BONE MINERAL DENSITY DETERMINED BY DUAL-ENERGY X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY METHOD FOR EGYPTIAN FRUIT BATS (ROUSETTUS AEGYPTIACUS) IN HUMAN CARE.

Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) are commonly held within zoos and research facilities. Despite this popularity, there have been no publications regarding normal bone density or bone mineral concentration and few publications regarding the normal dietary requirements of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D (25-hydrox-vitamin D3 [25(OH)D3]) for the species. A clinical investigation into frequent fractures in a zoo population of 23 adult male Egyptian fruit bats used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) prior to and after dietary adjustment of calcium and phosphorus. This study documents BMD, BMC, serum trace minerals, and serum levels of 25(OH)D3 within this population and includes postmortem bone density and bone ash from a subset of bats that died during the study period. A handheld point-of-care analyzer was utilized to assess ionized calcium and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride, total CO2), glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine at each DXA time point to contribute to published reference ranges for this species. This study identified a significant (P < 0.001) increase in BMC over 15 mon (4.71-8.26 g) following additional calcium and phosphorus supplementation in the diet. The BMD also trended toward a significant increase (0.124-0.274 g/cm2, P < 0.053). Additional studies documenting normal bone density that include both sexes and possibly free-ranging bats consuming a natural diet are recommended to determine normal values for R. aegyptiacus.

DEXMEDETOMIDINE, BUTORPHANOL, AND MIDAZOLAM AS A REVERSIBLE INDUCTION PROTOCOL IN NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTERS (LONTRA CANADENSIS).

Captured free-ranging North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were immobilized for the placement of intra-abdominal radio transmitters in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Twenty-four otters were induced with dexmedetomidine (0.03 mg/kg, IM), butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg, IM), and midazolam (0.15 mg/kg, IM) combined in one syringe. The otters were maintained on isoflurane during the surgical procedure. Heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and peripheral capillary oxygen saturation were recorded every 5 min for the duration of the procedures. The otters were reversed with atipamezole (0.3-2 mg/kg, IM), naltrexone (0.6 mg/kg, IM), and flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg, IM). Rapid and smooth induction was seen, with lateral recumbency reached within 6.2 ± 5.6 min. Episodes of resedation were seen in four otters that received 0.3 mg/kg atipamezole so the dose was increased to 1 mg/kg, and no further resedation events were noted. Two fatal complications occurred secondary to suspected respiratory arrest during recovery. This drug protocol provided a smooth and rapid induction in free-ranging river otters, but further research is required to determine the safety of this protocol for river otters in both zoo and free-ranging situations.

Paraplegia in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela Putorius Furo) Secondary to Metastatic Adrenocortical Carcinoma with Myxoid Differentiation.

Neurologic disease is a common presentation of domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) with infectious, neoplastic, and traumatic etiologies documented. Adrenocortical neoplasia is also well documented in domestic ferrets, with metastatic lesions rarely described. This case report describes an abnormal presentation of adrenocortical adenocarcinoma with myxoid differentiation and subsequent metastasis to the spinal cord and vertebral bodies, resulting in hind limb paraplegia in an adult spayed female ferret.

SEASONAL VARIATION OF SERUM 25-HYDROXY-VITAMIN D IN TWO CAPTIVE EASTERN BLACK RHINOCEROS ( DICEROS BICORNIS MICHAELI) HOUSED IN A NORTH AMERICAN ZOO.

Black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis spp.) are critically endangered species, with less than 65 individual animals housed in captivity within Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited zoos within the United States, and an estimated 5,500 individual animals of all subspecies surviving in the wild. Previously published reference values for circulating vitamin D3 (25OHD3; 55.7 ± 34.2 ng/ml) were based upon samples from free-ranging black rhinoceros in Africa. Recent research in human medicine has highlighted the importance of subclinical vitamin D deficiency, with links to increased risks for developing various health conditions. Serum samples collected opportunistically from two captive Eastern black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis michaeli) housed with seasonal access outdoors in a North American zoo were tested for 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD) levels over a 3-yr period. A commercially prepared pelleted diet containing vitamin D3 was fed to both rhinos. This study correlates environmental ultraviolet (UV) index, dietary supplementation, and seasonal serum 25OHD levels to compare with known 25OHD3 levels in free-ranging African black rhinoceros. Results in these two individuals suggest that D. bicornis spp. are dependent upon sunlight or UVB for measurable circulating 25OHD, and that current vitamin D3 supplementation levels may have little effect for Diceros spp. in human care housed in northern latitudes.