Anesthesia and Anesthetic-Related Complications of 8 Elegant-Crested Tinamous (Eudromia elegans) Undergoing Experimental Surgery.

The aim of this study was to describe the anesthetic effects of an injectable anesthetic protocol, based on ketamine, midazolam, and medetomidine, followed by inhalational sevoflurane, in 8 elegant-crested tinamous (Eudromia elegans) undergoing experimental surgery. Initial doses for both injectable agents were tested in 1 bird and then refined with an algorithm based on the effects observed in the pilot procedure. Heart and respiratory rates, as well as nociceptive reflexes, were evaluated before anesthesia (baseline) and intraoperatively, at 10 minute intervals. The time from injection to anesthetic induction and surgical anesthesia, as well as the time from atipamezole injection to recovery, was recorded for each bird. The median doses of medetomidine and ketamine were 0.075 mg/kg and 33 mg/kg, respectively. Anesthetic induction was achieved within 10 (range, 4-45) minutes from intramuscular injection, whereas time to surgical anesthesia was 22 ±16 minutes. The baseline heart rate values were significantly higher than those measured intraoperatively at any time point (P = .001). Intraoperatively, 5 of 8 tinamous (63%) developed cardiac arrhythmias. Other encountered complications were regurgitation in 2 birds (25%), cardiac arrest in 1 bird (13%) soon after injection of the anesthetic agents, and prolonged recovery in another bird (13%), which was euthanized. Necropsy of the 2 fatal outcomes (25%) showed evidence of hepatic lipidosis in both (100%) and intramyocardial fat accumulation in 1 bird (50%). This report highlights the challenges of tinamou anesthesia. Cardiac complications are common in this species, and close monitoring of intraoperative cardiovascular variables is recommended for prompt recognition and treatment.

Occurrence of Rhabditid Nematodes in the Pet Giant African Land Snails (Achatina fulica).

Gastropods comprise nearly 60,000 species of aquatic as well as terrestrial mollusks, primarily snails and slugs. The giant African land snail (Achatina fulica) is one of the most popular pet snails worldwide. This gastropod mollusk is known as the intermediate host of several parasites that cause severe diseases in pets, free-ranging vertebrates, and humans. The aim of this survey was to investigate the occurrence of parasites in giant African land snails kept as pets in southern Italy. Fresh fecal samples were collected from a total of 60 giant African land snails kept in three private collections in Campania region (Italy). In addition, microscopic analysis of mucus and histological examination of biopsy samples from the foot muscle of 30 individual snails were performed. Coprological examination revealed the presence of rhabditid nematodes identified by both morphological and molecular assessment as Rhabditella axei in two out of three examined samples, and Rhabditis terricola, Cruznema sp., and Pristionchus entomophagus in one coprological sample. No parasites were detected in the muscle biopsy samples, or in the mucus. Due to the potential harm of rhabditid nematodes, their presence in giant African land snails potentially in contact with both pets and humans should not be disregarded.

Medetomidine-ketamine-sevoflurane anaesthesia in juvenile Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) undergoing experimental surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the anaesthetic, physiological and side effects of intramuscular (IM) medetomidine and ketamine, followed by inhalational anaesthesia with sevoflurane, in Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus). STUDY DESIGN: Observational trial. ANIMALS: Ten juvenile captive-bred Nile crocodiles undergoing surgical implantation of skeletal beads and muscular electrodes. METHODS: During preanaesthetic examination, the following variables were assessed: heart (HR) and respiratory (fR) rates, and response to palpebral, corneal and toe- and tail-pinch withdrawal reflexes. The crocodiles were injected IM with an initial combination of medetomidine and ketamine and re-evaluated at 5 minute intervals for 20 minutes, or until they appeared unresponsive. If that did not occur, the drugs were redosed according to a decision tree based on the observed effects. The righting, biting and palatal valve reflexes were assessed in the unresponsive crocodiles, and used to confirm anaesthetic induction. Anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen. At the end of surgery, medetomidine was antagonized with IM atipamezole. RESULTS: The decision tree identified 0.3 mg kg-1 medetomidine and 15 mg kg-1 ketamine as a useful drug combination, which resulted in anaesthetic induction and surgical anaesthesia 16 ± 8 and 16 (25-20) minutes after injection, respectively. Compared to baseline, HR and fR significantly decreased after anaesthetic induction (p < 0.001), but then remained stable throughout surgery. Intraoperatively, cloacal temperature [27 (26-30) °C] did not change over time (p = 0.48). The total dose of atipamezole was 2 (1-3) mg kg-1 and time to recovery was 36 (20-60) minutes. Perioperative complications were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: and clinical relevance Medetomidine and ketamine, injected IM and followed by sevoflurane anaesthesia, may be regarded as a useful anaesthetic technique for juvenile Nile crocodiles undergoing minimally invasive experimental surgery.

Alfaxalone versus alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine anaesthesia by immersion in oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis).

OBJECTIVE: To determine a dexmedetomidine concentration, to be added to an alfaxalone-based bath solution, that will enhance the anaesthetic and analgesic effects of alfaxalone; and to compare the quality of anaesthesia and analgesia provided by immersion with either alfaxalone alone or alfaxalone with dexmedetomidine in oriental fire-bellied toads (Bombina orientalis). STUDY DESIGN: Pilot study followed by a prospective, randomized, experimental trial. ANIMALS: Fourteen oriental fire-bellied toads. METHODS: The pilot study aimed to identify a useful dexmedetomidine concentration to be added to an anaesthetic bath containing 20 mg 100 mL(-1) alfaxalone. Thereafter, the toads were assigned to one of two groups, each comprising eight animals, to be administered either alfaxalone (group A) or alfaxalone-dexmedetomidine (group AD). After immersion for 20 minutes, the toads were removed from the anaesthetic bath and the righting, myotactic and nociceptive reflexes, cardiopulmonary variables and von Frey filaments threshold were measured at 5 minute intervals and compared statistically between groups. Side effects and complications were noted and recorded. RESULTS: In the pilot study, a dexmedetomidine concentration of 0.3 mg 100 mL(-1) added to the alfaxalone-based solution resulted in surgical anaesthesia. The toads in group AD showed higher von Frey thresholds and lower nociceptive withdrawal reflex scores than those in group A. However, in group AD, surgical anaesthesia was observed in two out of eight toads only, and induction of anaesthesia was achieved in only 50% of the animals, as compared with 100% of the toads in group A. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The addition of dexmedetomidine to an alfaxalone-based solution for immersion anaesthesia provided some analgesia in oriental fire-bellied toads, but failed to potentiate the level of unconsciousness and appeared to lighten the depth of anaesthesia. This limitation renders the combination unsuitable for anaesthetizing oriental fire-bellied toads for invasive procedures.

Oral Malignant Melanoma in a Ferret ( Mustela putorius furo).

Oral malignant melanomas are one of the most common oral malignant neoplasms in dogs but are rare in other domesticated species. This case report describes the clinical manifestations and histological appearance of oral melanoma in a ferret ( Mustela putorius furo). To the authors' knowledge, this is the first published description of a clinical case and histopathological findings of oral melanoma in this species.

Survey of endoparasites in pet guinea pigs in Italy.

Little information is available on the occurrence of endoparasites in pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in cavies kept as pets in southern Italy. Fresh fecal samples were randomly collected from 60 guinea pigs housed in pet shops or privately owned. All fecal samples were processed using the FLOTAC pellet technique to identify and count helminthic eggs/larvae and protozoan cysts/oocysts. In addition, the specimens were analyzed also by the Remel Xpect® Giardia/Cryptosporidium immunoassay. Intestinal parasites were detected in 19 out of 60 guinea pigs (31.7 %). Paraspidodera uncinata eggs were found in 13.3 % (8/60) of the rodents examined, Nippostrongylus-like eggs in 10 % (6/60), and finally Eimeria caviae oocysts were found in 10 % (6/60) of the animals. In one case, both E. caviae oocysts and P. uncinata eggs were found. None of the samples was positive for Cryptosporidium or Giardia. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first survey of endoparasites in pet guinea pigs in Italy.

Nerve stimulator-guided sciatic-femoral nerve block in raptors undergoing surgical treatment of pododermatitis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the nerve stimulator-guided sciatic-femoral nerve block in raptors undergoing surgical treatment of pododermatitis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: Five captive raptors (Falco peregrinus) aged 6.7 ± 1.3 years. METHODS: Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The sciatic-femoral nerve block was performed with 2% lidocaine (0.05 mL kg(-1) per nerve) as the sole intra-operative analgesic treatment. Intraoperative physiological variables were recorded every 10 minutes from endotracheal intubation until the end of anaesthesia. Assessment of intraoperative nociception was based on changes in physiological variables above baseline values, while evaluation of postoperative pain relied on species-specific behavioural indicators. RESULTS: The sciatic-femoral nerve block was feasible in raptors and the motor responses following electrical stimulation of both nerves were consistent with those reported in mammalian species. During surgery no rescue analgesia was required. The anaesthesia plane was stable and cardiorespiratory variables did not increase significantly in response to surgical stimulation. Iatrogenic complications, namely nerve damage and local anaesthetic toxicity, did not occur. Recovery was smooth and uneventful. The duration (mean ± SD) of the analgesic effect provided by the nerve block was 130 ± 20 minutes. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The sciatic-femoral nerve block as described in dogs and rabbits can be performed in raptors as well. Further clinical trials with a control groups are required to better investigate the analgesic efficacy and the safety of this technique in raptors.