| Summary Information |
| Diseases
/ List of Bacterial Diseases
/ Disease summary |
| Alternative Names |
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| Disease Agents |
Further information on Disease Agents has only been
incorporated for agents recorded in species for which a full Wildpro "Health
and Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature
review has been undertaken). Only those agents with further information available are
linked below:
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| Infectious
Agent(s) |
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| Non-infectious
Agent(s) |
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| Physical
Agent(s) |
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| General Description |
Clinical signs
In Elephants
- Restlessness, repeated stretching of the hind limbs and dark urine,
progressing the following day to obvious haematuria progressive lethargy and anorexia were noted in an adult
(36-year-old) female Elephas maximus
- Asian Elephant. (P1.2202.w3)
- The mucous membranes were dry, saliva was thick and there was a mild
tachycardia (heart rate 60 bpm), suggesting mild dehydration. (P1.2202.w3)
- Deterioration with anorexia, lack of drinking, depression and
dehydration. (P1.2202.w3)
Clinical pathology:
- On the day after the first signs of restlessness
- Haematological examination showed leucopaenia (6.7 x 10³
/µL, neutrophilia 5.0 x 10³ /µL, with a left shift (0.1
x 10³ /µL band neutrophils) and monocytopaenia (0.938
x 10³ /µL). (P1.2202.w3)
- Free-caught urine contained blood and there was a moderate
leucocyturia. On urine sedimentation there were numerous red blood
cells, also prominent cellular casts containing neutrophils and
remnants of epithelial cells. (P1.2202.w3)
- On the following day
- Azotemia developed (BUN 15 mg/dL, creatinine 2.5 mg/dl). (P1.2202.w3)
- Haematuria was worse, there was severe leucocytosis, isothenuria,
proteinuria, numerous granular casts, free tubular cells and
endothelium in the urine. (P1.2202.w3)
- Streptococcus zooepidemicus was isolated; this was
resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
(sulphonamides). (P1.2202.w3)
- By the fourth day
- Leucocytosis (12.2 x 10³ /µL) and continuing azotemia. (P1.2202.w3)
- Urinalysis revealed tubular casts containing Gram-positive cocci
and Gram-negative rods. (P1.2202.w3)
In Lagomorphs
- General: weight loss/poor body condition (B601.9.w9)
lethargy, depression, anorexia.
- Specific: polyuria/polydipsia, perineal urine scalding
- N.B. these signs are those of chronic renal failure from
whatever cause.
In Ferrets
- Anorexia, pyrexia, depression. (B627.10.w10,
J213.6.w4)
- Pain when the kidneys are palpated. (J213.6.w4)
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| Further Information |
Investigation/ Diagnosis:
In Elephants
- Blood samples taken; haematological and biochemical parameters
assessed. (P1.2202.w3)
In Ferrets
Treatment
In Elephants
- Supportive: fluids intravenously and rectally. (P1.2202.w3)
(See: Medicating Elephants)
- Two 14 gauge catheters were placed into veins on the left ear,
sutured in place and glued to the skin to provide a route for
intravenous fluids. The catheters were flushed with heparin every
two hours for 72 hours.
- Calculated maintenance fluid requirements (40 ml/kg/day) were
120 L.
- On the first day of fluid therapy (third day of illness), only
54 L of crystalloid fluids was given, intravenously, in two
sessions; the elephant's general demeanour improved considerably
towards the end of the day.
- The next day, 40 L fluids were given intravenously three times.
Additionally, 50 L of water was given rectally, divided between
eight enemas. (See: Enema Administration in Elephants)
- The following day, 40 L fluids was given intravenously twice and
40 L was given rectally.
- By the sixth day (fourth day of fluids) a final 40 L was given
intravenously and the intravenous catheters were removed; rectal
fluids at 20 L was continued.
(P1.2202.w3)
- Antibiotics:
- Initially oral sulfamethoxaole (sulphonamides)-trimethoprim,
changed based on culture and sensitivity to ceftiofur,
6g intravenously and intramuscularly three times daily. (P1.2202.w3)
- Bilateral inflammation of the nictitating membranes and
hyperaemia of the oral mucous membranes developed on the
seventh day and was considered a possible reaction to the
ceftiofur. Unformed stools were passed and this was attributed
to imbalance of the gastro-intestinal microflora due to the
antibiotic. (P1.2202.w3)
- Oral cephalexin 5g orally twice daily was continued for six
weeks, then enrofloxacin
10 g orally twice daily for four weeks, to treat possible
persistent low-grade pyelonephritis or cystitis. (P1.2202.w3)
In Ferrets
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| Associated Techniques |
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| Host taxa groups /species |
Further information on Host species has only
been incorporated for species groups for which a full Wildpro "Health and
Management" module has been completed (i.e. for which a comprehensive literature
review has been undertaken).
(List does not contain all other species groups affected by this
disease)
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| Disease Author |
Debra Bourne MA
VetMB PhD MRCVS (V.w5) |
| Referees |
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