Disposition of marbofloxacin in vulture (Gyps fulvus) after intravenous administration of a single dose.

The pharmacokinetics properties of marbofloxacin were studied in adult Eurassian Griffon vulture after single-dose intravenous (IV) administration of 2mg/kg. Drug concentration in plasma was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the data obtained were subjected to compartmental and non-compartmental kinetic analysis. Marbofloxacin presented a volume of distribution at steady-state (Vdss) of 1.

Detection of Feline leukemia virus in the endangered Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

Feline retroviruses are rarely reported in lynx species. Twenty-one Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) blood and tissue samples collected from Doñana National Park and Los Villares (Sierra Morena) in southern Spain during 1993-2003 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to amplify nucleic acids from feline retroviruses. Six samples were positive for Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), but no samples tested positive for Feline immunodeficiency virus.

Effects of maternal carotenoid availability in relation to sex, parasite infection and health status of nestling kestrels (Falco tinnunculus).

Mothers can strongly influence the development of their offspring, and if maternal resources are limited, they may influence optimal reproductive strategies. In birds, maternally deposited carotenoids are a prominent component of egg yolk and are vital for the development of the embryo. However, results of long-lasting fitness consequences of this early nutritional environment have been scarce and inconsistent.

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of marbofloxacin in Eurasian buzzards (Buteo buteo) after intraosseous administration.

This study reports on the administration of a single dose of marbofloxacin (2 mg/kg) to five adult Eurasian buzzards (Buteo buteo) by the intraosseous (IO) route, which has been proposed as a rapid and efficient means for the parenteral delivery of antimicrobial drugs. The drug was rapidly absorbed. Peak marbofloxacin concentration (C(max)) in plasma and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) of 1.

First report of an intraerythrocytic small piroplasm in wild Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus).

A wild injured Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) was taken from the Sierra Morena population. During the health check small intraerythrocytic piroplasms, morphologically indistinguishable from other feline piroplasms, were observed in Wright-Giemsa-stained blood films. Amplification by polymerase chain reaction of a portion of the 18S nuclear small subunit (NSS) rRNA gene and sequencing revealed similarity of the unknown organism with sequences obtained from Pallas's cat from Mongolia and from a domestic cat in Spain.

First isolation and molecular characterization of Ehrlichia canis in Spain.

This paper reports the first isolation and culture of Ehrlichia canis in Spain from a naturally infected dog using the DH82 cell line. After DNA extraction and PCR amplification, a nearly complete (1412bp) sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the new E. canis strain was obtained.

Blood chemistry, protein electrophoresis, and hematologic values of captive Spanish imperial eagles (Aquila adalberti).

Hemograms and plasma chemistry values are presented for six male and six female, adult, clinically normal, captive Spanish imperial eagles (Aquila adalberti). No value was substantially different from that which might be predicted on the basis of work in other related species. This data should prove useful for the interpretation of laboratory findings in future clinical cases of this endangered species of eagle.