ABSTRACT
Two gopher snakes (Pitophis melanoleucus catenifer) each were given 5 mg/kg body weight gentamicin every 72 hours (group 1); two snakes each were given 5 mg/kg/day (group 2). Doses for both groups were given over a 2-week period. After the second week, the dose for one snake in each group was increased to 50 mg/kg/day for 2 more weeks and then discontinued. Weekly renal biopsies taken from snakes in group 1 showed no abnormalities by light microscopy during and at the completion of the experiment. Snakes in group 2 had cloudy swelling of the proximal tubules at 2 and 4 weeks after the gentamicin was administered. Snakes given the high dose of gentamicin had hydropic degeneration of the proximal tubules 2 weeks after the dose was raised to 50 mg/kg/day. This progressed to tubular necrosis 1 week after the gentamicin was discontinued. These snakes (high dose) also developed visceral gout, apparently as the result of the extensive tubular necrosis. Tophi were in the pericardium, serosal membranes and parenchyma of the kidneys, liver, spleen and lungs.
Subject(s)
Animals, Zoo , Gentamicins/toxicity , Gout/veterinary , Kidney Diseases/veterinary , Snakes , Animals , Gout/chemically induced , Kidney Diseases/chemically induced , Kidney Diseases/pathology , Kidney Tubules, Proximal/pathology , Liver/pathologyABSTRACT
The effect of feeding on plasma-uric acid concentrations of the snake was studied. The values were monitored in 2 gopher snakes and 2 black rat snakes which were fed mice. Plasma uric acid values in snakes increased after eating and gradually returned to base line with the digestion of the mice. Uric acid concentrations were greater in snakes eating 2 mice than in those eating only 1 mouse. The base-line plasma uric acid concentration in snakes was approximately 2 to 5 mg/dl. Plasma uric acid concentrations may be useful in making a diagnosis of gout. Presence of gout is usually indicated by increased uric acid concentrations; however, interpretation of these concentrations should be based on information about the feeding schedule.
Subject(s)
Eating , Snakes/blood , Uric Acid/blood , Animals , Fasting/veterinaryABSTRACT
Blood volume determinations were performed in 5 anesthetized gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus catenifer) by means of a 51Cr-labeled red blood cell (RBC) method. The mean blood volume was 52.8 ml/kg of body weight (+/- 6.21 SE). Previous blood volume measurements have not been reported for this species. The RBC survival rate was estimated to be greater than 660 days. The RBC survival rate is long, but it cannot be determined accurately by this method.
