ADAPTATION OF A POINT-OF-CARE CANINE PROGESTERONE TEST FOR USE OF PARTURITION PREDICTION IN CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (): PROOF OF CONCEPT.

In the Asian elephant (), the levels of progesterone products 5α-pregnane, 3α-hydroxypregnane, and 17α-progesterone are elevated during pregnancy. Detection of a sudden decrease in blood progesterone product levels in the final days of pregnancy is considered an objective way of predicting impending parturition. Point-of-care (POC) tests eliminate the cost involved in transporting samples to an external laboratory and provide an almost instant result, facilitating decision-making for animal monitoring and management.

[Antibiotic-induced acute kidney injury].

Acute kidney injury is very common in hospitalized patients and has been described in up to twenty percent of admissions. Although there are many causes of acute kidney injury, one of the more overlooked causes is the antibiotic prescribed during these admissions. In this article we discuss the two main causes of antibiotic induced kidney injury illustrated by two cases, one of ciprofloxacin Kristal nephropathy and of ciprofloxacin tubule-interstial nephritis.

Association of obesity with 3-month mortality in kidney failure patients with COVID-19.

Background: In the general population with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), obesity is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Given the typically observed obesity paradox among patients on kidney function replacement therapy (KFRT), especially dialysis patients, we examined the association of obesity with mortality among dialysis patients or living with a kidney transplant with COVID-19.

Methods: Data from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA) were used.

Effects of between and within Herd Moves on Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) Recrudescence and Shedding in Captive Asian Elephants ().

Haemorrhagic disease associated with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (Elephantid herpesvirus, EEHV) infections is the leading cause of death for Asian elephant () calves. This study assessed the effect of captive herd management on EEHV shedding, as evidence of latent infection reactivation, focusing on: (1) the influence of social change on the odds of recrudescence; (2) the respective effects of between and within herd moves; and (3) characteristics of recrudescent viral shedding. Trunk and conjunctival swabs ( = 165) were obtained from six elephants at an EAZA-accredited zoo, collected during a period of social stability, and at times of social change.

Developing a non-invasive method of detecting elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus infections using faecal samples.

Background: Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV)-associated haemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) is a leading cause of death in Asian elephant calves across the world. Cases of EEHV-HD have been detected in free-living calves through post-mortem examination (PME) indicating the presence of the virus in the wild. In the absence of a non-invasive sampling method, little research into free-living populations has been possible.

Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus Is Omnipresent in Elephants in European Zoos and an Asian Elephant Range Country.

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) may cause acute, often lethal, hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) in young elephants. Prevalence of EEHV in different elephant populations is still largely unknown. In order to improve diagnostic tools for the detection of EEHV infections and to obtain insight into its spread among elephants, we developed novel ELISAs based on EEHV1A gB and gH/gL.

CONSERVATION CHALLENGES: THE LIMITATIONS OF ANTEMORTEM TUBERCULOSIS TESTING IN CAPTIVE ASIATIC LIONS ().

Genetic diversity of captive wild animals can be enhanced by moving those individuals with valuable genes between collections and through introduction of a new pair from a range country. This requires movement of animals, which is inherent with disease risks, such as the introduction of pathogenic sp. (MTBC) into a zoological collection.

USING IN-HOUSE HEMATOLOGY TO DIRECT DECISION-MAKING IN THE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT AND MONITORING OF A CLINICAL AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUBCLINICAL CASE OF ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS 1B.

A 3.5-yr-old asymptomatic female Asian elephant () with a high load of circulating EEHV1B DNA on qPCR on a routine blood sample, showed progressive depletion of monocytes, lymphocytes, and platelets. Twice daily IV ganciclovir, plasma transfusions, and fluid therapy coincided with a decreasing viral load, which may support potential efficacy of this antiviral drug.

Achieving high convection volumes in postdilution online hemodiafiltration: a prospective multicenter study.

Available evidence suggests a reduced mortality risk for patients treated with high-volume postdilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) when compared with hemodialysis (HD) patients. As the magnitude of the convection volume depends on treatment-related factors rather than patient-related characteristics, we prospectively investigated whether a high convection volume (defined as ≥22 L/session) is feasible in the majority of patients (>75%). A multicenter study was performed in adult prevalent dialysis patients.

Peri- and Postoperative Treatment with the Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Anakinra Is Safe in Patients Undergoing Renal Transplantation: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

In patients undergoing solid organ transplantation, the presence of an interleukin-1 (IL-1) driven disease may require the addition of IL-1 inhibiting drugs to the standard immunosuppressive regimen to protect against inflammation and negative graft outcome. Three patients undergoing renal transplantation were treated perioperatively with the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist anakinra. Kidney function increased rapidly in all three and the only complications seen were minor infections.

THE MANAGEMENT OF AN ORAL ANAPLASTIC SARCOMA IN A PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS (CHOEROPSIS LIBERIENSIS) USING INTRALESIONAL CHEMOTHERAPY.

An adult female captive pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) was diagnosed with an oral anaplastic sarcoma. The tumor was surgically debulked and intralesional chemotherapy with mitomycin C (0.4 mg/cm of tumor) and cisplatin (1 mg/cm of tumor) was administered.

Surviving and fatal Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus-1A infections in juvenile Asian elephants - lessons learned and recommendations on anti-herpesviral therapy.

Background: Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses (EEHVs) can cause acute haemorrhagic disease in young Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and clinical EEHV infections account for the majority of their fatalities. The anti-herpesviral drug famciclovir (FCV) has been used routinely to treat viraemic at-risk elephants, but thus far without proven efficacy. This paper presents clinical and virological investigations of two EEHV-1A infected elephants treated with FCV, and discusses anti-herpesvirus therapies of viraemic elephants.

Disease Risk Analysis and Post-Release Health Surveillance for a Reintroduction Programme: the Pool Frog Pelophylax lessonae.

There are risks from disease in undertaking wild animal reintroduction programmes. Methods of disease risk analysis have been advocated to assess and mitigate these risks, and post-release health and disease surveillance can be used to assess the effectiveness of the disease risk analysis, but results for a reintroduction programme have not to date been recorded. We carried out a disease risk analysis for the reintroduction of pool frogs (Pelophylax lessonae) to England, using information gained from the literature and from diagnostic testing of Swedish pool frogs and native amphibians.

OSTEOCHONDROSIS IN THE DISTAL FEMURS OF AN ADULT RETICULATED GIRAFFE (GIRAFFA CAMELOPARDALIS RETICULATA): MACROSCOPIC, RADIOLOGIC, AND HISTOLOGIC FINDINGS.

An adult male reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) was presented for postmortem examination. During radiologic examination of the hindlimbs, osseous cyst-like lesions were detected in both medial femoral condyles. These lesions were subsequently examined macroscopically and histologically.

Exposure of Asian Elephants and Other Exotic Ungulates to Schmallenberg Virus.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging Orthobunyavirus, first described in 2011 in cattle in Germany and subsequently spread throughout Europe, affecting mainly ruminant livestock through the induction of foetal malformations. To gain a better understanding of the spectrum of susceptible species and to assess the value of current SBV serological assays, screening of serum samples from exotic artiodactyls and perissodactyls collected at the Living Collections from the Zoological Society of London (Whipsnade and London Zoos) and Chester Zoo was carried out. There was compelling evidence of SBV infection in both zoological collections.

Extraosseous calcification in end-stage renal disease: from visceral organs to vasculature.

In earlier days, periarticular accumulations of calcium phosphate causing tumor-like depositions were considered the result of passive precipitation and referred to as metastatic calcifications. From sophisticated computer tomographic studies and growing insight, we have learned that calcifications in the cardiovascular system are far more threatening and in fact one of the most important sequela of end-stage renal disease. The histologic characteristic of uremia-related calcification is arteriosclerosis of the media.

Renal calculi in wild Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in England.

Macroscopic renal calculi were seen in 50 of 492 (10.2 per cent) wild Eurasian otters found dead in England from 1988 to 2007. Forty-eight adults and two subadults were affected.

Brain tumours in two Bactrian camels: a histiocytic sarcoma and a meningioma.

Primary brain tumours were identified in two Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) living at the Zoological Society of London's two zoos. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to diagnose a histiocytic sarcoma in a 16-year-old female and a fibroblastic meningioma in a 13-year-old male. Before one died and the other was euthanased both camels had shown progressive neurological signs, including circling and ataxia.

Prevalence, distribution and pathological significance of the bile fluke Pseudamphistomum truncatum in Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) in Great Britain.

Postmortem examinations on 160 otters found dead in Great Britain from 2005 to 2007 showed a high prevalence of infection with the bile fluke Pseudamphistomum truncatum in otters from Somerset and Dorset but no infection in otters from other areas, including Cornwall, the western half of Devon, north-east England and Scotland. Cases were also recorded for the first time in Gloucestershire and East Anglia. Eighteen of the 28 infected otters were male and no cubs were infected, but there was no significant correlation between infection status and sex or age.

High serum concentrations of iron, transferrin saturation and gamma glutamyl transferase in captive black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis).

Iron storage disease (haemochromatosis) is thought to be the cause of many disorders unique to captive black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis). To establish reliable reference ranges for iron parameters, serum samples from 27 eastern black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis michaeli) from a translocation programme in Kenya were analysed and compared with the samples from 17 captive individuals. The transferrin saturation, serum iron concentration and gamma glutamyl transferase were significantly higher in the captive rhinoceroses, but these elevations were not evident when the results were compared with previously published data.