Cervical Sinus Research Articles

Cervical dermoid sinus in a cat: case presentation and review of the literature

A 6-month-old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of a focal subcutaneous swelling on the dorsal neck at the level of atlas. The magnetic resonance imaging and surgical treatment of a dermoid sinus associated with the cervical vertebrae is described. To the authors' knowledge, a dermoid sinus in this location has not been described previously in the cat. The prognosis following surgical resection appears favorable.

An ectopic hamartomatous thymoma

An ectopic hamartomatous thymoma is an extremely rare benign tumor of the lower neck that is the most common in middle-aged males. Pathologically, the tumor is characterized by a mixture of spindle cells, epithelial cells, mature adipose tissue, and lymphocytes. The histogenesis of this tumor is controversial. Recently, an origin from a remnant of the cervical sinus of His was proposed. Malignant lesions such as synovial sarcomas or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors can have similar clinical features and radiologic images. Thus, recognition of this tumor is important because it follows a benign clinical course and conservative surgical excision is the treatment of choice. Here, we report the case of a 34-year-old man with an ectopic hamartomatous thymoma in the left supraclavicular region and a review of the literature on this tumor.

Serum biochemistry profile determination for wild loggerhead sea turtles nesting in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Sea turtles are threatened to the point of extinction. The major goal of rehabilitating sick individuals is to eventually reintroduce them back into their habitat. In this way, they contribute to species preservation, as well as maintaining equilibrium of the ecosystems. Biochemical analysis is a commonly used test to detect illness and evaluate the general health of the animals. However, the data in the literature on sea turtles are scarce and the majority of studies used small sample sizes, being the majority of animals in captivity. The aim of the present study is to establish baseline biochemical profile values for free-ranging, nesting, female loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). The baseline values can then be used for comparison in the overall evaluation, physiologic status and disease diagnostics of diverse populations of sea turtles. Twenty-eight females in their reproductive period were used from Farol de São Thomé (21°45'15"S - 41°19'28"W), city of Campos dos Goytacazes, north-fluminense region. The samples were collected without anticoagulant through venapuncture of the dorsal, cervical sinus. The average values determined were calcium, phosphorus, cholesterol and triglycerides, demonstrating a correlation with vitellogenesis and egg formation. The fact that females reduce feeding in the period preceding egg laying, influenced the average concentration of urea (35.25mg dL-1), sodium (147mEq L-1), potassium (28mEq L-1), uric acid (0.6mg dL-1) and lipids. Carapace length and width, and the weight of the turtles showed a positive correlation with liver enzymes ALT and AST, suggesting that animals with larger hepatic volume have greater enzymatic activity.

Haematological values of post-laying Arrau turtle ( Podocnemis expansa) in the Orinoco River, Venezuela

The Arrau turtle ( Podocnemis expansa) is an endangered species, as a result of long-lasting, unsustainable exploitation. To obtain reference haematological values from the wild Podocnemis expansa during post-laying, 20 turtles were captured in the Orinoco River. Blood was obtained from the dorsal cervical sinus in lithium heparin tubes. Red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), thrombocytes (TC), packed cell volume (PCV), plasmatic protein (PP), haemoglobin (Hgb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and differential leukocyte count were determined. Haematological values were: RBC 0.9 × 10 9/L, WBC 5.7 × 10 9/L, TC 5.4 × 10 9/L, PCV 35.6%, PP 4.2 g/dL, Hgb 11.8 g/dL, MCV 411 fL. The differential leukocyte count comprised: 71% heterophils, 23% lymphocytes, 3% eosinophils, 1.6% basophils, and 1% monocytes. The reports of reference haematology values for the wild P. expansa are limited; therefore, the results presented herein contrast with those values obtained in captivity. This study represents a contribution to the referential haematological values of the wild P. expansa.

CNS Disease In Younger Patients (

AbstractAbstract 112 Background:CNS involvement by aggressive lymphoma carries a poor prognosis. Little is known about the frequencies of CNS relapse or progression, risk factors, and the efficacy of prophylaxis in younger patients (pts) undergoing modern chemoimmunotherapy (R-CHOP). Methods:2.797 younger pts (<= 60 years) with aggressive lymphoma were treated on trials of the DSHNHL and the Mabthera International Trial. Pts with B-cell lymphoma (n=2.196) received 6 or 8 courses of CHO(Etoposid)P ± Rituximab (R) or were treated on the MegaCHOEP + R protocols featuring high doses of C, H, E, and P necessitating repetitive transplantation of autologous stem cells (Schmitz et al., BLOOD 2009, 404 a). Pts with lymphoma in testes, bone marrow, upper cervical nodes, sinuses, or other sites in the cranial region were to receive four i. th. injections of 15 mg MTX for prophylaxis of meningeosis during treatment courses 1 and 2 except for pts on the NHL-A and -B1 trials. In the latter studies, CNS prophylaxis was recommended for pts with lymphoblastic lymphoma only. Results:Overall, sixty-five of 2.797 pts (2.3%) developed meningeal and/or parenchymal CNS relapse (43.1 %) or progressed during therapy (56.9%). Relapse/ progression in the CNS was combined with systemic disease in 20 pts (32.3%) but represented the only site of disease in the majority of cases (67.7 %). Median time to relapse/ progression was 7.2 months (range: 0.2– 85.2 months); median survival after relapse or progression was 4.2 months (0 - 54.0 months).The incidence of CNS relapse/ progression was low in pts with age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) 0 or 1 (High-CHOEP phase III study with 385 pts: CNS events 0.3%; MInT trial with 818 pts: CNS events 1.6 %) but was significantly higher in the 463 pts on the MegaCHOEP phase II/III trials which included pts with aaIPI 2 or 3 only (CNS events: 6.4 % and 7.5 %, respectively).Focusing on 663 pts treated with state-of-the-art chemoimmunotherapy including rituximab, multivariate Cox regression analysis identified LDH>N (relative risk [RR]=4.5, p=0.046) and stage III/IV (RR=6.2, p= 0.016) as significant risk factors for CNS disease. Using this model, 32.7 % of all pts would have been considered “high-risk”; 82.4 % of those pts who developed CNS disease carried both risk factors. However, only 14/217 (6.5%) of the “high-risk” pts defined by elevated LDH and advanced stage actually experienced CNS relapse or progression.Rituximab significantly reduced the risk for CNS disease when all 1.570 pts treated with CHO(E)P- 14/21 were considered (RR= 0.3, p=0.03). In contrast, the addition of R did not reduce the RR in 309 pts treated with MegaCHOEP ± R (RR=0.8, p= 0.54). There was no indication that the addition of etoposide to CHOP (CHOEP) reduced the risk of CNS disease in any patient cohort treated with chemotherapy and R. Conclusions:Pts with aggressive lymphoma and aaIPI 0 or 1 show low frequencies of CNS relapse or progression. Omitting CNS prophylaxis in such pts seems reasonable also because – similar to our recent findings in the elderly (Boehme et al., BLOOD 2009; 113: 3896) – this analysis in younger pts failed to show benefit of prophylaxis with i.th. MTX in any of the risk groups analyzed. CNS disease remains a serious problem in younger pts with aaIPI 2 or 3. We failed to discover clinical or laboratory features to precisely define a “high-risk” group of patients all of whom might benefit from CNS-directed prophylaxis. Unfortunately, neither high-dose therapy including high-doses of etoposide (MegaCHOEP), standard dose etoposide (CHOEP), nor i. th. MTX reduced the incidence of CNS disease. Rituximab reduced the RR of CNS disease in pts with B-cell lymphoma treated with CHO(E)P- 14/21 but failed to do so in pts treated with R-MegaCHOEP. Disclosures:Schmitz:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Glass:Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding. Pfreundschuh:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.

Effects of different health status on blood haematochemical values of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta)

In reptiles, several studies show the correlation between good or poor health and changes of physiologic parameters, but the comparison among data, methods and biochemical analysis in sea turtles are difficult. This study was carried out to investigate the biochemical patterns of total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in 100 loggerhead sea turtles (52 in good health, 16 with illness and 32 with serious illness). Blood samples were collected by venipuncture from the dorsal cervical sinus, the jugular vein or the ventral caudal sinus between March and October 2007 to 2009. Compared with subjects in good health, total protein and albumin concentrations were lower in subjects suffering from illness (p < 0.001) and in those with serious illness (p < 0.01). Compared with subjects with good health, creatinine concentrations (p < 0.001) and AST activity (p < 0.001) were lower in turtles with serious illness (p < 0.001), and urea concentrations were lower in subjects suffering from (p < 0.01). One-way repeated-measures analysis of variance showed significant effects of the health status of sea turtles on albumin (p < 0.05), urea (p < 0.001) and AST (p < 0.001) fluctuations. Data obtained showed a significant correlation between health status and haematochemical changes in sea turtles.

A novel chromosome 19p13.12 deletion in a child with multiple congenital anomalies

We describe a patient with multiple congenital anomalies including deafness, lacrimal duct stenosis, strabismus, bilateral cervical sinuses, congenital cardiac defects, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, and hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis. Mutation analysis of EYA1, SIX1, and SIX5, genes that underlie otofaciocervical and/or branchio-oto-renal syndrome, was negative. Pathologic diagnosis of the excised cervical sinus tracts was revised on re-examination to heterotopic salivary gland tissue. Using high resolution chromosomal microarray analysis, we identified a novel 2.52 Mb deletion at 19p13.12, which was confirmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization and demonstrated to be a de novo mutation by testing of the parents. Overall, deletions of chromosome 19p13 are rare.

Pharmacological restraint of captivity giant Amazonian turtle Podocnemis expansa (Testudines, Podocnemididae) with xylazine and propofol

Identify a technique to induce brief sedation and hypnosis in Podocnemis expansa. Twenty commercially bred P. expansa, weighing on average 1.2 +/- 0.24 kg, were subjected to two protocols: G1 was given 1.5 mg/kg IM of xylazine and 5 mg/kg IV of propofol, while G2 received 1.5 mg/kg IM of xylazine and 10 mg/kg IV of propofol. The drugs were applied, respectively, in the left thoracic member and in the cervical vertebral sinus. Assessments were made of the anesthetic parameters of locomotion, muscle relaxation, response to pain stimuli in the right thoracic members, pelvic members and tail, easy handling and heartbeat, as well as ambient temperature and glycemic level. A consistent hypnotic effect was recorded 49.6 +/- 22.1 seconds in G2 and after 58.2 +/- 55.1 in G1. All the animals of G2 recovered in 198 minutes, and those of G1 in 156 minutes. The hypnosis achieved with these associations was satisfactory, and G1 was as efficient as G2, allowing for the pharmacological restraint for the collection of biological samples, physical examinations and minor surgeries on these species.

Kystes et fistules congénitaux de la face et du cou

Congenital cervical cysts, sinuses and fistulae are uncommon malformations. Diagnosis and management of congenital cervical cysts, sinuses and fistulae requires a good understanding of their embryological development and topography. Thyroglossal duct cysts are most common, followed by branchial cleft anomalies and dermoid cysts. In this review, we discuss both the classical and current aspects of these malformations.

Radiologically atypical congenital posterior fossa dermoid cyst presenting late in life

We report the case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with deterioration in gait, short-term memory loss and urinary incontinence. She had a past history of excision of a cervical dermal sinus tract at the age of 5 years. CT scan in 2004 revealed ventriculomegaly and an extremely hypodense ovoid structure lying in the midline low posterior fossa with calcification anteriorly. On MRI, the lesion was hypointense on T 1-weighted and hyperintense on T 2-weighted images, with incomplete suppression on fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery images and marked restriction on diffusion weighted images. Cerebrospinal fluid isotope study revealed non-communicating hydrocephalus. Posterior fossa crainectomy and removal of the lesion was undertaken. Pathological study revealed a dermoid cyst. Post-operatively, her hydrocephalus persisted and a ventriculo-atrial shunt was inserted with excellent functional recovery.

The formation of sinus in congenital stenosis of external auditory canal with cholesteatoma

Conclusions. In congenital stenosis of the external auditory canal (CSEAC) with cholesteatoma, the bony wall of the external auditory canal (EAC) is most commonly involved. This involvement will lead to bone erosion of the EAC and may subsequently lead to the formation of postaural or cervical sinuses. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of temporal bone can show characteristic signs of soft tissue mass in EAC, with adjacent bone erosion. Objective. To investigate the clinical features, differential diagnosis and management of CSEAC with cholesteatoma. Patients and methods. The clinical information for 10 cases of CSEAC with cholesteatoma was retrospectively reviewed. Results. The patients’ ages ranged from 4.75 to 22 years (average 12 years). The diameter of EACs was < 2 mm. All 10 ears had a history of postaural fistulae or sinuses. Bone erosion of EAC was distinctly shown in HRCT of all cases, as well as soft tissue masses, which led to enlargement of the bony canals. All patients underwent canaloplasty; eight ears received hearing reconstructions at the same time. Cholesteatoma in EACs was confirmed during the operations, accompanied by compression and destruction of the post-superior and/or inferior bony wall. Postoperative pathologic examinations proved the diagnosis of cholesteatoma, and excluded any tissue of bronchial cleft cyst or fistula. After a follow-up of 1–3 years, no recurrent cholesteatoma was found in any of the 10 cases. All reconstructed EACs were clean and smooth. The hearing levels in the eight ears that received hearing reconstructions increased 20–35 dBHL.

FRS2α2F/2F mice lack carotid body and exhibit abnormalities of the superior cervical sympathetic ganglion and carotid sinus nerve

The docking protein FRS2α is an important mediator of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-induced signal transduction, and functions by linking FGF receptors (FGFRs) to a variety of intracellular signaling pathways. We show that the carotid body is absent in FRS2α 2F/2F mice, in which the Shp2-binding sites of FRS2α are disrupted. We also show that the carotid body rudiment is not formed in the wall of the third arch artery in mutant embryos. In wild-type mice, the superior cervical ganglion of the sympathetic trunk connects to the carotid body in the carotid bifurcation region, and extends thick nerve bundles into the carotid body. In FRS2α 2F/2F mice, the superior cervical ganglion was present in the lower cervical region as an elongated feature, but failed to undergo cranio-ventral migration. In addition, few neuronal processes extended from the ganglion into the carotid bifurcation region. The number of carotid sinus nerve fibers that reached the carotid bifurcation region was markedly decreased, and baroreceptor fibers belonging to the glossopharyngeal nerve were absent from the basal part of the internal carotid artery in FRS2α 2F/2F mutant mice. In some of the mutant mice (5 out of 14), baroreceptors and some glomus cells were distributed in the wall of the common carotid artery, onto which the sympathetic ganglion abutted. We propose that the sympathetic ganglion provides glomus cell precursors into the third arch artery derivative in the presence of sensory fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve.

CNS-Disease in Elderly Patients Treated with Modern Chemotherapy (CHOP-14) with or without Rituximab: An Analysis of CNS Events in the RICOVER-60 Trial of the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL).

Background CNS recurrence of aggressive lymphoma remains a distressing and usually incurable event. In an analysis of patients on protocols of the German High-Grade Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group (DSHNHL) between 1990 and 2000, the CNS relapse rate was 2.2% in 1693 patients treated with modern chemotherapy but without rituximab (Boehme et al., Ann. Oncol. 2007). We now analyzed the incidence and prognostic factors for CNS recurrence in the RICOVER-60 study (Pfreundschuh et al., Blood abstract 2006) where patients had been randomized to 6 or 8 courses of CHOP-14 +/- rituximab. Patients and Methods From 2000–2005, 1242 patients (pts.) between 61 and 80 years with CD20+ aggressive lymphoma were randomized to receive 6 or 8 cycles of CHOP-14 chemotherapy with or without 8 courses of rituximab. Twenty patients were excluded because of missing or retracted informed consent, leaving 1222 pts. for the intention-to-treat analysis. For patients with suspected or confirmed lymphoma manifestation in testes, bone marrow, upper cervical nodes, sinuses or other extranodal involvements in the cranial region the protocol asked for intrathecal (i.th.) prophylaxis with 15 mg methotrexate twice in the first two cycles of treatment.Results 1217 patients were evaluable, of whom 58 patients (4.8%) after a median time of 8 months (1–39) developed relapse or progression to the CNS with a median time of survival of 3 months (0.1–38). Multivariate Cox regresssion analysis identified involvement of more than one extranodal site (RR = 3.4; p< 0.001), the presence of B-symptoms (RR = 1.9; p = 0.025) and increased LDH values (RR = 1.5; p = 0.146) as relevant predictors of CNS recurrence. Patients with these three characteristics had a CNS relapse rate of approximately 24% at 2 years, about 6-fold the incidence rate observed in all other patients. The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy reduced the risk of CNS recurrence (RR = 0.5; p = 0.025), whereas the number of treatment cycles (6 vs. 8) did have no influence on the CNS-specific outcome. 273 of 1217 patients (22%) received i.th. prophylaxis at least during one cycle and 202 of 273 prophylaxis patients (74%) were treated intrathecally in full compliance with the protocol, thus reducing the rate of CNS complications (RR = 0.3; p = 0.023). The majority of these patients had involvement of testes, bone marrow, sinuses or upper skeletal and/or nodal sites.Conclusion The incidence of CNS relapse in 1217 patients treated for aggressive lymphoma with CHOP-14 with or without rituximab was low (4.8%) but slightly higher than reported in other recent series. The prognostic factors for CNS-disease and the poor prognosis of CNS relapse remain largely unchanged although rituximab significantly reduced the incidence of CNS disease (3.6 vs. 5.9%) and the risk of CNS recurrence (RR 0.5; p = 0.025). Prophylactic i.th. therapy given to patients with distinct extranodal involvement reduces the risk of CNS disease in these individuals. Due to the low overall incidence general prophylactic strategies cannot be recommended.

Changes in plasma levels of adrenaline, noradrenaline, glucose, lactate and CO 2 in the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, during peak period of nesting

Plasma concentrations of stress hormones [adrenaline (ADR), noradrenaline (NR)], lactate, glucose and CO 2 were monitored during peak nesting period (May–October) at different phases of nesting in the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. These include, emergence from sea, excavating body and nest chambers, oviposition, covering and camouflaging the nest and then returning to sea. Turtles that completed all phases of nesting including oviposition before returning to sea were considered “successful” turtles, while those that completed all phases but failed to lay their eggs were “unsuccessful”. Blood samples were taken from the cervical sinus within 5 min of capture to avoid stress due to handling. The turtles were usually sampled for blood between 20:00 and 1:00 h of nesting time to ensure uniformity in the sampling. Plasma ADR and NR values were highly significant ( P < 0.001) in successful turtles over emergence, excavating and unsuccessful turtles. Plasma glucose levels remained stable throughout the nesting phases while lactate levels were significantly higher in successful turtles over the other phases ( P < 0.05) which signifies anaerobic metabolism during nesting. Plasma CO 2 values were negatively correlated with ADR and NR ( r = −0.258, P = 0.03; r = −0.304, P = 0.010), respectively. Hematocrit was significantly higher in successful phase ( P < 0.05) compared to other phases, and this may signify a higher degree of stress in successful turtles. Body temperature were significantly lower ( P < 0.005) in the excavating phase compared to the other three phases. Overall, body temperatures were lower than sand temperatures around the nest, which may indicate a behavioral thermoregulation used by the turtles during nesting. This information will be of value to the ongoing conservation program at Ras Al-Hadd Reserve in the Sultanate of Oman.

Effect of vagal stimulation and differential densities of M 2 receptor and I K,ACh in canine atria

Objective We investigated the electrophysiological effect of vagal stimulation (VS) on atrial myocardium in vivo and differential densities of M 2 receptor and acetylcholine-induced inward rectifier K + current (I K,ACh) to discuss the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods With the monophasic action potential (MAP) recording technique, data from twenty-four sites, i.e. right atrial appendage (RAA), left atrial appendage (LAA), right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA) were recorded by electrode probes, which were applied to the epicardial atrial surface of each dog. After cervical vagosympathetic cut, VS 1 (20 Hz, 0.2 ms pulse duration and at a voltage 10 V), VS 2 (20 Hz, 0.2 ms pulse duration and at a voltage 30 V)and sinus node (SN) damage were administrated respectively. MAP, dispersion of action potential duration (dAPD) and AF was recorded. Then, RAA, LAA, RA and LA were dissected. Finally, distribution of M 2 receptors and I K,ACh in atrial myocardium were measured by western blot and patch clamp respectively. Results During VS 1 and VS 2, AF could be induced at first in right atrial appendage (RAA) and right atrium (RA) without left atrial appendage (LAA) and left atrium (LA). Compared to the parameters in control group and VS 2 group, dAPD was increased significantly by VS 1 and SN damage, but there was no significant difference between control group and VS 2 group. However, AF was not evoked after SN damage. Densities of M 2 receptor and I K,ACh were higher in RAA, LAA than those in LA and RA (M 2 receptor: 1 and 1.01 over 0.83 and 0.51, P < 0.05; I K,ACh: 20 ± 0.89, 19 ± 0.82, 14 ± 0.64, 9 ± 0.45 pA/pF, P < 0.05). Furthermore, densities of M 2 receptor and I K,ACh were higher in LA than those in RA ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Decreased APD is the base in initiation of cholinergic AF by VS and increased dAPD alone can not induce AF. A greater abundance of M 2 receptor and I KACh in RAA and LAA imply atrial appendage plays an important role in initiation of cholinergic AF.

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma: a case demonstrating skin adnexal differentiation with positivity for epithelial membrane antigen, androgen receptors, and BRST-2 by immunohistochemistry

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma is a rare tumor of the lower neck occurring in adult men, which follows a benign course. They are triphasic with epithelial, adipocytic, and spindled elements in variable amounts. The origin of this tumor has been debated, but it is now believed to arise from remnants of the cervical sinus of His from early development. We describe a case of ectopic hamartomatous thymoma with typical features, as well as multifocal areas of skin adnexal differentiation. These included sebaceous, eccrine, and apocrine elements. We highlighted these by using immunohistochemistry to epithelial membrane antigen, BRST-2, and androgen receptors (AR). Epithelial membrane antigen stained sebaceous cells and the luminal borders of eccrine and apocrine ducts. BRST-2 and AR stained apocrine elements in a cytoplasmic and a nuclear pattern, respectively. The spindled component also expressed nuclear AR. AR positivity has not been described previously and may explain the occurrence primarily in men in postpubertal life.

Alternative Techniques for Obtaining Blood Samples from Leatherback Turtles

ABSTRACT We describe a low-risk, alternative technique for sampling blood from leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) using interdigitary vessels in their flippers. Because this technique allows for repeated, large-volume blood samples without requiring restraint of turtles, the technique is preferred over using the dorsal cervical sinus in almost all cases of blood sampling from leatherbacks, and also applies to other sea turtle species.

Plasma hormone levels in the green turtles Chelonia mydas during peak period of nesting at Ras Al-Hadd-Oman

Circulating estradiol (E(2)), progesterone (Pro), testosterone, and corticosterone (B) levels were monitored in the green turtles Chelonia mydas during different nesting phases. Successful nesting includes emergence from sea, chamber and nest excavation, oviposition, burying the nest, and returning to sea. Unsuccessful nesting includes chamber and nest excavations but without oviposition. Blood samples were taken from the cervical sinus and collected within 5-min of capture to minimize stress. The samples were collected between 2000 and 0100 h during the peak season (May-October). High-performance liquid chromatography using a u.v. detection system coupled with tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry was used to measure B. Plasma B levels were significantly higher in successful and unsuccessful phases over emergence and excavation phases. However, B levels in successful versus unsuccessful or emergence versus excavation phases were not significantly different. Plasma steroid levels were measured by the Coat-A-Count RIA technique. Pro levels were significantly higher (P<0.005) in successful over unsuccessful turtles and also successful turtles over turtles in the other phases (P<0.01). The Pro levels immediately after nesting were found to be higher than that reported previously. Plasma testosterone values were higher in successful turtles but not significantly different from the turtles in other phases. Estrogen levels were undetected in all phases. Overall, the hormone values during different phases of nesting may play a major role in formulating the nesting behavior and physiology of the nesting activities in the green turtle.

Chronic shoulder osteoarthritis in a loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)

This report describes the lesions seen in an extremely weak and emaciated adult male loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) found stranded near Perth, Western Australia. Blood collected from a dorsal cervical sinus immediately prior to euthanasia demonstrated severe anaemia, markedly elevated plasma concentrations of creatinine kinase (2263 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (58 U/L), urea (18.1 mmol/L) and hypoglycaemia (glucose 0.7 mmol/L). Necropsy examination demonstrated a severe chronic osteoarthritis of the right shoulder joint with marked remodelling of the glenoid fossa, coracoid, scapula and humerus. There was marked synovial effusion and periarticular fibrosis. Cytological examination and culture of synovial fluid failed to demonstrate an infectious agent. Other findings were low numbers of trypanorhynch cysts present on the surface of the liver and numerous spirorchid eggs in the attached mesentery. Several large and small spirorchid flukes were present in the heart and there was a localised endarteritis in the left aortic arch associated with this infection. Numerous nematode eggs and at least three species of spirorchid eggs were seen microscopically in faeces collected from the terminal colon. The pathogenesis and significance of these lesions is discussed.

PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF ENROFLOXACIN AFTER SINGLE-DOSE ORAL ADMINISTRATION IN LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES (CARETTA CARETTA)

Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin were determined in 12 loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) after oral administration. Six turtles in group 1 and group 2 received enrofloxacin at 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg of body weight, respectively. Blood was collected from the cervical sinus before administration and at timed intervals up to 168 hr following administration. Plasma concentrations of enrofloxacin were determined using a microbiologic assay. The mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 4.07 microg/ml and 21.30 microg/ml for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Plasma levels were detectable at 168 hr postadministration, with mean values of 0.380 microg/ml for group I and 2.769 microg/ml for group 2. The mean elimination half-life for enrofloxacin was 37.80 hr for group I and 54.42 hr for group 2. These findings indicated that enrofloxacin is absorbed following oral administration in loggerhead sea turtles, and blood levels are maintained up to 168 hr following administration.