@article{houck_harrison_2021, title={BREEDING AND NEONATAL REARING PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES IN LESSER HEDGEHOG TENRECS (ECHINOPS TELFAIRI) IN NORTH AMERICAN ZOOS}, volume={52}, ISSN={["1937-2825"]}, DOI={10.1638/2019-0179}, abstractNote={Abstract: The unique reproductive and energetic features of lesser hedgehog tenrecs (Echinops telfairi) have been intensively studied in the field and within laboratory settings, but information on their propagation in zoological settings is limited. Based on a survey sent to zoological institutions currently housing reproductively active lesser hedgehog tenrecs in North America, this study reports on husbandry, veterinary practices, and demographics of reproducing lesser hedgehog tenrecs and their offspring. All 14 zoological institutions in the Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec Species Survival Plan who bred tenrecs within the last 12 years responded to the online survey. Provision of a nest box, nesting material, and a diet consisting of a commercial insectivore diet, insects, and produce was found in the majority of institutions, in addition to the practice of separating the breeding male and female before parturition. From the 24 dams representing 39 pregnancies and 158 young included in this study, the median calculated litter size was four young per litter. The median age of primiparity was 2.25 yr, and the oldest female to reproduce successfully was 10 yr old. The young had an overall rate of survival to weaning of 83%. A maternal complication rate of 26% and maternal mortality rate of 5% highlights the importance of veterinary care in periparturient dams, especially for detection and treatment of dystocia. These data provide guidance to zoological institutions breeding lesser hedgehog tenrecs.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE}, author={Houck, Emma and Harrison, Tara}, year={2021}, month={Mar}, pages={315–319} }
 @article{houck_cohen_harms_runde_rudershausen_buckel_2021, title={Computed Tomographic Assessment of Hooking‐Related Injuries in Recreationally Angled Blue Marlin}, volume={34}, ISSN={0899-7659 1548-8667}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aah.10145}, DOI={10.1002/aah.10145}, abstractNote={AbstractAcute morbidity and mortality of marlins (family Istiophoridae) in hook‐and‐line fisheries have been studied; however, there has been little or no investigation of the skeletal injuries incurred from terminal tackles that could lead to decreased rates of postrelease survival. The objective of this study was to evaluate skeletal injuries in recreationally angled Atlantic Blue Marlin Makaira nigricans from the 2019 Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in Morehead City, North Carolina. We examined heads of six Blue Marlin that were angled using artificial lures rigged with J‐hooks and harvested for weigh‐in. The head of each Blue Marlin was scanned using computed tomography (CT) and examined with gross dissection. The CT interpretation revealed that two Blue Marlin had minimally displaced fractures of the maxilla, one of which also had a fracture to the lachrymal bone. These radiographic lesions were associated with penetrating hook injuries. The CT images also revealed degenerative changes within the quadrate‐articular joint in four Blue Marlin, which was associated with fish weight; the causes and consequences of these degenerative changes are unknown. Although the hooking‐related jaw fractures likely result in acute pain, their impact on postrelease morbidity is unknown and the impact on postrelease mortality is suspected to be small.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Aquatic Animal Health}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Houck, Emma L. and Cohen, Eli B. and Harms, Craig A. and Runde, Brendan J. and Rudershausen, Paul J. and Buckel, Jeffrey A.}, year={2021}, month={Nov}, pages={20–27} }
 @article{houck_papich_delk_2021, title={Phenylbutazone pharmacokinetics in southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) after oral administration}, volume={12}, ISSN={["1365-2885"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.13036}, DOI={10.1111/jvp.13036}, abstractNote={AbstractSouthern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) frequently develop painful conditions, such as traumatic injuries or osteoarthritis, necessitating the administration of pain‐relieving medications. One of the preferred treatments is the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug phenylbutazone because of the availability of oral formulations and the familiarity of its use in horses. For the main study, a single oral dose of phenylbutazone at 2 mg/kg was administered to healthy adult rhinoceros (n = 33) housed at six North American zoological institutions. Each rhinoceros had up to four blood samples collected under voluntary behavioural restraint at up to four predetermined time points (0, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 24, 30 and 48 h). Drug analysis was performed by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The population pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with nonlinear mixed‐effects modelling, and analysis showed a peak concentration (CMAX) of 3.8 µg/ml at 1.8 h and an elimination half‐life of 9 h. The concentrations achieved were similar to what has been reported for horses and were within the half maximal effective concentration for horses for at least 10 h. A multi‐dose trial in five rhinoceros receiving 2 mg/kg orally once daily for five days found mild accumulation at a predicted factor of 1.2. This study represents the first pharmacokinetic data of phenylbutazone in any rhinoceros species.}, journal={JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS}, author={Houck, Emma L. and Papich, Mark G. and Delk, Katie W.}, year={2021}, month={Dec} }
 @article{houck_olfenbuttel_stoskopf_kennedy-stoskopf_2021, title={Seroprevalence of Sarcoptes scabiei in Free-ranging Black Bears (Ursus americanus) in Eastern North Carolina, USA}, volume={57}, ISSN={["1943-3700"]}, DOI={10.7589/JWD-D-20-00091}, abstractNote={Abstract: Recent sarcoptic mange epizootics have affected free-ranging black bears (Ursus americanus) in the northeastern US, but not in North Carolina. To determine whether black bears in eastern North Carolina have exposure to Sarcoptes scabiei, serum samples from hunter-harvested black bears (n=45) were collected and evaluated for antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay previously validated in black bears. No dermal lesions consistent with sarcoptic mange were identified in the sampled bears. The seroprevalence among these asymptomatic bears was 18%, with no significant difference between sexes or association with age. This suggests that exposure to Sarcoptes scabiei occurs within the population, and highlights the importance of serosurveys in regions without a history of clinical mange.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE DISEASES}, author={Houck, Emma and Olfenbuttel, Colleen and Stoskopf, Michael and Kennedy-Stoskopf, Suzanne}, year={2021}, month={Jul}, pages={628–631} }
 @article{louis_houck_lewbart_posner_balko_2020, title={EVALUATION OF POTASSIUM CHLORIDE ADMINISTERED VIA THREE ROUTES FOR EUTHANASIA OF ANESTHETIZED KOI (CYPRINUS CARPIO)}, volume={51}, ISSN={["1937-2825"]}, DOI={10.1638/2019-0207}, abstractNote={Abstract: Immersion in tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) is insufficient for euthanasia in at least one species of fish. The current study investigated the effectiveness of potassium chloride (KCl) to euthanize anesthetized koi (Cyprinus carpio). Twenty-eight healthy koi were anesthetized via immersion in 500 mg/L of buffered MS-222 for 10–12 min, manually removed to room air, and randomly administered 10 mEq/kg KCl (333 mg/ml) via one of three routes—intracardiac injection (IC) (n = 7), intracoelomic injection (ICe) (n = 7), or topical instillment over the gill filaments bilaterally (T) (n = 7)—or received no treatment (control, C) (n = 7). A Doppler ultrasonic flow detector was placed over the heart, and sounds were assessed continuously from immediately prior to treatment until 5 min posttreatment and every 5 min thereafter until Doppler sound cessation, resumption of operculation, or 30 min. Time to Doppler sound cessation or resumption of operculation was recorded. Doppler sound cessation occurred in 7/7 fish in IC (median 0.08, range 0–2.75 min) and 1/7 fish in T (10 min). In T, ICe, and C, 6/7, 7/7, and 7/7 fish, respectively, maintained Doppler sounds to 30 min. All fish in ICe (7/7) and C (7/7) resumed operculation with median (range) times of 22 (7–30) min and 16 (9–29) min from treatment, respectively. Intracardiac KCl at 10 mEq/kg rapidly ceases Doppler sounds and is a successful technique for euthanasia of anesthetized koi. Intracoelomic and topical KCl at 10 mEq/kg were not effective for euthanasia of koi.}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE}, author={Louis, Meghan M. and Houck, Emma L. and Lewbart, Gregory A. and Posner, Lysa P. and Balko, Julie A.}, year={2020}, month={Sep}, pages={485–489} }
 @article{cerreta_houck_stowe_lewbart_2020, title={Hematology of the keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii)}, volume={49}, ISSN={0275-6382 1939-165X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/vcp.12857}, DOI={10.1111/vcp.12857}, abstractNote={AbstractA healthy adult, intact female keeled box turtle (Cuora mouhotii) was found to have a marked heterophilic leukocytosis using normal hematologic parameters established for the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina), a related chelonian species. This animal was monitored with serial complete blood counts (CBCs) over the next 15 years despite remaining asymptomatic for an infectious condition. Retrospective CBC data were compiled from 38 presumably healthy keeled box turtles to establish hematologic values for comparison in this species. Using this species‐specific data, over the 15‐year period, the female keeled box turtle had two times where the white blood cell (WBC) count was greater than 2 standard deviations (SD) above the mean, six times where the WBC count was greater than 1 SD above the mean, six times where the PCV was greater than 2 SD above the mean, and eight times where the PCV was greater than 1 SD above the mean. Infection and inflammation are the most common causes of leukocytosis in reptiles; however, given the clinical presentation of this patient, it was postulated that these clinicopathologic changes could be secondary to a stress response. Establishing reference intervals and understanding how stress impacts CBC parameters are important for evaluating the health status of keeled box turtles kept in captivity and for assessing the effects of environmental changes on the health status of wild populations of this endangered chelonian species.}, number={2}, journal={Veterinary Clinical Pathology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Cerreta, Anthony and Houck, Emma and Stowe, Devorah and Lewbart, Greg}, year={2020}, month={Jun}, pages={227–231} }
 @article{houck_cohen_womble_lewbart_petritz_2019, title={Radiographic anatomy and barium sulfate contrast study of the gastrointestinal tract of eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina)}, volume={60}, ISSN={["1740-8261"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12792}, DOI={10.1111/vru.12792}, abstractNote={AbstractGastrointestinal disorders are an important cause of morbidity in box turtles (Terrapene carolina Carolina), however published information is currently lacking on the normal radiographic anatomy, transit, and emptying times of the gastrointestinal tract. A total of 15 healthy box turtles were recruited for this prospective, anatomic, reference interval study. Three‐view radiographic series (vertical beam dorsoventral, horizontal beam latero‐lateral, and horizontal beam rostrocaudal views) were acquired prior to contrast administration, and following contrast administration at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 90 min, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h post administration, and every 24 h thereafter until all contrast was eliminated (15 mL/kg barium sulfate diluted to 30% weight per volume was administered via orogastric gavage). Vertical beam dorsoventral and horizontal beam latero‐lateral views were of excellent quality to identify gastrointestinal structures. The horizontal beam rostrocaudal view immediately postcontrast administration provided gastric and pyloric identification but had lesser diagnostic use at later time points due to anatomical superimposition. The gastrointestinal tract was composed of a tubular stomach, a pyloric sphincter near midline, a duodenum with a cranial flexure in the right cranial coelomic cavity, small intestines within the right coelom, a small cecal bulb, and a transverse and descending colon. Contrast media entered the large intestine by 24 h in all turtles, and a pyloro‐colic indentation was noted at the proximal descending colon. The large intestinal emptying was highly variable due to the interindividual variability of contrast sequestration within the cecal bulb. Findings from the current study serve as a reference on the gastrointestinal anatomy, transit, and emptying times in healthy eastern box turtles; and introduce a novel, horizontal beam, rostrocaudal view for gastrointestinal contrast studies in chelonians.}, number={5}, journal={VETERINARY RADIOLOGY & ULTRASOUND}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Houck, Emma L. and Cohen, Eli B. and Womble, Mandy and Lewbart, Gregory A. and Petritz, Olivia A.}, year={2019}, month={Sep}, pages={473–484} }