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Biomedical subjects

G A Lewbart

Publications and source records attributed to G A Lewbart.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Phacoemulsification of bilateral cataracts in a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta).

An immature free-living loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) of unknown sex was found moribund off the coast of Wise Point, Virginia. It was suffering from cachexia and had bilateral hypermature cataracts which were treated by phacoemulsification under general anaesthesia. The surgery restored the turtle's vision and it was returned to the wild.

Anesthesia, General↗

Enrofloxacin pharmacokinetics in the European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, after a single i.v. injection and bath administration.

Enrofloxacin pharmacokinetics were studied in European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, after a single 5 mg/kg i.v. injection or a 2.5 mg/L 5 h bath. A pilot study with two animals was also performed following a 10 mg/kg p.o. administration. The concentration of enrofloxacin in hemolymph was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and pharmacokinetic parameters were derived from compartmental methods. In the i.v. study, the terminal half-life (t(1/2)), apparent volume of distribution, and systemic clearance were respectively 1.81 h, 385 mL/kg, and 4.71 mL/min/kg. Following bath administration the t(1/2), peak hemolymph concentration (C(max)), and area under the curve to infinity (AUC(0-infinity)) were 1.01 h, 0.5 +/- 0.12 mug/mL, and 0.98 microg.h/mL, respectively. After oral administration, the t(1/2), C(max), and AUC(0-infinity) were 1.01 h, 10.95 microg/mL, 26.71 mug.h/mL, respectively. The active metabolite of enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, was not detected in any samples tested. The hemolymph concentration was still above minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for shrimp and fish bacterial isolates at 6 h after i.v. administration, therefore, a dose of 5 mg/kg i.v. every 8-12 h is suggested for additional studies of efficacy. The C(max) value for the water bath was lower than for the i.v. study, but a bath of 2.5 mg/L for 5 h once to twice daily is suggested for additional studies to test efficacy against highly susceptible organisms. Although only two animals were used for the oral study, a dose of 10 mg/kg produced hemolymph concentrations of enrofloxacin that were in a range consistent with therapeutic efficacy in other species.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Stabilisation of scoliosis in two koi (Cyprinus carpio).

Two koi (Cyprinus carpio) from the same pond developed similar lesions of scoliosis. Radiographic examinations showed that their spines had become malaligned as a result of vertebral compression fractures involving T14 to T16. The vertebrae in both fish were stabilised with screws, k-wire and polymethylmethacrylate. They both appeared to improve after surgery, but they began to decline and died within three months. A postmortem examination revealed multi-organ inflammation that was not associated with the surgical implants.

Animals↗

Evaluation of the tissue reactions in the skin and body wall of koi (Cyprinus carpio) to five suture materials.

Five different suture materials (silk, monofilament nylon, polyglyconate, polyglactin 910, and chromic gut) were placed in the skin and body wall of 10 Doitsu (scaleless) koi (Cyprinus carpio). After seven days the sutures were retrieved from five of the fish in 5 mm and 6 mm punch biopsies, and after 14 days they were retrieved in the same way from the other five. The tissue reactions were evaluated by gross visual inspection and by histological examination. The total inflammatory reaction was graded on a scale from 0 (no inflammation) to 5 (severe inflammation). The synthetic suture materials generally induced a moderate inflammatory reaction that decreased after seven days. After 14 days the superficial reaction to monofilament nylon was substantial, and the tissue reactions to the organic suture materials were slightly greater than the reactions to the synthetics. The inflammatory response to silk was greater after 14 days than after seven, and chromic gut induced a moderately severe inflammatory response after seven days; the chromic gut sutures fell out before the biopsies were taken after 14 days. The organic materials induced intense inflammatory reactions which did not subside if the suture remained in the tissue.

Animals↗

Comparative efficacy of tricaine methanesulfonate and clove oil for use as anesthetics in red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anesthetic efficacy and physiologic changes associated with exposure to tricaine methanesulfonate and clove oil (100% eugenol). ANIMALS: 15 adult cultured red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus). PROCEDURE: Fish were exposed to each of 6 anesthetic concentrations in a within-subjects complete crossover design. Stages of anesthesia and recovery were measured, and physiologic data were collected before and during anesthesia. RESULTS: Interval to induction was more rapid and recovery more prolonged in fish exposed to eugenol, compared with those exposed to tricaine methanesulfonate. The margin of safety for eugenol was narrow, because at the highest concentration, most fish required resuscitation. Mixed venous-arterial PO2 consistently decreased with anesthesia, while PCO2 consistently increased with anesthesia in all fish regardless of anesthetic agent. The increase in PCO2 was accompanied by a decrease in pH, presumably secondary to respiratory acidosis. Anesthesia was associated with increased blood glucose, potassium, and sodium concentrations as well as Hct and hemoglobin. Fish anesthetized with eugenol were more likely to react to a hypodermic needle puncture than fish anesthetized with tricaine methanesulfonate. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Anesthesia induced with tricaine methanesulfonate or eugenol contributes to hypoxemia, hypercapnia, respiratory acidosis, and hyperglycemia in red pacu. Similar to tricaine methanesulfonate, eugenol appears to be an effective immobilization compound, but eugenol is characterized by more rapid induction, prolonged recovery, and a narrow margin of safety. Care must be taken when using high concentrations of eugenol for induction, because ventilatory failure may occur rapidly. In addition, analgesic properties of eugenol are unknown.

Aminobenzoates↗

Surgery in fish.

Surgery in fish is feasible and practical for clinical and research applications. Certain adjustments in standard surgical procedures are necessary to accommodate piscine tissue handling, skin sensitivity, aqueous respiration, anatomic variations, and patient size. General considerations for fish surgery, including anesthesia, presurgical evaluation, equipment, suture selection, and surgical site preparation, have been presented here. Procedures described include celiotomy, enucleation, pseudobranchectomy, swim bladder surgery, gonadectomy, liver and kidney biopsy techniques, telemetry device implantation, and vascular catheterization.

Animals↗

Pet fish formulary.

Aquarium fish are one of the most popular pets in the United States. Understanding the use of chemotherapeutics in these animals has increased markedly in recent years, and this information is now readily accessible to the private practitioner in this article. The authors introduce the veterinary clinician to the commonly used chemotherapeutics, routes of administration, species-specific precautions, and treatment tips where appropriate.

Animals↗

Pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) after single intravenous and intramuscular injections.

The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime in yearling loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) following single i.m and i.v. injections were studied. Eight juvenile 1.25+/-0.18 kg turtles were divided into two groups. Four animals received 20 mg/kg of ceftazidime i.v. and four received the same dose i.m. Plasma ceftazidime concentrations were analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The i.v. and i.m. administration half-lives were 20.59+/-3.24 hr and 19.08+/-0.77 hr, respectively. The volume of distribution was 0.42+/-0.07 L/kg, and the systemic clearance was 0.217+/-0.005 ml/min/kg. Ceftazidime was detected in all blood samples and its concentration exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration for Pseudomonas for 60 hr after i.m. and i.v. injections.

Animals↗

Emergency and critical care of fish.

The keeping of fish as pets is a hobby that has experienced increasing popularity over the past decade. The hobby has also become more sophisticated in recent years and a growing number of veterinarians are gaining clinical experience and knowledge in the area of pet fish medicine. The opportunity to apply this knowledge to a pet fish problem can be a rewarding experience. This article focuses on managing acute and critical problems of pet fish at times when veterinary intervention is required within an emergency time frame.

Animal Husbandry↗

Pharmacokinetics of oxytetracycline in the red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) following different routes of administration.

Oxytetracycline (OTC) pharmacokinetics were studied in the red pacu (Colossoma brachypomum) following intravenous (i.v.) and intramuscular (i.m.) administration at a dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. OTC plasma concentrations were determined by high-performance-liquid-chromatography (HPLC). A non-compartmental model was used to describe plasma drug disposition after OTC administration. Following i.m. administration, the elimination half-life (t1/2) was 62.65 +/- 1.25 h and the bioavailability was 49.80 +/- 0.01%. After i.v. administration the t1/2 was 50.97 +/- 2.99 h, the Vd was 534.11 +/- 38.58 mL/kg, and CI(b) was 0.121 +/- 0.003 mL/min x kg. The 5 mg/kg i.v. dose used in this experiment resulted in up to 48 h plasma concentrations of OTC above the reported MIC values for some strains of fish pathogens such as Aeromonas hydrophila, A. liquefaciens, A. salmonicida, Cytophaga columnaris, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Vibrio anguillarium, V. ordalii, V. salmonicida and Yeersinia ruckeri. These MIC values are below the susceptible range (4 microg/mL) listed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) as determined by the NCCLS susceptibility interpretive criteria.

Animals↗

Bronchoalveolar lavage in a dolphin.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed twice to evaluate a stranded Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphin for pulmonary disease. A pediatric gastroscope with a working length of 1,090 mm and an outer diameter of 9.8 mm was of appropriate size for BAL in this dolphin. Fifty milliliters of sterile saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was used in each of 2 sites for the first lavage. Fluid recovery was 58 and 66% from the 2 sites; however, results of cytologic analyses were typical of a bronchial wash rather than BAL. Larger volumes of saline solution (85 to 100 ml/site) were used in the second lavage. Although fluid recovery was only 25 and 30% from the 2 sites, results of cytologic analyses were consistent with BAL. Mononuclear cells accounted for 72 and 90% of total WBC. Although the dolphin of this report did not appear to have pulmonary disease, experience obtained by performing BAL provided valuable information for the practical application of this technique in dolphins.

Animals↗