Removal of a urethrolith via ovariohysterovaginectomy after endoscopic retropulsion in a rabbit with uterine adenocarcinoma. Di Girolamo N, Selleri P. J Small Anim Pract. 2015 Feb;56(2):142. !Hematological values for adult eastern Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni boettgeri) in semi-natural conditions. Bielli M, Nardini G, Di Girolamo N, Savarino P. J Vet Diagn Invest. 2015 Jan;27(1):68-73. !Facial abscess in a rabbit secondary to sewing-pin ingestion and cheek perforation. Pagliarani S, Del Duca V, Selleri P, Di Girolamo N. J Small Anim Pract. 2014 Nov;55(11):597. Computed tomography-guided bone biopsies for evaluation of proliferative vertebral lesions in two boa constrictors (Boa constrictor imperator). Di Girolamo N, Selleri P, Nardini G, Corlazzoli D, Fonti P, Rossier C, Della Salda L, Schilliger L, Vignoli M, Bongiovanni L. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2014 Dec;45(4):973-8. !Reference values for hematology and plasma biochemistry variables, and protein electrophoresis of healthy Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni ssp.). Andreani G, Carpenè E, Cannavacciuolo A, Di Girolamo N, Ferlizza E, Isani G. Vet Clin Pathol. 2014 Dec;43(4):573-83. !A randomized controlled trial of factors influencing fire occurrence during laser surgery of cadaveric rodents under simulated mask anesthesia. Selleri P, Di Girolamo N. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015 Mar 15;246(6):639-644. !

Cutaneous lesions in pet rabbits following subcutaneous administration of a novel bivalent vaccine against myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease. Selleri P, Di Girolamo N, Vögtlin A, Fileccia I, Hoop R, Bongiovanni L. Vet Dermatol. 2014 Dec;25(6):563-6, e100. !Point-of-care blood gases, electrolytes, chemistries, hemoglobin, and hematocrit measurement in venous samples from pet rabbits. Selleri P, Di Girolamo N. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2014 Sep-Oct;50(5):305-14. !Retrospective cohort study of gastrointestinal stasis in pet rabbits. Huynh M, Vilmouth S, Gonzalez MS, Calvo Carrasco D, Di Girolamo N, Forbes NA. Vet Rec. 2014 Sep 6;175(9):225. !Disseminated mycobacteriosis in a stranded loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Nardini G, Florio D, Di Girolamo N, Gustinelli A, Quaglio F, Fiorentini L, Leopardi S, Fioravanti ML. J Zoo Wildl Med. 2014 Jun;45(2):357-60. !Pharmacokinetics of cefovecin sodium after subcutaneous administration to Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni). Nardini G, Barbarossa A, Dall'Occo A, Di Girolamo N, Cagnardi P, Magnone W, Bielli M, Roncada P, Zaghini A. Am J Vet Res. 2014 Oct;75(10):918-23.

Peer-reviewed publications June 2014 - March 2015

Point-of-care (POC) analyzers are used in human and veterinary hospitals due to their versatility and may be especially suited for field evaluation of wildlife. The purpose of the present study was to assess the agreement between POC analyzers and clinical laboratory analyzers routinely used in veterinary medicine to measure biochemical and blood gas analytes in venous samples from Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni). In addition, preliminary reference intervals for blood gas profiles of Hermann’s tortoises are reported. Forty-seven Hermann’s tortoises were included in the study, 24 underwent paired analysis with a portable gas analyzer (i-STAT 1, Abaxis) and with a reference gas analyzer (Stat Profile Critical Care Xpress 12, Nova Biomedical Corporation) and 23 underwent paired analysis with a portable chemical analyzer (VetScan VS2, Abaxis) and a reference chemical analyzer (Olympus AU400, Olympus). Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to determine albumin concentrations. Agreement was evaluated with the Bland-Altman approach and with Passing-Bablok regression. Both POC analyzers had wide limits of agreement for most analytes, which may result in different clinical decisions. We observed that the previous finding that bromocresol green dye-binding method for determination of albumin concentration is inadequate in reptiles, applies also to Hermann’s tortoises. Although the use of POC analyzers in tortoises is intriguing due to the versatility of the instruments and the small amount of blood required, the present study confirms that interchangeability of results between POC and laboratory analyzers may be limited and specific reference intervals for POC analyzers are required.

Evaluation of point-of-care analyzers for blood gas and clinical chemistry in Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni)

Performance of two portable meters and a benchtop analyzer for blood glucose concentration measurement in rabbits

Point-of-Care Blood Gases, Electrolytes, Chemistries, Hemoglobin, and Hematocrit Measurement in Venous Samples from Pet Rabbits

Aldosterone300.00250.00200.00150.00100.0050.00.00

Freq

uenc

y

60.0

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

10.0

0.0

Mean = 28.4768 Std. Dev. = 56.31429 N = 75

Page 1

Preliminary reference intervals for serum aldosterone concentrations in intact and neutered ferrets

Selleri P, Fecteau K, Carnimeo A, Bongiovanni L, Fracassi F, Isani G, Di Girolamo N.

Reptiles

Reference values for hematology and plasma biochemistry variables, and protein electrophoresis of healthy Hermann’s tortoises

Andreani G, Carpenè E, Cannavacciuolo A, Di Girolamo N, Ferlizza E, Isani G.

!

PhD student: Dr. Nicola Di Girolamo Tutor: Prof. Gloria Isani

PhD series: XVIII

Method-comparison studies in animal medicine

Mammals

Di Girolamo N, Selleri P, Nardini G, Ferlizza E, Isani G.