No abstract

During a routine geriatric examination on a 9-yr-old, nulliparous female African warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), a severely enlarged, mixed echogenicity uterus was discovered during transabdominal ultrasound. Ovariohysterectomy (OVH) was elected and performed due to concern for a potential neoplastic condition. Postoperatively, the warthog was treated prophylactically with metoclopramide and ranitidine to promote gastrointestinal motility and prevent postoperative ileus. The gross appearance and histopathology confirmed the presence of extensive widely disseminated cystic changes consistent with cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) and multiple para-ovarian cysts. Uterine pathology, including CEH, is a common condition in domestic potbellied pigs (Sus scrofa), and as a result, it is recommended to perform an OVH at an early age. The advanced uterine changes may have accounted for this animal's history of infertility. This case provides evidence that nulliparity may be associated with the development of uterine pathology in warthogs. Increased knowledge of reproductive pathology will aid in improved management strategies for breeding nondomestic suids.

Abstract. In 2000, 2 adult captive spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) from the same zoological park were humanely euthanized. Histologically, both frogs had degeneration, atrophy, and necrosis of striated myofibers of the tongue admixed with chronic lymphohistiocytic inflammation. One frog had similar lesions in the skeletal muscles of the body wall. Several degenerate and necrotic myofibers contained single, eosinophilic, intranuclear inclusion bodies. Ultrastructural examination of the inclusions revealed nonenveloped, icosahedral, virus-like particles averaging 20-24 nm in diameter. This is the first reported case of inclusion body myositis in frogs and is believed to be due to parvoviral infection.In January 2000 an approximately 2-year-old, female, captive spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) (peeper A) was humanely euthanized. It was housed at a zoological park in the Midwestern United States. It had a clinical history of progressive, bilateral, lipid keratopathy. One week before death the peeper had stopped eating and had become lethargic. At necropsy the skin of the ventrum was red. The corneas of both eyes were completely opaque. The liver was black, and the gall bladder was distended. In October 2000 another female, approximately 3-year-old spring peeper (peeper B) from the same zoological park was also euthanized. Gross lesions were not evident at necropsy. Both peepers were originally wild caught in April 1998 in Ohio and were housed together in a 25.0-ϫ 50.0-cm glass aquarium with other wild caught spring peepers and Western Chorus frogs (P. triseriata).Both peepers were submitted whole and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Tissues were collected, embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5.0 m, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). Histologically, many striated myofibers of the tongues of both peepers were hypereosinophilic, markedly swollen, and fragmented-to-fibrillated and had loss of cross-striations. Multifocally, the remaining myofibers were atrophic and surrounded by fibrous connective tissue. There were low numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages dissecting between degenerate and necrotic myofibers. Several degenerate and necrotic myofibers contained large, eosinophilic, intranuclear inclusion bodies (Fig. 1). Sections of panniculus muscles from peeper B had multifocal myodegeneration and myonecrosis admixed with lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages. There were similar large, eosinophilic, intranuclear inclusion bodies within myofibers. Edema fluid and fibrous connective tissue separated the degenerate myofibers.In addition to the glossitis, peeper A also had bilateral thickening of the corneal stroma by cholesterol clefts, mineral deposits, macrophages, and foamy macrophages. Diffusely, hepatocytes were swollen and had many intracyto- plasmic, clear, smooth-marginated vacuoles. Multifocally, glomerular tufts contained few foamy macrophages and had clear vacuoles and clefts within glomerular mesangial cells. The skin of peeper A had moderate, multifocal, orthokera...

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe normal ocular morphology and establish parameters for select diagnostics in a population of Panamanian Golden Frogs (PGF) Atelopus zeteki maintained at the Detroit Zoo. Method A total of 22 toads free of ocular disease were included in this study. Ophthalmic diagnostic tests included as follows: endodontic absorbent paper point tear test (EAPPTT), assessment of intraocular pressures (IOP), Rose Bengal stain, palpebral fissure width, blink rate and corneal cultures. Histology was performed on stored postmortem samples. Results Panamanian Golden Frogs have a distinct brow ridge and mobile third eyelid. Biomicroscopy revealed avascular, convex corneas with a shallow anterior chamber. Iris color ranged from yellow to green with dark pigmentation of the peripheral iris. Pupil shape was round. Posterior segment and fundus could not be visualized. Total number of blinks observed over a 10‐minute period was one. Mean EAPPTT was 2 ± 1 mm and 3 ± 1 mm in males and females, respectively (P). Mean IOP using rebound tonometry in horizontal and vertical restraint positions were 21.6 ± 2.28 mm Hg and 17.45 ± 3.66 mm Hg, 21.85 ± 2.7 mm Hg and 17.5 ± 3.93 mm Hg in males and females, respectively. Mean palpebral fissure width was 5.02 ± 0.46 mm and 6.12 ± 0.39 mm in males and females, respectively (P). Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from one clinically normal toad. Conclusions Tear production and blink rate were low and not significantly different between males and females. Intraocular pressure was significantly greater in male toads (P value <0.01). Females had a significantly larger palpebral fissure width when compared to males (P value <0.01) 5819. The ophthalmic parameters established in this study can aid in the evaluation and diagnosis of eye diseases in PGF.