Wildlife Vets International

The arcuate fascicle (AF) is the main fibre tract in the brain for human language. It connects frontal and temporal language areas in the superior and middle temporal gyrus (MTG). The AF’s connection to the MTG was considered unique to humans and has influenced theories of the evolution of language. Here, using high-resolution diffusion MRI of post-mortem brains, we demonstrate that both wild and captive chimpanzees have a direct AF connection into the MTG, albeit weaker than in humans. This finding challenges the notion of a strictly human-specific AF morphology and suggests that language-related neural specialisation in humans likely evolved through gradual evolutionary strengthening of a pre-existing connection, rather than arising de novo. It is likely that this neural architecture supporting complex communication was already present in the last common ancestor of hominins and chimpanzees 7 million years ago, enabling the evolution of language processes in the human lineage.

This research was conducted due to the limitations of studies regarding the improvement of cognitive scores from the STAD learning model with the assistance of scaffolding strategies. The application of scaffolding strategies in learning has a positive impact on improving the cognitive learning outcomes of students. This study aims to determine the cognitive learning outcomes of sixth-grade students at the UPTD SDN Keleyan 1 by applying the STAD learning model combined with scaffolding strategies in the subject of Pancasila Education. The research method used is classroom action research (PTK) with a participative type. The target of the study is the sixth grade, consisting of 19 students. Data collection was carried out through observation, tests, and documentation, with data analysis using quantitative descriptive techniques. The results of the study indicate that the STAD learning model combined with scaffolding can improve cognitive learning outcomes in the subject of Pancasila Education through two cycles. There was an improvement from the pre-cycle phase to cycle I of 14.22, with an average score of cycle I of 62.11 and a percentage increase of 29.69%. Furthermore, from cycle I to cycle II, there was a larger increase of 16.84, with an average score of 78.95 and a percentage increase of 27.11% using scaffolding. The main conclusion of this study is the importance of applying scaffolding in an appropriate learning model, one of which is the STAD learning model, to address the cognitive learning outcome gaps of students in the subject of Pancasila Education. The implications of this research are the improvement of cognitive learning outcomes and the application of scaffolding with the STAD learning model to assist students with low cognitive abilities in achieving learning independence. This research can also open up further studies regarding the affective and psychomotor aspects in the application of scaffolding strategies.

Classical and operant conditioning for cooperative husbandry and health care in zoos has largely been mammal-focused while other taxa are typically physically handled or anaesthetised, with birds primarily being trained for shows and demonstrations. The concept of ‘bird training’ is likely to elicit images of parrot fly-bys, falcons chasing a lure or corvids taking money from guests to put into a donation box. The training of captive birds for cooperative husbandry and veterinary care is, however, growing within the zoo industry and has expanded to involve a huge variety of species and goals. This case study provides an example of how classical and operant conditioning were utilised to improve the welfare of a highly fearful green peafowl Pavo muticus. Training enabled zookeepers to overcome management difficulties that resulted from enclosure design and a negative animal-zookeeper relationship, leading to reduced stress, better health care and ultimately improved animal welfare. This case study also highlights the importance of frequently reviewing training plans, the training environment, and the behaviour of the animal being trained to enhance training success.

Abstract A geriatric, 16‐year‐9‐month‐old, male snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) under human care was necropsied after euthanasia over concerns for worsening chronic kidney disease and bilateral blindness. Gross and histological examinations revealed necrotising frontal sinusitis and osteomyelitis with mixed‐cellular rhinotracheitis, affecting the right frontal sinus, right nasal cavity and trachea, respectively, with intralesional and cilia‐associated Gram‐negative bacilli detected. Microbiological cultures were inconclusive, although Bordetella bronchiseptica and feline herpesvirus 1 were positive on PCR analysis. Immunohistochemistry, however, refuted active feline herpesvirus 1 involvement. Marked, chronic, bilateral, renal degeneration and fibrosis (chronic kidney disease), mild hepatic cirrhosis, bilateral chronic degenerative stifle joint disease and testicular intratubular seminoma were also detected on postmortem examination. No gross ocular or optic nerve lesions were identified; however, histology indicated bilateral diffuse outer retinal atrophy and retinal detachment, supportive of clinical blindness at time of death. This case represents the first report of chronic rhinosinusitis and osteomyelitis in a snow leopard.

Oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OCSCCs) are relatively common in multiple non-human primate species but are poorly documented in Goeldi's monkeys. Four Goeldi's monkeys with OCSCC, from three zoological collections, underwent necropsy with cytology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and pan-herpesvirus PCR analysis. All animals were euthanised and exhibited poor-to-emaciated body condition. Three OCSCCs arose from the maxillary oral mucosa and a single OCSCC was primarily mandibular, with bone invasion evident in three cases. Histologically, one OCSCC insitu was diagnosed, whilst the rest were typically invasive OCSCCs. Neoplastic cells were immunopositive for pancytokeratin and E-cadherin. All examined cases were negative for regional lymph node (RLN) and/or distant metastases, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) immunoexpression, and panherpesvirus PCR expression. OCSCCs in Goeldi's monkeys may be deeply invasive, but not readily metastatic. No herpesvirus-association or COX-2 expression was evident; the latter suggesting that NSAIDs are unlikely to be a viable chemotherapeutic treatment.

Between 2015 and 2019, a health screening was carried out annually on captive-bred Partula snails prior to export for reintroduction as part of an international effort to repopulate areas of French Polynesia, where the snails were extinct or critically endangered. In total, 129 separate tank populations of 12 different species were screened at ZSL London Zoo. Wet mounts and smears stained with modified Ziehl-Neelsen (MZN) of 535 fecal samples were examined, and 45% contained flagellated protozoa, and 35.5% had MZN-positive oocysts, measuring 3-5 µm in diameter. Smaller (2 µm) presumptive spores, MZN-positive bacilli, ciliated protozoa and nematodes were recorded less frequently. Fecal bacterial culture yielded mixed species, with a clear predominance of Myroides species (88.9% of samples). The MZN-positive oocysts (3-5 µm) were present in 6.5% of impression smears from the apices of 432 snails examined postmortem, plus acid-fast bacilli in a few cases, but no 2 µm spores. Mixed bacteria were cultured from coelomic swabs, with Myroides species again the most common (63.5%). Histologic examination was carried out on 292 snails. Autolysis affected almost 90% of those found dead but only 3.4% of euthanized snails. Histology commonly identified microsporidial sporocysts in the digestive gland and midgut epithelium of all but two species. Intracellular, extracytoplasmic Cryptosporidium-like organisms were also common in the midgut but were only observed when snails were fixed in 10% formalin (2017-2019), not ethanol. There were no clear pathologic changes associated with either organism. Pigmented hemocytic nodules were commonly observed, most frequently in the foot process; these were either age related or evidence of prior chronic inflammatory reaction and of low clinical significance. With no evidence of poor health and no significant organisms found, a total of 4,978 individuals representing 12 species were exported for reintroduction.

Full medical histories from captive Alaotran gentle lemurs or Bandro (Hapalemur alaotrensis) > 1 yr old that died between 1990 and 2016 were requested from holding institutions. Eighty-six individuals died during the period analyzed. Full postmortem reports were received from 40 (46.5%) animals from 16 different institutions across Europe (15) and North America (1). Eighteen animals (45%) showed azotemia within three months of death, with accompanying histological renal lesions. Another 17 (42.5%) showed histological renal lesions, but no renal function assessment was carried out antemortem, or results were within normal limits. Only five animals (12.5%) showed no renal lesions. Of the 35 (87.5%) animals with histological renal lesions, 18 were females, and 17 were males, 11 were wild caught, and 24 were captive born. Twenty-seven animals were euthanized, seven were found dead, and in one case, no details were provided. Sixty-four blood samples from 22 animals were available. Azotemia was observed on average 407 d antemortem, with a case observed as early as 2,318 d antemortem. Twenty-nine urinalyses from 12 animals were carried out antemortem. All animals showed hematuria or proteinuria in at least one antemortem sample. A pH decrease from 8.5 to 5.0 was observed in two animals antemortem. Gross renal lesions most frequently reported were irregular surface (n = 14), abnormal shape (n = 12), and/or presence of cysts (n = 9). The most common histological lesions were interstitial nephritis (n = 25), interstitial fibrosis (n = 26), tubule dilation (n = 16), and glomerulosclerosis (n = 12). Development of additional diagnostic tools, standardization of ante- and postmortem diagnostic protocols, and further investigation into potential etiologies, such as diets offered in captivity and genetic factors, should be considered as the next steps for the veterinary management of this species in captivity.

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this publication. The data that support the findings of this study are openly available in National Center for Biotechnology Information at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, reference number MN432490, MT926123. Figure S1 Histologic appearance of a typical infected Banggai cardinalfish from the BCIV-2010 case. (a) and (b) Spleen: Basophilic inclusion bodies in megalocytic cells whose morphology is often obscured. Foci of necrosis within intervening pulp areas. (c) and (d) Kidney: Basophilic inclusion bodies in megalocytic cells within foci of interstitial haematopoietic necrosis. (e) and (f) Intestine: Basophilic inclusion bodies in megalocytic perivascular cells but minimal mucosal reaction. Pigmentation within normal limits. Original magnifications: (a, c) 100×, (d, e) 200×, (b, f) 400×; H&E stain. Figure S2 Conventional PCR results of the Banggai cardinalfish case from 2000 (BCIV-2000) using the MCV-F/R primers (Koda et al., 2018) and a 100 bp ladder. (a) a single positive band for BCIV-2000 at the 173 bp position. Samples (b) and (c) are negative and correspond to the extraction control and negative template control, respectively. (d) a single bright band at the 173 bp position, representing the positive control for the MCV assay. Table S1 Genome annotation of the Banggai cardinalfish iridovirus from 2012 (BCIV-2012). Table S2 Genome annotation of the Banggai cardinalfish iridovirus from 2017 (BCIV-2017). Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.

This study investigates the occurrence of erythematous lip lesions in a captive sun bear population in Cambodia, including the progression of cheilitis to squamous cell carcinoma, and the presence of Ursid gammaherpesvirus 1. Visual assessment conducted in 2015 and 2016 recorded the prevalence and severity of lesions. Opportunistic sampling for disease testing was conducted on a subset of 39 sun bears, with histopathological examination of lip and tongue biopsies and PCR testing of oral swabs and tissue biopsies collected during health examinations. Lip lesions were similarly prevalent in 2015 (66.0%) and 2016 (68.3%). Degradation of lip lesion severity was seen between 2015 and 2016, and the odds of having lip lesions, having more severe lip lesions, and having lip lesion degradation over time, all increased with age. Cheilitis was found in all lip lesion biopsies, with histological confirmation of squamous cell carcinoma in 64.5% of cases. Single biopsies frequently showed progression from dysplasia to neoplasia. Eighteen of 31 sun bears (58.1%) had at least one sample positive for Ursid gammaherpesvirus 1. The virus was detected in sun bears with and without lip lesions, however due to case selection being strongly biased towards those showing lip lesions it was not possible to test for association between Ursid gammaherpesvirus 1 and lip squamous cell carcinoma. Given gammaherpesviruses can play a role in cancer development under certain conditions in other species, we believe further investigation into Ursid gammaherpesvirus 1 as one of a number of possible co-factors in the progression of lip lesions to squamous cell carcinoma is warranted. This study highlights the progressively neoplastic nature of this lip lesion syndrome in sun bears which has consequences for captive and re-release management. Similarly, the detection of Ursid gammaherpesvirus 1 should be considered in pre-release risk analyses, at least until data is available on the prevalence of the virus in wild sun bears.