Study about liver and spleen perfuzsion in exotic animals using contrast enhanced ultrasounds and contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT)

Il presente studio rappresenta la prima applicazione della tecnica CEUS in alcune delle più diffuse specie non convenzionali, nonché la prima nei rettili. In particolare è stata investigata la perfusione di fegato e milza in 10 conigli, 10 furetti e il fegato in 8 iguane. Per quanto riguarda i mammiferi, la tecnica è risultata di facile attuazione e i risultati ottenuti erano equiparabili a quelli documentati per i piccoli animali. Maggiore variabilità si è messa in evidenza a livello splenico in entrambe le specie e nel coniglio rispetto al furetto. Nelle iguane è stata necessaria una modifica del protocollo a seguito dei tempi più lunghi delle fasi di wash in e di wash out. Le curve ottenute erano caratterizzate da picchi più bassi e TTP più lunghi, con wash out incompleto anche dopo 10 minuti di indagine. Nelle iguane l’indagine del fegato è stata approfondita grazie all’esecuzione di TC dinamiche con MDC, studio pioneristico per quanto riguarda la medicina dei rettili. L’esecuzione è avvenuta senza problemi in anestesia generale. Diffusione del MDC e conseguenti variazione di HU a livello aortico e epatico sono state considerate contemporaneamente, con costruzione di curve HU-tempo piuttosto ripetibili, entrambe caratterizzate da un wash in rapido, un picco, particolarmente alto a livello aortico, e da una fase di wash out più lento, anche qui incompleto dopo i 600 secondi di indagine. Una certa variabilità è stata notata in tre individui, risultato attendibile conseguentemente alla forte dipendenza da fattori intriseci ed estrinseci del metabolismo e della funzionalità epatica dei rettili. L’intero protocollo è stato applicato in un furetto e due iguane patologiche, al fine di evidenziare le potenzialità cliniche delle tecniche. Sebbene il numero esiguo di casi non permetta di trarre conclusioni a questo riguardo, l’ultimo capitolo della tesi vuole essere uno spunto per studi futuri.The present work represents the first application of CEUS in some of the most overspread exotic pets and in reptiles in general. We investigated liver and spleen perfusion in 10 rabbits, and 10 ferrets other than the liver perfusion in 8 green iguanas. The technique was easily performed in the mammals, and results were similar to the one already reported for small mammals. More variability was highlighted for the spleen in both species and for the rabbit compared to the ferret. Small modifications were necessary to adapt the protocol to the longer phases occurring in the iguana. Curves obtained for this species were characterized by smaller peaks and longer TTP, and wash out phase was not complete over the 600 seconds of the study. Liver perfusion was further investigated in the iguana by a dynamic contrast enhanced CT scan, a pioneer study in reptile medicine. The technique was easily performed under general anesthesia. MDC diffusion was evaluated by HU variations both in the aorta and in the hepatic vessels and parenchyma at the same time, and time-intensity curves were determined. The shape of the curves was repeated in all the animals in a very similar way, even if few variation were noticed, probably as a consequence of the strong dependence of reptile metabolism and liver function both to intrisic and extrinsic factors. The whole protocol was applied in two pathological iguanas and one pathological ferret, in order to investigate clinical potentiality of the techniques. Even if no conclusion can be derived, the final section of the thesis should represent a cue for future studies

MITE INFECTION in A MASKED PALM CIVET (PAGUMA LARVATA) TREATED by SELAMECTIN (STRONGHOLD®, PFIZER LTD.)

The masked palm civet (Paguma larvata) is a small Asian mammal (order Carnivora, family Viverridae) uncommon in Italy. Limited information is available about management and sanitary maintenance in captivity. A 4-mo-old masked palm civet presented with pruritus, itch, scratching, and disorexia. On physical examination, alopecia and crusts were detected on the ventral and lateral trunk, tail, legs, and lips. Skin scrapings and cytology revealed Notoedres spp. and bacterial infection. On histopathology, parasitic dermatitis was observed with the presence of a Sarcoptidae mite and Demodex spp. Selamectin spot-on (15 mg/kg every 2 wk, three applications) and marbofloxacin per os (2.5 mg/kg once daily for 2 wk) were administered, and the animal recovered in 1 mo. With the good response to this therapy, a notoedric mange was thought to be the main problem. This is the first report about the use of selamectin to treat a mite infection in masked palm civet

Reperti di tomografia computerizzata in tartarughe marine spiaggiate

Le tartarughe marine spiaggiate presentano spesso lesioni traumatiche associate all’attività umana di pesca e nataggio. La tomografia computerizzata (TC) è una tecnica diagnostica accurata e affidabile per la valutazione di pazienti in emergenza in medicina umana e veterinaria. L’obiettivo del presente studio è di descrivere i reperti TC whole-body osservati in sette tartarughe marine Caretta caretta soccorse nel mar Adriatico. L’esame TC rivelava lesioni dell’apparato muscolo-scheletrico in tutti gli esemplari, sei tartarughe presentavano fratture ossee e un soggetto scoliosi vertebrale. In quattro soggetti sono state riscontrate lesioni del sistema nervoso centrale intracranico e a un soggetto lesioni al midollo spinale. Cinque esemplari presentavano lesioni polmonari. Si evidenziavano alterazioni del sistema nervoso centrale in quattro individui. In conclusione, l’esame TC ha permesso di valutare efficacemente lesioni dell’apparato scheletrico, polmonare e del sistema nervoso centrale in tartarughe marine politraumatizzate. Quando disponibile, l’esame TC dovrebbe essere utilizzato per ottenere una diagnosi rapida e completa, permettendo di intervenire con una terapia adeguata ed eventualmente monitorare lo stato di guarigione in tartarughe Caretta caretta soccorse

Interface roughening in nonequilibrium phase-separated systems

Interfaces of phase-separated systems roughen in time due to capillary waves. Because of fluxes in the bulk, their dynamics is nonlocal in real space and is not described by the Edwards-Wilkinson or Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) equations, nor their conserved counterparts. We show that in the absence of detailed balance, the phase-separated interface is described by a new universality class that we term |q|KPZ. We compute the associated critical exponents via one-loop renormalization group, and corroborate the results by numerical integration of the |q|KPZ equation. Deriving the effective interface dynamics from a minimal field theory of active phase separation, we finally argue that the |q|KPZ universality class generically describes liquid-vapor interfaces in active systems.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 1 supplementa

Self-Organized Critical Coexistence Phase in Repulsive Active Particles

International audienc

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF SPIROTOMEt DEVICE FOR LIVER BIOPSY IN GREEN IGUANAS (IGUANA IGUANA): A PILOT STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate a large-core manual biopsy device (Spirotomet, Medinvents, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium) for liver sampling and histologic diagnosis in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). The study included eight green iguanas, and two ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected for each lizard, for 16 biopsies in total. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia induced by intravenous injection of propofol (10 mg/kg) maintained with a mixture of 2.0% isoflurane and 0.8\u20131.2 L/min oxygen after tracheal intubation. Fourteen (87.5%) of the 16 biopsies were considered diagnostic. Liver biopsy quality was assessed according to sample size and tissue preservation. In particular, mean length (16.2 6 4.5 mm), width (2.2 6 0.5 mm), area (34.8 6 6.9 mm2), and number of portal areas (9.4 6 3.9) of each biopsy were recorded for all green iguanas. The total available surface of the sections obtained from the biopsies and their grade of preservation enabled a satisfactory evaluation of the parenchymal architecture. One of the green iguanas in the study died the day after the procedure due to severe hemocoeloma. Risk assessment evaluation suggested that small green iguanas may not be suitable for this biopsy procedure

First case of systemic fatal mycobacteriosis caused by Mycobacterium goodii in a pet Kenyan sand boa (Eryx colubrinus loveridgei)

Environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria species that are not members of the M. tuberculosis complex, are ordinary inhabitants of a wide variety of environmental reservoirs and their role in human and animal diseases has been fully recognized. Even if spontaneous mycobacterial infections have been reported in a wide variety of reptiles, this is the first report of systemic fatal mycobacteriosis sustained by Mycobacterium goodii in a pet reptile.  CASE PRESENTATION: An adult, wild caught (WC), male Kenyan sand boa (Eryx colubrinus loveridgei) age unknown, was presented for clinical examination due to decreased activity level, decreased appetite and diarrhea. Blood tests showed unreliable results. Coprologic exam showed a moderate to severe presence of flagellates. X rays and ultrasound showed moderate presence of air and faeces in the large intestine. The snake was hospitalized and oral metronidazole was chosen as antiprotozoal agent in association with subcutaneous warm fluids. The snake was discharged after 2 weeks therapy in good clinical condition. Faecal exam resulted negative. One month after, the snake was quickly hospitalized again because of a recrudescence of symptoms. Biochemistry showed severe increase of AST, ALT and biliary acids. Severe leucocytosis and moderate to severe anemia were highlighted. Ultrasound examination revealed a severe diffused alteration of the liver parenchyma and a fine needle aspiration was performed. The cytological diagnosis was mixed inflammation, with a numerous of unstained rod-shaped bacteria both inside macrophages and free in the sample. The snake's condition rapidly deteriorated and euthanasia was performed. The histology of the coelomic organs confirmed a systemic mycobacteriosis. Real-time PCR identified the mycobacteria as Mycobacterium goodii

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION of SPIROTOME® DEVICE for LIVER BIOPSY in GREEN IGUANAS (IGUANA IGUANA): A PILOT STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate a large-core manual biopsy device (Spirotome®, Medinvents, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium) for liver sampling and histologic diagnosis in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). The study included eight green iguanas, and two ultrasound-guided biopsies were collected for each lizard, for 16 biopsies in total. The procedure was carried out under general anesthesia induced by intravenous injection of propofol (10 mg/kg) maintained with a mixture of 2.0% isoflurane and 0.8-1.2 L/min oxygen after tracheal intubation. Fourteen (87.5%) of the 16 biopsies were considered diagnostic. Liver biopsy quality was assessed according to sample size and tissue preservation. In particular, mean length (16.2 ± 4.5 mm), width (2.2 ± 0.5 mm), area (34.8 ± 6.9 mm2), and number of portal areas (9.4 ± 3.9) of each biopsy were recorded for all green iguanas. The total available surface of the sections obtained from the biopsies and their grade of preservation enabled a satisfactory evaluation of the parenchymal architecture. One of the green iguanas in the study died the day after the procedure due to severe hemocoeloma. Risk assessment evaluation suggested that small green iguanas may not be suitable for this biopsy procedure

Structural flexibility of the heme cavity in the cold-adapted truncated hemoglobin from the Antarctic marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125

Truncated hemoglobins build one of the three branches of the globin protein superfamily. They display a characteristic two-on-two \u3b1-helical sandwich fold and are clustered into three groups (I, II and III) based on distinct structural features. Truncated hemoglobins are present in eubacteria, cyanobacteria, protozoa and plants. Here we present a structural, spectroscopic and molecular dynamics characterization of a group-II truncated hemoglobin, encoded by the PSHAa0030 gene from Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC125 (Ph-2/2HbO), a cold-adapted Antarctic marine bacterium hosting one flavohemoglobin and three distinct truncated hemoglobins. The Ph-2/2HbO aquo-met crystal structure (at 2.21 \uc5 resolution) shows typical features of group-II truncated hemoglobins, namely the two-on-two \u3b1-helical sandwich fold, a helix \u3a6 preceding the proximal helix F, and a heme distal-site hydrogen-bonded network that includes water molecules and several distal-site residues, including His(58)CD1. Analysis of Ph-2/2HbO by electron paramagnetic resonance, resonance Raman and electronic absorption spectra, under varied solution conditions, shows that Ph-2/2HbO can access diverse heme ligation states. Among these, detection of a low-spin heme hexa-coordinated species suggests that residue Tyr(42)B10 can undergo large conformational changes in order to act as the sixth heme-Fe ligand. Altogether, the results show that Ph-2/2HbO maintains the general structural features of group-II truncated hemoglobins but displays enhanced conformational flexibility in the proximity of the heme cavity, a property probably related to the functional challenges, such as low temperature, high O2 concentration and low kinetic energy of molecules, experienced by organisms living in the Antarctic environment