Clinical ophthalmological diagnostic description of 10 healthy sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) and prevalence of ocular-related presentations in a larger hospital population.

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values for ocular examination and diagnostics in ophthalmologically normal sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps). To retrospectively determine the prevalence of ocular diseases in sugar gliders presenting to a single institution. ANIMALS: Ten client owned and 106 previously evaluated sugar gliders. PROCEDURE: A descriptive study evaluated sugar gliders presented to Colorado State University's Avian, Exotics, and Zoological Medicine Service (CSU-AEZ) from August-2019 to January-2020. A complete ophthalmic examination including Schirmer tear test II (STT II), phenol red threat test (PRTT), intraocular pressure (IOP) via rebound tonometry, fluorescein, and rose bengal stain was performed under anesthesia. Conjunctival aerobic culture swabs and cytology were collected prior to ophthalmic evaluation. A retrospective review of medical records of sugar gliders presented to CSU-AEZ from 2008 to 2018 for ocular disease was performed. RESULTS: Mean values ± standard deviation for selected diagnostics included the following: STT II: 2.2 ± 6.7 mm/min; PRTT: 0 ± 0 mm/15 s; IOP: 12 ± 2.6 mm Hg. Fluorescein and rose bengal staining highlighted corneal abrasions secondary to tear testing. The three most common conjunctival bacterial isolates cultured were Staphylococcus spp. (3/20, 15%), Coryneform spp. (3/20, 15%), and unidentified Gram-positive cocci (3/20, 15%). Retrospective analysis revealed ocular diseases to be the third most common abnormality resulting in sugar glider presentations (13/106, 12.3%). CONCLUSION: This descriptive study gives reference values for IOP, conjunctival microbiology, and cytology for sugar gliders. STT II and PRTT provide little clinical value in sugar gliders. The retrospective study revealed that ocular abnormalities, often secondary to dental disease, are a common reason for presentation.

PARAMETERS FOR IDENTIFYING FAILURE OF PASSIVE TRANSFER IN SITATUNGA (TRAGELAPHUS SPEKII).

Failure of passive transfer of immunity (FPT) leads to increased calf morbidity and mortality and requires intensive, time-sensitive, and often expensive management for nondomestic ruminants. Without species-specific information with which to make informed decisions, neonatal data from domestic ruminants are often extrapolated to nondomestic zoo-housed species. To date, there have been no studies evaluating FPT in sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii). The goal of the present study was to establish parameters to characterize adequate passive transfer in sitatunga calves and compare them to published reference intervals in other species. Medical records of 22 sitatunga calves (12 female, 10 male) were reviewed. Seventeen of these calves were defined as "healthy," having survived at least 60 days without colostrum administration or a plasma transfusion. Calf weight, serum glucose, serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein (TP), globulin concentrations, and results of a zinc sulfate turbidity test (ZSTT) were noted where possible. Mean birth weight of healthy calves at 24 hr was 4.5 kg (range: 3.76.5 kg, n = 12). The mean blood glucose in healthy calves was 152 mg/dl (range: 80-182, n = 16), mean serum TP concentration was 5.9 g/dl (range: 4.9-7.5, n = 16), mean serum globulin concentration was 3.3 g/dl (range: 1.7-4.7, n = 17), and mean serum GGT concentration was 466 U/L (range: 91-1901, n = 16). A ZSTT was performed for 10 healthy calves, resulting in four negative ZSTT results despite having no clinical signs of FPT and the calves having been observed nursing before testing. Sitatunga appear to have lower values for normal FPT parameters than those developed for domestic cattle. This study illustrates the difficulty of cross-species comparisons, as even closely related species can vary greatly in biologic parameters.