Ulf Tubessing, [26 Oct 2022 at 11:26:16]: Hi everybody I need to do a blood transfusion on a rhino calf. I managed to collect 2.5 l from an adult and did a major/minor X match. Coagulation on both samples 😓. What is your experience in rhino? Are transfusion reactions common? Alex Lewis, [26 Oct 2022 at 11:36:27]: I have done two on calves directly from adult - artery to vein with no visible reactions but did not seem to survive very long, 3-4 days (one died, one lived.) One adult that had stomach ulcers, I did an adult to adult transfusion, and worked extremely well. Shaun Beverley, [26 Oct 2022 at 12:05:03]: I have only done one. Didn’t do any X matching beforehand but didn’t have issues - it went well. Scott Citino, [26 Oct 2022 at 12:16:04]: I recommend doing major and minor crossmatching as we see a lot of incompatibility in the lab. I have not seen a transfusion reaction, but we always cross match donor and recipient. Peter Rogers, [26 Oct 2022 at 15:36:57]: I have done many over the years, both plasma and whole blood transfusions without any issues Henry Labuschagne, [26 Oct 2022 at 17:46:25]: What is the haematocrit? Why do you need to do a blood transfusion ? Ulf Tubessing, [27 Oct 2022 at 10:05:21]: Hi everybody thanks for the input. Calf had Blastocystis diarrhoea which we battled to get under control (resistance to metronidazole, Panacur etc.), eventually given a long course of potentiated sulpha. This seems to have cleared the bug but the animal now has a severe thrombocytopaenia and rapidly dropping haematocrit (15% at time of transfusion). I had clear clotting on both major and minor X match but already collected 2 l of blood and ran out of time and choices. Gave blood and calf seems a lot better. Drinking well and "touch wood", no blood in stool till now. Certainly one of the most challenging rhino calves I have ever managed (2 of them keeping us on our toes for nearly 4 weeks now). Ryan Jeffery, [28 Oct 2022 at 10:13:48]: How did you diagnose Blastocystis as cause of diarrhoea? Ulf Tubessing, [29 Oct 2022 at 13:18:02]: Hi Ryan we did both faecal wet prep and stained smear on the rhino stool. On wet preparation, we never noticed motile protozoa but masses of typical Blastocystis organisms. This bug has various stages in faeces but this is the easiest recognised. Photos not the greatest (cell phone on microscope 😓) but show parasite pretty well. It is one of the most common protozoal causes of diarrhoea in people (travellers diarrhoea). I have seen it in dogs as well. Worth while looking for it in patients with diarrhoea not responding to treatment as expected Albertus Coetzee, [29 Oct 2022 at 13:57:25]: Well done Ulf! Nice diagnosis. Worthwhile keeping eyes open for similar cases. Any thoughts on the source of parasites, contaminated water etc? Alex Lewis, [29 Oct 2022 at 13:58:57]: I have had very good results with faecal tea and no antibiotics in rhino... Ulf Tubessing, [29 Oct 2022 at 14:30:56]: Contaminated water seems main medium of spread. 2 rhino calves were left by their respective mothers and were initially kept in a dog kennel next to caretakers home. I believe the shit(s) started there. Alex, we have given many shit shakes/ faecal teas (noble expression 😆 of same?) And tried managing with just that and activated charcoal but they then really crashed. Henry Labuschagne, [29 Oct 2022 at 18:54:05]: Check for workers that are asymptomatic carriers and beef up disinfection. I had good results in a foal with Sulfatrim, Protexin, Kaopectin and Diclazuril.
