells may indicate cell maturation and not, as previously assumed, hyperfunction. Concentrate-fed individuals scored higher on the presence of inflammatory cells on hoof corium histology. The study further emphasizes the adaptability of ruminant digestive tract microanatomy in adult animals even after a short period of time and the positive effects an increased roughage diet may have in populations of captive grazing ruminants.

A two-and-half-year-old male neutered rabbit was referred for investigation of intermittent urinary disease of 13 months in duration. Case work-up led to the diagnosis of unilateral hydroureteronephrosis following obstructive ureterolithiasis. The establishment of contralateral kidney function before ureteronephrectomy constituted a particular diagnostic challenge. This was assessed by a combination of imaging, serum biochemistry, urine protein to creatinine ratio and γ-glutamyltransferase index. Ureteronephrectomy was subsequently performed, with initial remission of all clinical signs. However, an adhesion of mesenteric adipose tissue to the caecum was identified and resected following frequent re-presentation. At the time of submission (800 days following initial surgery), the rabbit was still alive and healthy. The successful outcome may indicate a more favourable prognosis for rabbits with unilateral ureteronephrolithiasis and/or hydroureteronephrosis than is historically proposed.

We describe cases of collyriclosis in apodiform and passeriform birds in Portugal, Switzerland, and Germany. We extend the host range of Collyriculm faba to include apodiform birds ( Apus apus , Apus melba , and Apus pallidus ) and the passerine Sitta europaea (Eurasian Nuthatch). Infections varied in severity from an incidental finding to severe debilitation and death. The infection route remains unclear with the apparent absence from Germany, Portugal, and Switzerland of the first intermediate host of C. faba, the aquatic gastropod Bythinella austriaca, implying that other organisms might be involved in the parasite's life cycle. Furthermore, the detection of C. faba cysts in very young passerine birds may indicate an infection during the nestling stage and a rapid development of parasite-containing subcutaneous cysts. This series of cases highlights an increased geographic range into Portugal and the potential debilitating nature of a parasite of migratory birds in Europe. However, given the rarity of cases, collyriclosis does not seem to present an important threat to migratory species preservation. publishersversion published

An adult, wild-caught electric eel ( Electrophorus electricus), weighing 18 kg and measuring 2 m in length, presented with bilateral swellings behind the pectoral fins, lethargy, and anorexia for 2 days. Anesthesia was performed with immersion in tricaine methanesulphonate and supplemented with 0.11 mg/kg medetomidine and 2.2 mg/kg ketamine intramuscularly. Endoscopy revealed blood in the oral and gastric cavity. The stomach was grossly enlarged, flaccid, and contained a lead wire which was removed manually. Blood lead values were severely elevated. The fish was treated with 28 mg/kg calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate intramuscularly every 72 hr for 5 doses, which resulted in an improved clinical condition. Because lead values had not decreased to normal values within 4 wk of initial presentation, 35 mg/kg dimercaptosuccinic acid was given orally twice weekly for 3 wk. The electric eel made a full recovery.

Differences in macroscopic measurements of the gastrointestinal tract have been hypothesized to correlate with the browser–grazer continuum in the natural diet of ruminants. However, to what extent these characteristics represent species-specific traits, or respond to the actually ingested diet, remains to be investigated. Twelve surplus addax antelope (Addax nasomaculatus) were divided into two groups and fed, for 3 months, either their usual diet, consisting of a concentrate feed with a limited amount of hay, or a diet of unlimited hay only. After culling, macroscopic measurements were compared between groups. The macroscopic anatomy of the addax showed many characteristics considered typical for grazing or ‘cattle-type’ ruminants. While both diet groups had mesenteric, pericardial and perirenal adipose tissue, these depots were subjectively more pronounced in concentrate-fed animals. Hay-fed animals had significantly heavier filled forestomach compartments, with corresponding significantly longer linear measurements. Masseter muscles and the surface of first-order omasal leaves were significantly more prominent in hay-fed animals, reflecting possible adaptations to overcome resistance of grass forage and to reabsorb fluid from increased rumination, but differences were not as distinct as reported between ‘cattle-type’ and ‘moose-type’ ruminants. Some measurements such as reticular crests and empty foregut mass remained stable between groups, indicating possibly genetically pre-defined characteristics less prone to change in adult life. The results emphasize the adaptability of ruminant digestive tract anatomy in adult animals even after a short period of time, but also suggest limits to this adaptability that reveals a species-specific anatomy regardless of the diet actually consumed.

Δέκα αίγeς φυλής Μικρόσωμης Αφρικάνικης (pygmy goats) και πέντe πρόβατα φυλής Καμeρούν από το Αττικό Ζωολογικό Πάρκο που βρίσκeται στα Σπάτα Αττικής eξeτάσθηκαν για κάποιeς παραμέτρους υγeίας. Συγκeκριμένα, έγινe πλήρης κλινική eξέταση, γeνική eξέταση αίματος, βιοχημικές eξeτάσeις στον ορό του αίματος, eλέγχθηκe η ύπαρξη ή μη lenti-ιών των μικρών μηρυκαστικών μe ορολογικές eξeτάσeις και P CR στο ολικό αίμα, έγιναν eξeτάσeις στο γάλα για την ύπαρξη παθογόνων μικροοργανισμών που προκαλούν κλινική ή υποκλινική μαστίτιδα, καθώς και παρασιτολογική eξέταση κοπράνων. Τα eυρήματα συγκρίθηκαν μe τα δeδομένα της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας της σχeτικής μe τις 2 αυτές eξωτικές φυλές μικρών μηρυκαστικών. Τα eυρήματα των αιματολογικών και βιοχημικών eξeτάσeων συγκρίθηκαν μe eκeίνα της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας για τις νανόμορφeς αίγeς, κάτι που δeν έγινe για τα πρόβατα της φυλής Καμeρούν, καθώς η παρούσα έρeυνα eίναι η πρώτη αναφορά στην διeθνή βιβλιογραφία σχeτικά μe τα αιματολογικά και βιοχημικά eυρήματα σe πρόβατα αυτής της φυλής. Όλα τα ζώα που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν σe αυτή τη μeλέτη ήταν κλινικά υγιή και βρέθηκαν απαλλαγμένα από παθογόνους παράγοντeς που eίναι πολύ διαδeδομένοι στα μικρά μηρυκαστικά στην Eλλάδα.

The mara (Dolichotis patagonum) is a species classified as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In the wild, it inhabits only Argentina, but it is also kept in zoos around the world. In order to investigate the endoparasites of the maras kept in the Attica Zoological Park, Greece, four fecal examinations were performed in a period of 4 yr (2008–2011) by standard parasitologic methods. Cysts of the protozoan parasite Giardia spp. and eggs of the nematode Trichuris spp. were found in all four examinations. The possible routes of infection of the maras and the importance of these parasites to other animals and to humans are discussed.