Splenopancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with multiorgan metastasis in a northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon)

A 16-yr-old northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon) presented with a large, firm midcoelomic swelling. A complete blood count, survey radiographs, coelomic ultrasound, and fine needle aspirate of the mass were performed. Survey radiographs revealed a soft tissue opacity mass. Ultrasonographic examination confirmed the presence of the mass but could not aid in its visceral localization. After 2 weeks, the snake presented again because of continued anorexia and poor quality of life. Euthanasia was performed. Gross necropsy revealed a multilobulated mass attached to and effacing the splenopancreas. Histologically, the mass was composed of cuboidal to columnar neoplastic epithelial cells forming tubules surrounded by variable amounts of fibrovascular stroma. Histological examination and immunohistochemical staining of other tissues revealed local invasion in the subserosa and tunica muscularis of the stomach, metastasis within the liver, in the mesovarium, and an intravascular metastasis within the ventricle of the heart surrounded by a thrombus

Live Imaging of Mitosomes and Hydrogenosomes by HaloTag Technology

Hydrogenosomes and mitosomes represent remarkable mitochondrial adaptations in the anaerobic parasitic protists such as Trichomonas vaginalis and Giardia intestinalis, respectively. In order to provide a tool to study these organelles in the live cells, the HaloTag was fused to G. intestinalis IscU and T. vaginalis frataxin and expressed in the mitosomes and hydrogenosomes, respectively. The incubation of the parasites with the fluorescent Halo-ligand resulted in highly specific organellar labeling, allowing live imaging of the organelles. With the array of available ligands the HaloTag technology offers a new tool to study the dynamics of mitochondria-related compartments as well as other cellular components in these intriguing unicellular eukaryotes

Anesthetic Effects of Alfaxalone-Ketamine, Alfaxalone-Ketamine-Dexmedetomidine, and Alfaxalone-Butorphanol-Midazolam Administered Intramuscularly in Five‑striped Palm Squirrels (Funambulus pennantii).

Injectable anesthesia protocols for five-striped palm squirrels (Funambulus pennantii) are poorly described in the literature.In this study, male intact squirrels received intramuscular injections of either alfaxalone (6 mg/kg) and ketamine (40 mg/kg; AK group, n = 8); alfaxalone (6 mg/kg), ketamine (20 mg/kg), and dexmedetomidine (0.1 mg/kg; AKD group, n = 8); or alfaxalone (8 mg/kg), butorphanol (1 mg/kg), and midazolam (1 mg/kg; ABM group, n = 8). Atipamezole (0.15 mg/kg IM) and flumazenil (0.1 mg/kg IM) were administered 40 min after anesthesia induction (defined as loss of the righting reflex) with AKD and ABM, respectively. Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and reflexes were recorded every 5 min during anesthesia. Anesthetic induction was rapid in all groups (AK: median, 49 s; range, 33 to 60 s; AKD, 60 s; 54 to 70 s; and ABM, 15 s; 5 to 58 s). The anesthetic duration (from induction to full recovery) for the AK group was 62 ± 3 min (mean ± 1 SD). Therewas no statistically significant difference between the ABM and AKD groups regarding recovery time after partial antagonist administration and was 51 ± 5 and 48 ± 5 min, respectively. All AK animals showed twitching and abnormal vocalization during recovery. The righting reflex was absent in all squirrels for 20 min in the AK treatment group and throughout the 40-min anesthetic period in the AKD and ABM groups. The frontlimb withdrawal response was absent in all squirrels for the 40-min anesthetic period in the AKD and ABM groups, with variable responses for the AK treatment. All tested protocols in this study provided safe and effective immobilization in five-striped palm squirrels, but oxygen and thermal support wereindicated. Anesthetic depth must be determined before surgical procedures are performed in palm squirrels anesthetized by using these regimens

Influence of Isoflurane Anesthesia on Plasma Thyroxine Concentrations in Black-tailed Prairie Dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus

Anesthesia can affect measured thyroxine (total T4) concentrations in humans and animals, but its effect in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) has not yet been studied. We used isoflurane to anesthetize 12 prairie dogs for 60 min. Blood samples were obtained from each animal immediately after anesthesia induction and at 30 and 60 min and used for analysis of plasma T4 concentration. The plasma T4 concentration (mean ± 1 SD) was significantly decreased from baseline (3.49 ± 0.52 μg/dL) at both 30 min (3.24 ± 0.52 μg/dL) and 60 min (3.27 ± 0.65 μg/dL) after induction. Compared with baseline, some of the T4 trends were inconsistent between animals, and individual variability in response was responsible for 86% of the overall variability. Regardless of the observed change under isoflurane anesthesia, all measurements in all prairie dogs and at all time points (2.4 to 4.4 μg/dL) were within the reported normal plasma T4 reference range for this species. In conclusion, isoflurane anesthesia appears to cause a significant but inconsistent reduction in plasma T4 concentrations in black-tailed prairie dogs, but because values remain within normal basal levels, the clinical importance of this effect is likely minimal

Comparison of Dexmedetomidine-Ketamine-Midazolam and Isoflurane for Anesthesia of Black-tailed Prairie Dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus).

Few studies evaluate anesthesia in black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Isoflurane inhalant anesthesia is used in this species most commonly, but injectable protocols are poorly described. Here we compared the physiologic effects, including anesthetic depth, vital signs, and hematologic changes, of anesthetic protocols using isoflurane or a combination of dexmedetomidine, ketamine, and midazolam in black-tailed prairie dogs. In a randomized, complete crossover study design, intact male black-tailed prairie dogs (n = 9; age, 6 mo) were anesthetized by using a combination of dexmedetomidine (0.25 mg/kg IM), ketamine (40 mg/kg IM), and midazolam (1.5 mg/kg IM). For reversal, atipamezole (0.15 mg/kg) and flumazenil (0.05 mg/kg) were administered 45 min after induction. For comparison, isoflurane was administered at 5% in 100% oxygen at 5 L/min in an anesthetic induction chamber, followed by maintenance isoflurane 2% in 2 L/min oxygen through a tight-fitting facemask for 45 min. Induction and recovery time, respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature, SpO₂, indirect blood pressure, and reflexes were monitored every 5 min during the anesthetic period. Blood samples for venous blood gases, PCV, and refractometric total protein were obtained from the cranial vena cava at 5 min and 45 min. Both protocols appeared to achieve safe and effective anesthesia. Except for blood pressure, all vital signs differed between the 2 treatments. Isoflurane anesthesia resulted in a slightly longer induction and lower respiratory rate and body temperature but increased likelihood of absent reflexes. DKM anesthesia resulted in a faster induction and less hypothermia but also prolonged recovery and lower heart rate and SpO₂ readings. These findings suggest that isoflurane provides a more stable and consistent anesthetic plane, whereas dexmedetomidine-ketamine-midazolam anesthesia may be an effective alternative for short procedures that require fast induction and limited analgesia