@article{scott_waffa_devoe_harms_lewbart_2021, title={Successful and unsuccessful nonsurgical removal of ingested golf balls and an artificial egg in four rat snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)}, volume={258}, ISSN={["1943-569X"]}, DOI={10.2460/javma.258.10.1135}, abstractNote={Abstract CASE DESCRIPTION 4 wild adult rat snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) were evaluated after ingesting spherical or ovoid foreign bodies. CLINICAL FINDINGS Physical examination revealed a large, firm mass at the level of the stomach in each snake. Radiographic findings were consistent with ingestion of a golf ball (3 snakes) or an artificial egg (1 snake). Signs consistent with prolonged impaction included scale loss, dermal abrasions, and apparent loss of body condition in one snake and regional skin ulceration, dehydration, and generalized muscle atrophy in another. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Nonsurgical removal of the foreign body was attempted in anesthetized or heavily sedated snakes by external manipulation in the orad direction. A golf ball was removed through the oral cavity without complications in 1 snake. In the other 3 snakes, tension caused by the advancing foreign body resulted in full-thickness skin rupture in the cervical region. The procedure was completed with the use of a balloon catheter to aid foreign body advancement for 1 of the 3 snakes, and the skin defect was closed. The procedure was converted to esophagotomy for the other 2 snakes. Three snakes recovered and were released; 1 died of complications from prolonged impaction and esophageal perforation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The described nonsurgical techniques for removal of ingested round or ovoid foreign bodies were associated with substantial complications in 3 of 4 treated rat snakes. Although a nonsurgical method for removal of ingested objects such as golf balls could benefit snakes, the methods used for these patients did not appear to be more beneficial than traditional gastrotomy. }, number={10}, journal={JAVMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION}, author={Scott, Gregory and Waffa, Bradley J. and DeVoe, Ryan S. and Harms, Craig A. and Lewbart, Gregory A.}, year={2021}, month={May}, pages={1135–1141} } @article{scott_law_christiansen_lewbart_harms_2020, title={EVALUATION OF LOCALIZED INFLAMMATORY REACTIONS SECONDARY TO INTRAMUSCULAR INJECTIONS OF ENROFLOXACIN IN STRIPED BASS (MORONE SAXATILIS)}, volume={51}, ISSN={["1937-2825"]}, DOI={10.1638/2019-0096}, abstractNote={Abstract: Enrofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone widely used in animals including fish. Intramuscular (IM) injection of enrofloxacin is a feasible and efficacious option for drug delivery. In many species IM injection has been associated with injection site reactions and increases in serum muscle enzymes. Injection site reactions have not been well characterized in fish. Three groups of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) received an IM injection of enrofloxacin 2.27% in the right epaxial musculature 24, 48, or 96 hr prior to evaluation. Mean dose was 7.69 mg/ kg (6.14–9.69 mg/kg). The 24- and 48-hr groups received an injection of equal-volume 0.9% saline in the left epaxial musculature. A corresponding noninjected tissue sample was designated in the left epaxial musculature from each fish of the 96-hr group. Fish were euthanized and injection sites and noninjection control sites were evaluated grossly and histologically. Grades 1–4 were assigned to samples, with grade 1 corresponding to normal tissue and grades 2, 3, and 4 corresponding to mild, moderate, and severe inflammation and/or necrosis respectively. Externally, all control and injection sites appeared visually unremarkable. On cut surface, epaxial muscle of the enrofloxacin-injected tissue appeared moderately to severely hemorrhagic compared to saline and noninjected tissue, which was normal or mildly hemorrhagic. Histologically, eight of eight noninjected tissues were grade 1. For saline-injected tissues, 14 of 16 tissues were grade 2 and 2 samples were grade 3 when 24- and 48-hr groups were combined. For enrofloxacin-injected tissues, 8 of the 8 24-hr samples were grade 3 and 16 of the 16 48- and 96-hr samples were grade 4. These data show that IM injection of enrofloxacin 2.27% is associated with severe hemorrhage, necrosis, and inflammation in striped bass, and may negatively affect animal welfare.}, number={1}, journal={JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE}, author={Scott, Gregory and Law, Mac and Christiansen, Emily F. and Lewbart, Gregory A. and Harms, Craig A.}, year={2020}, month={Mar}, pages={46–52} } @article{archibald_scott_bailey_harms_2019, title={2-Phenoxyethanol (2-PE) and tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) immersion anesthesia of American horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus)}, volume={50}, ISBN={1937-2825}, ISSN={1042-7260}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2018-0085}, DOI={10.1638/2018-0085}, abstractNote={Abstract: Despite extensive literature examining American horseshoe crab physiology, there are comparatively few publications addressing their medical care. Establishing anesthesia protocols for horseshoe crabs is integral to limiting the potential stress and pain associated with invasive procedures and for advancing euthanasia techniques. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of two immersion anesthetics, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222) at 1 g/L (buffered with sodium carbonate) and 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE) at 2 mL/L, on horseshoe crabs. Twenty horseshoe crabs were assigned to one of two anesthetic treatment groups and individually anesthetized in natural seawater. Water quality, cardiac contractility, and hemolymph gas analytes were measured prior to anesthesia and at 30 min Animals were monitored via heart rate, gilling rate, and sedation score every 5 min until recovered. Transcarapacial ultrasonography was used to obtain heart rate, gilling rate, and percent fractional shortening. Light or surgical anesthesia was produced in 10/10 animals in the 2-PE group and 8/10 animals in the MS-222 group. There was no significant difference in sedation scores, induction time (median 15 min), or recovery time (median 20.5 min). Gilling rate and cardiac contractility decreased during anesthesia, whereas heart rate did not. Hemolymph pH and pO2 were not different among treatment groups or time points. Baseline pCO2 was higher than pCO2 at 30 min for both groups but significantly elevated only in the MS-222 group. This is attributed to increased activity during the handling of awake animals. Invasive blood pressure obtained via cardiac catheterization in two animals was markedly decreased during surgical anesthesia. In conclusion, 2-PE and MS-222 provided effective anesthesia with clinically useful induction and recovery times. 2-PE provided a subjectively more reliable and smoother anesthesia compared to MS-222.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine}, publisher={American Association of Zoo Veterinarians}, author={Archibald, K.E. and Scott, G.N. and Bailey, K.M. and Harms, C.A.}, year={2019}, month={Apr}, pages={96–106} } @article{scott_nollens_schmitt_2019, title={EVALUATION OF PLASMA 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN D, IONIZED CALCIUM, AND PARATHYROID HORMONE IN GREEN SEA TURTLES (CHELONIA MYDAS) EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT INTENSITIES OF ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION}, volume={50}, ISSN={["1937-2825"]}, DOI={10.1638/2017-0115}, abstractNote={For many reptile species, adequate ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is essential for proper calcium metabolism. In this study, the effects of UVB radiation on calcium metabolism were evaluated in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and ionized calcium (iCa) were measured in juvenile (n = 18, 9 indoor, 9 outdoor) and adult (n = 8, 4 indoor, 4 outdoor) turtles. All animals were fed an identical diet. Outdoor animals had access to unfiltered sunlight, whereas indoor animals were housed under artificial lighting without UVB. Mean values for 25-hydroxyvitamin D for the outdoor and indoor groups were 34.33 ± 7.98 nmol/L and 7.11 ± 1.69 nmol/L for juveniles and 73.25 ± 30.34 nmol/L and 14.0 ± 11.52 nmol/L for adults respectively. Mean values for iCa for the outdoor and indoor groups were 0.98 ± 0.07 mmol/L and 0.99 ± 0.06 mmol/L for juveniles and 1.18 ± 0.22 mmol/L and 0.97 ± 0.18 mmol/L for adults respectively. UVB exposure (P < 0.001) and age (P < 0.001) had a significant effect on 25-hydroxyvitamin D as well as a significant interaction between the two variables (P = 0.008), with highest values in adult outdoor turtles. There was a significant interaction between age group and UVB status for iCa (P = 0.036), with greater values in older outdoor turtles. 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and total calcium were positively correlated, rs = 0.39, P = 0.042. iCa and calcium-to-phosphorus ratios were also positively correlated, rs = 0.42, P = 0.027. These results suggest that UVB exposure is an important source of 25-hydroxyvitamin D for green sea turtles and has significant effects on calcium metabolism in this species. PTH values in this study were near the minimum limits of detection and suggest that current mammalian-based PTH assays are not valid for reptiles.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF ZOO AND WILDLIFE MEDICINE}, author={Scott, Gregory N. and Nollens, Hendrik H. and Schmitt, Todd L.}, year={2019}, month={Jun}, pages={421–426} }