RESPIRATORY-ASSOCIATED DISEASE IN SNOW LEOPARDS (PANTHERA UNCIA) IN A NORTH AMERICAN ZOOLOGICAL INSTITUTION: 1997-2022.

Abstract

Respiratory diseases in snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are poorly described. A retrospective study was performed in snow leopards housed in two zoos between January 1997 and June 2022. Nearly half (45%, 33/73) of the individuals evaluated had at least one episode of respiratory signs in the 25-yr study period, and more than half of those individuals (61%, 20/33) experienced respiratory disease more than once in their lifetime. Medical records of individuals with respiratory disease were assessed for clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, etiology, treatment, illness duration, and clinical outcome. Nasal discharge was the most common clinical sign reported overall (65%, 45/69). Tachypnea/dyspnea (75%, 3/4), lethargy (100%, 4/4), and weight loss/inappetence (100%, 4/4) were frequently noted in respiratory cases that resulted in death. Many respiratory cases (67%, 46/69) were either confirmed or suspected to be infectious in origin. Culture identified respiratory pathogens in most cases (95%, 21/22) in which it was performed. Among the cases for which a pathogen was identified, Mycoplasma spp. was the most common (61%, 14/23). Bordetella bronchiseptica was also frequently diagnosed (39%, 9/23) and was the sole pathogen identified in two cases. Both Mycoplasma spp. and B. bronchiseptica were significantly more likely to be associated with clinical disease in neonates and juveniles than in adults and geriatrics. To our knowledge, these are the first documented cases of B. bronchiseptica-associated respiratory disease in nondomestic felids in the peer-reviewed literature. Feline herpesvirus-1 and feline calicivirus were infrequently detected, despite the use of primarily inactivated vaccinations with documented low immunogenicity. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was commonly cultured in mortality cases (75%, 3/4). Coinfections were common (91%, 21/23), with only two cases identifying a single agent. Antibiogram results suggest that aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, trimethoprim-sulfa, enrofloxacin, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were the most effective antibiotic choices for the identified respiratory pathogens.