Emergency care of invertebrates.

Invertebrates are of increasing importance to the veterinary profession, but little scientifically-based information exists on their emergency care. Therefore, basic principles--supportive care, including administration of fluids, and specific therapy (where available)--must be followed up on. Knowledge and understanding of the biology and natural history of these animals are essential if critical care is to prove successful.     

Effect of liver microsome enzyme-inducing drugs on blood serum pentobarbital clearance and sleep time in sheep and rabbits.

Sheep were administered phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, chlorcyclizine, or phenylbutazone over 27 days. Rabbits were administered phenobarbital, diphenylhydantoin, or chlorcyclizine for 15 days. After the last treatment, pentobarbital was administered intravenously, and measurements were made of sleep time and blood serum pentobarbital concentrations over a 2-hour period. Treatment of ewes with phenobarbital or phenylbutazone increased the rate of pentobarbital clearance from the circulation and shortened sleep time; treatment with diphenylhydantoin or chlorcyclizine decreased the rates of pentobarbital clearance from blood and increased sleep time. Treatment of rabbits with phenobarbital or diphenylhydantoin accelerated pentobarbital clearance from blood and shortened sleep time; chlorcyclizine had no effect on blood pentobarbital concentrations or sleep time. The results suggest that accelerated or delayed clearance of pentobarbital from the circulation was largely responsible for shortened or prolonged sleep times. Other factors may have been involved to some extent in determining sleep time, because ewes with shortened sleep time tended to awake with lower circulating concentrations of pentobarbital than did control ewes, and those with prolonged sleep time tended to awake with higher pentobarbital values.     

Evaluation of transcutaneous pulmonoscopy for examination and biopsy of the lungs of ball pythons and determination of preferred biopsy specimen handling and fixation procedures

OBJECTIVE: To establish a safe and effective technique for the endoscopic examination and biopsy of snake lungs by use of a 2.7-mm rigid endoscope system. DESIGN: Clinical trial. ANIMALS: 17 adult ball pythons (Python regius). PROCEDURES: The right lung of each anesthetized snake was transcutaneously penetrated at a predetermined site. Endoscopic lung examination was objectively scored, and 3 lung biopsies were performed. Tissue samples were evaluated histologically for diagnostic quality. One year later, 11 of the 17 snakes again underwent pulmonoscopy and biopsy; specimens were placed in various fixatives to compare preservation quality. All 17 snakes were euthanatized and necropsied. RESULTS: No major anesthetic, surgical, or biopsy-associated complications were detected in any snake. In 16 of 17 pythons, ease of right lung entry was satisfactory to excellent, and views of the distal portion of the trachea; primary bronchus; intrapulmonary bronchus; cranial lung lobe; and faveolar, semisaccular, and saccular lung regions were considered excellent. In 1 snake, mild hemorrhage caused minor procedural difficulties. After 1 year, pulmonoscopy revealed healing of the previous transcutaneous lung entry and biopsy sites. Important procedure-induced abnormalities were not detected at necropsy. Diagnostic quality of specimens that were shaken from biopsy forceps into physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution before fixation in 2% glutaraldehyde or neutral-buffered 10% formalin was considered good to excellent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: By use of a 2.7-mm rigid endoscope, lung examination and biopsy can be performed safely, swiftly, and with ease in ball pythons. Biopsy specimens obtained during this procedure are suitable for histologic examination.     

Ostrich (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Struthio camelus</Emphasis>) production in Egypt

This review discusses the historical, developmental and practices of ostrich farming in Egypt. In the early 20th century, ostrich farming was very important for production of ostrich feathers and documents were produced to perfect the art of procuring the plumes from the birds and subsequently processing them. Pharaohs used ostrich feathers for adornment. Of 43 provinces, 12 were featured in 2003-2004 as farming ostriches: Alexandria, Al-Behera, Al-Dakahlia, Al-Wadi Al-Gadid, Aswan, Cairo, El-Sharkia, Geiza, Ismailia, Kafr-El-Sheikh, Matrouh and Nubaria. Abattoirs and tanneries specialising in ostrich handling are limited to two. Egypt has numerous strengths and opportunities to develop its ostrich sector. Rising meat prices suggest that fresh ostrich meat is unaffordable to many locals. Funds may be allocated to local advertising campaigns to promote ostrich meat; provision of incentives to farmers; and improving the capacity of abattoirs.     

Estimating the risk of exposure of British livestock to foot-and-mouth disease associated with the importation of ship and aircraft waste

A quantitative risk assessment model was developed to estimate the frequency with which meat waste from ships or aircraft might expose British livestock to infection with foot-and-mouth disease (fmd), and investigate the factors that might contribute to the risk. In the model, the total weight of waste introduced that was contaminated with fmd was estimated to be 26 kg per year, with 90 per cent certainty that it would be between 10 and 53 kg. As a result, it was estimated that there would be a mean of 1429 years between outbreaks of fmd due to ship and aircraft waste, with a 90 per cent certainty that the interval would be between 500 and 10,000 years. These estimates were affected by three principal uncertainties: first, the prevalence of fmd; secondly, the probability of the waste being removed and fed to pigs; and thirdly, the probability that overboard dumping of contaminated waste might expose livestock to fmd. The effect of these uncertainties on the model was investigated in a sensitivity analysis.     

Effects of dietary cation-anion balance on blood PH, acid base parameters, serum and urine mineral levels, and parathyroidhormone (PTH) in weanling horses.

This study demonstrated that the feeding of treatment diets with calculated dietary cation-anion balances (DCAB) of +370.43 (H) and -25.69 (L) did not have significant effects on blood pH, pCO₂, and HCO₃-. Serum Ca²⁺, P, Na⁺, and Cl^- as well as plasma PTH did not differ (P > .05) between the two treatment groups. Serum K⁺ was higher (P< .05) in horses fed diet H rather than diet L. The DCAB of the diet significantly affected urinary Ca²⁺, P, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cl^- excretion in the young growing horse. Urine Ca²⁺ and Cl- levels were higher (P < .01) in horses fed diet H versus diet L. Furthermore, levels of P, Na⁺, and K⁺ in the urine were higher (P < .01) in horses on diet H as opposed to diet L. Results of this study indicate that horses were able to maintain acid-base status regardless of diet. However, these data imply that growing horses consuming diets low in DCAB may be predisposed to abnormal bone mineralization due to the increase in calcium excretion which could lead to a weakening of the skeletal system.