Cesarian section and long-term outcomes for cownose rays ().

Cownose rays () are schooling rays commonly displayed in large groups in public aquariums. They are long-lived, have an annual reproductive cycle, and readily breed in managed care with most pregnancies culminating with the unaided and successful birth of a single neonate. Occasionally, females are observed to have prolonged pregnancies or suffer dystocia during parturition and intervention via a cesarian section (C-section) is required to deliver the neonate.

Artificial insemination and parthenogenesis in the whitespotted bamboo shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum.

Non-lethal methods for semen collection from elasmobranchs to better understand species reproduction has accompanied the development of artificial insemination. Ejaculates (n = 82) collected from whitespotted bamboo sharks Chiloscyllium plagiosum (n = 19) were assessed and cold-stored raw or extended at 4 °C. Females (n = 20) were inseminated with fresh or 24-48 h cold-stored raw or extended semen and paternity of offspring determined with microsatellite markers.

Natural environmental conditions and collaborative efforts provide the secret to success for sand tiger shark Carcharias taurus reproduction in aquaria.

Sand tiger sharks are an iconic large shark species held in aquaria worldwide. They rarely reproduce under managed care, with only seven aquaria reporting limited and sporadic success. For the first time in the Americas, a full-term young was born in an aquarium.

REPRODUCTIVE HORMONE PATTERNS IN MALE AND FEMALE COWNOSE RAYS ( RHINOPTERA BONASUS) IN AN AQUARIUM SETTING AND CORRELATION TO ULTRASONOGRAPHIC STAGING.

Reproductive management of cownose rays ( Rhinoptera bonasus) under professional care plays an important role in conservation of the species, but hormone and ultrasonographic analyses of their 12-mo reproductive cycle have not been documented previously. Plasma reproductive hormone concentrations (17B-estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione) were measured monthly via radioimmunoassay for 1 yr in an aquarium-managed population of adult females ( n = 15) and males ( n = 5). Ultrasounds of the uterus were performed each month at the time of sample collection to identify gestation stage (0-5) based on a previously developed in-house staging system.

Pharmacokinetics of cefovecin (Convenia) in white bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) and Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus).

Cefovecin was administered to six healthy adult white bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) and six healthy adult Atlantic horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) to determine its pharmacokinetics in these species. A single dose of cefovecin at 8 mg/kg was administered subcutaneously in the epaxial region of the bamboo sharks and in the proximal articulation of the lateral leg of the horseshoe crabs. Blood and hemolymph samples were collected at various time points from bamboo sharks and Atlantic horseshoe crabs.

Bioencapsulation of metronidazole in adult brine shrimp (Artemia sp.).

A description of bioencapsulation of metronidazole in adult brine shrimp (Artemia) for 2.5 g/L, 5 g/L, and 10 g/L treatment baths is presented. Metronidazole was detected in adult brine shrimp tissue after enrichment periods of 15 min, 30 min, 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 8 hr, 12 hr, and 24 hr.