Intestinal Intussusception Associated with Cloacal Protusion in Trachemys scripta elegans

Background: Gastrointestinal dysfunction in reptiles is a common condition seen in animal medicine, and is often caused by inappropriate husbandry. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of a surgical procedure for enterectomy of the small intestines, performed as treatment for an intussusception with cloacal protrusion that occurred in a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) kept as a pet.Case: A 20-year-old red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) was taken into medical care after the owner’s observation of a cloacal protrusion that had started 72 h previously. During physical examination the protrusion was noted as an intestinal segment of approximately 5 cm, which was not reducible. Complementary examinations, including radiography and hematological profiling, were performed and revealed no significant findings; therefore, it was decided that an exploratory celiotomy would be conducted. The patient was referred to the surgical unit for the procedure and underwent surgical anesthesia. After appropriate antisepsis of the surgical area, a plastron osteotomy was performed using a previously sterilized oscillatory saw at a 45º angulation. The celomatic membrane was subsequently incised to enable both cavity and intestinal inspection allowing observation of the intussusception in the small intestine of the animal with the intussuscept segment protruding through the cloaca. The intussusception was undone, and an enterectomy was performed to remove the unviable intestine, using intestinal resection and subsequent anastomosis with simple interrupted sutures using 4-0 nylon, followed by intestinal reposition in the cavity. The celomatic membrane was closed using continuous suture with 4-0 nylon. The plastron fragment was then repositioned with the aid of eight cerclage fixations using 2-0 stainless steel wire. It was subsequently covered in self-polymerizing resin acrylic in order to promote impermeability and to protect the surgical wound. During the recovery period, supportive treatment and analgesia and antibiotic therapy were performed. The patient’s first defecation was observed five days after the procedure, and gastrointestinal tract functions returned to normal after four weeks. In six weeks, the patient was discharged.Discussion: In this case, exploratory celiotomy was performed due to the extension of the necrotic areas of the protruded mucosa. Plastron osteotomy is generally indicated because of the possibility of wide organ exposure. During the long healing period of reptiles, a surgical wound can be a gateway for pathogens that lead to postoperative surgical complications. As such, the use of acrylic resin in the present case was to create a protective barrier that would offer more resistance and impermeability. End-to-end enterectomy, in this instance, proved to be an efficient treatment for the small intestines cloacal protrusion, just as it was for the intussusception that preceded it. The probable cause of this case of intussusception was not well defined, and reptiles kept as pets have several diseases that can affect the gastrointestinal tract. The environment temperature also strongly influences gastrointestinal tract functions, which can lead to motility decline and imbalance of the intestinal flora, followed by the production of gases and toxins by microorganisms responsible for dysfunctions. Inadequate temperature management was the suspected main cause of intussusception in this case, as the patient was kept without access to sunlight or a heating source. In conclusion, the enterectomy with subsequent anastomosis that we performed was successful in the treatment of cloacal protruded intussusception of the small intestines in this red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Cystic Endometrial Hyperplasia in a Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)

Background: Cystic endometrial hyperplasia is a hormone-dependent disease induced by systemic increase in progesterone that can occur in several domestic species, such as the rabbit. This disease may be associated with sex steroid hormones, especially progesterone, and may be asymptomatic, and it is diagnosed using complementary imaging tests such as total abdominal ultrasound. However, surgical excisional biopsy with histopathological tissue analysis is the gold standard. This study reports a case of asymptomatic cystic endometrial hyperplasia in a female Miniature Lion Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus) treated with therapeutic ovariohysterectomy.Case: A domestic, adult, female Miniature Lion Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus), aged approximately 5 years and weighing 3.2 kg, was referred to specialized care to undergo ovariohysterectomy, an elective procedure. The tutor only reported the occurrence of a single episode of vulvar secretion more than 2 years ago, treated with antibiotics, with remission of clinical signs. In the intraoperative period after celiotomy, the uterine horn and uterine body showed a significant increase in volume, with abnormal color changes and tissue consistency; however, both changes were clinically asymptomatic. Subsequently, biopsy was performed during the ovariohysterectomy procedure. The excised uterus and ovaries were placed in 10% formalin and histopathologically analyzed. The macroscopic histopathological examination of the sectioned tissue revealed a slight amount of brownish fluid inside the uterine horns, in addition to multiple cystic areas in the uterine mucosa. Microscopic examination revealed marked hyperplasia of well-differentiated endometrial epithelial cells, occasionally forming cystic structures of different sizes. Moderate congestion, mild multifocal hemorrhage, and mild multifocal inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina comprising lymphocytes and plasma cells were also observed. Therefore, a diagnosis of cystic endometrial hyperplasia with mild lymphoplasmacytic endometritis was made. Observation of the patient was recommended without therapeutic indication.Discussion: Although the pathogenesis of cystic endometrial hyperplasia remains unknown, it is suggested that it is associated with the presence of sex steroids. Hence, this is a common disease in female rabbits, as they have non-seasonal polyestrous cycles and induced ovulation. Cystic endometrial hyperplasia may be asymptomatic or subclinical, without any significant clinical signs. Conversely, when associated with an infection such as pyometritis, the clinical signs include intermittent hematuria, anemia, lethargy, anorexia, and tenderness in the uterus on palpation. Although diagnosis can be made using total abdominal ultrasound and radiography, it can only be confirmed by the histopathological evaluation of the biopsied uterine tissue. Histopathological features of this disease include endometrial thickening with irregular glandular cystic elevations and hyperplasia of the pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated cells of the uterine glands. Furthermore, lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate is found in the uterine tissue, demonstrating an inflammatory reaction or bacterial infection concomitant with endometrial hyperplasia. In this case, the treatment of choice was therapeutic ovariohysterectomy, which is considered curative in this disease. Thus, ovariohysterectomy can resolve cystic endometrial hyperplasia in a domestic female Miniature Lion Lop rabbit.Keywords: surgery, ovariohysterectomy, rabbits, wildlife.Título: Hiperplasia endometrial cística em coelho-doméstico (Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus)Descritores: cirurgia, ovariosalpingohisterectomia, coelhos, animais selvagens

Intestinal intussusception associated with cloacal protusion in Trachemys scripta elegans

Background: Gastrointestinal dysfunction in reptiles is a common condition seen in animal medicine, and is often caused by inappropriate husbandry. The purpose of this report is to describe the case of a surgical procedure for enterectomy of the small intestines, performed as treatment for an intussusception with cloacal protrusion that occurred in a red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) kept as a pet. Case: A 20-year-old red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans) was taken into medical care after the owner’s observation of a cloacal protrusion that had started 72 h previously. During physical examination the protrusion was noted as an intestinal segment of approximately 5 cm, which was not reducible. Complementary examinations, including radiography and hematological profiling, were performed and revealed no significant findings; therefore, it was decided that an exploratory celiotomy would be conducted. The patient was referred to the surgical unit for the procedure and underwent surgical anesthesia. After appropriate antisepsis of the surgical area, a plastron osteotomy was performed using a previously sterilized oscillatory saw at a 45º angulation. The celomatic membrane was subsequently incised to enable both cavity and intestinal inspection allowing observation of the intussusception in the small intestine of the animal with the intussuscept segment protruding through the cloaca. The intussusception was undone, and an enterectomy was performed to remove the unviable intestine, using intestinal resection and subsequent anastomosis with simple interrupted sutures using 4-0 nylon, followed by intestinal reposition in the cavity. The celomatic membrane was closed using continuous suture with 4-0 nylon. The plastron fragment was then repositioned with the aid of eight cerclage fixations using 2-0 stainless steel wire. It was subsequently covered in self-polymerizing resin acrylic in order to promote impermeability and to protect the surgical wound. During the recovery period, supportive treatment and analgesia and antibiotic therapy were performed. The patient’s first defecation was observed five days after the procedure, and gastrointestinal tract functions returned to normal after four weeks. In six weeks, the patient was discharged. Discussion: In this case, exploratory celiotomy was performed due to the extension of the necrotic areas of the protruded mucosa. Plastron osteotomy is generally indicated because of the possibility of wide organ exposure. During the long healing period of reptiles, a surgical wound can be a gateway for pathogens that lead to postoperative surgical complications. As such, the use of acrylic resin in the present case was to create a protective barrier that would offer more resistance and impermeability. End-to-end enterectomy, in this instance, proved to be an efficient treatment for the small intestines cloacal protrusion, just as it was for the intussusception that preceded it. The probable cause of this case of intussusception was not well defined, and reptiles kept as pets have several diseases that can affect the gastrointestinal tract. The environment temperature also strongly influences gastrointestinal tract functions, which can lead to motility decline and imbalance of the intestinal flora, followed by the production of gases and toxins by microorganisms responsible for dysfunctions. Inadequate temperature management was the suspected main cause of intussusception in this case, as the patient was kept without access to sunlight or a heating source. In conclusion, the enterectomy with subsequent anastomosis that we performed was successful in the treatment of cloacal protruded intussusception of the small intestines in this red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)

Mandibular symphysis stabilization after traumatic disjunction in a crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous)

Background: Fractures and dislocations are common orthopedic conditions arising from traumas from anthropic interaction on wild species, such as those caused by road trampling, being the mandibular separation with great frequency of occurrence in dogs and cats. The procedures for mandibular symphysis stabilization are described as of low complexity in the literature, however no reports of this procedure in wild canids were found. The purpose of this study is to report a surgical procedure of mandibular symphysis disjunction stabilization in an individual of the species Cerdocyon thous (crab-eating fox) through the technique of cerclage fixation using stainless steel wire. Case: An adult male individual of the free-living specie weighing 5.6 kg was referred to veterinary care after having been run-over. General physical examination showed abrasions in the ventral region of the jaw, discreet bleeding in the oral cavity, and mandibular instability. Subsequently, the patient underwent radiographic examination that revealed mandibular disjunction. The patient was therefore referred to the surgical unit for stabilization. During surgical anesthesia, two 12-gauge hypodermic needles (40x12 mm) were inserted percutaneously through the ventral region of the mandible, protruding into the oral cavity immediately caudal to the canine teeth. Next, both extremities of a 0.5 mm stainless steel wire were introduced into the interior of the needles and, when both ends extruded through the other end of the needles, the latter were removed, leaving only the steel wire uniting both rostral rami of the mandible Using a twisting apparatus, the steel wire was twisted until the disjunction was completely stabilized and mandibular occlusion was deemed appropriate. Lastly, the surplus steel wire was sectioned, leaving a small segment that remained exposed to surface in the ventral region of the mandible. During the patient’s recovery period no complications or recurrence were observed, signifying a successful stabilization procedure by the chosen technique. Thirty-four days postoperatively, the metallic implant was removed under radiographic guidance, and the patient discharged after confirming adequate oral occlusion. After recuperation, the animal was referred to the responsible environmental agencies to be released back into the wild, 55 days postoperatively. Discussion: Among the several techniques described for mandibular symphysis stabilization, success was obtained in this case using the technique of cerclage fixation using stainless steel wire. The procedure in question was chosen for its easy implantation, low cost, and short time of permanence of the implant, which led to a reduction in the patient’s stay in captivity, favoring his rehabilitation and aiming at an early return of the individual to its habitat There is no consensus of mean healing time of the mandibular symphysis or the period the implant should stay in situ, with reported periods varying from three to four weeks to six to eight weeks. Several factors may influence the formation of the bone callus, including proper stabilization of the hemimandible, occlusal alignment, preservation of hard and soft tissues, and preservation of the dentition, which can lead to quicker return of mandibular function. During the hospitalization period, no surgical complications were observed on periodic clinical evaluations. Thus, we conclude that this stabilization of mandibular symphysis in an individual of the species Cerdocyon thous with cerclage using steel wire, with adequate preoperative and postoperative management, was successful in the treatment of traumatic disjunction

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost