SEROCONVERSION CAN PRECEDE CULTURE CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTION IN ASIAN ELEPHANTS () BY DECADES.

() infection was diagnosed in 16 human-managed Asian elephants () at four different US facilities. A retrospective review was performed to collate information on serological test results and describe the timelines from exposure to an elephant known to be positive for , detection of antimycobacterial antibodies in the exposed elephant, and isolation from the exposed elephant to confirm diagnosis. Seroconversion was defined by a positive test result using ElephantTB STAT-PAK, multiantigen print immunoassay, or DPP VetTB assay for elephants (Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc).

Fatal balamuthosis in a Siberian tiger and a literature review of detection options for free-living amoebic infections in animals.

Free-living amoebae are rare causes of morbidity and mortality in humans and animals around the globe. Because the route of exposure and clinical progression of disease caused by different species of amoebae may vary in people and animals, determining the species of amoeba present is important. We describe here a fatal infection by the free-living amoeba in a Siberian tiger ().

PULMONARY AND COELOMIC MYCOSES DUE TO AND SPECIES IN REPTILES.

This report documents cases of fatal pulmonary mycosis caused by entomopathogenic fungi in the genera and (Order Hypocreales) in a loggerhead sea turtle (), a Chinese alligator (), two gopher tortoises (), a Cuvier's dwarf caiman (), a false gharial (), a green sea turtle (), and a Kemp's ridley sea turtle (), and a case of granulomatous coelomitis in a hawksbill sea turtle (). Fungi identified in these cases included , , , , and one case of infection by a novel species. The animals were either housed at zoos or brought into rehabilitation from the wild.

Field application of serodiagnostics to identify elephants with tuberculosis prior to case confirmation by culture.

Three serologic methods for antibody detection in elephant tuberculosis (TB), the multiantigen print immunoassay (MAPIA), ElephantTB STAT-PAK kit, and DPP VetTB test, were evaluated using serial serum samples from 14 captive elephants infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 5 countries. In all cases, serological testing was performed prior to the diagnosis of TB by mycobacterial culture of trunk wash or tissue samples collected at necropsy. All elephants produced antibody responses to M.

Salmon poisoning disease in two Malayan sun bears.

Case Description: 2 captive sun bears (Helarctos malayanus) were evaluated because of acute onset of vomiting, mucoid diarrhea, lethargy, and anorexia 1 week after eating live trout from a northern California reservoir.

Clinical Findings: In 1 of the bears, a CBC and serum biochemical analyses revealed mild anemia, mild eosinophilia, moderate lymphopenia, moderate hypoalbuminemia, and high serum G-glutamyltransferase activity. Ultrasonographic examination of the same bear revealed ascites and mesenteric lymphadenopathy.