Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Detected in Biting Midges and Black Flies during the 2023 Outbreak in Southern California.

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a viral disease that affects horses, cattle, and swine that is transmitted by direct contact and hematophagous insects. In 2023, a multi-state outbreak of vesicular stomatitis New Jersey virus (VSNJV) occurred in California, Nevada, and Texas, infecting horses, cattle, and rhinoceros. To identify possible insect vectors, we conducted insect surveillance at various locations in San Diego County, CA, including at a wildlife park.

Penciclovir pharmacokinetics after oral and rectal administration of famciclovir in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) shows that effective concentrations can be achieved from rectal administration, despite lower absorption.

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of famciclovir and its metabolite penciclovir following a single dose administered orally and rectally in African elephants (Loxodonta africana).

Animals: 15 African elephants (6 males and 9 females) of various ages.

Methods: Famciclovir (15 mg/kg) was administered orally or per rectum once, with at least a three-week washout period between administrations.

BIOLOGICAL VARIATION OF HEMATOLOGY PARAMETERS AND CLINICAL APPLICATION IN AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ().

Detailed knowledge of biological variation can facilitate accurate interpretation of clinical pathology parameters. A recent biological variation study in Asian elephants () found that hematology parameters had high individuality, which suggests that population-derived reference intervals may be an insensitive diagnostic tool. In elephant medicine, sensitive hematology-related diagnostics are crucial for clinical decision-making, particularly in elephants at risk for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD).

Vesicular stomatitis virus in two species of rhinoceros at a California zoological park.

Objective: To describe an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in southern white rhinoceros (SWR; Ceratotherium simum simum) and greater one-horned rhinoceros (GOHR; Rhinoceros unicornis) at a safari park in San Diego, CA, from May to September 2023.

Animals: 21 SWR and 5 GOHR in professionally managed care.

Methods: Rhinoceros of both species presented with a range of clinical signs and severities.

Parturition and Neonatal Parameters of Three Species of Rhinoceros under Managed Care in the United States.

Rhinoceros species range from near threatened to critically endangered due to habitat loss and poaching. A sustainable ex situ breeding population is critically important to maintain genetic diversity and help ensure the survival of the species; however, not all populations under human care are self-sustaining. While rhinoceros reproductive physiology and pathology have been well studied, there is still a paucity of information describing the normal parameters of parturition and neonatal landmarks.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous propofol in southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) after intramuscular etorphine-butorphanol-medetomidine-azaperone.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of a single bolus of intravenous (IV) propofol after intramuscular administration of etorphine, butorphanol, medetomidine, and azaperone in 5 southern white rhinoceros to facilitate reproductive evaluations. A specific consideration was whether propofol would facilitate timely orotracheal intubation.

Animals: 5 adult, female, zoo-maintained southern white rhinoceros.

DETECTION OF ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS 1A IN ARCHIVAL TISSUE USING RNASCOPE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION.

Hemorrhagic disease due to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus infection (EEHV-HD) is an important cause of calf mortality in managed and free-ranging Asian () and African elephant ( spp.) populations. Consequently, infection has profound implications for elephant population growth and sustainability.

COMPARISON OF DIAGNOSTIC PREDICTORS OF NEONATAL SURVIVABILITY IN NONDOMESTIC CAPRINAE.

This retrospective study evaluated whether six methods (glutamyltransferase, glutaraldehyde coagulation test, sodium sulfite precipitation test, total serum protein, glucose, and fibrinogen) used to assess passive transfer status in ruminants were predictive of survival of nondomestic Caprinae neonates in a zoological collection. A total of 184 neonates from 10 nondomestic Caprinae species had one or more testing methods performed within 7 d of birth. Results of each test were compared with the clinical condition (alive or dead) at 7, 30, and 90 d of age.

A COMPARISON OF A SINGLE-DART VERSUS STAGED TWO-DART ANESTHESIA INDUCTION PROTOCOL IN PRZEWALSKI'S HORSES ().

Przewalski's horses () are an endangered equid species. Anesthesia administered by remote delivery is often needed to provide medical care. Behavioral and physiologic parameters were prospectively compared in 14 horses (8 females and 6 males, 3-18 yr) after a single-dart or staged two-dart anesthesia induction protocol with intramuscular medetomidine (0.

NONINVASIVE SAMPLING FOR DETECTION OF ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS AND GENOMIC DNA IN ASIAN () AND AFRICAN () ELEPHANTS.

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) threatens Asian elephant () population sustainability in North America. Clusters of cases have also been reported in African elephants (). Risk to range country elephant populations is unknown.

REPEATED USE OF A THIAFENTANIL-BASED ANESTHESIA PROTOCOL IN AN OKAPI ().

Seven anesthesia events were performed over 6 wk on a 1.5-yr-old female okapi () being managed for a fetlock injury. A combination of butorphanol (B) (median; range) (0.

Polioencephalomyelitis and Ganglionitis in Captive Houston Toads ().

is a ubiquitous pathogen causing disease in humans, mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Since 2012, infection has caused neurologic disease and mortality in a breeding colony of endangered Houston toads () at the Houston Zoo. The purpose of this report is to present the histopathologic and ultrastructural characteristics of infection in Houston toads.

VAGINOSCOPIC IDENTIFICATION OF A VERTICAL VAGINAL SEPTUM IN ONE PRIMIPAROUS AND THREE NULLIPAROUS SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS ().

Vaginoscopy using a 10-mm, 30° forward viewing rigid endoscope was used to evaluate the caudal reproductive tract of four subadult southern white rhinoceros (). A vertical vaginal septum was documented in all four animals, including a primiparous cow that gave birth to a stillborn calf 14 months before vaginoscopy. Vaginoscopy using a 57-cm-long, 10-mm, 30° forward viewing endoscope provides adequate visualization of the caudal reproductive track in the southern white rhinoceros, and a detailed description of the vertical vaginal septum is presented.

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH PREGNANCY IN OKAPI (OKAPIA JOHNSTONI).

Acute signs associated with cardiovascular disease occurred in three pregnant okapi ( Okapia johnstoni ) during early to midgestation and progressed to congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure was diagnosed antemortem using echocardiography and plasma cardiac troponin levels. Clinical signs included decreased activity, hyporexia, tachypnea, dyspnea, flared nostrils, and productive coughing with copious amounts of foamy nasal discharge.

CLINICAL INFECTION OF TWO CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS) WITH ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS 1B.

The ability of prior infection from one elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) type to protect against clinical or lethal infection from others remains an important question. This report describes viremia and subsequent shedding of EEHV1B in two juvenile 4-yr-old Asian elephants within 3 wk or 2 mo following significant infections caused by the rarely seen EEHV4. High levels of EEHV1B shedding were detected in the first elephant prior to emergence of infection and viremia in the second animal.

CLINICAL INFECTION OF CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS) WITH ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS 4.

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) can cause lethal hemorrhagic disease in juvenile Asian elephants. A number of EEHV types and subtypes exist, where most deaths have been caused by EEHV1A and EEHV1B. EEHV4 has been attributed to two deaths, but as both diagnoses were made postmortem, EEHV4 disease has not yet been observed and recorded clinically.

Efficacy of fenbendazole and levamisole treatments in captive Houston toads (Bufo [Anaxyrus] houstonensis).

Effective disease monitoring and prevention is critical to the success of captive amphibian care. Nematodes, including the genera Rhabdias and Strongyloides, are known to contribute to mortality in captive amphibians and have been identified in the Houston Zoo's endangered Houston toad (Bufo [Anaxyrus] houstonensis) captive assurance colony. Five years of fecal data for the toad colony were compiled and analyzed in order to investigate the efficacy of two anthelminthic medications, fenbendazole (FBZ) and levamisole (LMS), which were used to control nematode infections.

Transposition of the biceps tendon to reduce lateral scapulohumeral luxation in three species of nondomestic ruminant.

Open reduction of lateral luxation of the scapulohumeral joint was performed in a Mhorr gazelle (Gazella dama mhorr), a southern pudu (Pudu puda), and an Alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) by transposition of the biceps brachii tendon lateral to the greater tubercle of the humerus. The ibex had a very large greater tubercle that required a second osteotomy to allow successful lateral transfer of the tendon. Although all three animals were non-weight bearing in the first 2-3 wk after surgery, ambulation improved at 3 wk and was almost normal by 6 wk after surgery.

Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase as a prognostic indicator of neonatal viability in nondomestic ruminants.

Rapid assessment of immune status in neonatal ruminants of endangered species facilitates early intervention in cases of inadequate passive transfer of maternal immunoglobulins. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was used to evaluate suspected passive transfer status in 25 North Indian muntjac (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis), 45 Cretan goats (Capra algagrus cretica), 20 white-lipped deer (Cervus albirostris), 25 Mhorr gazelles (Gazella dama mhorr), and 31 Soemmerring's gazelles (Gazella soemmerringi soemmerringi). Serum GGT, measured within 48 hr of birth, was compared with clinical condition at 5 days of age.

Chemical immobilization of rhebok (Pelea capreolus) with carfentanil-xylazine or etorphine-xylazine.

Twelve adult rhebok (Pelea capreolus) were immobilized using a combination of 0.4 mg/kg xylazine and either 0.01 mg/kg of carfentanil (n = 6) or 0.

Serum concentrations of ionized calcium, vitamin D3, and parathyroid hormone in captive thick-billed parrots (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha).

Serum collected from 68 thick-billed parrots (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha) from 15 institutions was analyzed for ionized Ca (iCa), total Ca (tCa), P, total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and vitamin D3. Values were not distributed normally; 95% frequency intervals were as follows: iCa (0.82-1.