Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine最新文献

{"title":"EVALUATION OF A BUTORPHANOL-MIDAZOLAM-MEDETOMIDINE PROTOCOL FOR SHORT PROCEDURES IN LESSER CHEVROTAINS (<i>TRAGULUS</i> SP.).","authors":"Guillaume Douay, Yirui Heng, Abraham Mathew","doi":"10.1638/2023-0115","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0115","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Twenty lesser chevrotains (<i>Tragulus</i> sp.), 10 males and 10 females, were anesthetized with a combination of butorphanol-midazolam-medetomidine (BMidM), to assess the efficacy of this protocol for short procedures in this genus. The animals received BMidM (0.32, 0.06, 0.15 mg/kg, respectively) intramuscularly via hand injection. Physiological variables were recorded once the animals reached a working depth of anesthesia that lasted 30 min (range 12-60 min). At the end of the procedure, medetomidine and butorphanol were antagonized with atipamezole (0.75 mg/kg) and naltrexone (0.3 mg/kg) intramuscularly, respectively. Induction and recovery were 9.4 ± 4.0 min and 10.2 ± 4.1 min, respectively. Supplementation with isoflurane via face mask was required in five animals to reach light anesthesia. Times to reach the various stages of anesthesia were compared between sexes. There was no difference between males and females reaching the different stages of anesthesia, except for the time required to reach the ambulatory stage, in which females took a significantly longer time (11.8 min vs 7.8 min for the males) to stand after the injection of the antagonists (<i>P</i> = 0.02). Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and peripheral hemoglobin oxygen saturation were similar between sexes and stable throughout the procedure. At the dosage tested BMidM was a reliable and safe protocol for short, minimally invasive procedures in lesser chevrotains with a fast induction and smooth recovery without complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290240","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":"POPULATION PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFPODOXIME IN BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (<i>TURSIOPS TRUNCATUS</i>).","authors":"Barbara K Linnehan, Steven P Lesman, Joseph F Boucher, G Scott Grover, Erin C Brodie, Jennifer M Meegan, Abby M McClain, Kyle P Ross, Eric D Jensen","doi":"10.1638/2023-0139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0139","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cefpodoxime proxetil is commonly used to treat cetacean patients with suspected or confirmed bacterial infections; however, pharmacokinetic data are needed to guide proper dosing in these species. Cefpodoxime proxetil is a time-dependent, semisynthetic, third-generation cephalosporin, appropriate for once-daily dosing and U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved for use in dogs with a broad spectrum of activity including gram-positive and gram-negative species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the population pharmacokinetics of cefpodoxime in bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>). A sparse-sampling design was used, with serum from dolphins receiving cefpodoxime proxetil at 10 mg/kg orally every 24 h to treat suspected or confirmed bacterial infections. Serum samples (<i>n</i> = 57) from 24 dolphins were analyzed at 12 time points from 0 to 96 h postdose. Serum samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. One- and two-compartment linear models with first order absorption were tested. Covariates including weight, age, and sex were considered for inclusion in the model, and between-subject variability was incorporated. A two-compartment model performed best, where following an oral dose of 10 mg/kg, serum concentration reached a mean maximum concentration of 23.0 µg/ml, mean time to maximum concentration of 5.0 h, and mean half-life of 11.4 h. With daily dosing, accumulation was approximately 18% and steady state was reached by the second dose. Serum protein binding was 82.8% as determined by equilibrium dialysis, similar to plasma protein binding reported in dogs. Based on the population pharmacokinetic model, once-daily oral dosing was systemically absorbed and quickly reached maximum concentrations. The half-life in dolphins appears to be longer than other species studied to date. Given the paucity of antimicrobial pharmacokinetic studies in dolphins, and limited once-daily oral antibiotic options for this species, these data are helpful for clinicians to make informed antimicrobial choices.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290255","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":"EFFECT OF SUBSTRATE AND WALKING SURFACES ON CENTRAL METATARSAL FOOT PAD WEIGHT LOADING IN MAGELLANIC PENGUINS (<i>SPHENISCUS MAGELLANICUS</i>) WITH AND WITHOUT PODODERMATITIS: AN EX VIVO STUDY.","authors":"Su Hyun Faith Yang, Jessica Aymen, Hugues Beaufrère","doi":"10.1638/2024-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2024-0013","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pododermatitis is common in penguins kept under human care. Substrate optimization plays an important role in prevention and treatment; however, there is limited information on biomechanical properties of commonly used substrates on penguin feet. The objectives were to test the ability of different substrates to decrease weight loading on the central metatarsal pad of penguin feet in an ex vivo model using feet with and without bumblefoot harvested from two Magellanic penguin (<i>Spheniscus magellanicus</i>) cadavers. Penguin feet were attached to a digital force gauge mounted onto a stand for compression testing at 2.5 and 5 kg. Forces at the central metatarsal pad were measured in triplicate using small force sensors. Tested substrates included five granular surfaces (sand, wet sand, pea gravel, wet pea gravel, and crushed ice), three compliant surfaces (short-leaf Astroturf, long-leaf Astroturf, and neoprene), and three firm surfaces (tile, rubber drainage mat, and 3M Safety-Walk Wet Area Matting). Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. There were multifaceted effects of applied pressures, substrate surfaces, and pododermatitis on central metatarsal measured pressures. In general, doubling compression forces resulted in higher measured pressures in all firm and compliant surfaces but not in granular surfaces. Firm surfaces were associated with higher recorded plantar pressures at 2.5 kg, but different significance groupings emerged at 5 kg with a high-, medium-, and low-pressure cluster of surfaces. Pododermatitis lesions resulted in significant alterations in statistical significance clustering among substrate surfaces and unique substrate behaviors. The results of this study could help in making recommendations pertaining to foot health for penguin exhibits.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290239","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 LEAD CONCENTRATION ANALYSIS BETWEEN REHABILITATION FACILITY AND PERI-URBAN ENVIRONMENT VIRGINIA OPOSSUMS (<i>DIDELPHIS VIRGINIANA</i>) OF ILLINOIS.","authors":"Alysha McDaniel, William E Sander, Samantha J Sander, Nohra E Mateus-Pinilla, Karyn Bischoff","doi":"10.1638/2023-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Virginia opossum (<i>Didelphis virginiana</i>) is the only marsupial in North America with a natural range north of Mexico. Its range is widespread throughout the United States, including Illinois. Virginia opossums are opportunistic omnivores that will eat a variety of fruits, grains, insects, and even carrion. They are a ground-foraging species, with frequent soil contact allowing for potential exposure to heavy metal contaminants in terrestrial environments. They are also opportunists that thrive in human-altered ecosystems, including peri-urban environments. Lead is a naturally occurring element and highly toxic metal that is abundant in the soil, primarily due to anthropogenic factors such as fossil fuel use, paint, industrial production waste, and battery recycling. Furthermore, carrion and offal piles containing lead bullet fragments remaining from hunting result in environmental contamination of this heavy metal. Few studies exist on lead exposure in the Virginia opossum. This pilot study evaluates the blood lead burden of 16 free-ranging Virginia opossums presented to a wildlife rehabilitation facility, compared with 16 wild-caught Virginia opossums trapped in grassland, maintained forest, or mixed ecotones. In other species, lead toxicosis has been associated with cognitive dysfunction that may increase the likelihood of trauma or injury in a free-ranging setting. In addition, a high incidence of Virginia opossums presenting for wildlife rehabilitation do so as result of human-animal conflict. Therefore, it was anticipated that individuals presenting for wildlife rehabilitation would have significantly higher blood lead concentrations than their free-roaming counterparts. In this study, every Virginia opossum had measurable blood lead concentrations and the average blood lead concentration of the rehabilitated group was 2.7 times higher than that measured in wild-caught Virginia opossums. These results suggest that Virginia opossums are exposed and susceptible to lead toxicosis due to their diet and foraging behaviors, making them more prone to subsequent injury and presentation to wildlife rehabilitation centers.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290232","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":"A REVIEW OF NEOPLASIA IN PROSIMIANS IN HUMAN CARE FROM 1995 TO 2022.","authors":"Tatiana N Henry, Michael M Garner, Lauren V Powers","doi":"10.1638/2024-0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2024-0014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This retrospective study of neoplasia in prosimians in human care reports histologically diagnosed cases from the archives of a nondomestic species pathology service between 1995 and 2022, primarily submitted from zoological institutions. To date, the only prior retrospective study of neoplasia in prosimians, published in 2009, was conducted with cases from a single institution specializing in prosimian noninvasive research and care. In the present study, a total of 153 neoplasms from 109 individuals were identified in the pathology service archives. The most commonly affected species belonged to the Lemuridae (92/109, 84.4%), particularly ring-tailed lemurs (<i>Lemur catta</i>; 55/109, 50.5%), black-and-white ruffed lemurs (<i>Varecia variegata</i>; 19/109, 17.4%), and red ruffed lemurs (<i>Varecia rubra</i>; 14/109, 12.8%). The digestive (49/153, 32.0%), reproductive (35/153, 22.9%), and integumentary (30/153, 19.6%) systems were most commonly affected. Hepatocellular neoplasia was the most common neoplasm overall (35/153, 22.9%), with a large proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (23/35, 65.7%), suggesting a possible predisposition to this tumor in prosimians. The findings support aggressive behavior of these tumors in prosimians, and a majority (13/23, 56.5%) of cases had evidence of metastasis at the time of submission. Mammary neoplasia was also common (25/153, 16.3%) and predominantly malignant (18/25, 72.0%), in contrast with previous literature, although metastasis was uncommonly reported. The most common integumentary neoplasms were papillomas (12/30, 40.0%), and one report identified squamous cell carcinoma arising directly from a squamous papilloma. Several tumor types are reported herein for the first time in prosimian species, to the authors' knowledge. A literature review identifying additional cases reported since 2009 is also reported. This study contributes a large number of prosimian neoplasia cases to the existing literature to help determine trends in zoological collections and to inform captive prosimian health management.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290213","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":"HEMATOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY REFERENCE VALUES IN NESTLING RED KITES (<i>MILVUS MILVUS</i>) IN SHORT-TERM HUMAN CARE IN ENGLAND.","authors":"Sophie M Common, Anthony W Sainsbury, Yu-Mei Chang, Amanda Guthrie","doi":"10.1638/2023-0135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0135","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Between the years 2022 and 2023, 62 red kite (<i>Milvus milvus</i>) nestlings were translocated from England to Spain to bolster declining populations in mainland Europe as part of a wider conservation initiative. Health examinations were undertaken by veterinarians ahead of translocation, including examination of hematology and biochemistry parameters from blood samples. This study aimed to establish reference values for these parameters in nestling red kites for use in future translocations or for other clinical purposes. All individuals included in the analysis were clinically healthy at the time of sampling. Biochemical reference intervals were comparable to published values for other Accipitridae, although differences in hematology were noted: PCV was generally lower; and WBC counts higher than (up to triple) those reported for related species of a similar age. It is hypothesized that these differences reflect species variations or the effects of the stress of recent capture on the immune system of the red kites. A <i>Leucocytozoon</i> species was identified on blood smears of six of the red kites. The reference intervals presented in this study are representative of free-living red kite nestlings in England that have recently been captured for conservation translocation purposes.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290249","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":"USE OF THE ZOOLOGICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ZIMS) DATABASE (2003-2023) FOR EVALUATION OF PRACTITIONER-SELECTED MELOXICAM DOSES AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO AVIAN TAXONOMY.","authors":"Megan Roeder, David Inauen, Yvonne R A van Zeeland, Linda G R Bruins-van Sonsbeek, Ronette Gehring","doi":"10.1638/2023-0084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Meloxicam, a commonly used NSAID, has wide variation in pharmacokinetics between different avian species. The present study hypothesized that meloxicam dosage regimens were similar within, but differ between, groups of avian species with similar feeding habits, habitats, or migratory behaviors. Utilizing the international Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS), drug usage extracts were compiled for meloxicam across eleven major orders of birds. The orders were selected based on their prevalence in zoological collections, wildlife rehabilitation centers, the pet trade, and production environments. Each species with a record available in drug usage extracts was classified into broad categories of main habitat, diet, and migratory status. Significant patterns associated with habitat, diet, or migratory status were not identified statistically. An inverse relationship was identified statistically between the practitioner mg/kg dose and body weight in kg in birds that weigh approximately 20 kg or greater. This study includes practitioner-reported summary data of current doses used in the veterinary field to treat many different avian species. Adverse effects of meloxicam were recorded in <5% of individuals evaluated at the species level in this study.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290260","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":"USE OF SOLENSIA (FRUNEVETMAB) IN NONDOMESTIC FELIDS (<i>PANTHERA TIGRIS, LYNX RUFUS, PANTHERA UNCIA</i>) GUIDED BY PROTEIN SEQUENCE ANALYSIS.","authors":"Rebecca Richard, Maristela Martins de Camargo, David Bruyette","doi":"10.1638/2023-0122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease affect many species of nondomestic felid and negatively impact quality of life in managed care settings. Previously, pain management options were limited because of the frequency of comorbidities such as renal disease and common difficulty encountered in medication administration. Solensia^TM (frunevetmab) is a felinized monoclonal antibody that binds to nerve growth factor in arthritic joints, thereby inhibiting pain response cascades, and produces marked improvement in clinical signs and quality of life in domestic cats diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Protein sequence analysis was performed to inform the application of frunevetmab in four individuals from three nondomestic felid species (<i>Panthera tigris, Lynx rufus, and Panthera uncia</i>) diagnosed with degenerative joint disease to predict safety, contraindications, and likely response to treatment. Patients were then treated utilizing doses extrapolated from domestic cats and following manufacturer guidelines for administration, and clinical response was evaluated over a minimum 2-mon period. Significant improvement was noted in clinical signs in all four animals, resulting in marked improvement in mobility, lameness, activity level, demeanor, and overall quality of life. Frunevetmab presents an excellent adjunctive therapeutic alternative for nondomestic felids suffering from degenerative joint disease and may complement or decrease the need for other conventional therapeutic regimens.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290259","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":"DETECTION OF <i>BABESIA</i> CF. <i>ODOCOILEI, BABESIA CAPREOLI</i>, AND <i>ANAPLASMA PHAGOCYTOPHILUM</i> IN CERVIDS OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM.","authors":"Sonika B Lakshminarayana, Amanda Guthrie, Damer P Blake, Jane Harley, Arran MacKintosh, Philippa J P Lait, Alice Bacon, Ellie L Milnes","doi":"10.1638/2023-0140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Outbreaks of suspected tick-borne disease (redwater fever) have been reported in captive deer of the Scottish Highlands. In this pilot study, polymerase chain reaction and amplicon sequencing were used to detect tick-borne pathogens in opportunistically collected blood and spleen samples from 63 (healthy, n = 44; diseased, n = 19) cervids, and 45 questing and feeding ticks (<i>Ixodes ricinus</i>) from the outbreak sites in 2021-2022. Potentially pathogenic <i>Babesia</i> species were detected in deer but not identified in ticks, <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> was detected in both deer and ticks, and <i>Borrelia afzelii</i> was detected in ticks but not in deer. Sequencing confirmed <i>Babesia capreoli</i> and <i>Babesia</i> cf. <i>odocoilei</i> parasitemia in clinically healthy red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>), <i>B. capreoli</i> parasitemia in clinically healthy domestic reindeer (<i>Rangifer tarandus tarandus</i>), and two cases of <i>B.</i> cf. <i>odocoilei</i>-associated hemolytic anemia in white-lipped deer (<i>Cervus albirostris</i>), of which one was fatal despite imidocarb treatment. White-lipped deer appear to be highly susceptible to babesiosis caused by <i>B.</i> cf. <i>odocoilei</i>. This investigation highlights the importance of disease surveillance, including molecular diagnostics, for the detection of emerging tick-borne pathogens in managed populations of cervids.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290238","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":"CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF THE FREQUENCY AND ETIOLOGY OF ATAXIA IN ASIATIC LIONS (<i>PANTHERA LEO PERSICA</i>) BETWEEN 2002 AND 2020.","authors":"Baukje G Beers, Ronald J Corbee, Stefanie Veraa, Antje Hartmann, Christina Geiger, Nicole Schauerte, Linda G R Bruins-van Sonsbeek","doi":"10.1638/2022-0156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Asiatic lion (<i>Panthera leo persica</i>) is an endangered species with a slowly increasing captive and wild population. Several zoos from within the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria Ex Situ Program reported Asiatic lions with neurological signs such as (progressive) ataxia, and stargazing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency (prevalence and incidence) and etiology of these clinical signs within the captive Asiatic lion population. The medical history of 74 Asiatic lions (36 healthy and 38 affected) was retrieved and reviewed for blood tests (biochemical, hematological, and retinol), diagnostic imaging (MRI and CT scans) and postmortem examinations. The data of the affected lions was compared with those of healthy lions. Between 2002 and 2020, the prevalence of ataxia ranged from 0.6% in 2004 to 13.0% in 2020. The incidence of ataxia was variable per year between 2002 and 2020 and ranged between 0 and 40%. Besides ataxia, stiffness and lameness were the most described signs in this study. Blood results showed lower total protein, ALT and creatinine, and higher phosphate in lions with neurological signs. Moreover, neurologically affected lions showed a significant lower blood retinol than the control lions (0.59-0.81 µmol/L). The most important finding in diagnostic imaging and necropsy included caudal fossa hyperostosis and cerebellar herniation. These abnormalities are similar as found in African lions (<i>Panthera leo</i>) with calvarial hyperostosis syndrome associated with vitamin A deficiency. Leucomyelopathy, syringomyelia (in one case combined with cerebellar herniation) and incidental mineralization of the dura mater were also described. A possible congenital/hereditary component should not be excluded.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142290234","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}