Fluorouracil as a treatment for corneal papilloma in a Malayan tapir

A 26-year-old, wild caught, male Malayan tapir at the Miami Metrozoo with bilateral corneal papillomas was serially immobilized and given subconjunctival injections of fluorouracil. Over the course of 17 weeks five bilateral injections of 25 mg fluorouracil were given. This treatment caused regression of the corneal lesions as evidenced by decreased lesion diameter, decreased corneal vascularity, increased corneal clarity, and improved visual function. No adverse drug effects were observed.     

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Natural Resources Conservation

Abstract

Conservation of species, protected areas, and natural resources requires appropriate problem-solving strategies. An interdisciplinary problem-solving strategy is introduced requiring users to ask and answer three basic questions about any management or policy process. Is it reasonable? Is it politically practical? And is it morally justified? Concepts needed to ask and answer these questions in an interdisciplinary way are given, explained, and illustrated using Baird's tapir in Costa Rica as an example. As well, problem solvers must understand and account for their own standpoint or role in conservation. Finally, users of this approach must integrate all their knowledge about these three questions and their standpoint into an overall judgment that they are willing to take conservation action on and responsibility for. Use of this interdisciplinary approach is expected to improve conservation process and outcomes.     

Three‐dimensional CT examination of the forefoot and hindfoot of the hippopotamus and tapir during a semiaquatic walking

Semiaquatic walking has resulted in the evolution of functional and morphological changes in various hoofed mammals, such as hippopotamus and Brazilian tapir. The biomechanics of skilful walking in wetlands or at the bottom of a waterbody involve the medio‐lateral opening and closing of the feet to effectively support and stabilize the body on soft ground and to reduce the water resistance during recovery stroke, respectively. We demonstrate that the opening and closing of the feet in hippopotamus and Brazilian tapir are mediated by the adduction and abduction of the most medial and lateral phalanges from the CT examination. The axial toes, metacarpals and metatarsals do not contribute to changes in the width and shape of the feet, unlike the medial and lateral toes. We suggest that this semiaquatic walking motion is derived from the original terrestrial mode of locomotion, in contrast to the highly functional swimming motion using webs or fins in morphologically modified feet and tail. From the present data we demonstrate that semiaquatic locomotion evolved due to the acquisition of adductor–abductor mobility in the phalanges of the most medial and lateral digits, as shown in hippopotamus and Brazilian tapir.     

用鳞片估计马来穿山甲个体数量

我国每年都能查扣到多起非法走私大量马来穿山甲鳞片进入境内的案件,由于不知如何根据鳞片来估计个体数量,而给森林公安机关立案、量刑与处罚带来极大不便。通过统计9头马来穿山甲鳞片的数目（Sm）、鲜重（Sfw）、干重（Sdw）,分别获得了以Sm、Sfw、Sdw为参数来估计马来穿山甲个体数量（N）的3个方程,它们是①Sm/929.8≤N≤Sm/681.8;②Sfw/835.4≤N≤Sfw/389.8;③Sdw/774.3≤N≤Sdw/367.9。执法部门在办理此类走私案件中能通过这些方程方便快捷地估算出走私物品的个体数量,能为同类案件的立案、量刑和处罚提供依据。     

Surgical management of an abdominal abscess in a Malayan tapir

A captive Malayan tapir was observed to have inappetence, weight loss, signs of depression, mild dehydration and diar rhoea. Haematological and serum biochemical tests showed anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, hyperfibrinogenaemia and neu-trophilia with a left shift. Ultrasonic examination of the abdomen under anaesthesia revealed a well-encapsulated abscess. The abscess was marsupialised to the ventral body wall. Culture of the pus produced a mixed bacterial growth. Antimicrobial therapy was based on bacterial sensitivity results. Follow-up ultrasonic examinations showed resolution of the abscess. Ninety-one days after surgery the tapir began regurgitating food and water. An abscess originating from the stomach and occluding the lumen of the duodenum was identified at surgery. The abscess ruptured during surgical manipulations and the tapir was euthanased.     

Protection of chicks against Salmonella infantis infection induced by strict anaerobically cultured intestinal microflora

Summary

In two experiments newly hatched broilers were orally inoculated either with intestinal microfloras cultured under different conditions or with a suspension of intestinal homogenate and challenged with high doses (3 x 10⁵ c.f.u. per chick) of Salmonella infantis organisms.

Inocula were prepared from intestinal material of mature SPF WL hens under aerobic or strictly anaerobic conditions (< 5 ppm oxygen), and protected against atmospheric oxygen during storage. A very significant reduction of the number q/Salmonella infantis bacteria in caecal content was achieved one and two weeks after challenge in those groups of chicks which were inoculated with anaerobically cultured flora or with intestinal homogenate. In order to induce protection, obligate anaerobes had to be accompanied by facultative anaerobes. Amprolium or Monensin dit not interfere with protection. Protection induced by intestinal microflora depends on anaerobiosis during preparation, culturing, storage, and application of the protective bacteria. Starvation on the first day of life appeared to have a negative effect on protection.     

马来熊后肢瘫痪成功治疗一例

1只雄性马来熊突发后躯瘫痪,初始表现为精神委顿、行动迟缓,继而发展为双后肢肌肉麻痹、瘫软,并伴随大小便失禁,因四肢无力支撑躯体,行动时后肢须拖拉前行。采集患熊的粪、尿镜检,结果未见异常,结合其发病突然的临床特征,诊断为因外力损伤造成的下运动神经元瘫痪。下运动神经元瘫痪,是脊髓周围神经或脑周围神经的运动纤维受损的结果。针对病情采取了中西医结合的治疗方法,一方面利用冲击疗法肌肉注射泼尼松龙,以抑制神经炎症的蔓延,并增强神经元的兴奋性和突触的传递;另一方面采用穴位注射疗法,将地塞米松、盐酸普鲁卡因、VB1和VB（12）注射液混合均匀后于患熊的＂百会穴＂注入,直接作用于受损神经周围,使其在刺激下加速修复;同时口服大活络丸,舒筋活络、消肿止痛。经过4周左右的积极治疗,该马来熊后肢逐渐恢复,直至站立自如,精神活泼,完全康复。     

Home range, movement and activity patterns, and bedding sites of Malayan sun bears Helarctos malayanus in the Rainforest of Borneo

Six Malayan sun bears were captured and radio-collared from June 1999 to December 2001 in Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia Borneo to study home-range characteristics, movement patterns, activity patterns, population density, and bedding sites. A total of 343 locations were recorded. Home range sizes, calculated by the 95% adaptive kernel method, averaged 14.8 ± 6.1 (SD) km². Bears were found in both primary and logged forests. Daily movement distances from these bears averaged 1.45 ± 0.24 (SD) km, and were affected by food availability, especially availability of figs. Male Malayan sun bears were primarily diurnal, but a few individuals were active at night for short periods. The majority of the 26 bedding sites consisted of fallen hollow logs. Other bedding sites included standing trees with cavities, cavities underneath fallen logs or tree roots, and tree branches high above the ground. Malayan sun bears exist in primary and logged forests. Well-designed logging practices, maintenance of large trees with cavities, protection of fig trees, and strict control of poaching should be incorporated into forest management practices in logged forests.