HAEMATOLOGY AND BLOOD CHEMISTRY OF THE RED KANGAROO MEGALEIA RUFA IN CAPTIVITY

Haematology and biochemistry was performed to establish base line values on not less than 30 samples of blood and serum from 10 red kangaroos Megaleia rufa held in captivity. The kangaroos were apparently healthy. Ranges for results were: Haemoglobin 16-18 gm/100 ml, PCV 46-51%, erythrocytes 4.9 - 5.7 times 10(6)/mm3. MCV 86-98 mum3, MCH 30-34 pg, MCHC 34-36%, leucocytes 3.8 - 7.1 times 10(3)/mm3, neutrophils 2.0 - 4.7 times 10(3)/mm3, lymphocytes 1.2 - 2.4 times 10(3)/mm3, monocytes 0.1 - 0.3 times 10(3)/mm3, eosinophils 0.06 - 0.013 times 10(3)/mm3, SGOT 36-43 u/l, SGPT 30-41 u/l, LDH 30-85 u/l, protein 6.0-6.8 g/100 ml, albumin 2.8 - 3.4 g/100 ml, alpha globulin 0.3 - 0.7 g/100 ml, beta globulin 0.7 - 0.9 g/100 ml, gamma globulin 1.7 - 2.3 g/100 ml, albumin/globulin 0.8 - 1.1, Na+ 146-152 mEq/l, K+ 4.6 - 5.6 mEq/l. Rectal temperature was 36.8 +/- 0.3. High haemoglobin may be characteristic of wild animals and of animals which have a high level of muscular activity and large erythrocytes may be representative of marsupials. Haematology as a tool of ecological investigation and its role in future research is briefly discussed. A modified staining technique for performing differential blood cell counts is described.     

Liver disease in the geriatric patient.

Normal functioning of the liver does not seem to change significantly in dogs and cats as a result of age. Despite this, older dogs and cats are at greater risk for the development of liver disease. The diagnosis of liver disease is initiated by the veterinarian's suspicion that liver disease might be present, followed by the case history and a physical examination. The initial workup for the older dog or cat with suspected liver disease should begin with a CBC, serum chemistry profile, and urinalysis. This may be followed by a liver function test, radiographic or ultrasonographic imaging studies, hepatic fine-needle aspiration, and, ultimately, liver biopsy.     

Cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 inhibition and analgesic efficacy of dipyrone at different doses or meloxicam in cats after ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cyclooxygenases (COX) inhibition, adverse effects and analgesic efficacy of dipyrone or meloxicam in cats undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.Study designProspective, blinded, randomized, clinical study.AnimalsA total of 30 healthy young cats.MethodsThe cats were randomly assigned to three postoperative groups: D25 (dipyrone 25 mg kg^?1 every 24 hours), D12.5 (dipyrone 12.5 mg kg^?1 every 12 hours) and M (meloxicam 0.1 mg kg^?1 every 24 hours). In the first 24 hours, the drugs were administered intravenously (IV), and then orally for 6 (dipyrone) or 3 days (meloxicam). Prostanoids thromboxane B₂ and prostaglandin E₂ concentrations served as indicators of COX activity and, with physiological variables and pain and sedation scores, were measured for 24 hours after first analgesic administration. Rescue analgesia (tramadol, 2 mg kg^?1 IV) was provided if Glasgow feline composite measure pain scale (CMPS-Feline) ≥5. Laboratory tests included symmetric dimethylarginine and adverse effects were evaluated regularly up to 7 and 10 days after surgery, respectively. Parametric and nonparametric data were analyzed with two-way anova and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively (p < 0.05).ResultsIn the first half hour after analgesic administration, COX-1 activity was close to zero and remained significantly lower than before drug administration for 24 hours in all groups. The inhibition of COX-2 activity was significant for 30 minutes in all groups and up to 4 hours in group M. No alterations in laboratory tests or significant adverse effects were observed. Pain scores and need for rescue analgesia did not differ statistically among groups.ConclusionsDipyrone at both doses and meloxicam provided a nonselective inhibition of COX-1 and -2 activities and effective analgesia without causing significant adverse effects or laboratory tests alterations.Clinical relevanceDipyrone at both doses provides equally effective analgesia without causing adverse effects in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.     

The year-round distribution and habitat preferences of Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida)

1. The use of miniaturized electronic tracking devices has illuminated our understanding of seabird distributions and habitat use, and how anthropogenic threats interact with seabirds in both space and time. To determine the year-round distribution of adult Campbell albatross (Thalassarche impavida), a single-island endemic, breeding only at Campbell Island in New Zealand's subantarctic, a total of 68 year-long location data sets were acquired from light-based geolocation data-logging tags deployed on breeding birds in 2009 and 2010.
2. During the incubation and chick-guard phases of the breeding season, birds used cool (<10°C) waters over the Campbell Plateau, but also ranged over deeper, shelf-break and oceanic waters (4,000–5,500 m) beyond the Plateau. Later in the breeding season, during post-guard chick-rearing, Campbell albatrosses exploited generally deep waters (4,000–5,000 m) beyond the Campbell Plateau.
3. During the non-breeding period, adults tended to move northwards into warmer (approximately 15°C) waters and occupied areas beyond western Australia in the west to offshore from Chile in the east. Overall, about 30% of adults spent some of their non-breeding period in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, substantially expanding the previously reported range for this species.
4. One bird, that failed in its breeding attempt in October 2009, departed Campbell Island and circumnavigated the southern oceans before being recaptured back at Campbell Island in October 2010. This is the first example of an annually-breeding albatross species completing a circumnavigation between breeding attempts.
5. Overlap with fishing effort, using data from the Global Fishing Watch database, was assessed on a monthly and seasonal basis. Generally, levels of overlap between Campbell albatross and fishing effort were relatively low during the breeding season but were approximately 60% higher during the non-breeding period, underlining the need for international initiatives to safeguard this species.

     

Cardiopulmonary effects of butorphanol in sevoflurane‐anesthetized guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cardiopulmonary changes induced by intravenous butorphanol administration in guineafowl anesthetized with sevoflurane.Study designProspective experimental trial.AnimalsEight adult guineafowl (Numida meleagris) weighing 1.61 ± 0.49 kg were used for the study.MethodsBirds were anesthetized with sevoflurane and allowed to breathe spontaneously. After endotracheal intubation, end-tidal sevoflurane was adjusted to 1.0 individual sevoflurane MAC that was previously determined in triplicate using a standard bracketing technique. The brachial artery was catheterized for direct pressure measurement and blood sampling. Heart rate and rhythm were monitored by electrocardiography and respiratory rate was recorded. Baseline data were recorded 30 minutes after induction. Then, end-tidal sevoflurane was adjusted to 0.8 individual MAC and after 15 minutes physiologic variables were measured again. Subsequently, butorphanol (4 mg kg^?1) was administered intravenously over 10 seconds and physiologic responses were recorded at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 45 minutes after administration.ResultsButorphanol administration was associated with arrhythmias in all birds, including second-degree atrioventricular block, sinus arrest, ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular premature complexes. Heart rate and arterial blood pressures decreased significantly 1 minute after butorphanol administration. Two birds developed severe hypotension, apnea and ventricular fibrillation 5 minutes after administration, and one died.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe butorphanol dose (4 mg kg^?1) that produces clinically relevant sevoflurane MAC reduction in guineafowl caused severe adverse cardiopulmonary effects in two birds and was considered unsafe under the conditions used in this study.