Piscine mycobacteriosis - Involvement of bacterial species and reflection in pathology.

Piscine mycobacteriosis is a lethal disease with zoonotic potential, found worldwide in both fresh and marine fish. More than 20 strains of Mycobacterium spp. are known to persist in fish so far, but the pathogenicity is currently unknown for most of them.

The effect of endoscopic sterilization on reproductive behavior and pair bond maintenance of feral pigeons (Columba livia).

Objective: Problems related to feral pigeons (Columba livia) in cities mainly result from their large numbers due to uncontrolled population growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether endoscopic guided sterilization affects the reproductive behavior of feral pigeons under experimental conditions, with the intention of assessing this technique as a potential method for feral pigeon population control.

Materials And Methods: Five groups of four pairs of feral pigeons each were studied from 8 weeks before, to 7 weeks after sterilization.

Endoscopic Vasectomy of Male Feral Pigeons (Columba livia) as a Possible Method of Population Control.

To evaluate whether single-entry endoscopic vasectomy of male feral pigeons (Columba livia) significantly reduced fertility and would potentially be valuable for control of feral pigeon populations, 252 male feral pigeons were caught in the city of Berne and endoscopically vasectomized. In this procedure, approximately 1 cm of the deferent duct was removed bilaterally. Rapid, uneventful recoveries occurred in 94% (237/252) of the pigeons, whereas 6% (15/252) died because of complications associated with the procedure, consisting of perforation of the ureter (9/15), major hemorrhage (5/15), and respiratory arrest (1/15).

Embryology of dolphins. Staging and ageing of embryos and fetuses of some cetaceans.

Comparative embryology has been neglected in the past decades. In our opinion the decreased interest has been caused by the fact that the time factor has not sufficiently been respected. Therefore we used the Staging and Ageing Method (Stĕrba 1999) to determine the ontogenetic age of embryos and to state the time tables and time relations of various ontogenetic events.

[Ultrasonic studies in reptiles].

Ultrasonography in reptiles is a safe, noninvasive repeatable diagnostic imagine method. Size, volume and inner structure of organs can easily be determined. Based on 460 ultrasonographic examinations in 8 species of terrapins, 12 species of snakes and 22 species of lizard normal appearance of heart, gonads, fat bodies, kidneys, bladder and gastrointestinal tract are described.

Aspects of rabies infection and control in the conservation of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in the Serengeti region, Tanzania.

Lycaon pictus is amongst the most endangered wildlife species in Africa. In 1990 rabies virus was isolated from the brain of an adult Lycaon found dead in the Serengeti region of Tanzania. One adult and six pups of the same pack feeding on the carcass showed clinical signs and rabies was suspected; within two days they had disappeared and are presumed to have died.

[Anesthesia and immobilization in reptiles].

In reptiles anesthesia is recommended not only for painful treatment but also for diagnostic procedures like radiology, sonography, endoscopy and MRI. Special attention should be directed to the anesthetic regimen because of anatomical and physiological differences to mammals. To achieve optimum body temperature (normally 25-30 degrees C) preanesthetic heating is useful.

[The radiologic differential diagnosis in girth increase of the gastric cavity and the body in lizards (Squamata: Sauria)].

The extended girth is one of the few important and obvious symptoms in lizards (Sauria). Radiological examination proved to be the most important method in the clinical diagnostic procedure. Standard and contrast images using oral and cloacal application of barium sulphate or iodophoric contrast media were frequently indicated.

[The use of diagnostic imaging methods in reptiles].

Useful methods of clinical imaging in reptiles are described using examples. Most important in reptiles is radiography with or without contrast media. Invasive diagnostic methods often used are endoscopy and laparoscopy.

[O-serovar distribution and antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains from birds and reptiles].

100 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.a.) from birds and reptiles were compared by determination of their O-serovars and their resistance to chemotherapeutic agents.

[Therapy trials with enrofloxacin (Baytril) in a laying hen flock with Salmonella pullorum infections].

The course of a disease due to Salmonella pullorum in laying chickens is described. The experimental application of enrofloxacin (Baytril) at a dosage of 100 mg/l drinking water for 10 days resulted in a stop of the mortality rate, increment of egg production and reduction of Salmonella excretion. A recurrence of the disease was observed in the fifth week following the end of treatment with high mortality and decreasing egg laying.

[Therapeutic use of enilconazole in broiler chicks with aspergillosis].

The course of a spontaneous outbreak of aspergillosis in a broiler flock was studied. Up to the 10th day of life the total mortality was 8%. Surviving broiler had an average body weight of 141 g on the 7th day of life, in contrast to the normal body weight of 150 g per bird.

[Surgical therapy of laying distress in reptiles].

Based on 29 operations on reptiles with egg-binding (dystocia) successful methods for surgical therapy in turtles, tortoises, snakes and lizards are described. Indications, anesthesia, surgical techniques and postoperative treatment are explained. A totally new method for dystocia surgery in some turtles and tortoises is described.

[The induction of oviposition in egg retention or laying distress of land or water turtles].

We used a red-foot tortoise (Geochelone [Testudo] carbonaria, SPIX 1824) to describe in detail a successful method to induce the expulsion of the ova in tortoises. Apart from the dosage of oxytozine, the importance of the simulation of physiological environmental conditions for oviposition as well as the compensation of a potentially present Ca-deficit (50 mg/kg, Ca-Sandoz 10%, i.p.

[Foreign-body related esophagus obstruction in a peacock (Pavo cristatus L. 1758)].

A coil of metal wire was diagnosed by X-ray closely to the heartbasis in an eight-year-old peacock. Described are anesthesia and successful surgical removal of the coiled wire which had partially pierced the wall of the oesophagus. Means of post-surgical drug and dietetic therapy are discussed.