Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) sperm morphometry and function after repeated freezing and thawing.

This work examines the effects of subsequent cycles of freezing-thawing on giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) sperm morphometry and function, and assesses whether density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) can increase the number of freezing-thawing cycles this sperm can withstand. A sperm sample was collected by electroejaculation from a mature giant panda and subjected to five freezing-thawing cycles. Although repeated freezing-thawing negatively affected (P < 0.05) sperm motility and membrane integrity, in both nonselected and DCG-selected sperm samples, >60% of the sperm cells in both treatments showed acrosome integrity even after the fifth freezing cycle. In fresh semen, the sperm head length was 4.7 µm, the head width 3.6 µm, area 14.3 µm(2) and perimeter length 14.1 µm. The present results suggest that giant panda sperm trends to be resistant to repeated freezing-thawing, even without DGC selection.

Quantification of perphenazine in eurasian otter (Lutra lutra lutra) urine samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Perphenazine enanthate has been used in wild animals as a tranquilizer during the period of adaptation to new environments to reduce stress, mortalities and injuries. A gas chromatographic procedure for the quantitative measurement of perphenazine in otter urine has been developed and validated. The method involved an enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase-arylsulfatase from Helix pomatia, followed by a solid-phase extraction with Bond Elut Certify cartridges. The resulting organic phase was evaporated, and the dry extract was derivatised with MSTFA to form the O-TMS derivative. The derivatised extracts were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using SIM acquisition mode, measuring three diagnostic ions (m/z 246, 372 and 475). Another phenothiazine derivative, fluphenazine, was used as the internal standard (I.S.). Extraction recoveries for perphenazine and I.S. were 87.6 +/- 8.2% (n=4) and 106.7 +/- 13.4% (n=4), respectively. The calibration curves were linear in the range from 4 to 100 ng/ml (r2=0.99). The limits of detection and quantification were estimated as 1.2 and 3.5 ng/ml, respectively. Precision and accuracy obtained in intra-assay studies were in the ranges of 1.3-8.7 and 1.7-19.5%, respectively, using control samples containing 6, 16 and 60 ng/ml of perphenazine. In inter-assay experiments, precision ranged from 4.3 to 14.9% and accuracy from 3.1 to 11.8%. Examples of the application of the perphenazine quantification method in otter urines after administration of perphenazine enanthate are presented.

Transmission dynamics of Cryptosporidium in primates and herbivores at the Barcelona zoo: a long-term study.

Factors influencing the transmission of Cryptosporidium in primates and herbivores housed at the Barcelona zoo have been analyzed. The relationship between continuous and discontinuous oocyst shedding, both animal housing conditions and abiotic factors (seasonality, humidity, temperature) was examined to explain the epizootiology of the protozoan. Thirty six fecal samples from each of 11 primates (Pongidae, Cebidae, Cercopithecidae and Lemuridae) and 22 herbivores (Elephantidae, Camelidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae and Bovidae) were examined over the period of 1 year. The parasite transmission was based on the chronic infection status of some animals serving as a source of successive reinfection for other animals. The environmental temperature and humidity (seasonality), the physical features of the facilities, the vicinity of the animals and the physiological status induced by captivity contributed to transmission. The long-term character of this study was essential for obtaining these results and interpreting the complex relationships.

Epizootiology of sarcoptic mange in a population of cantabrian chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) in northwestern Spain.

In May of 1993, an epizootic of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) was detected in the chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica parva) population of the Cantabrian Mountains in northwestern Spain. The epizootic initially spread across an area inhabited by some 1600 chamois. Mortality was lower than reported for other populations of ungulates. The maximum number of animals were affected from February to May. Four red deer (Cervus elaphus) and a roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), were diagnosed with sarcoptic mange from the same area in 1995. In these chamois mange was not correlated with host age or sex. The health and physiological status of this chamois population were not predisposing factors in the appearance of the mange epizootic. The clinical, epidemiological, serological, pathological and parasitological findings of this epizootic from May 1993 to June 1995 are described in this report.

Hematological and biochemical reference intervals for wild caught Eurasian otter from Spain.

Hematologic and serum chemistry reference intervals were determined from 33 wild caught Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra lutra) between November 1995 and May 1998 during a reintroduction project. Blood was obtained by jugular venipuncture after administration of ketamine and medetomidine. The mean, standard deviation, and range for 19 hematology parameters and 28 serum chemistry values are presented. There were no significant differences between sexes in most analytes. The results are in agreement with those reported previously for Eurasian otters with the exception of higher leukocyte and neutrophil counts, lower eosinophil and lymphocyte counts and higher activities for aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase. The Eurasian otters have lower erythrocyte counts but higher mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin values than the river otter (Lutra canadensis) in North America.

Reversible immobilization of eurasian otters with a combination of ketamine and medetomidine.

The efficacy and safety of the combination of medetomidine and ketamine was examined in order to establish an adequate chemical immobilization protocol in the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) for use during translocation projects in Spain. Thirty-eight Eurasian otters ranging in body mass from 3 to 8.7 kg (mean 5.3 kg) were successfully anesthetized on 82 occasions. The dosage of ketamine was 5.1+/-0.8 (3.4-6.6) mg/kg (mean +/- SD; range) combined with medetomidine at a dosage of 51+/-8 Rg/kg (34-66 microg/kg). In most cases anaesthetic effect occurred within 3 min and the mean induction time was 5.5+/-3.2 min. The mean pulse rate was 95 beats/min. The mean respiratory rate was 32 respirations/min while the relative oxyhemoglobin saturation was 93%. According to these results, this anesthetic protocol is considered safe and can be recommended in wild caught Eurasian otters for immobilization during translocation projects. It is safe, rapid and can be reversed when needed with atipamezole. However caution is required as heart depression resulting in bradychardia may occur.

Medetomidine/tiletamine/zolazepam and xylazine/tiletamine/zolazepam combinations for immobilization of fallow deer (Cervus dama).

Eleven adult fallow deer (Cervus dama) were anesthetized using a mixture of xylazine/tiletamine/zolazepam, and 10 were anesthetized with a mixture of medetomidine/tiletamine/zolazepam. Anesthesia was adequate for capture in all instances, and minor surgical procedures were possible in seven of the animals treated with xylazine/tiletamine/zolazepam and in all of the animals treated with medetomidine/tiletamine/zolazepam. Blood gas, hematologic, serum biochemical, and cardiorespiratory parameters were measured during all immobilizations. The deer immobilized with xylazine/tiletamine/zolazepam had significantly higher lactate and cortisol values than the deer immobilized with the medetomidine combination. Although both methods were adequate for fallow deer, the medetomidine/tiletamine/zolazepam combination produced superior results.

Further report on Cryptosporidium in Barcelona zoo mammals.

The prevalence of fecal shedding of Cryptosporidium in 36 primates (21 species and subspecies) and 62 herbivores (36 species and subspecies) housed at the Barcelona zoo was studied. Cryptosporidial oocysts were found in stool samples of 14 Primate, 18 Artiodactyla, 2 Perissodactyla, and 1 Proboscidea species. None of them showed symptoms related to the parasite. Neither the sex nor the group condition (alone or in a group) of the animals studied appeared to be correlated with parasitic prevalence. The results extend the host species range of the protozoan to 18 new animals (6 Primate, 10 Artiodactyla, 1 Perissodactyla, and 1 Proboscidea species) and confirm the endemic status of Cryptosporidium at the Barcelona zoo. We conclude that maintenance of the parasitic endemic status is probably due to the presence of animal carriers as well as to the physical features of some facilities where oocysts could remain viable and infectious.

Helminth parasites of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in southwest Europe.

The helminth fauna in 109 Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from France, Portugal and Spain was analysed, together with 56 faecal samples collected in Portugal and 23 fresh stools from otters included in a reintroduction programme. Seven helminth species were found in L. lutra in southwest Europe: Phagicola sp. (Trematoda), Aonchotheca putorii, Eucoleus schvalovoj, Strongyloides lutrae, Anisakis (third stage larvae) and Dirofilaria immitis (Nematoda), and Gigantorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala). Eucoleus schvalovoj was the dominant species throughout southwest Europe. Strongyloides lutrae was significantly more prevalent in the Iberian Peninsula than in France. Apart from these two dominant nematodes and A. putorii, the other helminth species were incidental parasites of L. lutra in southwest Europe. The helminth fauna of L. lutra in southwest Europe is, in general, poorer than that reported in eastern Europe and in all other aquatic mustelids in southwest Europe. Phagicola specimens are reported for the first time in a non-marine wild carnivore in Europe. The prevalences of E. schvalovoj and S. lutrae obtained by necropsy were higher than those observed by coprological analysis using a formalin-ether concentration method (Ritchie). Nevertheless, the culture of fresh faeces appears to be the best method to study infection of L. lutra by Strongyloides.