Gastric adenocarcinoma with carcinomatosis and degenerative joint disease of the xiphisternum in a Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus).

Gastric adenocarcinomas have been sporadically reported in camelids. This report describes a primary gastric adenocarcinoma and subsequent peritoneal carcinomatosis in a 20-year-old female Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus). Numerous metastases were present throughout the omentum, liver, abdominal lymph nodes, intestinal serosa, kidneys and lungs. The primary tumour macroscopically resembled an ulcerated crater and originated from the distal four-fifths of the C3 compartment, an anatomical region with naturally prominent gastric rugae and true glands. Moderate numbers of Helicobacter spp colonies were present within gastric pits and necrotic areas of C3. Ménetrier's disease has previously been implicated as a predisposing condition for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma in another camel, but no evidence of this premalignant disorder was found in this case. This camel also suffered from a chronic skin wound of the hump and severe degenerative joint disease of the xiphisternum, the latter of which was presumably associated with excessive pressure on the sternum.

Presumed Tetanus in a Temminck's Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii).

An adult female Temminck's pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade presented with an ulcerated lesion of the right forelimb. Neurologic signs and tonic spasms characteristic of tetanus developed after 5 d. Despite supportive treatment, the pangolin died. Tetanus has not previously been reported in any pangolin species.

IMPROVED DIAGNOSIS OF FOOT OSTEOARTHRITIS IN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS, LOXODONTA AFRICANA) USING STEREORADIOGRAPHY.

Diagnosis of foot disease in elephants is challenging. Owing to their large size, the available diagnostic tools and the expense of imaging are diagnostically limiting. Stereoradiography is the preparation of paired radiographs that form a three-dimensional (3D) image when viewed stereoscopically. Clinicians and veterinary students graded osteoarthritis in the feet of African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants taken postmortem with standard 2D radiographs, as well as 3D stereoradiographs. These gradings were compared with the actual gross pathology identified in the specimens. Although veterinary students diagnoses were no better than chance from 2D radiographs, 83.6% of the students could correctly differentiate severity between joints on stereoradiography; this is an absolute improvement of 30.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19.6%-40.6%). Overall, participants were 27.4% (95% CI = 18.4%-36.3%) more successful at diagnosing pathology on stereoradiographs. Half of participants were shown standard 2D radiographs first, the others stereoradiographs first, but the difference in gradings between the two groups was not statistically significant. Stereoradiography appears to hold the potential to improve diagnosis of osteoarthritis in elephant feet, particularly by less experienced clinicians, and the technique is low-cost and applicable under field conditions.