INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF MIDAZOLAM HYDROCHLORIDE IMPROVES SURVIVAL IN FEMALE SURF SCOTERS (MELANITTA PERSPICILLATA) SURGICALLY IMPLANTED WITH INTRACOELOMIC TRANSMITTERS.

The intracoelomic implantation of satellite transmitters is associated with lower survival in surf scoters (Melanitta perspicillata) compared with other species of diving ducks, potentially due to physiologic alterations following physical exertion and stress caused by handling and confinement. The effect of intranasal administration of midazolam hydrochloride on survival of surf scoters surgically implanted with intracelomic transmitters was evaluated. Shortly after their capture in Forestville (QC, Canada) in the fall of 2013, 26 randomly selected adult female surf scoters were administered midazolam hydrochloride (4.6-5.9 mg/kg) intranasally. The same volume of saline (1 mL) was given to another 26 adult female surf scoters as a control group. All birds were surgically implanted with an intracoelomic transmitter equipped with a percutaneous antenna. Transmitters were programmed to transmit 2 hr each day for 30 days after implantation, and mortality was estimated for each group using the telemetry data. The association between the administration of midazolam and survival was assessed while controlling for other factors such as body mass, transmitter-mass-to-body-mass ratio, hematocrit, total solids, and duration of surgery, anesthesia, and confinement. The odds of presumed death in the saline group were 5.3 times higher than in the midazolam group (95% confidence interval: 1.7, 19.0; P = 0.004). The presumed mortality at 30 days for the midazolam group (23%) was lower than for the saline group (61%). No other variable was significantly associated with survival. These results suggest that sedation with midazolam shortly after capture increased the postsurgical survival of female surf scoters surgically implanted with intracoelomic transmitters.

Agreement between Repeated Subjective Visual Evaluations of Body Condition of St. Lawrence Beluga Whale ( Delphinapterus leucas) Carcasses Using a Visual Analog Scale.

The determination of body condition is a fundamental component of an evaluation during postmortem examinations of cetaceans. Three veterinarians experienced in beluga postmortem techniques subjectively evaluated 62 carcasses of beluga whales ( Delphinapterus leucas) in duplicate, using a visual analog scale. The result of evaluation and scoring was repeatable in cachectic animals and animals in very good condition but did not capture the continuum of body condition determinations between the obvious visual conditions.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris).

A cutaneous mass was surgically excised in a 4-year-old African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris). A squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed based on histopathological examination and local recurrence following excision is strongly suspected. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first well-documented report of a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in this species.

Carcinome squameux cutané chez un hérisson pygmée d'Afrique(Atelerix albiventris). Une masse cutanée a été excisée par chirurgie chez un hérisson pygmée d'Afrique âgé de 4 ans (Atelerix albiventris). Un carcinome squameux a été diagnostiqué en se basant sur un examen histopathologique et la récurrence locale est fortement soupçonnée après l'excision. À la connaissance des auteurs, il s'agit du premier rapport bien documenté d'un carcinome squameux chez cette espèce.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Anatomic and molecular characterization of the endocrine pancreas of a teleostean fish: Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus).

BACKGROUND: The biologic attributes of the endocrine pancreas and the comparative endocrinology of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) of fish are not well described in the literature. This study describes the endocrine pancreasof one teleostean fish. Ten captive Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)from the Montreal Biodome were submitted for necropsy and their pancreata were collected. RESULTS: Grossly, all the fish pancreata examined contained 1-3 nodules of variable diameter (1-8 mm). Microscopically, the nodules were uniform, highly cellular, and composed of polygonal to elongated cells. Immunofluorescence for pancreatic hormones was performed. The nodules were immunoreactive for insulin most prominent centrally, but with IAPP and glucagon only in the periphery of the nodules. Exocrine pancreas was positive for chromogranin A. Not previously recognized in fish, IAPP immunoreactivity occurred in α, glucagon-containing, cells and did not co-localize with insulin in ß cells. The islet tissues were devoid of amyloid deposits. IAPP DNA sequencing was performed to compare the sequence among teleost fish and the potency to form amyloid fibrils. In silico analysis of the amino acid sequences 19-34 revealed that it was not amyloidogenic. CONCLUSIONS: Amyloidosis of pancreatic islets would not be expected as a spontaneous disease in the Atlantic wolffish. Our study underlines that this teleost fish is a potential candidate for pancreatic xenograft research.

Mortality and morbidity associated with gunshot in raptorial birds from the province of Quebec: 1986 to 2007.

Although raptors have been protected for decades in Quebec they are still regular victims of poaching. The objective of this study was to characterize cases of raptor shootings in Quebec over the last 2 decades. We reviewed clinical files, radiographs, and pathology reports on 4805 free-flying birds of prey admitted to the Faculté de médecine vétérinaire between 1986 and 2007. Evidence of gunshots was detected in 6.4% of the birds. Large species, such as ospreys, turkey vultures, snowy owls, and bald eagles represented the most frequently targeted species. The percentage of shot birds has decreased from 13.4% during 1991 to 1992 to 2.2% in 2006 to 2007. Potential reasons for this trend include a decrease in the presence of firearms in raptor habitats and changes in human attitude towards raptorial birds.