ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTS IN ANESTHETIZED CAPTIVE RED PANDAS (AILURUS FULGENS).

A recent review of mortality in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) listed cardiac pathology as the most common cause of death in the adult age group. The aim of this study was to describe the standard echocardiographic variables in 13 captive, healthy, adult red pandas that underwent an elective health examination. In addition, differences between the two subspecies of red panda, A. f. styani than in A. f. fulgens, and association of these echocardiographic variables with age, sex, and body condition score, were examined. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane inhalant anesthetic. All animals underwent a full physical examination and comprehensive echocardiogram including 2D, M-mode, and Doppler modes of ultrasound examination. Mean and SD of the echocardiographic variables are reported. Systolic performance was considered subnormal due to the effect of the anesthetic agent. The echocardiographic variables were similar for the two subspecies and sexes, with the exception of the left atrial dimension (2D), which measured larger (P= 0.03) in A. f. styani than in A. f. fulgens, and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole, which measured larger (P = 0.04) in males than females. Several echocardiographic measurements were correlated with age (P < 0.05), whereas the only measurement that significantly correlated with body condition score was end diastolic volume (P = 0.01). These results provide ranges that can offer guidance for predicting cardiac disease in red panda.

Pulmonary silicosis in 2 rock hyraxes, and literature review.

Two rock hyraxes (Procavia capensis), from the Chattanooga Zoo, were submitted separately for autopsy at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center. The first was a 4-y-old intact female that died without premonitory signs and the second was a 10-y-old intact male that was euthanized because of severe renal disease. Microscopically, the lungs of both hyraxes had multifocal-to-coalescing, <1-mm diameter aggregates of epithelioid macrophages separated by streams of fibrous tissue. Macrophages contained intracytoplasmic, clear, acicular, birefringent crystals. Transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy findings on the lung samples were consistent with silica crystal deposition. The hyraxes had been housed together on commercially sourced play sand composed of 99-99.5% quartz, a crystalline silica polymorph. The microscopic findings, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy of the intrahistiocytic crystals, in addition to the history of exposure to crystalline silica, were consistent with pulmonary silicosis. Pulmonary silicosis has not been reported previously in rock hyraxes, to our knowledge.

Agreement between oscillometric and direct blood pressure measurements in anesthetized captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of agreement (LOA) between direct and oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurements and the ability of oscillometric measurements to accurately detect hypotension in anesthetized chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). ANIMALS: 8 captive, adult chimpanzees. PROCEDURES: During prescheduled annual examinations, each chimpanzee underwent general anesthesia and patient monitoring for their examination, echocardiography for a concurrent study, and measurement of direct BP with the use of tibial artery catheterization and oscillometry with the use of a cuff placed around a brachium and a cuff placed around the second digit of the contralateral forelimb for the present study. Bland-Altman plots were generated to compare results for direct and oscillometric BP measurements. Mean bias and 95% LOAs were calculated for oscillometric measurements of systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) for each cuff site. Sensitivity and specificity in detecting hypotension were also determined for each cuff site. RESULTS: There were 74 paired direct and brachial oscillometric measurements of each, SAP, MAP, and DAP and 66 paired direct and digit oscillometric measurements of each, SAP, MAP, and DAP. Only brachial oscillometric measurements of MAP had adequate sensitivity (78%) and specificity (95%) to accurately detect hypotension, and this technique also had the least mean bias (0.8 mm Hg; 95% LOA, -29 to 31 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that brachial oscillometric measurement of MAP provided reasonable agreement with tibial arterial direct MAP measurement and performed well in diagnosing hypotension in anesthetized chimpanzees.

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND DIRECT ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURE MEASUREMENT IN CAPTIVE CHIMPANZEES (PAN TROGLODYTES) DURING TWO PHASES OF AN ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL.

The effects of α-2 agonists on echocardiographic findings in great apes are not well documented, and knowledge of these effects would expand the understanding of cardiac examinations of chimpanzees under anesthesia with protocols using these drugs. Ten adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), four males and six females, underwent echocardiographic examinations after anesthesia with dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and ketamine (phase 1). Four animals required isoflurane to achieve an adequate plane of anesthesia. Atipamezole was used to antagonize dexmedetomidine, and all remaining animals were placed on isoflurane (phase 2), and then a second echocardiogram was performed. Direct arterial blood pressure was monitored during the anesthetic event. Measurements and recordings were assessed for statistically significant differences between the two phases and sex. There were no significant differences between phases or sex for any two-dimensional echocardiographic measurement of systolic function, although interventricular septum thickness at end systole approached a significant decrease from phase 1 to phase 2 (P = 0.058) when sex was considered a between-subject factor. Left ventricular outflow tract (P = 0.017) and pulmonary artery (P = 0.028) velocities increased after reversal of the dexmedetomidine. Diastolic transmitral flow was consistent with grade 3 diastolic dysfunction (median early to late ventricular filling velocities (E/A) of 2.02, interquartile range [IQR], 1.53-2.13) with a nonsignificant decrease of E velocity and increase in A velocity and decreased E/A after reversal. Trace mitral and tricuspid regurgitation were common findings in the sample population. Arterial blood pressure significantly decreased between phase 1 and phase 2 (P < 0.01). All chimpanzees entered a hypotensive state (mean arterial pressure < 60 mm Hg) during phase 2. Although limited by the small number of chimpanzees, this study showed an increase in afterload, potential diastolic dysfunction, and a decrease in blood pressure after the antagonism of dexmedetomidine. Additional studies to further assess the effects of α-2 agonists in chimpanzees are warranted.

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF CHLORAMPHENICOL TREATMENT FOR BATRACHOCHYTRIUM DENDROBATIDIS IN HELLBENDERS (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS).

Thirteen wild-caught hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) were treated for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis with continuous chloramphenicol baths at concentrations of 20 mg/L for 14 days and 200 mg/L for 14 days. Clinical signs and deaths continued after treatment with 20 mg/L chloramphenicol but ceased after treatment with 200 mg/L chloramphenicol. No evidence of toxicity was found on hematologic tests, necropsy, or histopathologic examination. Lower infection burdens were detected after treatment with chloramphenicol, but infection rates were unchanged. Chloramphenicol may be useful as a treatment for B. dendrobatidis in hellbenders but did not clear hellbenders of infection.

CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF TOXOPLASMOSIS IN FOUR RED PANDAS (AILURUS FULGENS).

Two geriatric red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) over a 4-yr period presented with vague clinical signs including anorexia, lethargy, and difficulty ambulating. Treatment protocols using enrofloxacin, steroids, and clindamycin were unsuccessful. Necropsy examination confirmed disseminated toxoplasmosis infection in these cases, and a modified agglutination test had been positive for a prolonged period of time before one panda showed signs of disease. A review of the Red Panda Species Survival Plan pathology database revealed two additional cases of disseminated toxoplasmosis in geriatric red pandas. Many organ systems were affected, but dissemination to the brain, lungs, and liver predominated. Immunohistochemistry or polymerase chain reaction was required to confirm a diagnosis in serologically positive animals, as well as in animals in which a histological diagnosis was suspected. This case series describes the clinical and pathological features of toxoplasmosis in geriatric red pandas.

POTENTIAL FOR ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC MONITORING OF ANESTHETIC DEPTH IN CAPTIVE CHIMPANZEES (PAN TROGLODYTES) USING A NOVEL BRAIN FUNCTION MONITOR.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform can predictably change with depth of anesthesia, and algorithms such as the Patient State index (PSi) have been developed to convert the waveform into a user-friendly objective reading of anesthetic depth. In this study, PSi values were measured in 10 captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) during three phases of an anesthetic event. Phase 1 included sedation with dexmedetomidine, midazolam, and ketamine. Phase 2 started with administration of an α-2 antagonist and isoflurane. Phase 3 started with discontinuing isoflurane and ended with spontaneous movement and extubation. Initial PSi readings for phase 1 were high at 74.5 ± 12.2 (mean ± SD), before declining to 24.1 ± 5.3 for the remainder of the phase. Phase 2 PSi values were recorded as 21.4 ± 5.4 and then climbed during phase 3. Spontaneous movement was recorded at PSi values of 72 to 79. Electroencephalographic monitoring via PSi was successfully performed during three phases of anesthesia in the chimpanzees and was consistent with human values reported during general anesthesia. This paper serves as a preliminary investigation into EEG monitoring of chimpanzees, and further work is needed for its validation.

TREATMENT OF SUSPECTED EXERTIONAL MYOPATHY USING DANTROLENE IN A COYOTE ( CANIS LATRANS).

A 3-yr-old spayed female coyote ( Canis latrans) developed clinical signs of exertional myopathy after fighting with a conspecific. A diagnosis of exertional myopathy was made based on physical examination findings, probable myoglobinuria, and elevations in serum creatinine kinase activity, alanine aminotransferase activity, and potassium concentration. Dantrolene, a hydantoin analog, as well as supportive and symptomatic therapies, was used to successfully treat exertional myopathy. This is the first reported use of dantrolene in wildlife or zoo animals.

Increased expression of phosphorylated forms of heat-shock protein-27 and p38MAPK in macrophage-rich regions of fibro-fatty atherosclerotic lesions in the rabbit.

We aimed to assess the expression and distribution of Hsp27, pHsp27 (Ser82), p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK in fibro-fatty atherosclerotic lesions and the myocardium of hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. Male New Zealand white rabbits were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 18 weeks, maintaining serum cholesterol at approximately 20 mmol/l over this period. Aortic arch and myocardial tissues were analysed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence. Plasma Hsp27 levels were measured by ELISA. There was a significant increase in the expression of monomeric and dimeric forms of Hsp27, together with pHsp27 (Ser82), p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK in the fibro-fatty atherosclerotic lesions (P < 0.01; P < 0.05; P < 0.001; and P < 0.001, respectively) and the myocardial tissues (P < 0.001) from the cholesterol-fed rabbits compared with equivalent tissues from controls when the plasma concentration was low. Immunohistochemical analysis of the fibro-fatty lesions showed marked increases in Hsp27 and pHsp27 (Ser82) immunoreactivity. Double immunostaining showed intense expression of pHsp27 and p-p38MAPK in regions that were rich in macrophages, suggesting a close association with these inflammatory cells, whereas, in regions rich in smooth muscle cells, only p-p38MAPK was found to be strongly expressed. An increased expression of pHsp27 (Ser82) was spatially associated with increased p-p38MAPK within fibro-fatty atherosclerotic lesions and was colocalized to regions rich in macrophages. The initial increase in plasma Hsp27 levels may reflect the increase in systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in the early phases of disease. The falling concentrations subsequently may be coincident with the development of the advanced atherosclerotic lesions.

High Levels of Anti-Heat Shock Protein 27 Antibody in Pemphigus Vulgaris

No abstract available.