Publications by authors named "Andrew Cushing"

The prevalence of long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and diabetes mellitus is rising. These conditions are leading sources of premature mortality, hospital admission, and healthcare expenditure. Machine learning approaches to improve the management of these conditions have been widely explored, with data-driven insights demonstrating the potential to support earlier diagnosis, triage, and treatment selection.

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A simple and accurate method for the determination of ibuprofen concentrations in elephant plasma was developed and validated using reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Utilizing a liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate, methanol, and phosphoric acid, samples were separated on an XBridge C column. The mobile phase consisted of 0.

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Administration of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM) for immobilization of black howler monkeys () has not been previously reported. In this observational study, 0.02 ml/kg of compounded BAM (butorphanol 27.

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Three adult black howler monkeys () were vasectomized for the purpose of population control. Two different surgical approaches (inguinal and pelvic) were used to vasectomize the animals under general anesthesia. One monkey was vasectomized with a pelvic approach, and the other two monkeys were vasectomized with an inguinal approach.

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Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in captive large felids is a commonly encountered syndrome that is usually treated medically, with surgical cases only sparsely documented in the literature. This case series describes the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and postoperative care of three cases of IVDD in large felids: an 8-yr-old male Bengal tiger () with acute paraplegia, a 10-yr-old male tiger of unknown subspecies () with progressive tetraparesis, and a 17-yr-old female African lion () with mild paraparesis. Two cases were diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the third was diagnosed with computed tomography myelography.

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Article Synopsis
  • SARS-CoV-2 infections have been confirmed in various nondomestic felids across multiple continents, including tigers, lions, and leopards, primarily between March 2020 and February 2021.
  • The clinical signs in infected animals varied, with symptoms such as coughing and decreased appetite being common, although most felids recovered without serious complications, except for one older tiger who had to be euthanized due to severe health issues.
  • Infection was often traced back to asymptomatic zookeepers, highlighting that cloth masks and gloves are likely ineffective at preventing the transmission of the virus from humans to these large cats.
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Purpose: Digital tools may improve chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, but further evidence of significant, persisting benefits are required. The RECEIVER trial was devised to evaluate the Lenus COPD support service by determining if people with severe COPD would continue to utilize the co-designed patient web application throughout study follow-up and to explore the impact of this digital service on clinical outcomes with its adoption alongside routine care.

Patients And Methods: The prospective observational cohort hybrid implementation-effectiveness study began in September 2019 and included 83 participants.

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Blastomycosis caused by the fungus has been reported to cause disease in numerous species of nondomestic felids. Diagnosis of blastomycosis in domestic species often relies on the combination of clinical signs, radiographic findings, and commercial urinary antigen testing. In this report, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for urine blastomyces antigen testing for use in nondomestic felids were examined and compared with findings on postmortem examination.

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A recent review of mortality in captive red pandas () listed cardiac pathology as the most common cause of death in the adult age group. The aim of this study was to describe the standard echocardiographic variables in 13 captive, healthy, adult red pandas that underwent an elective health examination. In addition, differences between the two subspecies of red panda, than in , and association of these echocardiographic variables with age, sex, and body condition score, were examined.

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Neoplasia is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in captive nondomestic felids. Seven tigers (), two African lions (), and two snow leopards () were diagnosed with melanocytic neoplasia (10 malignant melanomas, two benign melanocytomas) over a 20-yr period. Animals were 10-19 yr old and 5/7 tigers were phenotypically white.

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Rabies has rarely been described in Xenarthra, and rabies vaccine response has not been documented. A southern tamandua () presented with nonspecific clinical signs and was euthanatized. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR confirmed a rabies diagnosis.

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Noninvasive blood pressure measurement is commonly performed with oscillometry; however, this technique provides clinically helpful information only if it is representative of the gold standard. Agreement between direct and oscillometric blood pressure measurements were performed in 14 anesthetized, captive tigers (). A cuff, placed around the tail base and connected to a multiparameter monitor, was used to measure arterial blood pressure oscillometrically and provided systolic, mean, and diastolic pressures.

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This retrospective study reviews the diseases associated with morbidity and mortality in 221 budgerigars () from a captive population from 2013 to 2019. The study aimed to evaluate the health status of a flock of budgerigars typical of today's zoologic collections. Based on previous literature, it was hypothesized that age-related conditions such as neoplasia would be common, whereas metabolic and nutritional disorders would be less common.

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Free-ranging American black bears (Ursus americanus) often share habitat with humans and domestic animals, predisposing them to anthropogenic conflicts. Rehabilitation under professional care is a management option for orphaned, injured, and/or ill bears. Across several southeastern states, rescued bears are assessed and treated at the University of Tennessee and rehabilitated at Appalachian Bear Rescue (ABR).

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On August 16, 2021, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) was notified of a positive rabies test result from a South American collared anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) in Washington County, Tennessee. Tamanduas, or lesser anteaters, are a species of anteater in which rabies has not previously been reported. The animal was living at a Tennessee zoo and had been recently translocated from a zoo in Virginia.

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Objective: To determine the utility of blood symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentration measurement as a diagnostic tool for chronic kidney disease (CKD) in tigers (Panthera tigris) by comparing results for SDMA with those for traditional renal biomarkers and investigating correlations between these biomarkers and histopathologic kidney changes in tigers with CKD.

Sample: Blood, urine, and kidney samples from 35 tigers with CKD from 2 sanctuaries.

Procedures: Blood (serum or plasma) and urine samples were collected antemortem.

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Analysis of steroid and thyroid hormones is often performed in blood serum. Occasionally though, plasma samples are submitted in lieu of serum for exotic species such as tigers. However, blood tube anticoagulants may affect hormone values.

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Renal disease is well documented in nondomestic felids and is monitored and diagnosed by serum concentration of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and phosphorous. Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) has proven to be an earlier and more sensitive biomarker for the assessment of glomerular filtration rate. Although SDMA is commonly measured in nondomestic felids, information concerning the validity of the assay is lacking.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Protozoal and bacterial vector-borne infections are common in domestic cats, but their prevalence in managed wild cats, particularly in the U.S., is not well understood, except for a few cases.
  • - A study collected blood samples from tigers and African lions at a sanctuary in Tennessee and a zoo in Oklahoma to test for various vector-borne pathogens, revealing some infections in the Tennessee tigers.
  • - The findings highlight the presence of tick-borne diseases in these wild felids and emphasize the need for ectoparasite control to protect managed carnivores in captivity.
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We report an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 involving 3 Malayan tigers (Panthera tigris jacksoni) at a zoo in Tennessee, USA. Investigation identified naturally occurring tiger-to-tiger transmission; genetic sequence change occurred with viral passage. We provide epidemiologic, environmental, and genomic sequencing data for animal and human infections.

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Background: Mycobacteria are found in many environmental conditions and infect a variety of species, including rodents and rabbits. Guinea pigs are used experimentally as a model for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but natural mycobacteriosis in guinea pigs has not been reported.

Case Presentation: A 1.

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Article Synopsis
  • *This study at the University of Tennessee analyzed MRI data from 2008 to 2021, focusing on non-domestic felids and identifying various brain and spine abnormalities in a group of 50 animals.
  • *Common brain issues included Chiari-like malformation and inflammation, while spinal problems primarily consisted of intervertebral disc disease, highlighting MRI's importance in diagnosing neurological conditions in these animals.
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Infectious disease threats are increasingly recognized as a major contributor to mortality in wild populations of African wild dog ( AWD). Canine distemper virus (CDV) infection has been implicated as a cause of pack mortality in both captive and wild AWD populations. Ten animals were vaccinated with Recombitek C3, a vaccine containing a recombinant CDV, and modified live canine parvovirus (CPV) and adenovirus-2 components, at 8, 12, and 16 wk of age.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The tigers showed persistent shedding of the virus in their feces for up to 29 days, but behavioral changes made nasal sampling difficult; however, they tolerated oral sampling.
  • * Despite precautions taken by staff, the outbreak's source was unclear, and no transmission to nearby primates occurred; this highlights the need for more research on SARS-CoV-2 in wild cats.
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