Exotic Questions Flashcards
- What antibiotics should be avoided in rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and hamsters? Name 5 and say why?
a. Avoid antibiotics which target gram positive bacteria and can cause fatal intestinal dysbiosis
b. Antibiotics to avoid = penicillins, macrolides, tetracyclines, lincosamides, cephalosporins
- What antibiotics can you use in rabbits? Name 6.
a. Enrofloxacin, TMS, chloramphenicol, metronidazole, azithromycin, penicillin G
- What 2 antibiotics cause otoxicity in guinea pigs and chinchillas?
a. Chloramphenicol
b. Aminoglycosides
- Give three differentials for the ulcerations in a tortoise shell.
Answer:
a. Superficial ulcer secondary to husbandy
b. Septicemic cutaneous ulcerative disease (SCUD)
c. Beneckea chitinovora infection
d. Mercury toxicity
- What is an important risk of topical dips or bathing in small mammals?
a. Hypothermia due to all over wetting
- A gerbil with erythematous skin and alopecia on the neck and dorsal midline presents for examination. You find the following mite on scraping. What should you tell owners about possible zoonosis?
Answer:
a. This is Ornithonyssus bacoti mite
b. It is zoonotic and can cause pruritic, papules/vesicles on the forehead and limbs in humans
- Why should you not apply dips to the face of small mammals? (2 reasons)
a. Aspiration pneumonia or inhalation
b. Ingestion of topical products
- Which flea preventative is toxic to rabbits?
a. Fipronil
- What seasonal hair changes occur in ferrets? What season does this happen?
a. Thin hair occurs symmetrically in Spring in the Northern hemisphere, showing alopecia of the tail, perineum, and inguinal hair with underlying brown-red waxy deposits on the skin from the sebaceous glands
- What 2 glands are responsible for odor in ferrets? Which are more important?
a. Sebaceous glands provide majority of musky odor and greasy feel to skin/fur
b. Anal glands produce minority of musky odor
- Where are sebaceous glands located on the rabbit versus the ferret?
a. Rabbit = Chin, anal glands, and paired inguinal glands
b. Ferret = over entire body
- How is the anal gland shaped in the prairie dog?
a. Triad of papillae
- Match the ectoparasite with the species it can infest.
a. Ferret
b. Chinchilla
c. Mouse
d. Rabbit
e. Prairie dog
f. Guinea pig
g. Rat
h. Hamster
i. African hedgehog
j. Gerbil
- Ctenocephalides felis felis
- Ctenocephalides canis
- Trixacarus caviae
- Demodex merioni
- Demodex aurati and D. criceti
- Caparinia tripilis and C. erinacei
- Notoedres muris
- Pulex irritans
- Otodectes cynotis
- Sarcoptes scabiei
- Spilopsyllus cuniculi
- Chirodiscoides caviae
- Psorergates simplex
- Trimenopen jenningsi and T. hispidum
- Psoroptes cuniculi
- Cheyletiella parasitovorax
- Leporacarus gibbus
- Liponyssus bacoti
- Myobia musculi
- Notoedres cati
- Gyropus ovalis
- Demodex caviae
- Notoedres notoedres
- Linognathus cynomys
- Polyplex serrata
- Demodex cuniculi
- Cuterebra species
- Radfordia ensifera
- Haemodipsus ventricosus
- Radfordia affinis
- Giricola porcelli
- Polyplex spinulosa
- Myocoptes muculinus
Answers:
* A (Ferret) = 1, 2, 8, 9, 10
* B (Chinchilla) = 1, 2, 16
* C (Mouse) = 13, 18, 19, 25, 30, 33
* D (Rabbit) = 1, 2, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 26, 27, 29
* E (Prairie dog) = 24
* F (Guinea pig) = 3, 7, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 31, 33
* G (Rat) = 7, 18, 28, 32
* H (Hamster) = 5, 10, 18, 20, 23
* I (African hedgehog) = 6
* J (Gerbil) = 4, 5
- Describe the presentation of Psorptes cuniculi infestation in a rabbit. How is this treated?
a. Bilateral, intense pruritus and otitis externa, beginning as dry, grey-white crusted exudate in the ear canal then worsening to form layered crusts, with secondary excoriations and ear drooping
b. Treatment = ivermectin, moxidectin, or selamectin
- Describe the presentations of Sarcoptes scabiei infestation in a ferret.
a. Generalized (more common) = focal to generalized alopecia with intense pruritus
b. Localized on the feet only = severe inflammation, swelling, and crusting of the paws with dystrophic claws that can slough
- How long after infection with canine distemper virus do ferrets show signs?
a. 10 – 15 days after exposure
- True/False – lagomorphs are competent leishmaniasis reservoirs.
a. True
- What is CANV and how do you treat it?
a. Yellow fungus, the Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriessi (CANV) is an ascomycetous teleomorphic fungus
b. CANV infection has been reported in a wide range of reptile species.
c. Slowly progressive and often fatal skin disease – progress from dry/hyperkeratotic plaques to exudative/necrotic ulcers, often affecting the mouth and other areas of the body (Including internally)
d. Medical treatment of confirmed cases involves itraconazole (10 mg/kg, PO, q 24 h for 6 weeks) and topical treatment with chlorhexidine solution. Serum biochemistry should be monitored for signs of liver toxicity. Surgical excision of lesions should be carried out if possible, and in conjunction with medical therapy.
- What antiparasitic treatments are safe for ferrets? Name 5.
a. Pyrethrin sprays safe for cats
b. Imidacloprid
c. Selamectin
d. Lufenuron
e. Fipronil
f. Ivermectin
- What 2 species of dermatophyte are commonly a problem in ferrets?
a. M. canis and T. mentagrophytes
- A ferret presents with bilaterally symmetric alopecia. Give the most common cause for this finding.
Answer = Adrenocortical hyperplasia or neoplasia
- What antibiotics can be given in rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs to avoid the risk of intestinal dysbiosis?
a. Chloramphenicol, aminoglycosides (not in rabbits!), fluoroquinolones, metronidazole, TMS, penicillin G, azithromycin
- A ferret presents with these lesions. Describe the lesions and the most likely differential. What is your prognosis?
Answer:
* Red-brown rash on the inguinal, perianal area and medial thighs, extending to the distal limbs
* Brown small crusts on the face periocularly, on the muzzle, and around the lips with associated swelling in all areas
* Differential = canine distemper virus
* Prognosis = close to 100% mortality
- What is the most likely cause of this rabbit’s clinical signs? Design a treatment plan for this rabbit.
Answer = Psoroptes cuniculi infestation, treat all rabbits using ivermectin, moxidectin, or selamectin; don’t remove crusts because they will cause pain
- Give five diagnostic tests for a ferret with suspected adrenocortical hyperplasia or neoplasia.
a. Palpation = enlarged left adrenal gland
b. Tennessee adrenal panel = normal cortisol, elevated sex hormones
c. Ultrasound identifies affected adrenal gland
d. Chemistry panel = elevated ALT
e. Elevated urine cortisol/creatinine ratio
- How is adrenocortical hyperplasia treated in ferrets? (2 ways)
a. Preferred = adrenalectomy (left easier than right)
b. Deslorelin acetate (synthetic GnRH analog) as slow release implant for 8 – 30 months relief
- What are two exotic species commonly develop infestations with this mite and how can you treat them?
Answer: Cheyletiella parasitovorax
a. Guinea pigs = ivermectin
b. Rabbits = ivermectin, selamectin, lime sulfur dips
- What are 2 clinical signs of hyperestrogenism in ferrets (skin and internal)?
a. Vulvar swelling and alopecia
b. Petechia and ecchymoses due to secondary thrombocytopenia
- What are the most common skin (3) and systemic (1) tumors in ferrets?
a. Mast cell tumor, basal cell tumor, sebaceous cell tumor
b. Lymphoma
- A ferret presents with a blue hairless area. What has happened and why does this occur?
a. Blue fur syndrome, occurs when hair is clipped during the resting phase of the hair cycle due to melanin production by hair follicles about 1 – 2 weeks before hair regrowth
- What is the most common ectoparasite in rabbits?
a. Psoroptes cuniculi
- What 4 non-burrowing fur mites commonly affect rabbits?
a. Leporacarus gibbus, Cheyletiella parasitovorax, Sarcoptes scabiei and Notoedres cati
- Describe the life cycle of a cuterebra mite.
a. Flies deposit eggs on the host (or on feces that are picked up), which hatch
b. Larvae enter through the nasal or oral openings of the hose
c. Larvae migrate and develop into subcutaneous cysts, each of which contains 1 larva that grows until a breathing hole/fistula forms
- What is the common flesh fly in the United States?
a. Wohlfahrtia vigil
- What is the common sucking louse in rabbits?
a. Haemodipsus ventricosus
- Identify the Caparinia and Chorioptes mites:
Answer: A = chorioptes, B = caparinia
- What is the most common Staphylococcal bacteria on rabbits?
a. Staphylococcus aureus
- What is the incubation period of syphilis in rabbits (time to lesions and time to positive titer)?
a. 3 – 6 weeks lesions after exposure
b. 8 – 12 weeks positive titer after exposure
- What unique characteristic do rabbit abscesses have?
a. They rarely rupture or drain/fistulate due to their thick capsule which contains caseous exudate – rabbit abscesses must be surgically excised
- What are the five grades of ulcerative pododermatitis in rabbits (by clinical signs)? Where are the ulcers commonly located?
a. Location = caudal tarsus/metatarsus or metacarpus
b. Grades:
i. 1 = hair loss
ii. 2 = erythema and swelling
iii. 3 = ulceration and scab formation
iv. 4 = abscess formation with secondary infection of tendons and deeper tissues
v. 5 = osteomyelitis, synovitis, and tendonitis with irreversible abnormal gait and stance due to displaced superficial digital flexor tendon
- What is the cause of blue-green coloration in moist dermatitis of rabbits?
a. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections produce pyocyanin pigment
- What is the cause of syphilis in rabbits and how is it transmitted (3 ways)?
a. Treponema cuniculi
b. Transmission = venereal, direct contact, vertical transmission from the birth canal passage of an infected doe
- True/False – All rabbits with syphilis show clinical signs.
a. False = subclinical disease is common but can flare with overcrowing, poor sanitation, or other causes of stress
- A rabbit presents with erythema and edema of the mucocutaneous junctions with associated papules, vesicles, ulcers, scale, and crusting. What is your primary differential and what test is useful?
a. Differential = Syphilis (Treponema cuniculi)
b. Testing = rapid plasma reagent test (human test)
- A bird presents with scaly, crusted, grey lesions on the unfeathered regions of the body but minimal pruritus. Two other birds that have been in contact with this bird are also affected, but less severely. What is likely the cause of this problem and how do you treat it?
a. Knemidocoptes mites
b. Treatment = ivermectin or moxidectin topically for 2 – 3 treatments, 10 days apart
- What is the recommended treatment for Chrysosporium anamorph of Nannizziopsis vriesii (CANV) in bearded dragons? (multiple choice)
a. Ketoconazole
b. Voriconazole
c. Terbinafine
d. Amphotericin B
b. Voriconazole
- What is the prognosis of rabbit syphilis with treatment? What treatment is recommended?
a. Good = injectable penicillin G or chloramphenicol should be sufficient
b. Lesions resolve 1 – 3 weeks after starting treatment
- What is the cause of necrobacillosis (aka: Schmorl’s disease) in rabbits?
a. Fusobacterium necrophorum due to contamination of wounds by fecal material
- What are the characteristics of the cause of myxomatosis in rabbits?
a. Myxoma virus – poxvirus family, linear dsDNA, enveloped virus, causes intracytoplasmic inclusions
- How is myxomatosis transmitted and what are common susceptible reservoirs?
a. Transmission = insect bites, direct contact, mechanical vectors (birds, plants, fomites)
b. Susceptible reservoirs = Eastern cottontail, tropical forest rabbits, wild European rabbits, European hare
- Contrast the clinical signs/prognosis of myxomatosis in the Eastern Cottontail rabbit versus the California virus strain.
a. Eastern Cottontail = masses < 1 cm diameter for 1 month often around the ears and eyes, rare systemic disease and death
b. California virus strain = eyelid edema first then spreading to the perineal region, genitals, and lips, lethargy and pyrexia, skin hemorrhage, seizures – almost 100% fatal