A 15-month old captive born Eastern white pelican (Pelecanus onocrolatus) with an abnormal gait had a firm swelling of the right stifle that was unresponsive to conservative treatment with NSAIDs. Radiography of the leg showed disruption of the osseous detail of the distal femur and proximal tibiotarsus with a marked periosteal reaction, marked soft tissue swelling surrounding the right stifle and mottled increased radiodensity of these soft tissues. Despite medical treatment, the immobility of the leg progressed, inappetence set in and the bird was euthanased. On post-mortem examination there was a large ossified mass at the right stifle and additional well circumscribed masses were evident in the leg and wing musculature, pectoral muscles and myocardium. Further masses were present in the liver and in one kidney. Histological examination identified the stifle mass as an osteosarcoma. The various masses found in the musculature, liver and kidney were constructed of similar cells and considered metastases. The predilection of the metastases for muscular tissue, including the myocardium, is unusual and has not previously been described in birds.

Cardiac disease has been implicated as a leading cause of death in captive great apes. Trans‐thoracic echocardiography provides clinically relevant information that may help differentiate between the myriad of different heart diseases and disorders, guide treatment and aid the management of great apes with underlying cardiac pathology. The purpose of this paper is to provide an outline of the procedures and methodologies required to conduct a thorough trans‐thoracic echocardiogram of great apes under general anaesthesia. Basic logistical considerations are discussed before a detailed description of the procedures required for the assessment of overall cardiac structure and function. Using a thorough systematic approach, it is our belief that veterinary professionals may be better able to diagnose, treat and manage captive great apes with, or at risk of developing heart disease.

Squirrel monkeys (genus Saimiri) are species commonly kept in captivity in zoological collections. Fainting related to hypoglycaemia has been reported, and fits/seizures have also been observed relatively frequently in captive squirrel monkeys. However, as far as the authors are aware, there are no published reports of epilepsy in squirrel monkeys. Here we describe several cases of idiopathic epilepsy affecting related ♂ Bolivian Black‐capped squirrel monkeys Saimiri boliviensis at ZSL London Zoo, the management of the cases and the possible implications for the captive‐breeding programme.

Veterinary RecordVolume 164, Issue 15 p. 472-473 Short Communication Secundum atrial septal defect in a Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) R. Pizzi BVSc, MSc, DZooMed, FRES, MACVSc, MRCVS, Corresponding Author R. Pizzi BVSc, MSc, DZooMed, FRES, MACVSc, MRCVS [email protected] Zoological Medicine, 79A Garvock Hill, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7UTE-mail for correspondence: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorY. Martinez Pereira CertVC, MRCVS, Y. Martinez Pereira CertVC, MRCVS Zoological Medicine, 79A Garvock Hill, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7UTSearch for more papers by this authorY. Feltner Rambaud MSc, MRCVS, Y. Feltner Rambaud MSc, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorT. Strike BVSc, MSc, MRCVS, T. Strike BVSc, MSc, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorE. Flach MA, VetMB, MSc, DZooMed, MRCVS, E. Flach MA, VetMB, MSc, DZooMed, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorM. Rendle VN, M. Rendle VN Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorA. Routh BVSc, CertZooMed, MRCVS, A. Routh BVSc, CertZooMed, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this author R. Pizzi BVSc, MSc, DZooMed, FRES, MACVSc, MRCVS, Corresponding Author R. Pizzi BVSc, MSc, DZooMed, FRES, MACVSc, MRCVS [email protected] Zoological Medicine, 79A Garvock Hill, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7UTE-mail for correspondence: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorY. Martinez Pereira CertVC, MRCVS, Y. Martinez Pereira CertVC, MRCVS Zoological Medicine, 79A Garvock Hill, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7UTSearch for more papers by this authorY. Feltner Rambaud MSc, MRCVS, Y. Feltner Rambaud MSc, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorT. Strike BVSc, MSc, MRCVS, T. Strike BVSc, MSc, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorE. Flach MA, VetMB, MSc, DZooMed, MRCVS, E. Flach MA, VetMB, MSc, DZooMed, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorM. Rendle VN, M. Rendle VN Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this authorA. Routh BVSc, CertZooMed, MRCVS, A. Routh BVSc, CertZooMed, MRCVS Veterinary Department, Zoological Society of London, Regent' Park, London, NW1 4RYSearch for more papers by this author First published: 11 April 2009 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.164.15.472Citations: 6Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. References 1Benson D. W. Sharkey A. Fatkin D. Lang P. Basson C. T. McDonough B. Strauss A. W. Seidman J. G. Seidman C. E. 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Primary brain tumours were identified in two Bactrian camels (Camelus bactrianus) living at the Zoological Society of London's two zoos. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to diagnose a histiocytic sarcoma in a 16-year-old female and a fibroblastic meningioma in a 13-year-old male. Before one died and the other was euthanased both camels had shown progressive neurological signs, including circling and ataxia.