| Summary Information |
| Diseases / List of Bacterial Diseases
/ Disease summary |
| Alternative Names |
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also:
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| Disease Agents |
- Bacterial cellulitis is common in bears. (J2.32.w4)
- Proteus sp.,
Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli and an anaerobe
(tentatively identified as
Clostridium perfringens) were grown from
the affected tissues of one bear, four days after the originating
insult (darting); culture of tissue samples taken at the time of surgery revealed
heavy growth of Streptococcus
sp., as well as light growths of Bacteroides sp. and Propionibactrium
acnes. (J2.27.w3)
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| Infectious
Agent(s) |
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| Non-infectious
Agent(s) |
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| Physical
Agent(s) |
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| General Description |
Clinical signs
- A six-year-old female Ursus americanus - American black bear
developed oedema, swelling and crepitus of the right shoulder, forelimb and pectoral area one day after being darted in the shoulder using a Palmar capture rifle. The bear developed anorexia, cellulitus and skin necrosis. By three
weeks after darting (and following attempted control of infection by radical debridement), there was an extensive area of skin loss, granulation tissue was covered with purulent material, and skin margins appeared necrotic.
(J2.27.w3)
Diagnosis
- Four days after darting, Proteus sp., Klebsiella sp.,
Escherichia coli and an anaerobe (tentatively identified as Clostridium
perfringens) were grown from the affected tissues.
(J2.27.w3)
Treatment
- Administration of antibiotics was attempted but was only sporadically successful due to
"the bear's anorexia and intractable nature." (J2.27.w3)
- Radical wound debridement failed to control infection. (J2.27.w3)
- Surgery at three weeks post darting: (J2.27.w3)
- Xylazine-Tiletamine-Zolazepam Anaesthesia,
followed by ketamine
and xylazine
intravenously and isoflurane
and oxygen by face mask, to facilitate intubation. Maintenance on
isoflurane and oxygen.
- Necrotic tissues were resected by sharp dissection.
- Granulation tissue was scraped with a scalpel blade to remove the most superficial
layer of tissue.
- Ten,10 six-centimetre-long polymethacrylate polymer rods containing 2.0 g of cefazolin (Kefzol, Eli Lilly and Co, Indianapolis, Indiana 46285,
USA) were implanted; muscles and the granulation tissue of the wounds on the lateral thorax and
scapular area were deeply, bluntly perforated with
forceps and the implants were buried at intervals of three centimetres.
- The wound was partially closed, with simple interrupted sutures of polydioxanone being used to appose the muscles within the scapular and dorsal thoracic wounds. Interrupted, cruciate and mattress sutures of
PDS were used to appose subcutaneous tissues and skin edges were apposed using simple interrupted and cruciate pattern sutures of polypropylene (Prolene, Ethicon, Inc). Tension sutures were used to prevent excessive strain on the right brachium.
Butorphanol was administered intramuscularly.
(J2.27.w3)
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| Further Information |
- The bear's wounds healed, although there was dehiscence of the
axillary portion of the wound, licking of the axillary area by the
bear and loss of some implants (fell out). The tension sutures were
removed after three weeks; the caudal thoracic skin was swollen around
these sutures at this time. By seven weeks post surgery, the axillary
wound had contracted considerably, leaving a 1 x 6 cm triangle, and
the rest of the wound had closed due to contraction and
epithelialisation in combination. By eight weeks the wound was
completely epithelialised. (J2.27.w3)
- Culture of tissue samples taken at the time of surgery revealed
heavy growth of Streptococcus
sp., as well as light growths of Bacteroides sp. and Propionibactrium
acnes. (J2.27.w3)
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| Associated Techniques |
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| Host taxa groups /species |
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