Pulmonary histiocytic sarcoma in a rabbit.

An approximately 8-year-old male castrated Dutch rabbit was evaluated for a 6-day history of respiratory signs, which began as sneezing and progressed to tachypnea with anorexia. On physical examination, tachypnea and pale mucous membranes were noted. Thoracic radiographs revealed a soft tissue pulmonary mass, fine-needle aspirates of which confirmed a neoplasia with malignant features suspicious for a histiocytic sarcoma.

Reference intervals of plasma calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium for African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis).

Calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) are important elements for body homeostasis in several diseases associated with imbalances in the plasma concentration of these ions. This is the first published report of reference intervals for Mg in association with Ca and P levels for psittacine species. One milliliter of blood was collected from 26 Hispaniolan parrots (Amazona ventralis) and 24 African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).

Kinetic and microcalorimetric analysis of substrate and cofactor interactions in epoxyalkane:CoM transferase, a zinc-dependent epoxidase.

Epoxyalkane:CoM transferase (EaCoMT) is a key enzyme of bacterial propylene metabolism, catalyzing the nucleophilic attack of coenzyme M (CoM, 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid) on epoxypropane to form the thioether conjugate 2-hydroxypropyl-CoM. The biochemical and molecular properties of EaCoMT suggest that the enzyme belongs to the family of alkyltransferase enzymes for which Zn plays a key role in activating an organic thiol substrate for nucleophilic attack on an alkyl-donating substrate. In the present work, the role of Zn in the EaCoMT-catalyzed reactions is established by removing Zn from EaCoMT, resulting in loss of catalytic activity that was restored upon addition of Zn back to the enzyme, and by expressing an inactive and Zn-deficient form of the enzyme that was activated by addition of ZnCl(2) or CoCl(2).

Rabbit orthopedic surgery.

Orthopedic surgery in rabbits poses several unique parameters for the veterinary surgeon. It is imperative for the veterinarian to be knowledgeable about the anatomic features of the surgical repair site and to become familiar with a rabbit's pain and discomfort often associated with orthopedic injuries. Handling the perioperative and postoperative pain and potential GI disturbances are crucial for a successful outcome of the surgical case.