A novel case report of acute abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) with respiratory and hemodynamic collapse during colonoscopy in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), notably, without colonic perforation is presented here. ACS is a rapidly progressive and sustained increase in intra-abdominal pressure leading to shock with multisystem organ failure. Surgical intervention was mandatory, and abdominal decompression was immediately life-saving, although the patient died 1 wk later of surgical complications. Colonoscopy is a widely performed procedure that is generally considered safe, and serious complications during colonoscopy are rare. ACS has been previously reported during colonoscopy with perforation in four cases (human)1,4,6,8. In this instance there was no evidence of perforation, representing not only a rare complication of the procedure, but also a novel cause of ACS. This is the first report of ACS in a nonhuman primate and of nonperforation-associated ACS in human or nonhuman primates.

Pond Turtle Shell Disease is an emerging infectious disease associated with the fungus Emydomyces testavorans (Emte). Here, we report the first documented case of Emte in free-ranging Californian turtles. We assayed Emte in nine Western Pond Turtles (Emys = Actinemys marmorata; WPT) and three non-native Red-eared Slider turtles (Trachemys scripta elegans; RES) from the same pond in Santa Cruz County, California. Despite several WPT exhibiting significant shell lesions, scute defects, and pliable scutes, all tested negative for Emte. However, all three RES were Emte-positive, although two of these showed no shell defects. Given all tested RES were Emte-positive, it is possible that some WPT results are false negatives, either due to assay performance or insufficient shell tissue sampling. However, our Emte results in WPT are likely true negatives, and thus our observations contrast the high prevalence of Emte and shell disease in WPT from Washington. The emergence of Emte in California poses a previously unaccounted conservation concern for imperiled WPT. Emte's presence in California is also an important opportunity to study the epidemiology and ecology of this pathogen in a contrasting environmental context to Washington state where shell disease has had pronounced conservation consequences. Given the recent discovery of Snake Fungal Disease in California and the substantial impact the amphibian chytrid fungus has had on California's amphibians, there is an urgent need to understand the spread, prevalence, and impacts of Emte and other emerging wildlife diseases in California and elsewhere.

The pharmacokinetic parameters of carfentanil and naltrexone were determined in the common eland (Taurotragus oryx). Six adult females were immobilized with xylazine (0.23 +/- 0.03 mg/kg i.m.) and carfentanil (0.0169 +/- 0.0005 mg/kg i.m.) for a 45-min period, during which time routine health care procedures were performed. Heart and respiration rates and body temperatures were monitored throughout the immobilization period. A single intramuscular injection of naltrexone (1.66 +/- 0.08 mg/kg i.m.) was sufficient for reversal. The eland were intermittently restrained in a hydraulic squeeze chute for serial blood sample collection via jugular venipuncture during immobilization and up to 48 hr post-immobilization. The quantification of carfentanil and naltrexone in the plasma was performed by liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy methods. Carfentanil was rapidly absorbed following administration, with the peak plasma concentration (C(max)) at 13.8 min. Naltrexone was readily absorbed and reached C(max) at 23.4 +/- 16.8 min after administration. All animals stood 2.7 +/- 2.2 min after naltrexone administration. Carfentanil has a half-life of 7.7 hr, whereas naltrexone has a much shorter half-life of 3.7 hr. Although respiratory rates appeared to fluctuate widely among animals, heart rates and body temperature remained stable throughout the immobilization. Renarcotization was not noted as a major complication.

Using a crossover study design. the pharmacokinetics of carfentanil and naltrexone, after i.v.. i.m.. and s.c. administration were determined in eight domestic goats (Capra hircus). Serial blood samples were taken up to 120 hr after carfentanil administration, and the plasma drug concentrations were determined using liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy. All goats were immobilized with 40 mug/kg carfentanil i.m., although the resulting neurologic effects varied considerably. Plasma profiles showed rapid carfentanil absorption and a simple biphasic decline for 12-48 hr. Naltrexone given at 100 mg naltrexone/mg carfentanil 30 min after carfentanil administration produced rapid reversal of immobilization after all routes of administration. Variable fluctuations in the naltrexone plasma concentrations during the first 2.5-3.5 hr were observed. followed by a more consistent biphasic decline. The time to standing was significantly shorter after i.v. compared with s.c. naltrexone. although the time difference (1 min) had little clinical relevance. No statistically significant differences between the naltrexone, pharmacokinetic parameters measured for the three routes of naltrexone administration were identified. although the recoveries after i.m. administration were, subjectively, the smoothest. The carfentanil half-life did not differ significantly in the goats given naltrexone by different routes. Although it is currently recommended that the naltrexone dose be divided into s.c. and i.v. portions, this practice does not appear to offer any benefit.

This method is the first analytical method for the detection and quantitation of carfentanil and naltrexone at clinically relevant concentrations using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Samples were alkalinized with 100 μl of 1 M NaOH and extracted 2× with 2 ml of toluene. The extractions were combined and dried under N2 at 40°C in a H2O bath. Chromatography was performed using a Zirchrom PBD column and a mobile phase of 30:70 acetonitrile/10 mM ammonium acetate and 0.1 mM citrate (pH=4.4) at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The lower limit of quantitation was 8.5 pg/ml for carfentanil and 0.21 ng/ml for naltrexone.