ABSTRACT
Invertebrates, including arachnids, are a common taxon in zoological collections. Invertebrate medicine and pathology are emerging subspecialties, but there is limited reference material or published resources describing histologic lesions in arachnids. Histopathology of 26 captive arachnids (20 spiders and 6 scorpions) from institutional collections was reviewed. Most animals were found dead with limited clinical signs. Tissues evaluated included body wall (cuticle and epidermis), skeletal muscle, book lungs, digestive tract (pharynx, esophagus, sucking stomach, midgut tube, midgut diverticula, and stercoral pocket), central and peripheral nervous system, heart, hemolymph vessels and sinuses, Malpighian tubules, coxal glands, and gonads. Inflammation was frequent (24/26, 92%), and seen in multiple organs (18/24, 75%) with the midgut diverticulum most commonly affected (14/24, 58%) followed by the book lungs (13/24 arachnids, 54%), and body wall (8/24 arachnids, 33%). Inflammation comprised hemocyte accumulation, hemocytic coagula, melanization, and nodulation. Infectious agents, including bacteria (11/26, 42%), fungi (10/26, 38%), and parasites (2/26, 8%), were seen within inflammatory aggregates. Coinfection with multiple infectious agents was common (6/24, 25%). No etiologic agent was identified in 7/24 (29%) cases with inflammatory lesions. Lesions suggestive of decreased nutritional status or increased metabolic rate included midgut diverticula atrophy in 11/26 (42%) animals and skeletal muscle atrophy in 6/26 (23%) animals. Atrophic lesions were seen in combination with infection (8/11, 73%), pregnancy (2/11, 18%), male sex (2/11, 18%), or without other lesions (1/11, 9%). Other suspected contributors to death included dysecdysis-associated trauma (2/26, 8%) and uterine intussusception (1/26, 4%). No animals had neoplasia.
Subject(s)
Arachnida , Spiders , Animals , Male , Retrospective Studies , Scorpions , Gastrointestinal TractABSTRACT
The Turtle Rescue Team (TRT) at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine currently sees over 500 chelonian cases a year. Each turtle receives a thorough physical examination as the main evaluation of its health because further diagnostics are cost prohibitive in a donation-based facility. Thus, there is a need to further understand how a few economical diagnostics can evaluate the prognosis of chelonians. The objectives were to evaluate lactate, PCV, total solids, glucose, temperature, and HR as prognostic indicators in multiple chelonian species and to determine how the change in lactate concentrations over a 24 h period affects prognosis. Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), yellow-bellied sliders (Trachemys scripta scripta), river cooters (Pseudemys concinna), painted turtles (Chrysemys picta), and common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) were evaluated because of prevalence of presentation to the TRT, differences in habitat, and differences in physiology. Hyperlactatemia, an increased lactate over 24 h when the initial lactate concentration was greater than 5 mM/L, and anemia were determined to be significant prognostic indicators of mortality for all turtles, and hypoglycemia was a significant prognostic indicator of mortality for male turtles (P < 0.05).
Subject(s)
Turtles , Animals , Animals, Wild , Ecosystem , Humans , Male , Prognosis , Reptiles , Turtles/physiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Copper is frequently used as an algicide, and copper ion generators such as the Aquascape IonGen claim to be safe for use in systems containing fish. In 2012, a die-off of koi (Cyprinus carpio) in a pond in Raleigh, North Carolina, occurred after the IonGen was added to the system. METHODS: Physical and postmortem examinations suggested that heavy metal toxicity was the likely cause of morbidity and mortality. This was supported by a heavy metal screening of the owners' pond. Additional experiments were performed to determine if the IonGen produced toxic levels of copper and zinc. RESULTS: The tank containing the IonGen had higher concentrations of copper and zinc, and copper levels exceeded those associated with toxicity in both hard and soft water. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that ion generators might not be safe for fish, and copper should only be used as an algicide if concentrations are closely monitored.
