COMPARISON OF DIAGNOSTIC PREDICTORS OF NEONATAL SURVIVABILITY IN NONDOMESTIC CAPRINAE.

This retrospective study evaluated whether six methods (glutamyltransferase, glutaraldehyde coagulation test, sodium sulfite precipitation test, total serum protein, glucose, and fibrinogen) used to assess passive transfer status in ruminants were predictive of survival of nondomestic Caprinae neonates in a zoological collection. A total of 184 neonates from 10 nondomestic Caprinae species had one or more testing methods performed within 7 d of birth. Results of each test were compared with the clinical condition (alive or dead) at 7, 30, and 90 d of age. Total protein (TP) results were not considered for statistical significance in this study. No statistical correlations between results of the serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), glutaraldehyde coagulation test, or sodium sulfite precipitation test (BOVA-S) and survival at any age were found. A higher glucose level within 7 d of birth was associated with a greater probability of survival. Fibrinogen levels were found to have a strong negative association with survival at 30 and 90 d. Increased glucose concentration was negatively associated with the probability of an infectious cause of mortality and the need for medical intervention. In contrast, increased fibrinogen levels were associated with higher probabilities of infectious death and the need for major medical care. Neonates who were confirmed to have nursed had a lower likelihood of requiring major medical intervention. These findings suggest that glucose and fibrinogen levels are better predictors of neonatal survival in nondomestic Caprinae when compared to the other three tests reviewed in this study. Using survival as an indicator of adequate passive transfer in this group of neonates failed to identify a gold standard of diagnosis of failure of passive transfer, so more than one diagnostic test should be utilized.

Immunohistochemical analysis of pigment cell tumors in two cyprinid species.

Pigment cell tumors, also known as chromatophoromas, are cutaneous spindle cell neoplasms originating from pigment cells (chromatophores) in the dermis of teleosts, amphibians, and reptiles. Chromatophoromas share similar histologic morphology to other spindle cell tumors and are not always pigmented. Therefore, immunohistochemical analysis may be useful in distinguishing these neoplasms from tumors of other cellular origin when poorly pigmented. We performed 3 immunohistochemistry assays (PNL-2, melan A, and SOX10) on 8 cutaneous neoplasms from 8 teleosts diagnosed as chromatophoromas based on histologic morphology. Semiquantitative analysis of immunoreactivity was evaluated on each immunohistochemical assay using a 0-3 scale. PNL-2 exhibited mild-to-moderate (1 or 2) immunoreactivity in 7 of the cases, and resident chromatophores (internal control) were also immunoreactive in these cases. Melan A exhibited mild-to-moderate (1 or 2) immunoreactivity in 4 cases (and with resident chromatophores in these cases); SOX10 was not immunoreactive in any cases. Our results indicate that PNL-2 may be a useful marker in teleosts to distinguish tumors of chromatophore origin. Melan A could also be useful, but appears to be less sensitive, and SOX10 is likely not a useful marker for these neoplasms in teleosts.