Acute necrotizing colitis with pneumatosis intestinalis in an Amazonian manatee calf.

On 25 January 2014, a 1 mo old female Amazonian manatee Trichechus inunguis calf weighing 12 kg was rescued by air transport in Guajará, Brazil, and transferred to Mamirauá Institute's Community-based Amazonian Manatee Rehabilitation Center. The calf presented piercing/cutting lesions on the back, neck, and head, in addition to dehydration and intermittent involuntary buoyancy. X-ray analysis revealed a large amount of gases in the gastrointestinal tract. Daily procedures included wound cleaning and dressing, clinical and laboratory monitoring, treatment for intestinal tympanism, and artificial feeding. Adaptation to the nursing formula included 2 kinds of whole milk. Up to 20 d post-rescue the calf presented appetite, was active, and gained weight progressively. Past this period the calf started losing weight and presented constant involuntary buoyancy and died after 41 d in rehabilitation. The major findings at necropsy were pneumatosis intestinalis in cecum and colon, pulmonary edema, and hepatomegaly. The microscopic examination revealed pyogranulomatous and necrohemohrragic colitis with multinucleated giant cells, acute multifocal lymphadenitis with lymphoid depletion in cortical and paramedullary regions of mesenteric lymph nodes, and diffuse severe acinar atrophy of the pancreas. Anaerobic cultures of fragments of cecum and colon revealed colonies genotyped as Clostridium perfringens type A. We speculate that compromised immunity, thermoregulatory failure, and intolerance to artificial diet may have been contributing factors to the infection, leading to enterotoxemia and death.

Exposure to rabies virus in a population of free-ranging capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus) in a fragmented, environmentally protected area in southeastern Brazil.

The aim of this study is to assess the frequency of rabies antibodies in free-ranging capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella nigritus) in a fragmented, environmentally protected, rural area of southeastern Brazil. Thirty-six free-ranging monkeys were tested by the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test for detection of antibodies against rabies virus. Four individuals (11.11 %) had neutralizing antibody titers ≥ 0.25 IU/mL, demonstrating rabies virus exposure.

Anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em animais selvagens do zoológico municipal de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in wild animals from Ribeirão Preto city zoo in São Paulo State, Brazil

A leptospirose acomete todos os animais domésticos, selvagens e os seres humanos. Alguns estudos sorológicos realizados têm demonstrado o envolvimento de espécies selvagens na epidemiologia da doença. Uma vez que populações cativas de animais selvagens são pouco estudadas, principalmente no Brasil, o presente estudo teve como objetivo a detecção de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em animais selvagens de cativeiro e de vida livre do Zoológico Municipal de Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Durante o período de março a outubro de 2006 foram colhidas 403 amostras de sangue das quais 388 animais (110 répteis, 143 aves, 110 mamíferos e 25 peixes) e 15 amostras de funcionários do zoológico Dentre as 388 amostras de animais, 339 eram animais cativos e 49 eram animais de vida livre capturados pelo uso de armadilhas. Os soros sanguíneos foram analisados por meio da prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) utilizando-se antígenos de 22 sorovares de leptospiras patogênicas e dois sorovares de leptospiras não patogênicas. Foram reagentes para leptospirose 103 (103/388 = 26,5%) amostras, sendo 92 (92/339 = 27,1%) amostras de animais cativos e 11 (11/49 = 22,4%) de animais de vida livre. As 15 amostras de soro humanas foram negativas. Os títulos sorológicos nas amostras reagentes variaram de 40 a 5.120 com predominância dos títulos 40 e 80 e os sorovares Patoc, Andamana, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae e Panama foram os mais frequentes.

Leptospirosis may affect all domestic and wild animals as well as human beings. Some serological studies have shown the involvement of wild species in the epidemiology of the disease. Once captive wild animals are not much studied, especially in Brazil, the present study aimed to detect anti- Leptospira spp. antibodies in animals from Ribeirão Preto city zoo, in São Paulo state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from captive birds, fish, reptiles and mammals, sinanthropics and free-living animals and also from employees between March and October, 2006. Four hundred and three blood samples were obtained, 388 animals’ samples (110 reptiles, 143 birds, 110 mammals and 25 fish) and 15 humans’. The sera were analysed by Microscopic Agglutination Test using 22 serovars from pathological leptospiras and two from non-pathological serovars. Among the animal samples, 339 were from captive animals, and 49 from free-living ones, captured with traps inside the zoo. One hundred and three (103/388 = 26.5%) samples reacted to leptospirosis, ninety-two (92/339 = 27.1%) samples were from captive animals and eleven (11/49 = 22.4%) from freeliving ones. All humans’ samples were negative. Serological titles varied from 40 to 5.120, with predominance of titles between 40 and 80 and the most frequent serovars were Patoc, Andamana, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Panama.

Anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em animais selvagens do zoológico municipal de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in wild animals from Ribeirão Preto city zoo in São Paulo State, Brazil

A leptospirose acomete todos os animais domésticos, selvagens e os seres humanos. Alguns estudos sorológicos realizados têm demonstrado o envolvimento de espécies selvagens na epidemiologia da doença. Uma vez que populações cativas de animais selvagens são pouco estudadas, principalmente no Brasil, o presente estudo teve como objetivo a detecção de anticorpos anti-Leptospira spp. em animais selvagens de cativeiro e de vida livre do Zoológico Municipal de Ribeirão Preto, estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Durante o período de março a outubro de 2006 foram colhidas 403 amostras de sangue das quais 388 animais (110 répteis, 143 aves, 110 mamíferos e 25 peixes) e 15 amostras de funcionários do zoológico Dentre as 388 amostras de animais, 339 eram animais cativos e 49 eram animais de vida livre capturados pelo uso de armadilhas. Os soros sanguíneos foram analisados por meio da prova de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) utilizando-se antígenos de 22 sorovares de leptospiras patogênicas e dois sorovares de leptospiras não patogênicas. Foram reagentes para leptospirose 103 (103/388 = 26,5%) amostras, sendo 92 (92/339 = 27,1%) amostras de animais cativos e 11 (11/49 = 22,4%) de animais de vida livre. As 15 amostras de soro humanas foram negativas. Os títulos sorológicos nas amostras reagentes variaram de 40 a 5.120 com predominância dos títulos 40 e 80 e os sorovares Patoc, Andamana, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae e Panama foram os mais frequentes.(AU)

Leptospirosis may affect all domestic and wild animals as well as human beings. Some serological studies have shown the involvement of wild species in the epidemiology of the disease. Once captive wild animals are not much studied, especially in Brazil, the present study aimed to detect anti- Leptospira spp. antibodies in animals from Ribeirão Preto city zoo, in São Paulo state, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from captive birds, fish, reptiles and mammals, sinanthropics and free-living animals and also from employees between March and October, 2006. Four hundred and three blood samples were obtained, 388 animals samples (110 reptiles, 143 birds, 110 mammals and 25 fish) and 15 humans. The sera were analysed by Microscopic Agglutination Test using 22 serovars from pathological leptospiras and two from non-pathological serovars. Among the animal samples, 339 were from captive animals, and 49 from free-living ones, captured with traps inside the zoo. One hundred and three (103/388 = 26.5%) samples reacted to leptospirosis, ninety-two (92/339 = 27.1%) samples were from captive animals and eleven (11/49 = 22.4%) from freeliving ones. All humans samples were negative. Serological titles varied from 40 to 5.120, with predominance of titles between 40 and 80 and the most frequent serovars were Patoc, Andamana, Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Panama.(AU)

Contenção farmacológica da irara (eira Barbara linnaeus, 1758) pela associação de tiletamina, zolazepam, xilazina e atropina / Chemical restraint of the tayra (eira barbara linnaeus, 1758) by tiletamine, zolazepam, xilazine and atropine association

Sete iraras (Eira Barbara) adultas saudáveis, sendo cinco fêmeas e dois machos, com massas variando entre 4,20 e 7,55 kg (5,44±1,22), receberam por via intramuscular, em uma única injeção, doses de tiletamina, zolazepam, xilazina e atropina, calculadas por meio de extrapolação alómétrica interespecífica, a partir das recomendações usuais para o cão doméstico de 10,0 kg (tiletamina/zolazepam – 5,0 mg/kg, xilazina – 1,0 mg/kg e atropina – 0,05 mg/kg). Os animais perderam a reação postural de endireitamento em 2,5±1,3 minutos pós-injeção (MPI), e recuperam a capacidade de deambular normalmente em 248,7 ± 80,6 MPI. A freqüência cardíaca variou de 88 a 216 batimentos por minuto (148±26), a freqüência respiratória de 20 a 152 movimentos por minuto (52±28), e a temperatura retal, de 34,8 a 40,5°C (37,8±1,3). A analgesia e o miorrelaxamento foram considerados excelentes. A recuperação, apesar de prolongada, foi considerada boa e, 71,44% dos casos. O método de extrapolação alométrica demonstrou ser eficaz para o cálculo de doses nessa espécie. A associação de fármacos foi eficiente e segura e pode ser utilizada para a realização de procedimentos clínicos e de manejo, medianamente dolorosos ou indolores em iraras

Five female and two male healthy tayras (Eira Barbara) weighting between 4,200 and 7,550 kg (5,44±1,22) were given tiletamine hydrocloide, zolazepam hydrochloride, xylazine hydrochloride, and atropine sulfate, combined in a single intramuscular injection. All doses were calculated by interspecific allometric scaling, using as model a 10.0 kg domestic dog (tiletamine/zolazepam – 5.0 mg/kg, xilazine – 1.0 mg/kg, and atropine – 0.05 mg/kg). In all individuals the immobilization was fast and occurred between 2.5 ± minutes. Heart rates remained between 88 and 216 beats/minute (148 ± 26), respiratory rates between 20 and 152 breaths/minute (52±28), and the body temperature ranged from 24.8 to 40.5°C (37.8±1.3). Analgesia and myorelaxation were considered excellent. Recovery was considered good in 74.44% of the cases, but prolonged. Normal ambulation was observed between 248.7±80.6 minutes. The proposed anesthetic protocol was safe and effective, and can be indicated for routine management and moderate painful procedures in captive and free-living tayras. The allometric scaling method proved to be an useful tool for the practing zoo veterinarian

Contenção farmacológica da irara (eira Barbara linnaeus, 1758) pela associação de tiletamina, zolazepam, xilazina e atropina / Chemical restraint of the tayra (eira barbara linnaeus, 1758) by tiletamine, zolazepam, xilazine and atropine association

Sete iraras (Eira Barbara) adultas saudáveis, sendo cinco fêmeas e dois machos, com massas variando entre 4,20 e 7,55 kg (5,44±1,22), receberam por via intramuscular, em uma única injeção, doses de tiletamina, zolazepam, xilazina e atropina, calculadas por meio de extrapolação alómétrica interespecífica, a partir das recomendações usuais para o cão doméstico de 10,0 kg (tiletamina/zolazepam 5,0 mg/kg, xilazina 1,0 mg/kg e atropina 0,05 mg/kg). Os animais perderam a reação postural de endireitamento em 2,5±1,3 minutos pós-injeção (MPI), e recuperam a capacidade de deambular normalmente em 248,7 ± 80,6 MPI. A freqüência cardíaca variou de 88 a 216 batimentos por minuto (148±26), a freqüência respiratória de 20 a 152 movimentos por minuto (52±28), e a temperatura retal, de 34,8 a 40,5°C (37,8±1,3). A analgesia e o miorrelaxamento foram considerados excelentes. A recuperação, apesar de prolongada, foi considerada boa e, 71,44% dos casos. O método de extrapolação alométrica demonstrou ser eficaz para o cálculo de doses nessa espécie. A associação de fármacos foi eficiente e segura e pode ser utilizada para a realização de procedimentos clínicos e de manejo, medianamente dolorosos ou indolores em iraras(AU)

Five female and two male healthy tayras (Eira Barbara) weighting between 4,200 and 7,550 kg (5,44±1,22) were given tiletamine hydrocloide, zolazepam hydrochloride, xylazine hydrochloride, and atropine sulfate, combined in a single intramuscular injection. All doses were calculated by interspecific allometric scaling, using as model a 10.0 kg domestic dog (tiletamine/zolazepam 5.0 mg/kg, xilazine 1.0 mg/kg, and atropine 0.05 mg/kg). In all individuals the immobilization was fast and occurred between 2.5 ± minutes. Heart rates remained between 88 and 216 beats/minute (148 ± 26), respiratory rates between 20 and 152 breaths/minute (52±28), and the body temperature ranged from 24.8 to 40.5°C (37.8±1.3). Analgesia and myorelaxation were considered excellent. Recovery was considered good in 74.44% of the cases, but prolonged. Normal ambulation was observed between 248.7±80.6 minutes. The proposed anesthetic protocol was safe and effective, and can be indicated for routine management and moderate painful procedures in captive and free-living tayras. The allometric scaling method proved to be an useful tool for the practing zoo veterinarian(AU)