Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine最新文献

{"title":"IMAGING AND ANATOMIC ASPECTS OF THE COXOFEMORAL JOINT OF THE GIANT ANTEATER (<i>MYRMECOPHAGA TRIDACTYLA</i>).","authors":"Carolina Castro Lyra da Silva, Júlio Roquete Cardoso, Daniel Barbosa da Silva, Wanessa Patrícia Rodrigues da Silva, Lucas Rodrigues Ferreira, Vanessa Rezende Moraes, Rafael Antônio Lopes Xavier, Murilo Rodrigues de Souza, Naida Cristina Borges","doi":"10.1638/2024-0077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2024-0077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study evaluated the coxofemoral (CF) joint of the giant anteater (<i>Myrmecophaga tridactyla</i>) through radiographic and ultrasound imaging and then dissection for proposed surgical approach to arthrotomy procedures. The study evaluated four isolated pelvic limbs fixed in 10% formaldehyde and six intact thawed carcasses. The radiographic assessment was performed with the carcass positioned in frog-legged ventrodorsal and lateral projections. The addition of ultrasound provided imaging of the CF joint. The articular elements presented similar characteristics to other domestic species, such as dogs, bovines, and horses. However, an anatomic particularity of muscle groups in the giant anteater was the intermuscular septum between the tensor fasciae latae and superficial gluteus muscles at the level of the greater trochanter of the femur, which enables a more conservative lateral surgical access to the femoral head and neck.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 2","pages":"262-268"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"BLOOD COLLECTION FROM THE VENTRAL TAIL BASE IN SELECTED SMALL MAMMAL SPECIES.","authors":"Pavel Kvapil, Marjan Kastelic, Nuša Jež, Mojca Harej, Peter Omejc","doi":"10.1638/2025-0033","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blood collection from the base of the tail was successfully performed in six mammalian species housed at the Ljubljana Zoo, Slovenia. This method demonstrated high success rates in black-and-white ruffed lemurs (<i>Varecia variegata</i>), Goeldi's marmosets (<i>Callimico goeldii</i>), squirrel monkeys (<i>Saimiri sciureus</i>), long-tailed chinchillas (<i>Chinchilla lanigera</i>), edible dormice (<i>Glis glis</i>), and meerkats (<i>Suricata suricatta</i>), with procedural success rates ranging from 53% to 100%. The technique offers several advantages over other venipuncture sites, including the avoidance of general anesthesia, reduction in animal handling time, enhanced handler safety, and high-quantity and quality sampling in diverse small mammals. The procedural methodology, including needle gauge selection and anatomical approach, is described. The utility of this technique in clinical and research settings is discussed, underscoring its applicability as a minimally invasive and reliable method for routine or urgent sampling in diverse zoo mammals.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 2","pages":"195-198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>IN VITRO</i> EFFICACY OF DISINFECTANTS AGAINST <i>NANNIZZIOPSIS ARTHROSPORIOIDES</i>.","authors":"Marina R Liles, Krista A Keller","doi":"10.1638/2025-0076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2025-0076","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides,</i> a keratinophillic fungus, has caused infection in multiple reptile species. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of commercially available disinfectants against the growth of <i>N. arthrosporioides</i>. Two molecularly confirmed isolates of <i>N. arthrosporioides</i> were used. Hyphal growth was collected from agar plates, filtered, and then diluted to high and low conidial concentrations. Each conidial suspension was exposed for 5 or 10 minutes to sterile water (control), 10% dilution of commercial bleach containing sodium hypochlorite, 409 multipurpose cleaner containing benzyl ammonium chloride, chlorhexidine 2% solution, F10 SC (benzyl ammonium chloride and polyhexanide) at recommended product labels (1:100, 1:250), 10% dilution of povidone-iodine, and Rescue disinfectant (activated hydrogen peroxide, 1:16). Both isolates at each exposure time failed to grow after exposure to 409 multipurpose cleaner, commercial bleach, chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, and Rescue disinfectant. Inhibition of <i>N. arthrosporioides</i> growth was variable following exposure to F10 SC. <i>Nannizziopsis arthrosporioides</i> can be effectively inactivated using various commercially available disinfectants, and data provided here adds to the growing body of knowledge surrounding appropriate disinfection of fungi that can act as reptile pathogens.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 2","pages":"388-392"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CLINICAL CHEMISTRY AND HEMATOLOGIC REFERENCE INTERVALS OF CAPTIVE RACCOONS (<i>PROCYON LOTOR</i>) IN GERMANY.","authors":"Christoph Leineweber, Nannette Welk, Sabine Öfner, Rachel E Marschang","doi":"10.1638/2025-0094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2025-0094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Raccoons (<i>Procyon lotor</i>) are widespread in Central and North America and invasive in Europe and other parts of the world, where they are regularly presented at wildlife rescue centers and often require medical care. However, there are limited blood reference intervals for this species to date, even though these values are absolutely necessary to correctly assess animal health. The aim of this study was, therefore, to establish suitable clinical chemistry and hematologic reference intervals for raccoons. Blood was obtained and analyzed from 48 healthy young adult pet raccoons during castration. Twenty-seven clinical chemistry and 16 hematologic analytes were determined with a cobas^® 8000 analyzer series module c701 and Sysmex XN-V analyzer. Significant differences between males and females were only found for the immature reticulocyte fraction (<i>P</i> = 0.0273) and the mean corpuscular volume (<i>P</i> = 0.0064). This suggests that there are no strong sex-specific differences at this age and physiologic state (i.e., not pregnant or lactating). The results of this study should help to better assess the clinical condition of raccoons in human care and improve medical care.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 2","pages":"328-334"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"ORAL AND GASTRIC PLAQUES, PAPILLOMAS, SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS AND PAPILLOMAVIRUSES IN SLENDER-HORNED GAZELLES (<i>GAZELLA LEPTOCEROS</i> ).","authors":"Denise McAloose, Susan L Bartlett, Annabel G Wise, Zoe E Mack, Matthew D De Koch, Simona Kraberger, Arvind Varsani, Rachel Spokony, Batya R Nightingale, Cheryl M Stout, Donna Doherty, Diane Craft, Roger Maes, Dalen Agnew, Tracie A Seimon","doi":"10.1638/2024-0055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2024-0055","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The slender-horned gazelle (SHG<i>, Gazella leptoceros</i>) is a small, sand-colored antelope native to northern Africa. It is endangered due to poaching and habitat loss. Limited reports describe health or disease in wild or zoo populations. Mucosal plaques in the oral cavity (n = 2), papillomas in the rumen (n = 3) or reticulum (n = 1), and squamous cell carcinoma in the oral cavity (n = 3), rumen (n = 4), or reticulum (n=1) were seen independently or concurrently in eight of 74 SHG postmortem examinations in a zoological collection between 1983 and 2023. All tumors were diagnosed in adults. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for the papillomavirus (PV) L1 gene was positive in tumors from six of the eight SHG and negative in the same tissue types in SHG without tumors. Additional PCR testing and sequencing produced a 1041 bp contiguous consensus sequence of the papillomavirus L1 gene, and two complete PV genomes of 7354 and 7303 bp (51 bp deletion in the latter of one SHG tumor). BLASTN analysis of the L1 sequence (with highest query coverage, 96%) showed giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca PV1 as the closest match in GenBank (69.4% identity) to the SHG papillomavirus, which has been provisionally named Gazella leptoceros papillomavirus 1 (GlPV1); the variant with the deletion has provisionally been named GlPV1-variant (GlPV1-var). Bayesian (nucleotide) and neighbor joining (amino acid) phylogenetic analysis placed GlPV1 in a distinct clade with Ailuropoda melanoleuca PV1, Rickett's big-footed bat Myotis ricketti PV, and Polar bear Ursus maritimus PV. To the authors' knowledge, these are the first non-bovid papillomaviruses to be described in SHG. Our results contribute to a growing list of PVs that may play a role in the development of benign or malignant oral and gastric tumors, and disease processes to which SHGs are susceptible.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 2","pages":"393-405"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MEASURES OF DISEASE FREQUENCY FOR ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS INFECTION AND HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES ELEPHANT POPULATION FROM 2014 TO 2024.","authors":"Marjorie Bercier, Erin Latimer","doi":"10.1638/2025-0073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2025-0073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in juvenile Asian (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) and African (<i>Loxodonta africana</i>) elephants in human care. Measures of disease frequency have not been rigorously established for EEHV in any elephant population. The objective of this retrospective descriptive epidemiologic study was to determine period prevalence, cumulative incidence, and incidence rate (IR) for EEHV infection and EEHV-HD in the US elephant population between 2014 and 2024. A case of EEHV infection was defined as an elephant of any age with an episode of EEHV viremia with levels >1,000 viral genome equivalents (vge)/ml, and a case of EEHV-HD was defined as a juvenile elephant with EEHV viremia levels >5,000 vge/ml, along with the presence of clinical signs, blood work abnormalities, or pathologic evidence suggesting vasculopathy. After institutional approval for data transfer, deidentified whole-blood EEHV qPCR results from the National Zoo Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory were analyzed. The data originated from 30 zoos, encompassing 234 elephants, and included >23,000 PCR reactions. EEHV1A and 3A were the most prevalent and incident EEHV types for Asian and African elephants, respectively. Analyses indicated that if 100 juvenile Asian elephants were monitored over 1 yr, 7.91 new cases of EEHV1A-HD would occur in the United States. Similarly, 4.81 new cases of EEHV3A-HD would be expected to occur if 100 juvenile African elephants were monitored over 1 yr in the United States. EEHV6-HD appears to pose an underreported threat to African elephants with an IR of 1.46/100 elephant years.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 2","pages":"378-387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148391314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DENTAL WEAR DUE TO ATTRITION AND ABRASION IN FREE-RANGING COATIS (<i>NASUA NASUA</i>) FROM SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL.","authors":"Sabrina Fracascio, Bárbara Sardela Ferro, Heloísa Coppini de Lima, Maria Fernanda Hussni, Felipe Saab Romano, Sheila Canevese Rahal, Priscylla Tatiana Chalfun Guimarães-Okamoto, Alessandra Melchert","doi":"10.1638/2023-0110","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2023-0110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Coatis (<i>Nasua nasua</i>, Linnaeus, 1766), omnivorous mammals of the family Procyonidae of the order Carnivora, are ubiquitous in South America. Their diet varies seasonally, with a greater intake of invertebrates and small vertebrates during fruit-scarce periods. This study aimed to evaluate dental wear and dental formula variations in free-ranging coatis from Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, using the modified Triadan system. Coatis typically have 40-42 teeth, with a dental formula of 2 × (3/3 incisors, 1/1 canines, 4/4 premolars, 2/2-3 molars). They exhibit heterodont, brachydont, and anisognathic dentition, with secodont and bunodont morphologies adapted to omnivorous feeding. Among nine coatis evaluated, 364 teeth were analyzed. Two males presented supernumerary lower third molars, considered a normal variation in the species. Two adults showed occlusal wear, including one female with no other visible oral disorders. A total of 26 teeth (7.1%) exhibited occlusal wear: 2 teeth (0.6%) had grade 1 (mild), 10 (2.7%) grade 2 (moderate), and 14 (3.8%) grade 3 (severe) wear. No teeth exhibited grade 4 (extreme) wear. Wear in coatis is likely physiological and may result from their anisognathic occlusion and abrasive diet. Tooth wear, involving loss of dental tissue through attrition or abrasion, is common in many wild species. Understanding these characteristics enhances knowledge of oral physiology and dental health in wildlife. These findings provide baseline data on dental morphology and wear in free-ranging coatis, supporting future clinical assessments and ecological research in wild carnivores.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"70-75"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147608973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"COMPARISON OF KETAMINE-DEXMEDETOMIDINE AND KETAMINE-DEXMEDETOMIDINE-MIDAZOLAM PROTOCOLS FOR ANESTHESIA IN FREE-RANGING CANADA LYNX (<i>LYNX CANADENSIS</i>).","authors":"Marianne Parlange, Émilie L Couture, Shannon Ferrell, Jacobo Romano Noriega, Céline Isaaz, Marianne Cheveau, Stéphane Lair","doi":"10.1638/2025-0044","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0044","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Canada lynx (<i>Lynx canadensis</i>) is an emblematic species of the boreal forest. Few studies are available regarding anesthetic protocols for this species. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two IM anesthetic protocols consisting of 4 mg/kg ketamine and 0.025 mg/kg dexmedetomidine (KD) or 2 mg/kg ketamine, 0.025 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, and 0.1 mg/kg midazolam (KDM) on free-ranging Canada lynx undergoing noninvasive procedures. Fifteen adult Canada lynx (eight males, seven females, weighing from 8.54 to 13 kg) were anesthetized with either the KD protocol (n = 8) or the KDM protocol (n = 7) after being captured using cage traps or foot snares. Reversal was provided with 0.25 mg/kg atipamezole IM. Time to induction was similar between protocols (6 ± 3 min). Time to sternal recumbency for lynx anesthetized with KDM (mean = 4.3 min, range = 0-6 min) was significantly shorter than for lynx anesthetized with KD (mean = 7.9 min, range = 2-13 min). A tendency for shorter recovery time was observed in lynx anesthetized with KDM (13.7 ± 10.3 min) compared with lynx from the KD group (24.6 ± 9.0 min). Total anesthesia duration was set around 45 min for both protocols (43.5 ± 6.3 min) to allow the ketamine to be metabolized before injecting the reversal agent. No differences were observed between protocols regarding the different physiological parameters evaluated, which stayed within the accepted range throughout anesthesia. Though both protocols provided a safe and stable anesthesia, the shorter time to sternal recumbency of the KDM protocol was seen as an advantage for brief field immobilizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"56-63"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147608999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"RETROSPECTIVE CLASSIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CANINE FRACTURES IN LARGE APES WITHIN SPECIES SURVIVAL PLAN©-MANAGED POPULATIONS (2004-2017).","authors":"Sophia E Valeo, Jill A Moyse, George A Prevolos, Dianne Mohr, Amanda M Wonn, Norbert A Voit, Kathryn C Gamble","doi":"10.1638/2024-0143","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2024-0143","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The prominent canine tooth of the large ape species western lowland gorilla (WLG; <i>Gorilla gorilla gorilla</i>), chimpanzee (CH; <i>Pan troglodytes</i>), bonobo (BO; <i>Pan paniscus</i>), and orangutan (ORG; <i>Pongo pygmaeus</i> spp.) is vulnerable to injury. Specialty consultation is often sought for severe dental fractures to optimize care. Although several options are possible (none, medical, endodontic, extraction), treatment by type of fracture for this tooth has not been well documented in apes. A retrospective review by survey was performed to assess the frequency of canine dental fracture in large apes that were managed in Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan© (SSP) holding institutions during 2004-2017. From 40 participating institutions, 13 facilities reported no canine tooth fractures in 96 individual apes (WLG, <i>n</i> = 40; CH, <i>n</i> = 18; BO, <i>n</i> = 0; ORG, <i>n</i> = 38). In the remaining 27 institutions, 108 individual apes (WLG, <i>n</i> = 55; CH, <i>n</i> = 45; BO, <i>n</i> = 6; ORG, <i>n</i> = 2) were reported with canine fractures. In these latter apes, 179 canine fractures were described; more than 1 canine was involved in 26 individual apes, contributing to 66% (<i>n</i> = 118) of the total fractures. The cause of these fractures was frequently unknown, but when identified, the most frequent cause was conspecific trauma. Dental fracture descriptions were standardized and then assessed in the context of the initial treatment selected. Classifications included fractures of the enamel (16%, <i>n</i> = 29), enamel-dentin (21%, <i>n</i> = 38), enamel-dentin-pulp (15%, <i>n</i> = 27), crown root (36%, <i>n</i> = 64), and root (9%, <i>n</i> = 17), or avulsion (2%, <i>n</i> = 4). Treatment categories included none (58%, <i>n</i> = 103), medical treatment (4%, <i>n</i> = 8), endodontic procedure (21%, <i>n</i> = 38), or extraction (17%, <i>n</i> = 30), which varied by initial presentation and species. From this retrospective review, understanding of canine dental fractures in large apes has been improved. The data collected inform veterinarians on prevalence and type of dental injury in large apes and support prospective improvement of their dental care.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"125-132"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"MULTISYSTEM EFFECTS OF MUSTH ON IMMUNE FUNCTION AND PHYSIOLOGY OF ASIAN ELEPHANTS (<i>ELEPHAS MAXIMUS</i>).","authors":"Chase A LaDue, Elizabeth A McCrae, Jennifer J D'Agostino","doi":"10.1638/2025-0074","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding how reproductive states influence immune function is critical for advancing the care of managed wildlife species. Male Asian elephants (<i>Elephas maximus</i>) undergo musth, a periodic reproductive state characterized by elevated testosterone and behavioral changes, which may impose physiological costs. The effects of musth on immune function and systemic physiology remain poorly understood. This study evaluated multisystem biomarkers to characterize physiological changes associated with musth in two zoo-housed male Asian elephants over a five-year period. We analyzed hematologic parameters, serum amyloid A (SAA), and cortisol concentrations from blood samples collected before, during, and after musth episodes. Linear mixed-effects models revealed that musth was associated with significant increases in white blood cell and platelet counts, SAA, cortisol, and heterophil percentage, and decreases in red blood cell count, hematocrit, and eosinophil percentage. Principal component analysis indicated that musth samples clustered distinctly from non-musth samples, reflecting coordinated shifts across hematologic, inflammatory, and endocrine systems. The magnitude of physiological deviation from baseline peaked after 72 days of musth progression and declined over time, suggesting dynamic physiological adjustment. These findings support the hypothesis that musth incurs measurable physiological costs, characterized by immune activation and stress axis engagement. Clinically, our results highlight the importance of reproductive state when interpreting health biomarkers in male elephants and suggest that early musth may represent a period of elevated health risk. Broader application of integrative, multi-biomarker approaches may enhance clinical monitoring and improve welfare outcomes for elephants and other large mammals undergoing energetically demanding life-history events.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"94-103"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}