The onset of goiter in several species of sharks following the addition of ozone to a touch pool.

This report describes the onset of goiter in several species of shark following the addition of ozone to a touch pool. A detailed description of a female brown-banded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) that was presented with multinodular goiter is provided. Four other brown-banded bamboo sharks and 11 white-spotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) housed in the same system developed clinical disease consistent with goiter, but two zebra bullhead sharks (Heterodontus zebra) did not. Plasma thyroxine (T4) concentration was 4.64 ng/ml before euthanasia, consistent with a diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The sharks had been chronically exposed to mean (+/- standard error) NO3-N concentrations of 35 +/- 5.12 mg/L before ozonation of the system. Ozonation of aquarium water causes a reduction in environmental iodide, which is required for thyroid hormone synthesis. Nitrate is goitrogenic and would further decrease I- absorption by competitive inhibition. Multinodular goiter is consistent with goiter caused by chronic iodide deficiency. Understanding the interaction between water chemistry and goiter development is critical to development of elasmobranch health management systems.

Postprandial biochemistry changes in penguins (Spheniscus demersus) including hyperuricemia.

In a clinical setting, it is important to differentiate abnormal values that may be a normal change resulting from feeding and those that may be disease related. Such postprandial changes have been identified in mammalian and avian species. In the current study, pre- and postvalues for several routine biochemical analytes from penguins (Spheniscus demersus) were examined. Significant increases were found in uric acid, triglycerides, and bile acids (P < 0.001). Uric acid levels increased more than threefold. These data indicate that postprandial changes should be considered when interpreting abnormal biochemistry values in penguins.

Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis in weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) and leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) caused by species of Exophiala, including a novel species.

During the period from January 2002 to March 2007, infections by melanized fungi were identified with greater frequency in aquarium-maintained leafy seadragons (Phycodurus eques) and weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus), pivotal species to the educational and environmental concerns of the aquarium industry and conservation groups. The objective of this study was to characterize the pathology and identify fungi associated with phaeohyphomycotic lesions in these species. Samples from 14 weedy and 6 leafy seadragons were received from 2 institutions and included fresh, frozen, and formalin-fixed tissues from necropsy and biopsy specimens. Fresh and frozen tissues were cultured for fungi on Sabouraud dextrose agar only or both Sabouraud dextrose agar and inhibitory mold agar with gentamicin and chloramphenicol at 30 degrees C. Isolates were processed for morphologic identification and molecular sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region and D1/D2 domains of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene. Lesions were extensive and consisted of parenchymal and vascular necrosis with fungal invasion of gill (11/20), kidney (14/20), and other coelomic viscera with or without cutaneous ulceration (13/20). Exophiala sp. isolates were obtained from 4 weedy and 3 leafy seadragons and were identified to species level in 6 of 7 instances, namely Exophiala angulospora (1) and a novel species of Exophiala (5), based on nucleotide sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses. Disseminated phaeohyphomycosis represents an important pathologic condition of both weedy and leafy seadragons for which 2 species of Exophiala, 1 a novel species, have been isolated.