title: Gastrolithiasis in prehensile-tailed porcupines (Coendou prehensilis): nine cases and pathogenesis of stone formation.
abstract: Gastrolithiasis was diagnosed in nine prehensile-tailed (PT) porcupines (Coendou prehensilis) housed at six zoologic institutions in the United States and Canada. Affected animals were either asymptomatic or had clinical signs, including weight loss, diarrhea, and depression. Abdominal palpation was adequate for diagnosis in all six antemortem cases, and radiographs confirmed a soft tissue density mass effect produced by the concretion. These gastroliths were all successfully surgically removed. Recurrence of gastrolith formation was common and occurred in four of the cases. Three cases were diagnosed postmortem, with the gastrolith causing gastric perforation in one case. Gastroliths from four cases were identified by mass spectrometry as bile acid precipitates consisting of the insoluble acid form of endogenous glycine-conjugated bile acids.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Spriggs
authors: Kimberly A
authors: KA
authors: Thompson
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Barton
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Talley
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Volle
authors: Iga
authors: I
authors: Stasiak
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Beyea
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Guthrie
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Roda
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Camborata
authors: Alan F
authors: AF
authors: Hofmann
authors: Lee R
authors: LR
authors: Hagey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001630:Bezoars / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D046328:Porcupines; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*