Clinical and histopathological features of proliferative corneal lesions in Cyprininae fishes: Implications for treatment and insights into corneal tumors.

Captive fish populations, such as those encompassing aquarium and pet fish, offer significant economic value and are integral to conservation, research, and education. However, these ornamental fish exhibit a reduced ability to protect their ocular surfaces, and our understanding of the ocular diseases that affect them remains limited. Although corneal neoplasms in carp are uncommon, identifying their distinct characteristics is crucial in selecting appropriate therapeutic interventions that aim to preserve vision, prevent the ocular loss, and ultimately ensure the survival of the affected fish. This study provides clinical and histopathological details of various proliferative corneal masses in Cyprininae species, including five koi (Cyprinus carpio) and four goldfish (Carassius auratus). It discusses a spectrum of neoplasms, including soft tissue sarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma, chromatophoroma, and papilloma, in addition to conditions like exuberant granulation tissue and proliferative carp pox. These findings bear significant implications for clinical decision-making and treatment, offering valuable insights into the incidence and characteristics of corneal tumors in captive fish, which could inform further studies in this area.

Glucose and Lactate Reference Intervals for White Sturgeon and Evaluation of Two Point-of-Care Devices in Sturgeon Infected with Veronaea botryosa.

White Sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus are cultured for human consumption as well as for conservation purposes. In this study, two commercially available portable devices for measuring glucose and lactate were compared to a benchtop analyzer and blood reference intervals were generated using heparin plasma collected from 43 healthy White Sturgeon yearlings. The generated normal ranges were used to compare plasma values collected from Veronaea botryosa-infected White Sturgeon at 10, 20, and 30 d postchallenge (dpc). In the 43 healthy yearlings, significantly different glucose and lactate values were obtained when comparing the portable devices to the benchtop analyzer. In the portable devices, blood glucose showed a consistent bias of 12.3 mg/dL and blood lactate showed a proportional bias. The detected blood glucose values in infected sturgeon were significantly different from those in noninfected controls when using the benchtop analyzer at 20 and 30 dpc and when using the portable device at 20 dpc. However, blood glucose in infected individuals and controls was within the reference interval on either device. No significant difference was noted for lactate measurements in infected sturgeon. The results of this study indicate that portable devices for blood glucose and blood lactate evaluation in White Sturgeon may be useful in a setting where relative values are an acceptable approximation of absolute values.

LIQUID NITROGEN CRYOSURGERY FOR CUTANEOUS AND OCULAR NEOPLASMS IN KOI (CYPRINUS CARPIO) AND GOLDFISH (CARASSIUS AURATUS): EIGHT CASES (2018-2019).

Cryosurgery, also known as cryotherapy and cryoablation, is a promising surgical technique that employs highly localized freezing to destroy damaged and diseased tissue, including benign and malignant neoplasms. This procedure has been reported in the treatment of chromatophoromas, fibromas, and peripheral nerve sheath tumors in piscine patients. This study presents eight clinical cases of cryosurgery on cyprinid pet fish for a wide array of neoplastic masses, including chromatophoromas, squamous cell carcinoma, and sarcomas that were diagnosed by histopathology. Surgical excision of external masses, liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, injectable medications (meloxicam and danofloxacin), and topical medical-grade honey were applied to the patients after biopsy sampling. Five out of seven cutaneous cases and two out of three ocular cases had complete resolution without recurrence for at least three months posttreatment. Treatment was unsuccessful for two of the cutaneous cases in which the cutaneous masses were extremely invasive, resulting in severe ulceration and deep invasion into the coelomic cavity. One of the ocular cases involved a corneal mass that did not change in size and had no complications after treatments, suggesting that the treatment might be useful in limiting growth. The effectiveness of cryotherapy appears to correlate with the tumor type, as well as the stage and progression of tumor invasion.

USE OF TOPICAL TREATMENTS AND EFFECTS OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON WOUND HEALING IN COMMON CARP (CYPRINUS CARPIO).

Skin lesions are frequently diagnosed in fish medicine. Although systemic fish treatments exist, little is known about the efficacy of topical drugs on fish skin lesions. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of medical-grade honey and silver sulfadiazine on skin lesions using common carp (Cyprinus carpio) as a model. Additionally, the effect of temperature on the wound healing process was evaluated. Punch biopsies were generated on six fish per treatment group under anesthesia. Treatment groups received one of the following topical medications after wounding: Dr. Nordyke's Wound Honey, MicroLyte Ag Vet, or SilvaSorb Gel. Nontreated positive control groups were similarly wounded but did not receive topical treatment. Fish were housed at 10°C to 13°C or 18°C to 21°C for 29 days. Macroscopic evaluation and image collection of wounds were performed on days 0, 4, 8, 12, 21, and 29 after wounding to compare changes in wound areas and inflammation over time. On day 29, tissue samples were collected for histologic analysis. From day 12 after wounding onward, wounds in positive controls maintained at 18°C to 21°C were significantly smaller (days 12, 21, and 29: P < 0.0001) compared with positive controls kept at 10°C to 13°C. There was an overall improvement in macroscopic appearance in honey-treated groups compared with positive controls on day 12 after wounding at 18°C to 21°C (P = 0.001), whereas with the use of Microlyte and Silvasorb, wounds had increased inflammation grades (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively) with enlarged wound areas (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively) in comparison with positive controls on day 12 after wounding at 18°C to 21°C. This study suggests that topical use of medical-grade honey produces positive effects on wound healing in the carp model and higher water temperatures enhance the effects, whereas the use of silver sulfadiazine and lower water temperatures delays or worsens the wound healing process.

Outbreaks of severe myositis in cultured white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus L.) associated with Streptococcus iniae.

Outbreaks of an infectious disease affecting cultured white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) were investigated. Clinical signs included erratic swimming, arching of the back and mortality. Necropsy findings included poorly demarcated yellow to dark-red and friable lesions in the epaxial muscle, ulcerative skin lesions and haemorrhages in the swim bladder and coelomic wall. Histological evaluation revealed areas of necrotizing and heterophilic myositis with aggregates of bacterial cocci. The lumen of blood vessels in the dermis, under ulcerated areas, and in the posterior kidney, was occluded by fibrin thrombi. Aggregates of Gram-positive cocci were observed in the muscle lesions and within the fibrin thrombi in the dermis and kidney. Genetically homogeneous Streptococcus iniae strains were recovered from affected fish from different outbreaks. The isolates shared high degree of similarity at gene locus (gyrB) with previously characterized S. iniae from cultured fish in California, confirming the emergence of this particular strain of S. iniae in US aquaculture.

Fish evacuation and emergency sheltering during wildfire disasters.

Wildfires are a serious and expanding threat in western North America, and wildfire encroachment on human populations leads to widespread evacuation and emergency housing operations for residents and their companion animals and livestock. Veterinarians are frequently part of wildfire response efforts and are called upon to assist in rescue, evacuation, and emergency housing operations as well as to provide medical care for evacuated animals. Although veterinarians are likely familiar with the principles of transporting and housing terrestrial animals, emergency response for aquatic companion animals presents unique logistic challenges. Veterinarians familiar with aquatic animal evacuation, housing, and care prior to a wildfire response can extend the scope of disaster recovery. This report offers general guidance for rescuing, evacuating, housing, and caring for aquatic animals in the wake of a wildfire.