A 1-year-old male neutered ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for an abnormal left cubital joint. Radiographs demonstrated a proliferative osseous lesion of the left proximal antebrachium. Computed tomography confirmed a large thin-walled expansile osseous lesion of the left proximal radius and identified multifocal proliferative lesions of the axial spine, two of which caused spinal cord compression. A left forelimb amputation with total scapulectomy was performed. Histopathology revealed a well-demarcated mass with a thin rim of mature lamellar bone and a discontinuous cartilage cap covered by a perichondrial/periosteal membrane continuous with the adjacent bone. Findings were most consistent with an osteochondroma or osteochondromatosis (i.e., multiple cartilaginous exostoses, hereditary multiple exostoses). No evidence of malignant transformation was observed within this specimen. Three months post-surgery, verbal correspondence with the owner confirmed return to normal activity level and no emergence of neurological signs. Repeat examination and imaging were recommended.

A recombinant vaccine for rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus 2, a highly pathogenic virus, was granted emergency use authorization in the United States after the detection and spread of the virus starting in 2018. The goal of the current study was to assess pet rabbits (n = 29) through physical examination and routine clinical pathology testing using repeated assessments post-vaccination. In addition, seroconversion was also monitored after the initial vaccination and booster vaccination. Neither owners nor clinicians detected any physical abnormalities in relationship to the vaccine protocol. Hematological and clinical biochemistry testing showed some changes although median values were within species specific reference intervals. A significant increase in antibody levels was observed at day 21 (post-initial vaccination) and day 49 (post-booster vaccination) versus that present at baseline (p < 0.0001). However, variability in study rabbits was noted with some individuals showing low antibody levels as well as a lower overall response in older rabbits (r = −0.56, p = 0.006). A second cohort of rabbits was assessed at 11–12 months post-initial vaccination. In this second group, antibody levels were not significantly different from baseline levels (p = 0.21). Additional studies should be conducted to further define the variability in seroconversion and the term of protection in pet rabbits as the industry moves forward in the optimization of RHDV2 vaccines.

Adenoviruses (AdVs) are relatively common in lizards and snakes, and several genetically distinct AdVs have been isolated in cell culture. The aims of this study were to examine serological relationships among lizard and snake AdVs and to determine the frequency of AdV infections in these species. Isolates from a boa constrictor (Boa constrictor), a corn snake (Pantherophis gutattus) and a central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), and two isolates from helodermatid lizards (Heloderma horridum and H. suspectum) were used in neutralisation tests for the detection of antibodies in plasma from 263 lizards from seven families (including 12 species) and from 141 snakes from four families (including 28 species) from the USA and Europe. Most lizard and snake samples had antibodies against a range of AdV isolates, indicating that AdV infection is common among these squamates. Neutralisation tests with polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits demonstrated serological cross-reactivity between both helodermatid lizard isolates. However, squamate plasma showed different reactions to each of these lizard isolates in neutralisation tests.

This is a review of the disease processes identified in a population of reptiles (n=349) sold through a pet store chain over the time period from 2003 to 2010. In broad categories there are 50 chelonians, 180 lizards, and 119 snakes.

Given the current state of the economy, many veterinarians are being forced to make certain decisions, such as who to hire and fire, what products to stock, and what equipment to purchase, based on financial reasons. And it seems more important than ever that veterinarians hold on to their existing clients, because frugal pet owners may be more reluctant to spend money on their pets these days if money is tight. With these pressures, I wondered whether some successful practitioners would share their thoughts about features of their practices that they feel are essential or that truly capture what they value most in their employees. To this end, I have asked several well-respected colleagues to answer a few straightforward but telling questions about their workplaces. These individuals are Byron J. S. de la Navarre, DVM, Animal House of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Chris Griffin, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice), Griffin Avian & Exotic Veterinary Hospital, Kannapolis, NC, USA; Larry Linnetz, MS, VMD, and Cara Sweet, DVM, Chippens Hill Veterinary Hospital, Bristol, CT, USA; Michael Lutz, DVM, West Meade Veterinary Clinic, Nashville, TN, USA; Robert Monaco, DVM, Dipl ABVP (Avian Practice), Old Country Animal Clinic, Plainview, NY, USA; Barry Stuart, DVM, Advanced Care Small and Exotic Veterinary Hospital, Bound Brook, NJ, USA; and James Zgoda, MS, DVM, Otterkill Animal Hospital, Cambell Hall, NY, USA. I hope that in hearing their answers, we all pick up a few practice pearls of wisdom.

Cryptosporidiosis in squamates is well documented, but there is very limited information available on cryptosporidiosis in testudines. We describe three cases of cryptosporidiosis in tortoises with associated pathology. Two Russian tortoises (Agrionemys [Testudo] horsfieldii) and a pancake tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri), all from separate collections, were found dead. At necropsy, two had histological evidence of intestinal cryptosporidiosis and one had gastric cryptosporidiosis. Consensus Cryptosporidium sp. PCR and sequencing was used to identify the Cryptosporidium sp. present in these three tortoises. In the juvenile Russian tortoise with gastric cryptosporidiosis, the organism had 98% homology with a previously reported sequence from an Indian star tortoise isolate. A second chelonian Cryptosporidium sp. was identified in the pancake tortoise and the second Russian tortoise. This sequence was 100% identical to a shorter gene sequence previously reported in a marginated tortoise. This is the first report coordinating pathology with Cryptosporidium characterization in chelonians. The two Cryptosporidium sp. found in tortoises segregate according to site of infection, and there may be further differences in pathology, host range, and transmission. These Cryptosporidium sp. appear to be able to infect diverse tortoise host species. This may be an under-recognized problem in tortoises.

ABSTRACT Innovation with information technology (IT) helps companies gain more from their IT investment. IT innovation by individuals can be affected by many factors (such as overload, autonomy, and work / family conflict) and developing a better understanding of these factors can help managers make better decisions about the work environment. Using Partial Least Squares (PLS) to analyze data collected via an online survey from the Pan-Pacific region (n = 233), we found that education, number of extended family members responsible for, and autonomy (work method and work criteria) had a significant effect on trying to innovate with IT. Interestingly, we found that neither work-family conflict nor family-work conflict had a significant direct effect on trying to innovate with IT. Our study found only partial support for previous studies that suggested gender was a significant moderator between perceived overload, autonomy and trying to innovate with information technology. The results of this study are important to both practitioners and researchers as they raise important questions about potential impediments to individual innovation with technology. INTRODUCTION The application of information technology (IT) has become a fundamental component of organizational competitiveness (Ahuja and Thatcher 2005; Hamel 1998). Today's hypercompetitive, global economy requires that organizations be proactive in their utilization of information technologies, or face the possibility of becoming noncompetitive (Nambisan, Agarwal, and Tanniru 1999). Information technology innovation refers to applying computer technology in new ways or acquiring IT applications that are new to a firm (Swanson 1994; Swanson and Ramiller 2004). IT innovation often results from efforts of the information systems (IS) department, but can also be initiated by users (Nambisan, Agarwal, and Tanniru 1999). Individuals can apply existing technological features to a broader range of tasks; they can apply technological features to related tasks; or these individuals can apply technology to tasks that were originally bypassed (Rogers 2003). For example, an employee introduced to new database software might develop a department-specific database application to automate recordkeeping and reporting. Because of the potential benefits from IT innovation at the individual level, it is important that organizations understand what motivates or inhibits individuals from utilizing these technologies in new and innovative ways (Ahuja and Thatcher 2005). Many factors, such as one's attitude toward applying existing technology in new applications, influence IT innovation by individuals (Fichman 2000; Venkatesh, Morris, Davis, and Davis 2003). Attitude is considered an antecedent of intention, which in turn, has been suggested to predict behavior (Fishbein and Ajzen 1975). The problem with intention, however, is that it can be swayed by perceptions of environmental obstacles, and these perceptions cause the individual's goal to become more difficult to obtain (Bagozzi and Warshaw 1990). The individual intending to innovate with information technology must then decide whether to try to achieve that goal despite the perceived obstacles that exist. Research suggests that work and family environment factors influence an individual's trying to innovate (Ahuja and Thatcher 2005; Amabile and Conti 1999). Ahuja and Thatcher (2005) examined the effects of autonomy and overload and the interactions of these two constructs on trying to innovate with IT. The results indicated that autonomy was an antecedent to trying to innovate with information technology, and the relationships between autonomy and trying to innovate, and overload and trying to innovate differed between males and females. Our study is an extension of the work of Ahuja and Thatcher (2005) and investigates whether work-family conflict and/or family-work conflict influences an individual's trying to innovate with information technology. …

In psittacine birds, the antemortem diagnosis of aspergillosis is usually based on the clinical signalment combined with the results of diagnostic tests such as radiography, routine hematologic and biochemical analysis, and biopsy. For several years, plasma protein electrophoresis has been used as an ancillary diagnostic technique in forming a diagnosis and treatment plan in avian species. More recently, a commercially available assay to measure galactomannan, an Aspergillus species antigen, has been described for clinical use in humans, cattle, horses, dogs, and gyr falcons. This report describes several confirmed cases of aspergillosis, with accompanying clinical data, including plasma protein electrophoresis and galactomannan assay results, in addition to results of traditional evaluations by hematology, radiography, and biopsy. In clinical cases in psittacine birds, the galactomannan assay appears useful for detecting circulating Aspergillus antibody.

Peter Adams Bipasha Ahmed Gill Aitken Pam Alldred Louisa Allen Feona Attwood Martha Augoustinos Lisa Baraitser Paula Barata Betty Bayer Dana Becker Melanie Beres Sylvia Blood Ros Bramwell Nicola Brown Elizabeth Brownlie Erica Burman Angie Burns Jan Burns Maree Burns Angela Byrne Rose Capdevila Laura Carpenter Claire Cartwright Khatidja Chantler Joan Chrisler Victoria Clarke Linda Coates Mary Coffey Marilyn Coleman Colleen Connolly Lisa Cosgrove Adrian Coyle Mary Crawford Michelle Crossley Bronwyn Davies Kathy Davis Nancy Deutsch Lisa Diamond Kathy Doherty Caroline Dryden Liz Eckerman Nigel Edley Mona Eliasson Vivienne Elizabeth Carolyn Enns Walter Everaerd Breanne Fahs James Farrer Michelle Fine Julie Fish

Welcome to a brief look at the possible future of veterinary gastroenterology. Rather than being a definitive projection of what things will be like in a few years, the following passages will instead reveal potential techniques for both diagnostic and therapeutic modalities that may become available for veterinary implementation. A definitive diagnosis is ideal, when possible, so that available treatments can be refined from general to specific therapy. As the medical profession continues its pursuit of technologic and therapeutic advancements, there is good opportunity to integrate these new practices into veterinary medicine. Conditions such as proventricular dilation disease, Helicobacter infections, Clostridial enterotoxemia, malabsorption/maldigestion, and ileus have for years been frustrating in their diagnosis or treatment. Although there is no perfect test to diagnose or ideal protocol to treat these conditions, the advancements discussed in the following pages may very well increase the practitioner’s ability to accurately determine which condition is affecting each patient. This definitive diagnosis will hopefully allow more specific therapy resulting in a quicker, more complete recovery, when possible, or more effective management of chronic disease. Patient size, or anatomic or physiologic deviations from the more commonly studied species often limits veterinarians who treat avian and exotic patients. The airsac system in birds, for instance, makes ultrasound