Evaluation of the effects of endoscopy in general anesthesia on oxidative stres parameters and the degree of DNA damage in red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Endoskopija je veoma bitna dijagnostička procedura u veterinarskoj medicini, a naročito je značajna njena primjena kod gmizavaca, uključujuči i kornjače. Da bi se izvršio endoskopski, ili u ovom slučaju celioskopski, pregled, potrebno je da se kornjača uvede u opštu anesteziju. U veterinarskoj medicini se za anesteziranje kornjača koristi veći broj anestetičkih protokola, ali ne postoje temeljna istraživanja o rizicima i neželjenim efektima anestetika koji se koriste. U ovom radu je proučavan efekat endoskopije i tri anestetička protokola koji se najčešće koriste za anesteziranje crvenouhih kornjača na parametre oksidativnog stresa i stepen oštećenja DNK. Kornjače su podjeljene u 6 grupa na osnovu toga koji anestetički protokol je primjenjivan i toga da li su podvrgnute endoskopskom pregledu. U cilju procjene nivoa oksidativnog stresa, vršeno je određivanje aktivnosti superoksid dismutaze, katalaze, glutation S transferaze i određivanje nivoa malondialdehida. Da bi se procjenio stepen oštećenja DNK, urađen je komet test. Svi primjenjeni anestetički protokoli su doveli do promjena nivoa parametara oksidativnog stresa, s tim da je kombinacija ketamina i medetomidina imala najmanji kumulativni efekat. Izvođenje endoskopije nije dovelo do značajnih promjena u nivou parametara oksidativnog stresa. Oštećenje DNK nakon opšte anestezije i endoskopije nije registrovano ni u jednoj od eksperimentalnih grupa primjenom komet testa

A case of nerve sheath tumor followed by multicentric high-grade T-cell lymphoma in an African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris)

A 3-year-old intact male African pygmy hedgehog was presented at the Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, with a growth on the left side of its abdomen. After clinical examination, the mass was surgically removed, and histopathological findings indicated a nerve sheath tumor. The hedgehog fully recovered after surgery and was euthanized eight months later due to the appearance of multicentric changes in the internal organs. Further necropsy and macroscopic, cytologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings revealed that the tumor was a multicentric high-grade T-cell lymphoma. This is an unusual case of an African pygmy hedgehog with two different neoplasms−a nerve sheath tumor followed by lymphoma

Aktivnost glutation peroksidaze (gpx 3) u plazmi semiakvatičnih kornjača trachemys scripta elegans nakon inhalacione anestezije izofluranom

Introduction. Glutathione peroxidases are selenoenzymes which have a crucial role in the protection of animals against oxidative stress. Materials and Methods. From September 2017 to April 2018, a group of eight red-eared sliders were admitted at the Clinic for Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade for elective diagnostic celioscopy. The turtles were of unknown age, weight from 1.20 kg to 1.86 kg. The anesthesia protocol involved using ketamine and medetomidine, both at a low dosage (10 mg kg-1 and 0.1 mg kg-1, respectively) as induction, after which anesthesia was maintained using isoflurane at 3% (vapor setting) in 100% oxygen (0.5 L min-1). Medetomidine was reversed with atipamezole (0.2 mg kg-1), given intramuscularly. The elective celioscopy was performed according to standard protocols. One day prior to anesthesia, heparinized blood samples were taken using the subcarapacial venous plexus for venipuncture. The second sampling took place three hours after the anesthetics were administered. Results and Conclusions. GPx3 activity in the blood plasmas (n=8) was measured by the coupled test as described by Günzler et al. (1974). Data were tested for normality by the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and the groups were compared using a paired t-test. Blood plasma GPx3 activity was significantly higher (p=0.009) after a three-hour recovery period from inhalation anesthesia performed for elective diagnostic celioscopy, than before anesthesia. The measured post-anesthesia GPx3 activities were, on average, 80% higher than the measurements prior to anesthesia. It can be concluded that the statistically significant increase in the activity of plasma GPx3 from 91.02±36.05 mKat L-1 prior to anesthesia to 160.21±58.94 mKat L-1 three hours after anesthesia is due to the change in oxygen saturation. This is increased to 100% during the procedure, thus exposing the turtles to conditions of high oxygen saturation.Uvod. Glutation peroksidaze su selenoenzimi koji igraju ključnu ulogu u zaštiti životinja od oksidativnog stresa. Materijal i metode. Od septembra 2017. do aprila 2018. godine, grupa od osam crvenouhih kornjača je primljena na Kliniku za male životinje, Fakulteta Veterinarske Medicine, Univerziteta u Beogradu zbog izvođenja elektivne dijagnostičke celioskopije. Kornjače su bile nepoznate starosti, mase između 1,20 kg i 1,86 kg. Anastetički protokol je uključivao primenu ketamina (10 mg kg-1) i medetomidina (0.1 mg kg-1) za indukciju, oba u niskim dozama, nakon čega je anestezija održavana primenom izoflurana u koncentraciji od 3% (podešen na isparavanje) u 100% kiseoniku (0.5 L min-1). Dejstvo medetomidina je neutralizovano atipamezolom (0.2 mg kg-1), aplikovanim intramuskularno. Elektivna celioskopija je izvedena u skladu sa standardnim protokolima. Heparinizovani uzorci krvi su uzeti jedan dan pre uvođenja u anesteziju venepunkcijom iz subkarapacijalnog venskog pleksusa. Drugo uzorkovanje krvi je uzvršeno tri sata nakon administracije anestetika. Rezultati i zaključak. GPx3 aktivnost u krvnoj plazmi (n=8) je izmerena primenom kuplovane reakcije, kao što su opisali Günzler i sar. (1974). Normalna distribucija podataka je testirana pomoću Shapiro - Wilk testa normalnosti (p>0,05), a grupe su poređene koristeći t test za zavisne uzorke. Aktivnost GPx3 u krvnoj plazmi je bila značajno viša (p=0.009) u uzorcima uzetim nakon trosatnog perioda oporavka od inhalacione anestezije aplikovane radi izvođenja elektivne celioskopije, nego u uzorcima uzetim pre aplikovanja anestezije. Vrednosti GPx3 izmerene nakon anestezije bile su u proseku 80% više od vrednosti pre anestezije. Može se zaključiti da je statistički značajan porast u aktivnosti GPx3 u plazmi od 91.02±36.05 mKat L-1, pre anestezije do 160.21±58.94 mKat L-1, tri sata nakon anestezije uzrokovan promenom u saturaciji kiseonika. Tokom intervencije saturacija kiseonika se povećava i do 100% čime se kornjače uvode u uslove visoke saturacije kiseonikom

Da li je simptomatologija PBFD više zavisna od vrste domaćina nego od soja virusa? – Slučaj 8 rozenkolisa

Eight lovebirds of both sexes and different age were admitted showing alterations in behaviour and apathy. During the initial examination delamination of the beak was noted in all birds and discrete areas of alopecia in three of eight birds. Based on clinical experience, molecular diagnostic on PBFD, sequencing of obtained amplicons, and histopathological examination were performed. All birds tested positive on the presence of PBFD virus, despite the fact they did not exhibit expected clinical signs for PBFD. Sequencing results showed 100% match with sequences previously isolated from parrots with PBFD exhibiting classical PBFD manifestation. Histopathological examination showed similar findings as in previously described cases of PBFD in parrots. Other studies on psittacine birds correlate clinical manifestations and nucleotide variations with geographic localization. Our results indicate that the clinical manifestation of the disease is more dependent on bird species than on the genetic variation of the virus or the geographical distribution.Osam rozenkolisa oba pola različite starosti su primljeni na pregled zbog uočenih promena u ponašanju i apatije. Tokom inicijalnog pregleda kod svih ptica je uočena delaminacija kljuna, a kod tri jedinke bila su prisutna i diskretna polja alopecije. Na osnovu kliničkog iskustva postavljena je sumnja na oboljenje bolest kljuna i perja te je urađena molekularna dijagnostika na pristutvo virusa bolesti kljuna i perja, sekvencioniranje dobijenih amplifikata i patohistološko ispitivanje. Rezultati ispitivanja su potvrdili prisustvo virusa u uzorcima od svih ispitivanih jedinki, poklapanje nukleotidnih sekvecni od 100% sa uzorcima od drugih ptica sa drugačijom kliničkom slikom, a patohistološke promene su identične onima opisanim kod bolesti kljuna i perja. Studije brojnih autora povezivale su kliničku manifestaciju bolesti sa nukleotidnim varijacijama ili geografskom lokalizacijom. Međutim, opisani rezultati bi mogli da ukazuju da je kliničko ispoljavanje bolesti više zavisno od vrste domaćina nego od genotipa virusa koji bolest izaziva i od teritorije na kojoj se bolest ispoljava

Eight-Year Study of Haemogregarina stepanowi Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles (Emys orbicularis) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine

The eight-year study (2015–2023) was performed on a large sample of poached European pond turtles infected with Haemogregarina stepanowi and held in a pond that belongs to a quarantine section of Belgrade Zoo. The protected species of European pond turtles have been found in poor health, with general weakness, anorexia, and low motility. Comprehensive cytological, hematological, molecular, and postmortem evaluations have been performed. Initially, Diff Quick staining of the blood smears revealed rounded or elongated erythrocytes, often bearing premeront or U-shaped gamont of the hemogregarines inside. The reduced erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values found in the examined population of infected turtles indicated anemia. Macroscopically, shell necrosis and massive skin hemorrhages were the most prominent findings observed in diseased turtles. Microscopically, the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen revealed hyperemia, hemorrhages, and the presence of parasitic stages in tissue samples in 31 of 40 necropsied turtles. Cytological and microscopic examination of the samples proved to be sufficient for establishing the infection, but molecular analyses of the 18S sequence were used for phylogenetic studies. Over the years, the number of diseased and dead turtles has decreased, which could be hypothetically attributed to the elimination of leeches as the definitive host

Najčešća oboljenja malih sisara kroz prikaze slučajeva

Jedinstvena definicija egzotičnih kućnih ljubimaca ne postoji. Po jednima, to su životinje koje nisu autohtone na datom području a gaje se kao kućni ljubimci. Po drugima, to su sve socijalne životinje osim pasa, mačaka i kopitara, dok po trećima u egzotične kućne ljubimce ubrajamo jedinke koje se tradicionalno ne gaje kao kućni ljubimci. Sve u svemu, na našem prostoru pod tzv. egzotičnim kućnim ljubimcima smatramo male sisare (kunići, morski prasići, afrički patuljasti ježevi, činčile, pacovi, miševi, hrčci, leminzi, degui), kavezne ptice i gmizavce. Afrički patuljasti ježevi su sve češći pacijenti u našim ambulantama a rad sa njima i dijagnostikovanje oboljenja je vrlo zahtevno i izazovno. Najčešće prisutna patologija vezuje se za oštećenje očiju zbog njihovog slabog vida, zatim su prisutni problemi zuba, respiratorne infekcije, problemi na nivou kardiovaskularnog sistema (dilatirana kardiomiopatija je vrlo prisutna među jednikama ove vrste životinja). Pasteurella multocida je najčešći uzročnik patologije respiratornih organa, dok su bakterije roda Salmonella najčešći uzročnik enteritisa. Od bolesti urinarnog sistema najčešće se dijagnostikuju cistitis i urolitijaza. Od neuroloških oboljenja trebalo bi obratiti pažnju na Wobbly hedgehog syndrome (WHS) koji je zastupljen kod mladih jedinki i manifestuje se ataksijom. Oboljenja kože različite etiologije su često prisutna a sve češće se dijagnostikuju i neoplazije.Zbornik radov

Increase of exotic pet number in Serbian small animal practice

Egzotični kućni ljubimci se sve češće sreću u veterinarskim ambulantama u Srbiji. Međutim, veterinari u Srbiji još uvek nisu prilagodili svoj rad ovoj vrsti pacijenata. U ovoj studiji je analiziran broj pacijenata na Klinici za male životinje Fakulteta veterinarske medicine, Univerziteta u Beogradu. Poređenjem broja egzotičnih kućnih ljubimaca i pasa i mačaka, koji su dovođeni na pregled u periodu 2015. do 2020. godine, utvrđeno je da se broj egzotičnih kućnih ljubimaca iz godine u godinu povećava, dok broj pasa i mačaka stagnira. Grupa koja je zabeležila najveći apsolutni rast su bile ptice, dok je vrsta životinja sa najvećim relativnim rastom bio afrički patuljasti jež. Jedina grupa egzotičnih kućnih ljubimaca koja nije zabeležila rast su bili gmizavci. Za povećanje broja egzotičnih kućnih ljubimaca u maloj praksi, odgovoran je veći broj faktora i to od promene načina života ljudi, u koje se ove životinje bolje uklapaju od tradicionalnih ljubimaca, preko sve veće dostupnosti egzotičnih kućnih ljubimaca, do toga da ove životinje predstavljaju svojevrstan statusni simbol. Kada se sve ovo uzme u obzir, jasno je da su egzotični kućni ljubimci na putu da postanu vrlo značajna grana veterinarske medicine u Srbiji i da veterinari moraju da se prilagode novim trendovima.Exotic pets are increasingly present in veterinary clinics in Serbia. However, veterinarians in Serbia have not yet adapted to this group of patients. This study analyzed the number of patients at the Clinic for Small Animals of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade. By comparing the number of exotic pets and dogs and cats that came for exemination in the period from 2015 to 2020, it was determined that the number of exotic pets increases from year to year, while the number of dogs and cats stagnates. As for the number of exotic pets, the group that recorded the highest absolute growth were birds, while the species of animals with the highest relative growth were African pigmy hedgehogs. The only group of exotic pets that did not made any growth were reptiles. A number of factors are responsible for the increase in the number of exotic pets in small practice, from the change in peoples’ lifestyle, in which these animals fit better, through the increasing availability of exotic pets, to the fact that these animals represent a status symbol. When all this is taken into account, it is clear that exotic pets are on their way to becoming a very important branch of veterinary medicine in Serbia and that veterinarians must adapt to new trends

Rabbits and african dwarf hedgehogs – pathology, diagnosis, therapy

Kunići i afrički patuljasti ježevi su vrste koje se sve češće pojavljuju kao pacijenti u veterinarskim ambulantama. Ove vrste životinja imaju veliki broj anatomskih i fizioloških specifičnosti koje je potrebno poznavati da bi se mogla razumeti i njihova patologija. Prepoznavanje simptoma bolesti od strane vlasnika nije jednostavno jer i kunići i ježevi mogu jako dugo da prikrivaju simptome. Oni u prirodi predstavljaju plen i na taj način se štite od predatora. Do ispoljavanja kliničke slike dolazi tek kada se iscrpu svi kompenzacioni mehanizmi jedinke. Vlasnici najčešće uočavaju naglu pojavu simptoma i dolaze u veterinarsku ambulantu sa pretpostavkom da se radi o akutnom procesu. U tom trenutku se, pored znakova primarnog oboljenja uočavaju i brojni simptomi sekundarnih procesa, što čini dijagnostiku izazovnom. Da bi se utvrdio primarni uzrok oboljenja potrebno je odabrati adekvatan uzorak za ispitivanje i primeniti odgovarajuće specijalističke dijagnostičke metode, ponekad uz primenu anestezije. Naravno, svaka od ovih metoda mora da se prilagodi vrsti da bi rezultati mogli da se pravilno interpretiraju. Kada se postavi dijagnoza, neophodno je odabrati odgovarajući terapijski protokol (konzervativan i radikalne). Na osnovu navedenih informacija, potrebno je da se veterinari upoznaju sa specifičnostima patologije, dijagnostike i terapije ovih vrsta životinja.Rabbits and African pygmy hedgehogs are, other than dogs and cats, most common pets seen in veterinary practice in Serbia. These animals have a number of specific anatomical and physiological traits, of which veterinarian must be aware in order to understand their pathology. Owners often have trouble recognizing the symptoms, because both rabbits and hedgehogs can hide their symptoms for quite a long time, due to them both being a pray species in the wildernes. Signs of disease usually manifest only after all compensatory mechanisms are exhausted. Owners usually notice sudden onset of disease and come to their veterinary practitioner with an assumption that their pet is suffering from an acute condition. At that time, other than signs of primary illness, many symptoms of secondary processes are also present, which makes diagnosing more difficult. To determine the primary cause of disease, the use of special diagnostic procedures is often necessary, sometimes it is required that they should be done under anesthesia. Naturally, each of these procedures must be adjusted to the species, so that the results could be adequately interpreted. After establishing the diagnosis, next critical point is choosing appropriate therapeutical protocol, namely deciding between conservative and radical approach. For these reasons it is necessary to familiarize veterinarians with specific aspects of pathology, diagnostics and therapy of these species

Ovariohisterektomija afričkih patuljastih ježeva

Zbog naglog porasta popularnosti afričkih patuljastih ježeva (Ateletrix albiventris), koji do skora nisu držani kao ljubimci, ispitivanja patogeneze, dijagnostike i terapije mnogih oboljenja ove vrste životinja su sve brojnija. Neoplastična oboljenja predstavljaju jedno od najčešćih patoloških stanja kod ove vrste životinja. Kod ženki starih preko godinu dana, karcinom stromalnih ćelija materice je najzastupljenija forma neoplazmi. Ovo su maligni tumori niskog metastatskog potencijala. Klinički simptomi su u najvećem broju slučajeva hematurija i vaginalno krvarenje. Sumnja na neoplastičnu promenu materice se postavlja na osnovu nalaza opšteg kliničkog i ultrazvučnog pregleda. Iako je pojava metastaza ovog tipa tumora veoma retka, kontinuirano krvarenje, kompresija organa abdominalne duplje i sekundarne bakterijske infekcije su komplikacije koje se veoma često javljaju i mogu da dovedu do letalnog ishoda. Preventivna ovariohisterektomija predstavlja jedinu sigurnu metodu profilakse pojave ovog oboljenja.Zbornik radov

Assessment of owner investment in African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) welfare by feeding, housing, enrichment, hygiene, and health practice

This article presents findings from an assessment of owners’ investments in the welfare of African pygmy hedgehogs (Atelerix albiventris), focusing on feeding, housing, enrichment, hygiene, and health practices. Participants were divided into three groups based on how they acquired information about hedgehog care: G1 consulted veterinarians, G2 consulted other owners and breeders, and G3 consulted the internet. Group G3 comprised the largest portion of participants (45%), while G1 had the fewest (22%). The majority of owners fed their hedgehogs commercial food (55%), supplemented with live worms, dry insects, or plants (79%). Most hedgehogs were housed in units smaller than 0.5 square meters (68%), and 84% lacked a hiding "house". Some owners did not provide a hedgehog wheel (17%). Owners consulting veterinarians (G1) were more likely to use commercial food (P < 0.05), spend time interacting with their pets (P < 0.01), wash the wheel daily (P < 0.01), seek veterinary check-ups upon acquisition (P < 0.01), schedule preventive examinations (P < 0.01), and consult veterinarians for health changes (P < 0.01) compared to internet consulters (G3). All G1 owners had hedgehog wheels, significantly more than G2 owners (P < 0.01), where 27% lacked them. Significant differences existed between G1 and G2 in wheel washing frequency, post-acquisition veterinary visits (P < 0.001), preventive check-ups (P < 0.001), and contacting veterinarians for health changes (P < 0.01). Overall, owners across all groups exhibited differences in care practices, including some errors such as inadequate housing