Ultrasonographic, macroscopic and microscopic features of the heart and lungs of captive reticulated pythons (Python reticulatus, Schneider 1801) (Reptilia: Squamata: Pythonidae) with pneumonia

Date

6-2015

Degree

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

College

College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Emilia A Lastica-Temura

Co-adviser

Jezie A. Acorda

Abstract

Twelve reticulated pythons from the Biodiversity Management Bureau?Wildlife Rescue Center, Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Diliman, Quezon City were used in the study for ultrasonographic, macroscopic and microscopic examinations of the heart and lungs. The animals were humanely sacrificed after ultrasonographic examination. Echocardiography detected cardiac pathologic changes through decreased measurements in the internal diameter of the heart chambers, increased circumference of the efferent arterial trunks, histogram means of cardiac chambers and M-mode values compared to a study conducted in apparently healthy reticulated pythons.Presence of reverberations in the lungultrasonograms of all animals used in the study showed that ultrasonography is not useful for lung evaluations in cases of mild to moderate pneumonia.Gross examination showed hydropericardium in the heart and pinpoint to pinhead raised nodules in the lungs. Significant findings observed upon microscopic examination revealed granuloma, degenerative cardiomyopathy and chondrocytic hyperplasia in the heart. In the lungs, histopathologic findings revealed multiple chronic granulomas and pronounced hyperplasia of the respiratory epithelium.Gross and histopathological lesions confirmed pneumonia in all snakes.

Language

English

Location

UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2015 V4 L36

Document Type

Thesis

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