ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To characterize osteolytic lesions in cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) hospitalized for rehabilitation and describe methods used for the management of such lesions. ANIMALS: 25 stranded, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles hospitalized between 2008 and 2018. PROCEDURES: Medical records of sea turtles with a diagnosis of osteolytic lesions were reviewed retrospectively to obtain the date of diagnosis, clinical signs, radiographic findings, microbial culture results, hematologic and plasma biochemical data, cytologic and histologic findings, antimicrobial history, time to first negative culture result, treatment duration, and outcome. RESULTS: Lesions were identified radiographically a median of 50 days after admission and were located within epiphyses or metaphyses of various appendicular joints. Lesions were associated with periarticular swelling (n = 24), lameness (16), lethargy (2), and hyporexia (2). Bacterial culture yielded growth of single organisms (n = 16), multiple organisms (2), or no growth (6). Significant differences in hematologic and biochemical data were detected between the times of diagnosis and convalescence. Cytologic and histologic findings characterized the lesions as osteomyelitis leading to septic arthritis. Sixteen sea turtles were managed medically, and 8 were managed medically and surgically. Surgery resulted in rapid improvement in joint mobility and overall clinical status. Most (22/25 [88%]) sea turtles survived and were released after long-term management. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: During rehabilitation, cold-stunned Kemp's ridley sea turtles may be affected by osteomyelitis. Medical management based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing was effective for most turtles. Long term management efforts in turtles are justified by high survival rate.
Subject(s)
Osteomyelitis , Turtles , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Osteomyelitis/therapy , Osteomyelitis/veterinary , Plasma , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Patients receiving targeted cancer treatments such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been classified in the clinically extremely vulnerable group to develop severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) taking TKIs. In addition, concerns that immunocompromised individuals with solid and haematological malignancies may not mount an adequate immune response to a single dose of SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine have been raised. We evaluated humoral and cellular immune responses after a first injection of BNT162b2 vaccine in 16 CML patients. Seroconversion and cellular immune response prior and after vaccination were assessed. By day 21 post-vaccination, anti-Spike IgG were detected in 14/16 (87.5%) of CML patients and all developed a neutralizing antibody response (ID50>50), including medium (ID50 of 200-500) or high (501-2000) neutralising antibodies titres in 9/16 (56.25%) patients. T cell response was seen in 14/15 (93.3%) evaluable patients, with polyfunctional responses seen in 12/15 (80%) patients (polyfunctional CD4+ response 9/15, polyfunctional CD8+ T cell response 9/15). These data demonstrate the immunogenicity of a single dose of SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine in most CML patients with both neutralizing antibodies and polyfunctional T-cell responses seen, in contrast to patients with solid tumour or lymphoid haematological malignancies. FundingKings Together Rapid COVID-19 Call awards to MHM, KJD; A Huo Family Foundation Award to MHM, KJD; Chronic Disease Research Foundation award CDRF-22/2020 to KJD, MHM; Wellcome Trust Investigator Award 106223/Z/14/Z to MHM; CG was supported by the MRC-KCL Doctoral Training Partnership in Biomedical Sciences (MR/N013700/1); Fondation Dormeur, Vaduz for funding equipment to KJD
ABSTRACT
We quantified gallbladder volume in 30 clinically healthy, fasted, cats, using an ellipsoid formula. All cats had a complete blood count and serum chemistry profile performed. Fasting times before sonography ranged from 12 to 16 h. The median gallbladder volume was 2.42 ml, with a range of 0.84-4.50 ml. The mean gallbladder volume was 2.41 ml. This reference range will assist clinicians when evaluating cats with hepatobiliary disease or suspected extrahepatic biliary obstruction.