ORAL HALOPERIDOL PREMEDICATION TO REDUCE CAPTURE STRESS PRIOR TO XYLAZINE-KETAMINE ANESTHESIA IN CAPTIVE SPOTTED DEER (AXIS AXIS).

A prospective clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of haloperidol premedication prior to xylazine-ketamine anesthesia with a goal of reducing capture stress in adult male captive spotted deer (Axis axis). On the morning of the study, deer were fed a banana either containing haloperidol tablets (1 mg/kg) (haloperidol group, n = 10) or without haloperidol (placebo group, n = 10). Six hours postadministration, xylazine (3 mg/kg) and ketamine (2 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly via a dart. Rectal temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and SpO2 (percent hemoglobin saturation) were recorded at 5-min intervals. Blood gas analysis was performed at time 0 (venous blood) and 10 and 20 min (arterial blood) postinduction. Serum cortisol was determined from venous blood (35 min postinduction), following which yohimbine was administered at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg intramuscular and 0.15 mg/kg intravenous. Statistical analysis of repeated measures data was performed with a two-way analysis of variance. Paired data were analyzed with a Wilcoxon rank-sum test (categorical data) or a paired t-test (continuous data). Significance was set at P ≤ 0.05, and results were expressed as mean ± SEM. There was no significant difference in induction time or recovery time between treatment groups. Rectal temperature and heart rate were significantly lower in the haloperidol group. Both groups demonstrated acidosis with venous pH being significantly lower in the placebo group when compared to the haloperidol group. Serum cortisol and arterial plasma lactate were lower in the haloperidol group indicative of reduced stress and physical exertion. Haloperidol premedication proved to be beneficial in reducing capture stress, when administered prior to xylazine-ketamine anesthesia, in spotted deer.

Whether Dirofilaria repens parasites from South India belong to zoonotic Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis (Dirofilaria sp. hongkongensis)?

The canine and zoonotic dirofilarioses are arthropod-borne parasitic infections caused by nematodes of the genus Dirofilaria, infecting canines, felines and humans throughout the world. Dirofilaria repens was considered as the most common cause of human dirofilariosis in Kerala. In the present study, molecular characterization of Dirofilaria isolates causing dirofilariosis in humans, dogs and jackal from Kerala, South India was undertaken by performing sequence and phylogenetic analysis based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. The live worms from swellings/ nodules in subconjunctiva or subcutaneous tissue or scrotum were recovered from humans (n = 3), dogs (n = 4) and one jackal. The PCRs targeting a repetitive fragment, 18S rRNA and COI genes yielded products of ~246 bp, ~875 bp and ~350 bp respectively in all the samples. The sequence analysis of 18S rRNA gene revealed the closest identity (98 to 99%) with an already published sequence of D. repens isolated from a human in Japan. However, based on the sequence and phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of COI gene, the Dirofilaria infecting both animals (dogs, jackal) and humans native to Kerala, South India were identified as genetically conserved and closely related to Dirofilaria sp. hongkongensis. Hence, the results of the present study suggested the existence of Candidatus Dirofilaria hongkongensis (Dirofilaria sp. hongkongensis) in Kerala, South India causing zoonotic filariosis in canines and humans.

Ixodid Tick Vectors of Wild Mammals and Reptiles of Southern India.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to focus on the ixodid ticks parasitizing wild mammals and reptiles from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghat, southern India. METHODS: The taxonomic identification of ticks collected from wild mammals and reptiles was performed based on the morphology of adults. RESULTS: We revealed eight species of ticks including, Amblyomma integrum, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) spinigera, H. (K.) shimoga, H. (K.) bispinosa, H. (Rhipistoma) indica, Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and R. sanguineus s.l. collected from nine species of wild mammals while four tick species Ablyomma kraneveldi, A. pattoni, A. gervaisi and A. javanense parasitizing on four species of reptiles. The highest host richness was shown by H. (K.) bispinosa and R. haemaphysaloides parasitizing six and five different host species, respectively. Reports of R. (B.) annulatus on sambar deer, A. javanense and A. kraneveldi on python as well as A. pattoni on Indian rat snake are the new host records from this region. CONCLUSION: Eight species of ticks parasitizing on nine species of wild mammals and four species of parasitizing on four species of reptiles were identified. The highest host richness was shown by H. (K.) bispinosa and R. haemaphysaloides. H. spinigera as the vector of KFD was also identified in this study.

Occurrence of Gnathostoma spinigerum in a leopard cat from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala.

The post-mortem examination of a leopard cat from Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala, died in a road accident, revealed presence of gastric tumours containing worms which were identified as Gnathostoma spinigerum based on morphological characteristics.