ABSTRACT
Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are classified as "vulnerable" species due to the low numbers persisting in the wild. Gastrointestinal diseases are very common in this species when they are kept in captivity, in particular gastritis. Clinical signs are predominantly characterized by vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss and anorexia. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of a multi-strain probiotic in two groups of cheetahs: Group A (n = 4)-rescued cheetahs housed at the Cheetah Conservation Fund (Otjiwarongo, Namibia); Group B (n = 9)-captive cheetahs housed in Italian zoos. Animals showed gastrointestinal signs of different severity, and were positive for Helicobacter spp., detected by PCR in stool samples. Two sachets of probiotic formulation were administered to all cheetahs once a day for 21 consecutive days. Clinical conditions (appetite loss, vomiting, stool consistency and Body Condition Score) before (T0) and after 21 days of probiotic administration (T1) were then compared using a simplified Feline Chronic Enteropathy Activity Index (FCEAI) score. A slight but not significant improvement in the scores was observed in Group A, which had mild intestinal symptoms, while a significant decrease in vomiting and stool consistency (**p < 0.01) scores was observed in Group B, which had more pronounced symptoms. Results suggest that high concentrations of live probiotics can be of help in managing gastrointestinal signs in cheetahs.
ABSTRACT
Two cases of epithelial implantation after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) treated by Nd:YAG laser and interface sweeping are described. A 40-year-old woman and 33-year-old man underwent SMILE and subsequently were noted to have epithelial cells implanted into the surgical interface. One case was treated using Nd:YAG laser. The laser was focused to the level of the interface with an energy level of 0.3 mJ. The treatment covered the entire area of epithelial implantation. The second case was treated by opening the original SMILE incision and sweeping the residual epithelial cells from the interface followed by a washout. Both the Nd:YAG laser and interface sweeping proved to be effective in reducing or eliminating the epithelial cells from the SMILE interface. Further studies are needed to report on overall safety and efficacy of these 2 techniques.
Subject(s)
Epithelium, Corneal/pathology , Intraoperative Complications/pathology , Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ/adverse effects , Lasers, Solid-State , Myopia/surgery , Adult , Corneal Stroma/surgery , Corneal Topography , Epithelium, Corneal/surgery , Female , Humans , Intraoperative Complications/surgery , Male , Refraction, Ocular/physiology , Slit Lamp Microscopy , Visual Acuity/physiologySubject(s)
Acinonyx/microbiology , Barrett Esophagus/veterinary , Gastritis/veterinary , Helicobacter Infections/veterinary , Helicobacter pylori/isolation & purification , Animals , Animals, Wild/microbiology , Barrett Esophagus/microbiology , Gastritis/microbiology , Helicobacter Infections/diagnosis , Helicobacter Infections/microbiology , Helicobacter pylori/genetics , Helicobacter pylori/physiology , MaleABSTRACT
The histologic and immunohistochemical features of a case of mammary gland carcinoma are described in a 14-yr-old female tiger (Panthera tigris). Immunoreactivity to estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), tumoral protein 53 (p53), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) was investigated. Neoplastic cells were negative for ER, PR, and p53 but showed positivity for VEGF, HER-2, and COX-2, both in the primary and the metastatic lesions. Histopathologic findings and immunohistochemistry results suggested that the malignant behavior of the reported case could be comparable with some aggressive cat mammary carcinomas.
