Diagnosis and outcome of odontogenic abscesses in client-owned rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 72 cases (2011-2022).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the epidemiologic features of rabbits with odontogenic abscesses. ANIMALS: 72 client-owned rabbits. METHODS: The medical record database of a veterinary teaching hospital was searched to identify rabbits with odontogenic abscesses characterized by a palpable facial mass and confirmed via CT scan. Data reviewed included age, breed, presenting complaint, abscess location, bacterial culture results, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: Lop-eared rabbits were the most common breeds affected (20/72 [28%]), and mini lop rabbits were significantly overrepresented. The mandibular quadrants were more frequently affected (65/92 [71%]), and osteomyelitis was a common comorbidity on CT (53/72 [74%]). The most common aerobic and anaerobic isolates were Streptococcus spp (17/40 [43%]) and Fusobacterium spp (10/22 [45%]), respectively. Systemic antibiotic therapy alone was performed in 35 of 62 (56%) treated cases, with documented resolution in 25%. Abscess packing with antibiotic-soaked gauze in conjunction with systemic antibiotic therapy was performed in 20 of 62 (32%) treated cases. Resolution of the odontogenic abscesses with this treatment protocol was documented in 17 of 20 (85%) cases. The number of packing procedures used to obtain resolution of infection was 4 (IQR, 3 to 5). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A combination of the abscess-packing technique, which avoids extensive surgery and extraction of the involved elodont teeth, with systemic antibiotic therapy can be an effective treatment option for rabbits with palpable odontogenic abscesses and can result in a high cure rate comparable to more invasive surgical treatments. Antibiotic treatment alone is not recommended, as it has a low chance of abscess resolution.

Quantification of Enzymatic Biofilm Removal Using the Sauerbrey Equation: Application to the Case of Pseudomonas protegens.

A methodology for the quantitative analysis of enzymatic removal of biofilms (BF) was developed, based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) under stationary conditions. This was applied to the case of Pseudomonas protegens (PP) BFs, through a series of five enzymes, whose removal activity was screened using the presented methodology. The procedure is based on the following: when BFs can be modeled as rigid materials, QCM can be used as a balance under stationary conditions for determining the BFs mass reduction by enzymatic removal. For considering a BF as a rigid model, energy dissipation effects, associated with viscoelastic properties of the BF, must be negligible. Hence, a QCM system with detection of dissipation (referred to as QCM with dissipation) was used for evaluating the energy losses, which, in fact, resulted in negligible energy losses in the case of dehydrated PP BFs, validating the application of the Sauerbrey equation for the change of mass calculations. The stationary methodology reduces operating times and simplifies data analysis in comparison to dynamic approaches based on flow setups, which requires the incorporation of dissipation effects due to the liquid media. By carrying out QCM, glycosidase-type enzymes showed BF removal higher than 80% at enzyme concentration 50 ppm, reaching removal over 90% in the cases of amylase and cellulase/xylanase enzymes. The highest removal percentage produced a reduction from about 15 to 1 µg in the BF mass. Amylase enzyme was tested from below 50 to 1 ppm, reaching around 60% of removal at 1 ppm. The obtained results were supported by other instrumental techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, high performance anion exchange chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The removal quantifications obtained with QCM were compared with those obtained by well-established screening techniques (UV-vis spectrophotometry using crystal violet and agar diffusion test). The proposed methodology expands the possibility of using a quartz microbalance to perform enzymatic activity screening.

Long-term systemic antibiotics and surgical treatment can be an effective treatment option for retrobulbar abscesses in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus): 21 cases (2011-2022).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the epidemiologic features of rabbits with retrobulbar abscesses, including the clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. ANIMALS: 21 client-owned rabbits. METHODS: The medical record database of a veterinary teaching hospital was searched from 2011 to 2022 for records of rabbits diagnosed with retrobulbar abscesses by CT. Data reviewed included age, breed, presenting complaint, association with an odontogenic infection, aerobic and anaerobic culture results, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: The primary presenting complaint was exophthalmos (19/21 [90%]). Most cases (15/21 [71%]) were associated with an odontogenic infection. Dental disease, not associated with a retrobulbar abscess (14/21 [67%]), was a common comorbidity on CT. The most common aerobic and anaerobic isolates were Streptococcus intermedius (5/12 [42%]) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (2/12 [17%]), respectively. Surgical treatment combined with long-term systemic antibiotic therapy was performed in 9 of 21 (43%) cases. It included intraoral tooth extraction (4/9 [44%]) versus extraoral peribulbar abscess lancing with either abscess packing with antibiotic-soaked gauze (3/9 [33%]) or surgical abscess debridement (2/9 [22%]). Resolution of the clinical signs with no recurrence for at least 6 months occurred in 7 of 9 (78%) surgically treated cases. Medical treatment with long-term systemic antibiotic therapy was performed in 4 of 21 (19%) cases, and 3 of 4 (75%) resolved. Due to poor prognosis or financial concerns, euthanasia was performed or recommended in 8 of 21 (38%) cases. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of the data from this study, retrobulbar abscesses in rabbits carry a guarded prognosis. When intraoral and extraoral surgical treatment options combined with systemic antibiotic therapy were used, it resolved clinical disease in most cases.

Splenic Small Cell Lymphoma with Presumed Secondary Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in an African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus).

A 2-year-old male African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) was presented to a veterinary teaching hospital for evaluation of a previously diagnosed subclinical, marked regenerative anemia. Physical examination at the zoological institution demonstrated biliverdinuria and pale oral mucous membranes. Diagnostic tests performed on the penguin since the diagnosis and prior to presentation to the veterinary teaching hospital included serial complete blood counts, plasma biochemistry panels, radiographic imaging, blood and plasma heavy metal testing, and infectious disease testing. The abnormal diagnostic test results were consistent with marked regenerative anemia and splenomegaly. At the veterinary teaching hospital, further diagnostic testing was ordered in an attempt to determine the cause of the biliverdinuria and pale oral mucous membranes. The diagnostic tests performed included a full-body contrast computed tomographic scan, upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure, bone marrow aspiration and evaluation, saline agglutination testing, blood Plasmodium species polymerase chain reaction screening, a vitamin profile panel, and repeat blood heavy metal testing. The complete blood count demonstrated a marked, regenerative anemia with the presence of dysplastic erythrocytes, and splenomegaly was found on the computed tomographic images without identifying a definitive cause. Primary disease differentials for the diagnosed regenerative anemia included a myelodysplastic syndrome and primary or secondary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. The penguin was treated with oral prednisolone as an immunomodulatory agent; however, it did not result in a positive treatment response. The patient developed hyporexia, weight loss, and lethargy 2 months post presentation to the veterinary teaching hospital. Additional therapy with cyclophosphamide was initiated, and the penguin improved clinically, but then declined. The patient was euthanized due to a poor quality of life and prognosis 4 months after initial presentation and 1.5 years after the first complete blood count revealed the penguin to be anemic. Microscopic review of submitted postmortem tissue samples demonstrated a monomorphic population of neoplastic small lymphocytes infiltrating the spleen, consistent with splenic small cell lymphoma. The neoplastic cells did not label with the T-cell marker CD3 or B-cell markers CD20, CD79a, and Pax-5.

Comparison of two point of care lactate instruments in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus).

Background: Lactate measurements have been utilized as diagnostic and prognostic tools for a variety of veterinary species. Reference intervals for lactate have not been published or validated in guinea pigs. Methods: Whole blood from 48 anesthetized laboratory guinea pigs (46 Dunkin Hartley [38 males, eight females]; two Strain 13 [two males]) was analyzed using two point of care instruments (iSTAT and Lactate Plus). There were two consecutive timepoints on the iSTAT (iSTAT time 1 and time 2) and three consecutive timepoints on the Lactate Plus (Lactate Plus time 1, time 2, and time 3). Results: There was agreement with no constant or proportional bias between the two instruments compared at equivalent timepoints (iSTAT time 1 and Lactate Plus time 3) as determined by Bland-Altman (bias: -0.19; 95% LoA: -0.55 to 0.16) and Deming linear regression analyses (slope: 1.092, 95% confidence intervals (CI): -0.9 to 1.29; y-intercept: 0.09, 95% CI: -0.12 to 0.30). Reference intervals for iSTAT time 1 were 0.49 to 1.83 mmol/L and Lactate Plus time 1 were 0.60 to. 2.2 mmol/L. There was a significant increase in lactate values from iSTAT time 1 to iSTAT time 2 and from Lactate Plus time 1 to Lactate Plus time 3. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: This study found strong agreement between the point of care instruments. Reference intervals for lactate for both the iSTAT and Lactate Plus instruments were similar to canine and feline intervals. Analysis should occur within 5 minutes of sample collection. Future work should assess lactate as a prognostic indicator in guinea pigs.

PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS FOR SURVIVAL OF ORPHANED EASTERN GRAY SQUIRRELS (SCIURUS CAROLINENSIS).

The eastern grey squirrel (EGS), Sciurus carolinensis, is a tree squirrel native to the eastern United States. This species commonly presents to wildlife medical clinics for a variety of human-related injuries including confrontations with road traffic and pet predation. The purpose of this study was to assess initial examination findings as prognostic indicators for survival in EGS. The medical record database of the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic was searched from January 2012 through December 2018 for records of EGS weighing <300 g. The squirrels were identified as survivors (individuals surviving, released, or transferred to a rehabilitator within 72 hr of intake) or nonsurvivors (individuals euthanized or dying within 72 hr of intake after receiving medical care). Presenting weight, health status, method of feeding, and singleton versus group presentation were categorically recorded for each case. The data were modeled using a series of candidate logistic regression models fitted using the generalized linear model. An information theoretical approach determined the best fit model. A total of 955 EGS were included in this study. Factors that predicted a nonsurvivor status included EGSs that presented with any health system abnormality (odds ratio [OR], 4.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.34-6.72), EGSs that presented between December and May (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.12-2.27) rather than between June and November, and individuals with neurologic signs (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.51-4.51) compared with EGSs without neurologic signs. Despite not being included in the final model, the presence of respiratory signs (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 2.41-4.89) and diarrhea (OR, 4.01; 95% CI, 1.59-10.09) were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of nonsurvival status. Wildlife medical clinics and rehabilitation centers may use this information by initiating more aggressive therapies or instituting distinct euthanasia protocols for EGS that present with body system abnormalities, particularly neurologic clinical signs, and those that present in the winter months.

Mechanistic Features of the TiO2 Heterogeneous Photocatalysis of Arsenic and Uranyl Nitrate in Aqueous Suspensions Studied by the Stopped-Flow Technique.

The dynamics of the transfer of electrons stored in TiO2 nanoparticles to As(III) , As(V) , and uranyl nitrate in water was investigated by using the stopped-flow technique. Suspensions of TiO2 nanoparticles with stored trapped electrons (etrap (-) ) were mixed with solutions of acceptor species to evaluate the reactivity by following the temporal evolution of etrap (-) by the decrease in the absorbance at λ=600 nm. The results indicate that As(V) and As(III) cannot be reduced by etrap (-) under the reaction conditions. In addition, it was observed that the presence of As(V) and As(III) strongly modified the reaction rate between O2 and etrap (-) : an increase in the rate was observed if As(V) was present and a decrease in the rate was observed in the presence of As(III) . In contrast with the As system, U(VI) was observed to react easily with etrap (-) and U(IV) formation was observed spectroscopically at λ=650 nm. The possible competence of U(VI) and NO3 (-) for their reduction by etrap (-) was analyzed. The inhibition of the U(VI) photocatalytic reduction by O2 could be attributed to the fast oxidation of U(V) and/or U(IV) .

Exploiting electron storage in TiO2 nanoparticles for dark reduction of As(V) by accumulated electrons.

UV irradiation of an ethanolic sol of TiO2 nanoparticles produces a trapped Ti(III) centre and a noticeable Burstein shift. Direct evidence that the accumulated charges can drive the otherwise forbidden reduction of As(V) by conduction band electrons is presented.

TiO2-photocatalytic reduction of pentavalent and trivalent arsenic: production of elemental arsenic and arsine.

Heterogeneous photocatalytic reduction of As(V) and As(III) at different concentrations over TiO(2) under UV light in deoxygenated aqueous suspensions is described. For the first time, As(0) was unambiguously identified together with arsine (AsH(3)) as reaction products. As(V) reduction requires the presence of an electron donor (methanol in the present case) and takes place through the hydroxymethyl radical formed from methanol oxidation by holes or hydroxyl radicals. On the contrary, As(III) reduction takes place through direct reduction by the TiO(2)-conduction band electrons. Detailed mechanisms for the photocatalytic processes are proposed. Although reduction to solid As(0) is convenient for purposes of As removal from water as a deposit on TiO(2), attention must be paid to formation of AsH(3), one of the most toxic forms of As, and strategies for AsH(3) treatment should be considered.