HYPERKALEMIA IN FOUR ANESTHETIZED RED WOLVES (CANIS RUFUS).

Four clinically healthy red wolves (Canis rufus) developed hyperkalemia during routine anesthetic procedures. All cases were anesthetized using a combination of dexmedetomidine (10-24 mcg/kg), ketamine (2-3 mg/kg), and either midazolam (0.25-0.5 mg/kg) or butorphanol (0.2-0.48 mg/kg). Additional anesthetics were given to effect. Total anesthetic time ranged from 60 to 420 min. Three out of four cases were treated using terbutaline (0.01 mg/kg SC), which successfully resolved the hyperkalemia. No bradyarrhythmias were seen in any cases where electrocardiography (ECG) was monitored (3/4). All cases recovered from anesthesia, with one prolonged recovery. All animals are clinically healthy at the time of writing. Factors including anesthetic duration, the use of α-2 agonists, hyperthermia, and genetics are discussed as possible triggers for hyperkalemia. Serial blood gases, with electrolyte measurements, are recommended during anesthesia of red wolves, particularly when anesthetic time may be prolonged or the patient suffers from hyperthermia. Terbutaline appears to be a successful treatment should hyperkalemia arise.

Myxobolus lentisuturalis infection in a farmed population of goldfish Carassius auratus from the USA.

Myxobolus lentisuturalis is a myxozoan parasite of piscine muscle that has been described in goldfish Carassius auratus and Prussian carp Carassius gibelio. This report documents a naturally occurring infection of M. lentisuturalis in a population of farmed goldfish in the USA. Postmortem examination was performed on 4 affected goldfish. Gross findings included large cystic cavities along the dorsal midline filled with caseous exudate. Histopathology revealed myxozoan plasmodia and spores in the epaxial muscles with varying degrees of granulomatous and necrotizing myositis accompanied by lymphohistiocytic meningoencephalitis. Spore morphology and dimensions were consistent with M. lentisuturalis, as observed by light microscopy. PCR and sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA of infected muscle samples from 2 goldfish confirmed the parasite to have 99-100% nucleotide identity to M. lentisuturalis sequences recovered from similar cases of this parasite infecting goldfish in China and Italy and Prussian carp in China. This is the first reported case of M. lentisuturalis in the USA and furthers the understanding of the pathogenicity of this under-described parasite.

ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF COELOMIC FLUID IN HEALTHY CORN SNAKES (PANTHEROPHIS GUTTATUS).

Free coelomic fluid can be a physiologic or pathologic finding in snakes. In this study, ultrasonography was used to assess the presence, volume, and type of coelomic fluid in 18 (16 females, 2 males) clinically healthy corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) using a semiquantitative scoring system. Each snake was divided into five equal regions (R1-R5) by length (from rostrum to vent) and fluid volume was scored on a scale of 0 to 4. Coelomic fluid was sampled when possible and cytologic analysis was performed. The majority of snakes (16/18) were found to have some degree of free coelomic fluid. The coelomic fluid samples that were collected (n= 6) were classified as transudates, acellular or primarily lymphocytic. Fluid was most likely to be found in R3 compared with all other regions and least likely to be found in R1 compared with R2, R3, and R4. A higher score of volume was found in R3 compared with R1 and R5. This study describes the distribution and abundance of coelomic fluid in snakes, as well as a method for point of care ultrasound (POCUS) in this species.

NALTREXONE AS A PROMISING TREATMENT FOR CLINICAL SIGNS OF LATERAL LINE DEPIGMENTATION IN PALETTE SURGEONFISH (PARACANTHURUS HEPATUS).

Lateral line depigmentation (LLD) is a common condition in managed tropical saltwater fish, and treatment is somewhat elusive. Naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, enhances epithelial cell replication, cytokine production, and angiogenesis to stimulate wound healing in mice. A treatment trial with 11 palette surgeonfish with LLD was performed. Seven fish underwent a single topical treatment of a mixture of 4 mg naltrexone and 10 g iLEX petroleum paste applied topically to LLD lesions. Four additional fish served as controls: two received only topical iLEX and two received no treatment. Severity of disease was scored on a 0-3 scale. Inflammatory response was gauged on a separate 0-3 scale for 5 d after treatment based on severity of erythema, as seen in a clinical case performed prior to this study. After 11 days, four affected animals that lacked an inflammatory response after naltrexone topical treatment were administered a single dose of intralesional 0.04% naltrexone (4 mg diluted into 10 ml saline). Lesions on all fish were photographed and measured at day 33. Clinical improvements in lesion size and pigmentation were apparent following topical naltrexone therapy in fish with severe lesions. Although these cases are promising, more data are needed to further evaluate the effectiveness of naltrexone 0.04% in treating LLD lesions in palette surgeonfish.

SPINAL NEMATODIASIS IN A LINED FLAT-TAIL GECKO (UROPLATUS LINEATUS).

A 5-y-old female lined flat-tail gecko (Uroplatus lineatus) presented for acute onset of lethargy and paraplegia and was subsequently euthanized. Histologic examination of the spinal cord revealed a verminous myelitis comprising moderate, multifocal, necrotizing myelitis with intramedullary adult and larval nematodes. Molecular data and morphology indicate a cosmocercid nematode, most likely of the genus Raillietnema, a diverse taxon reported to parasitize reptiles, amphibians, and teleost fish. To the authors' knowledge this is the first report of spinal nematodiasis in a reptile species, and the first report of spinal parasitism causing hind-limb paraplegia in a reptile.

Lymphoid leukemia in five bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps).

CASE DESCRIPTION: 2 male and 3 female adult bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) were evaluated at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine's Exotic Animal Medicine Service between September 2018 and October 2019 because of severe lymphocytosis. CLINICAL FINDINGS: All 5 bearded dragons had nonspecific clinical signs, including lethargy, poor appetite, ocular discharge, and weight loss. Clinicopathologic testing revealed extremely high lymphocyte counts with morphological findings consistent with lymphocytic leukemia. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: All 5 patients were treated with lomustine, prednisolone, and antimicrobials. In addition, 1 or 2 doses of L-asparaginase were administered when the drug was available. Partial remission was achieved in all 5 patients. One patient, after disease progression was documented, was treated with cyclophosphamide and achieved a second partial remission. One of the 5 patients was still alive and continuing to receive chemotherapy at the time of final follow-up 244 days after the initial diagnosis. Survival times (ie, times from initial diagnosis to euthanasia) for the other 4 patients were 57, 157, 330, and 416 days. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present report represented the first description of lomustine as a primary chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of lymphocytic leukemia in bearded dragons and provided information on response to treatment, adverse effects, and survival times.