Absolute Erythrocytosis in a Sunda Wrinkled Hornbill (Aceros corrugatus).

A captive, 22-year-old, intact male Sunda wrinkled hornbill (Aceros corrugatus) was presented for an acute onset of open-mouth breathing and bilaterally drooped wings. An external physical examination revealed a moderately thin body condition, marked respiratory effort, and a significant heart murmur. Diagnostic blood testing revealed moderate azotemia and persistent erythrocytosis, initially documented 2 years before this event. Radiographic imaging revealed a subjectively enlarged heart and a right dorsal coelomic cavity mass. Further diagnostic testing included an echocardiogram and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirate of the right coelomic cavity mass, with cytology consistent with a carcinoma. The bird was euthanatized because of the poor prognosis. Necropsy and histopathology identified right atrioventricular valve hypertrophy with severe hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy of the right ventricular free wall, atherosclerosis of the great vessels and arteriosclerosis of myocardial vessels, severe hepatic extramedullary hematopoiesis, and pulmonary carcinoma of the right lung. In this case, erythrocytosis was considered a physiologic response to hypoxemia caused by the lung mass.

The hemic response of white-spotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) with inflammatory disease.

As elasmobranch medicine becomes more commonplace, there continues to be confusion with techniques and evaluation of the shark hemogram and it remains unknown if they are able to mount an inflammatory hemic response. The aims of this study were to compare two total white blood cell (WBC) count techniques, establish a reference interval for captive white-spotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum), and determine if elasmobranchs are capable of mounting an inflammatory hemic response. Correlation statistics were performed on hematologic results for healthy female bamboo sharks to assess the use of Natt-Herrick's and phloxine methods. Total WBC counts and differentials were obtained from males with severe traumatic clasper wounds and compared to the healthy females. We elected clasper amputation as the preferred treatment intervention and post-operative hematology was performed one month later. There was poor correlation of leukocyte counts between the two WBC count methods. Hematologic values were established for the females and males pre- and post-operatively. Males with wounds had a marked leukocytosis and heterophilia. Post-operative blood work showed a resolution of total WBC count and a trend toward resolution of the heterophilia. This study provides hematologic values for white-spotted bamboo sharks and confirms that the Natt-Herrick's method is preferred for lymphocytic species. Hematologic differences present in males with clasper wounds suggests that elasmobranchs do mount an inflammatory hemic response. Treatment via clasper amputation proved to be a safe and efficient means for clinical treatment that led to a trend toward resolution of the inflammatory leukogram. Zoo Biol. 35:251-259, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Fish Hematology and Associated Disorders.

Fish health is a growing concern as pets, education, and aquaculture evolves. For the veterinary staff, fish handling, diagnostics, medicine, and surgery may require specialized training and equipment in comparison with terrestrial and arboreal animals, simply because of their aquatic nature and diversity. Fish hematology is one diagnostic tool that may not require additional equipment, may be inexpensive, and provide useful information in guiding treatment options. Challenges involving hematology may include handling and restraint, venipuncture, evaluation, and interpretation. In this article, strategies for these challenges are discussed for teleost (bony fish) and elasmobranch (cartilaginous fish) fish types.

Fish hematology and associated disorders.

Fish health is a growing concern as pets, education, and aquaculture evolves. For the veterinary staff, fish handling, diagnostics, medicine, and surgery may require specialized training and equipment in comparison with terrestrial and arboreal animals, simply because of their aquatic nature and diversity. Fish hematology is one diagnostic tool that may not require additional equipment, may be inexpensive, and provide useful information in guiding treatment options. Challenges involving hematology may include handling and restraint, venipuncture, evaluation, and interpretation. In this article, strategies for these challenges are discussed for teleost (bony fish) and elasmobranch (cartilaginous fish) fish types.

Validation of an ultrasound-guided technique to establish a liver-to-coelom ratio and a comparative analysis of the ratios among acclimated and recently wild-caught southern stingrays, Dasyatis americana.

Southern stingrays, Dasyatis americana, are a well-represented elasmobranch species in public aquaria and other facilities throughout the world. This study was conducted at a facility that experienced some mortality and replenished the collection with wild-caught stingrays. A common necropsy finding among the stingrays was a small, dark liver. The objectives of this study were to assess the reliability of an ultrasound-guided technique for establishing a liver-to-coelom ratio by calculating the approximate length of the liver with respect to the coelomic cavity length and then to compare ratios between acclimated captive and wild-caught stingrays. The ultrasound validation phase of the study measured the distance from the caudal margin of the liver to the pelvic cartilaginous girdle and compared it to the actual distance measured during the necropsy or surgery. There was no significant difference found between the ultrasound and actual distance measurements (P = 0.945). This technique was then used to establish liver-to-coelom ratios and compare two groups of stingrays, presumably under different metabolic states at different periods. Liver-to-coelom ratios were established during initial examinations as well as 8 months after cohabitation in a touch pool exhibit. There were significant differences in liver-to-coelom ratios between the two stingray groups at introduction (median difference = 30.9%, P = 0.007) and after 8 months (median difference = 20.5%, P = 0.008). There were also significant differences in the liver-to-coelom ratios within each group at introduction and at 8 months (acclimated group median difference = 20.4%, P = 0.018; wild-caught group median difference 31%, P = 0.008).

A novel technique for orchiectomy and scrotal ablation in the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps).

In this report, we describe a simple, safe, and efficacious technique for orchiectomy and scrotal ablation with the use of a carbon dioxide light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (laser) in sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps). The study population included nine sugar gliders, ages 2-24 mo, presented for orchiectomy. After induction of general anesthesia, orchiectomy and scrotal ablation were performed by severing the scrotal stalk with the laser. All sugar gliders were discharged the same day. Mean anesthesia time was 6.09 +/- 0.94 min. Mean surgery time was 15.11 +/- 8.39 sec, and mean recovery time was 4.11 +/- 3.60 min. With an outlier removed, mean recovery time was 2.95 +/- 1.03 min. No serious postoperative surgical complications were observed. The technique described is a simple procedure with rapid surgical and recovery times that has the potential to become the standard procedure for orchiectomy and scrotal ablation in sugar gliders.