PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFTIOFUR CRYSTALLINE-FREE ACID ADMINISTERED VIA INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTION IN WHOOPING CRANES ().

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of a single dose of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid (CCFA) in whooping cranes (). Ceftiofur crystalline-free acid is a long-acting, injectable, third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic drug. A preliminary study evaluated CCFA administered intramuscularly in the pectoral or thigh muscle at 20 or 30 mg/kg IM to a single adult whooping crane for each dose.

Adjunctive Use of Intravenous Antibiotic Regional Limb Perfusion in Three Cranes with Distal Limb Infections.

Pododermatitis and wing lesions are commonly reported issues in captive crane species. Regional limb perfusion has been used as a treatment for distal limb infections in several avian species, as systemic antibiotic therapy is often prolonged and unrewarding. A black-necked crane (), Siberian crane (), and wattled crane () were treated with amikacin (5-10 mg/kg IV infusion) regional limb perfusion for cellulitis and osteomyelitis of hind limb digits and alular osteomyelitis and septic arthritis of the carpus, respectively, with a range of 1-3 treatments per case.

Blood Mercury in Three Populations of Endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana).

We investigated concentrations of blood total mercury (THg) in three extant populations of endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana). Blood THg was greater in cranes reintroduced during 2001-2008 that range in the eastern US (median = 0.31 ug/g ww) than both wild cranes in central North America (median = 0.

NEOPLASIA IN CAPTIVE CRANES.

A retrospective study of neoplasia was conducted from necropsy and histologic reports of 446 cranes representing all 15 extant species. Cases were obtained from the International Crane Foundation (ICF), Northwest ZooPath (NWZP), and six other zoologic institutions in the United States during 1993 to 2019. Only reports from ICF ( = 61) and NWZP ( = 374) were used for estimates of disease prevalence.

Emergency tracheotomy and subsequent tracheal resection and anastomosis in a blue crane ().

Case Description: A 7-year-old female blue crane () was initially evaluated after it had suddenly developed signs of respiratory distress following aspiration of a rock. Emergency tracheotomy had been performed, and the rock had been removed from the proximal cervical portion of the trachea. Fifty-one days later, the clinical signs had returned and the crane was reevaluated.

Comparison of fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in hand- versus parent-reared whooping cranes (Grus americana).

Endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) have been produced in captivity for reintroduction programs since the 1980s, using techniques such as artificial insemination, multiple clutching, and captive-rearing to speed recovery efforts. Chicks are often hand-reared (HR) by caretakers in crane costumes, socialized into groups and released together, unlike parent-reared (PR) cranes that are raised individually by a male/female crane pair and released singly. HR cranes historically exhibit greater morbidity rates during development than PR cranes, involving musculoskeletal and respiratory system disease, among others.

A bird's-eye view of phylosymbiosis: weak signatures of phylosymbiosis among all 15 species of cranes.

In numerous animal clades, the evolutionary history of host species drives patterns of gut microbial community structure, resulting in more divergent microbiota with increasing phylogenetic distance between hosts. This phenomenon, termed phylosymbiosis, has been observed in diverse evolutionary lineages, but has been difficult to detect in birds. Previous tests of phylosymbiosis among birds have been conducted using wild individuals, and thus interspecific differences in diet and environment may have masked a phylogenetic signal.

Postmortem Evaluation of Reintroduced Migratory Whooping Cranes () in Eastern North America.

We reviewed necropsy records of 124 Whooping Cranes () recovered following reintroduction of 268 individuals from 2001 to 2016 in the eastern US. Causes of death were determined in 62% (77/124) of cases facilitated by active monitoring that limited decomposition and scavenging artifact. The greatest proportions of mortality were caused by predation (0.

MANIFESTATIONS OF HYPERPARATHYROIDISM IN JUVENILE WHOOPING CRANES ().

Juvenile whooping cranes () raised for wild release were found to have an increased incidence of rib fractures at fledging in 2017 compared with the previous 16 years. Serum analysis showed 30-day-old juveniles in 2017 ( = 12) had significantly lower 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and significantly higher parathyroid hormone concentrations than juveniles in 2010 ( = 6) with no history of rib fractures. Increased serum parathyroid hormone concentrations in the 2017 juveniles persisted to fledging age.

Conservation biology needs a microbial renaissance: a call for the consideration of host-associated microbiota in wildlife management practices.

The central aim of conservation biology is to understand and mitigate the effects of human activities on biodiversity. To successfully achieve this objective, researchers must take an interdisciplinary approach that fully considers the effects, both direct and indirect, of anthropogenic disturbances on wildlife physiology and health. A recent surge in research has revealed that host-associated microbiota-the archaeal, bacterial, fungal and viral communities residing on and inside organisms-profoundly influence animal health, and that these microbial communities can be drastically altered by anthropogenic activities.

Serum Biochemical Analytes and Trace Elements in Juvenile Whooping Cranes ().

Biochemical and trace element analyses of blood from wild Whooping Cranes () were performed to assess the health of the only self-sustaining, migratory population in North America. Juvenile cranes (=31) approximately 49-70 d-old were sampled at Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada, in midsummer from 2010 to 2012. Archived serum (=24) and whole blood (=31) samples from captive juvenile cranes were selected as age-matched controls.

PHARMACOKINETICS OF PIROXICAM IN CRANES (FAMILY GRUIDAE).

To investigate the pharmacokinetics of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) piroxicam in cranes, three brolgas (Antigone rubicunda) were administered piroxicam as a single oral dose at 0.5 mg/kg and 1.0 mg/kg during separate trials.

A novel Haemosporida clade at the rank of genus in North American cranes (Aves: Gruiformes).

The unicellular blood parasites in the order Haemosporida are highly diverse, infect many vertebrates, are responsible for a large disease burden among humans and animals, and have reemerged as an important model system to understand the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of host-parasite interactions. The phylogenetics and systematics of Haemosporida are limited by poor sampling of different vertebrate host taxa. We surveyed the Haemosporida of wild whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) (Aves: Gruiformes) using a combination of morphological and molecular approaches.

Haemosporida prevalence and diversity are similar in endangered wild whooping cranes (Grus americana) and sympatric sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis).

The population growth of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) is not consistent with species recovery goals, and the impact of parasite infection on whooping crane populations is largely unknown. Disease ecology and epidemiology research of endangered species is often hindered by limited ability to conduct invasive sampling on the target taxa. Accordingly, we hypothesized that sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) would be a useful surrogate species to investigate the health impacts of Haemosporida infection in whooping cranes.

Lead in the Red-Crowned Cranes (Grus japonensis) in Zhalong Wetland, Northeastern China: A Report.

The dietary uptake of Cd and Pb may contribute to the decline of migratory red-crowned cranes (Grus japonensis) on the Asian mainland. To uncover the relevance of this hypothesis, we determined the concentrations of Pb and Cd as well as further macro and trace elements (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Hg and As) in the gastric contents, gastric wall, intestinal wall, liver, kidney, muscle, and feathers of two individuals found dead in Zhalong Wetland in Northeastern China. Indeed, the Pb concentrations in the liver and kidney tissues was with 31.

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ANATOMY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF RESPIRATORY ASPERGILLOSIS IN JUVENILE WHOOPING CRANES.

Respiratory diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in captivity reared, endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana). Objectives of this retrospective, case series, cross-sectional study were to describe computed tomography (CT) respiratory anatomy in a juvenile whooping crane without respiratory disease, compare CT characteristics with gross pathologic characteristics in a group of juvenile whooping cranes with respiratory aspergillosis, and test associations between the number of CT tracheal bends and bird sex and age. A total of 10 juvenile whooping cranes (one control, nine affected) were included.

Comparison of Serum Protein Electrophoresis Values in Wild and Captive Whooping Cranes ( Grus americana ).

Protein electrophoresis of serum samples from endangered, wild whooping cranes ( Grus americana ) was performed to help assess the health of the only self-sustaining, migratory population in North America. Serum samples from wild adult cranes (n = 22) were taken at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA during winter. Wild juvenile cranes (n = 26) were sampled at Wood Buffalo National Park, Northwest Territories, Canada, in midsummer.

Coccidian Parasites and Conservation Implications for the Endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana).

While the population of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) has grown from 15 individuals in 1941 to an estimated 304 birds today, the population growth is not sufficient to support a down-listing of the species to threatened status. The degree to which disease may be limiting the population growth of whooping cranes is unknown. One disease of potential concern is caused by two crane-associated Eimeria species: Eimeria gruis and E.

Sternal osteosarcoma in a blue crane (Anthropoides paradiseus).

A previously healthy, adult male blue crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) became peracutely distressed and ataxic. Examination revealed hemoptysis and a large mass associated with the cranial aspect of the sternum (keel). The patient died before treatment could be initiated.

Capture of sandhill cranes using alpha-chloralose: a 10-year follow-up.

Seasonal adjustment of alpha-chloralose captures of sandhill cranes was associated with a modest increase in capture efficacy (+13%), decreased morbidity from exertional myopathy (-1.4%), and overall mortality (-1.7%) rates despite little change in sedation scores.

Reintroduction medicine: whooping cranes in Wisconsin.

This paper presents veterinary management strategies and diagnostic findings in the reintroduction of the endangered whooping crane (Grus americana). Between 2005 and 2010, 63 (27 male, 36 female) hatchling whooping cranes were assigned to a reintroduction project involving autumn release of costume-reared chicks in Wisconsin. Veterinary care included preventive measures and comprehensive pre-release evaluations to improve fitness and reduce translocation of potential disease agents to native habitats.

Postmortem evaluation of reintroduced migratory whooping cranes in eastern North America.

Reintroduction of endangered Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) in eastern North America has successfully established a migratory population between Wisconsin and Florida. Eighty birds (47 males, 33 females) were released between 2001 and 2006, and all birds were tracked following release with satellite and/or VHF monitoring devices. By the end of 2006, 17 deaths (12 males, five females) were recorded from this population.

Clinical use of recombinant human bone morphogenic protein-2 in a whooping crane (Grus americana).

Objective: To report use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) as adjunctive therapy for treatment of a comminuted, open, proximal humeral fracture in an avian species.

Study Design: Clinical report.

Animals: A 3.

Blood parasites of House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) from Georgia and New York.

This study investigated the ecology of hematozoan parasites in two eastern populations of House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus). Blood smears were obtained from birds captured in Georgia during 2001-2003 (n = 757) and New York during 2001 (n = 282) and evaluated for the presence of hematozoans. Low-density infections of Haemoproteus fringillae and Plasmodium relictum were confirmed at each location.