Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine最新文献

{"title":"PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY WITH INFRACYANINE GREEN (EMUNDO^®) FOLLOWING SURGICAL EXCISION OF MULTIPLE CUTANEOUS MELANOCYTIC TUMORS IN A WHITE BENGAL HYBRID TIGER (<i>PANTHERA TIGRIS</i> CROSS).","authors":"Lauren Charnock, Jackie Gai, Clinson C Lui, Verena K Affolter, Tyler J M Jordan, Kathryn Good","doi":"10.1638/2025-0066","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A white Bengal hybrid tiger (<i>Panthera tigris</i> cross) was presented for a tumor subjacent to the right inferior eyelid. Surgical excision under general anesthesia followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT) with infracyanine green (EmunDo^w) was performed. Two months after surgery, a new tumor involving the concave left pinna was noted, and surgical excision followed by PDT was again performed. Healing of both surgical sites was achieved by 37 d postoperatively. Histopathologic review of both masses was consistent with cutaneous melanocytic tumors with complete surgical margins. To the authors' knowledge, PDT is a novel surgical procedure in nondomestic species. Melanocytic tumors may be associated with the uncommon white hair phenotype of Bengal tigers. PDT removes the requirement for wound closure following surgery, provides adjunctive therapy for neoplastic lesions, appears well tolerated, and results in an excellent cosmetic outcome. This case highlights the potential use of this therapy for cutaneous melanoma in captive tigers.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"119-124"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609312","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":"ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF VETERINARY STORYTELLING IN THE MEDIA ON THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF ZOOS.","authors":"Michael J Adkesson, Margaret Ramont, Yvonne Wong, Gloria Sari, Matthew C Allender, Sathya K Chinnadurai, Lance J Miller","doi":"10.1638/2025-0070","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Visitors at Brookfield Zoo Chicago were systematically recruited to participate in a survey before and after watching a video highlighting veterinary care of zoo animals. Thirteen survey questions on a 7-point scale evaluated participant perceptions of zoos and animal welfare. Participants reported demographic information, visiting frequency, and knowledge of Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accreditation. Principal component analysis (PCA) on responses from 330 visitors reduced survey questions to one composite score and fitted them to a linear mixed-effects model. The best-fitting model determined that visitor perceptions were significantly more positive after the video, and visitors with knowledge of AZA accreditation had significantly more positive perceptions. Separately, participants rated the extent to which seven different media sources influenced their opinions of zoos and animal care on a 7-point scale, with the zoo's internally produced content rating the highest overall. This preliminary investigation suggests effective media and storytelling about veterinary care at Brookfield Zoo Chicago significantly improved participants' perceptions of zoos and animal welfare. Zoo veterinarians can effectively communicate important topics and inspire trust in zoo animal care and welfare, and the results suggest that zoo messaging is influential in developing zoogoers' opinions over other media sources. More research is needed to determine which aspects of veterinary media are most effective in influencing visitor perceptions. Veterinarians are publicly trusted experts in animal care and welfare, and highlighting the work of zoological medicine clinicians through media positively impacts public education about the conservation, research, and animal welfare missions of accredited zoos.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"148-156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147608851","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":"THE GONADOTROPIN RELEASING HORMONE AGONIST, DESLORELIN ACETATE, IS CONTRAINDICATED FOR MITIGATION OF AGGRESSION AND REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IN MALE COWNOSE RAYS (<i>RHINOPTERA BONASUS</i>).","authors":"Michael W Hyatt, Linda M Penfold, Alexis J Mone, Alisa L Newton, Michelle R Davis","doi":"10.1638/2025-0039","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0039","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Male cownose rays (<i>Rhinoptera bonasus</i>) can display aggressive behaviors toward other conspecifics. This can lead to accidental, self-inflicted trauma to the subordinate ray attempting to flee, such as rostral or ocular abrasions and ulcerations. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as deslorelin acetate (Suprelorin^®), are commonly used among mammals for both reproductive management and behavioral mitigation, such as aggression in males. However, limited work has been done to advance our understanding of GnRH agonists in elasmobranchs. In an attempt to mitigate aggression, the use of deslorelin was investigated in three adult male cownose rays, that were implanted with either one (two rays) or two (one ray) 9.4 mg deslorelin implants. Another male ray was not implanted and used as the \"control\" male. Blood was collected from each ray prior to implantation, and then at various timepoints over 24 months, to evaluate plasma testosterone concentrations. Plasma testosterone was measured via enzyme immunoassay which was validated for this species. Behavior was monitored daily. The three males that received implants all had higher testosterone concentrations than the control animal two weeks to 24 months post-implantation. The ray that received two 9.4 mg implants displayed dose-dependent 50 to 100% higher concentrations compared to the two rays that received only one 9.4 mg implant. Testosterone concentrations in the control male were similar to previous published results. Implanted rays displayed increased aggressive and reproductive behaviors, that were not suppressed throughout the study. Female rays continued to be chased throughout the year, with some sustaining self-inflicted rostral abrasions requiring medical management. The deslorelin implants produced a persistent stimulation of testosterone production with no sign of suppression after two years. Based on the continued and sometimes enhanced unwanted aggressive behaviors, and failure of testosterone suppression, deslorelin is not recommended in male cownose rays for aggression and reproductive behavior mitigation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"76-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609273","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":"CHARACTERIZATION OF GOITER IN CAPTIVE EUROPEAN EASTERN BONGO (<i>TRAGELAPHUS EURYCERUS ISAACI</i>) AND ITS IMPACT ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND BODY CONDITION.","authors":"Charlotte E Bentley, Hannah Rowland, Julian Chantrey, Katie L Edwards, Andrew Moss, Gabby J Drake, Javier Lopez","doi":"10.1638/2024-0114","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2024-0114","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Goiter or thyroid enlargement has been frequently reported at postmortem examination in Eastern bongos (<i>Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci)</i>. It has been hypothesized that associated thyroid hormone disturbance may be a cause of poor reproductive performance in captive bongos, but thyroid histology or hormone analysis are rarely described. Thyroid glands from 39 individuals within the European captive population were examined grossly, with goiter observed in 64.1% (<i>n</i> = 25) of individuals, of which 96.0% (24/25) had multinodular lesions. Older animals were significantly more likely to develop goiter (<i>P</i> = 0.004), with goiter present in individuals from 6 yrs of age. There was no correlation between the presence of goiter and reproductive success or body condition. Thyroid glands from 16 bongos were examined histologically by a board-certified veterinary pathologist. Histologic lesions were identified in all 16 samples and included giant colloid follicles (100.0%), interstitial fibrosis (93.8%), hyperplastic collapsed follicles (75.0%), papillary fronds (62.5%), inflammation (25.0%), and mineralization (12.5%). No neoplasia was found. Multinodular colloid goiter appears to be the most common thyroid lesion within the European Eastern bongo population. Serum samples collected within 30 d prior to death were available for 25/39 animals, both with and without goiter. Total triiodothyronine (tT3), free triiodothyronine (fT3) and total thyroxine (tT4) concentrations were validated and analyzed by competitive inhibition enzyme immunoassay using bovine ELISA kits. No thyroid hormone levels correlated to goiter presence. Findings suggest that although highly prevalent, colloid goiter is euthyroid and does not impact on reproductive success or body condition in Eastern bongos. The cause of goiter in this species remains unknown.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147608950","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":"EVALUATION OF A BUTORPHANOL-MEDETOMIDINE REVERSIBLE ANESTHETIC PROTOCOL FOR MANED WOLVES (<i>CHRYSOCYON BRACHYURUS</i> ) UNDER MANAGED CARE.","authors":"Alyssa G Palmer, Kristina M Delaski, Lee-Ann C Hayek, Kelly Helmick","doi":"10.1638/2025-0026","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study identified a safe, reversible protocol for maned wolves (<i>Chrysocyon brachyurus</i>). Over 15 anesthetic events, 11 healthy adult maned wolves (four females, seven males; ages 4.1-9.9 years; weights 24.3-28 kg) were anesthetized with medetomidine (target 0.05 mg/kg, range 0.049-0.052 mg/kg) and butorphanol (target 0.5 mg/kg, range 0.49-0.52 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly in a restraint device. At 40 ± 6 min after drug administration, the reversals atipamezole (5 mg per mg of medetomidine) and naltrexone (2 mg per mg of butorphanol) were administered intramuscularly. Inductions were rapid and smooth, median time to recumbency was five min (range 3-7 min), and safe handling was achieved at a median of nine min (range 7-18 min). Anesthetic depth in 14/15 anesthetic events was sufficient for physical examination, vaccine administration, blood collection, and urinary catheterization. One wolf demonstrated lighter sedation that did not allow more invasive procedures (urinary catheterization) but was sufficiently sedated for blood collection and physical examination. Heart rate, respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, rectal temperature, and indirect BP measurements were taken at 5-minute intervals. Bradycardia and hypoxemia were the most notable changes noted with this protocol but did not require medical intervention. Throughout anesthesia, all monitoring values remained stable, excluding rectal temperature which was seen to significantly decrease during this protocol. Venous blood gas evaluations at initial handling and immediately prior to reversal administration showed no significant changes during anesthesia. A single individual demonstrated a self-resolving ventricular tachycardia event of unknown origin. The only post-anesthetic complication was a single incidence of vomiting at recovery. Recoveries in all animals were smooth and rapid with a median time to standing of 11 minutes. A combination of medetomidine (0.05 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.5 mg/kg) is expected to provide safe, smooth, reversible handling in maned wolves. These agents should be suitable for use for both minor procedures and sample collections.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"104-112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609155","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":"ACUTE MYOCARDIAL DEGENERATION AND DEATH IN AYE-AYES (<i>DAUBENTONIA MADAGASCARIENSIS)</i> FOLLOWING INGESTION OF AVOCADO <i>(PERSEA AMERICANA)</i>.","authors":"Cathy V Williams, Robert L Schopler, Yohannes G Asfaw, John M Cullen, Alan D Proia, Jeffrey I Everitt","doi":"10.1638/2025-0069","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Five of a cohort of 13 aye-ayes (<i>Daubentonia madagascariensis)</i> at the Duke Lemur Center (DLC) exhibited acute, nonspecific signs of lethargy and ataxia within 24 h of ingesting a meal containing avocado fruit (<i>Persea americana)</i> that included the skin and pit. Deaths rapidly ensued in four of the five animals within 13 h of initial symptoms. All animals that died had pericardial effusion on postmortem examination and microscopic findings of acute myocardial degeneration. After ruling out other causes, all evidence points to avocado toxicity as the cause of death. Following an analysis of the DLC deaths in 2016, all deaths in aye-ayes from 1985 to 2022 occurring at the DLC or on loan to other institutions were reviewed. An additional six cases of acute death and pericardial effusion associated with cardiomyopathy and acute myocardial degeneration were identified for a total of 10 of 27 deaths (37%) over 37 yr. This analysis led the authors to conclude that aye-ayes may be acutely sensitive to toxins present in avocado and that mortality due to avocado toxicosis in this species is more common than previously recognized. Prior stress on animals in advance of avocado consumption may have contributed to the acute myocardial degeneration and death following avocado fruit ingestion, as noted in this report. Avocado toxicosis has been reported in various avian and mammalian species, but adverse effects have not been previously noted in other lemur or primate species. This case series is of particular interest because all affected animals had regularly been fed avocado previously and some zoologic institutions routinely use avocado in diets for primates.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"140-147"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147608888","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":"IMMOBILIZATION OF COLLARED PECCARIES (<i>PECARI TAJACU</i>) UNDER MANAGED CARE USING MEDETOMIDINE-TILETAMINE-ZOLAZEPAM <i>VERSUS</i> MEDETOMIDINE-KETAMINE-MIDAZOLAM AND REVERSAL WITH ATIPAMEZOLE: A RANDOMIZED, BLINDED CLINICAL TRIAL.","authors":"Yasmin Bernstain, Yishai Kushnir, Nili Avni-Magen, Avital Paz-Sonnenfeld, Yael Shilo-Benjamini","doi":"10.1638/2025-0017","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0017","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The objectives of this study were to compare two medetomidine-based protocols followed by atipamezole reversal, assessing immobilization and recovery in collared peccary (<i>Pecari tajacu</i>). Nineteen collared peccaries under managed care scheduled for tracking collar placement and routine treatments were randomly assigned to one of two protocols; medetomidine 48 ± 6 µg/kg and 2.23 ± 0.44 mg/kg tiletamine-zolazepam (Med-TZ; <i>n</i> = 9) or medetomidine 46 ± 8 µg/kg with 3.29 ± 0.45 mg/kg ketamine and 0.23 ± 0.04 mg/kg midazolam (Med-KM; <i>n</i> = 10) injected intramuscularly (IM). Both groups received reversal with IM atipamezole at five times the medetomidine dose. Physiological variables, duration and quality (scale 1-5; 1, poor; 5, excellent) of induction, immobilization, and recovery were recorded by a single-blinded observer. Data were analyzed using student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Fisher's exact test (<i>p</i> < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in any variable assessed. Median (range) induction times were 6 (2-33) min (Med-TZ) and 6 (4-12) min (Med-KM). A supplemental dose was required in 3/9 (Med-TZ) and 1/9 (Med-KM) animals. Mean ± standard deviation recovery times were 48 ± 32 min (Med-TZ) and 47 ± 22 min (Med-KM). Median induction, immobilization and recovery qualities were 4 (1-5), 4 (1-5) and 2 (1-5) (Med-TZ), and 5 (3-5), 4 (3-5) and 3 (2-4) (Med-KM), respectively. Median hemoglobin oxygen saturation was 94% (54-98; Med-TZ) and 95% (77-98; Med-KM). At the doses used, Med-TZ and Med-KM provided comparable and reliable immobilization with fair to good recovery quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"10-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609136","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":"THORACIC AND ABDOMINAL RADIOGRAPHIC ANATOMY OF THE EUROPEAN WILDCAT (<i>FELIS SILVESTRIS</i>).","authors":"Alice Bacon, Lucy Becker, Estelle Morgan, Rebecca Amos, Louise Byford, Simon Girling, Tobias Schwarz","doi":"10.1638/2025-0038","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2025-0038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Survey radiographs imaged for routine health management of captive European wildcats (<i>Felis silvestris</i>), bred for conservation translocation, were assessed to determine normal qualitative and quantitative radiographic parameters for this species (n = 37, 16 adults and 21 subadults). Normal wildcat parameters determined included vertebral heart score (VHS; 7.5-9.1), small intestine diameter (10.09-15.65 mm), small intestine diameter to second lumbar vertebral end plate ratio (1.64), small intestine diameter to fifth lumbar vertebral end plate ratio (2.82), large intestine diameter to fifth lumbar vertebra ratio (0.88), right kidney to second lumbar vertebra (L2; 2.09-2.81), and left kidney to L2 (2.07-2.75). Wildcat radiographic anatomy is similar to the domestic cat <i>(Felis catus)</i> in many respects. However, differing features included VHS, small intestinal diameter, and the presence of an os penis.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"186-193"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609283","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 RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN NORTHERN FUR SEALS (<i>CALLORHINUS URSINUS</i>) IN UNITED STATES AQUARIA FROM 1976-2022.","authors":"Laura E W Whalen, Molly E Martony, Laura A Thompson, Eric T Anderson, Melissa J Joblon, Todd L Schmitt, Catherine A Hadfield, Allison D Tuttle","doi":"10.1638/2024-0140","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2024-0140","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pathology of wild northern fur seals (NFS) (<i>Callorhinus ursinus</i>) is well documented; however, data on NFS under professional care are limited. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate causes of morbidity and mortality in 67 NFS housed in long-term professional care in United States aquaria from 1976-2022, including individuals born in the wild and those born in professional care. A review of necropsy and histopathology records was conducted to identify causes of morbidity and mortality, as well as associations among age, sex, and wild versus aquarium birth origin. Major causes of mortality included infectious diseases (n = 12), hemochromatosis (n = 10), undetermined (n = 10), and cardiovascular diseases (n = 8). Cause of mortality was significantly associated with sex (p = 0.015). Hemochromatosis and hepatic causes of mortality were identified exclusively in females. Infectious diseases were the most identified major cause of mortality and included septicemia (n = 7), toxoplasmosis (n = 3), leptospirosis (n = 1), and suppurative meningitis (n = 1). Of the septicemia cases, three were confirmed to be caused by <i>Pasteurella</i> sp. Hemochromatosis was the predominant cause of death in ten females from 8-25 years of age, with histopathology identifying hemochromatosis as a comorbidity in an additional male NFS. Hemosiderosis was a common finding in hepatic (n = 19), splenic (n = 15), lymph node (n = 6), ovarian (n = 3), bone marrow (n = 2), pulmonary (n = 1), and pancreatic (n = 1) tissues. In addition to hemosiderosis, the most common comorbidities affected the hepatobiliary (n = 36), urinary (n = 33), respiratory (n = 26), and lymphatic (n = 23) systems. While hemochromatosis has been previously reported in NFS, this is the first study to describe the prevalence in a professionally managed population. This study expands on the understanding of pathology in NFS to further improve medical management in professional care.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"38-46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147607952","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":"SEVERE BACTERIAL BRONCHOPNEUMONIA IN A GROUP OF ORPHANED AMERICAN BLACK BEARS (<i>URSUS AMERICANUS</i>) IN EASTERN TENNESSEE, USA.","authors":"Liandrie Swanepoel, Jeremy M McKeever, Monica Lee, Jonathan Abbott, Julie Sheldon, Andrew Cushing, Wesley C Sheley, S Emmanuelle Knafo","doi":"10.1638/2024-0120","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2024-0120","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This case series describes six cases of severe bacterial bronchopneumonia in a mixed-sex group of 9-mon-old American black bear (<i>Ursus americanus</i>) cubs residing in a rehabilitation center in eastern Tennessee. Several months after initial admittance to the rehabilitation center, six cubs were presented to a university teaching hospital with dyspnea, hyporexia, and lethargy of varying degrees of severity. Postmortem evaluation of an individual that died after a diagnostic evaluation revealed severe mucosuppurative bronchopneumonia. Culture of fresh lung tissue yielded a pure culture of <i>Streptococcus gallinaceus</i>. The other five orphaned cubs housed with this individual underwent a diagnostic evaluation and treatment. One bear died 2 d after initiation of treatment, and postmortem evaluation revealed severe bronchopneumonia as the cause of death. Another bear was euthanized after 2 wk of treatment because of significant dyspnea and lethargy. The three remaining bears responded well to treatment and were released back to the wild. Infectious etiologies are rarely a cause of morbidity or mortality in bears at this rehabilitation facility. <i>Streptococcus gallinaceus</i> has been implicated as a cause of septicemia in chickens, and as a zoonotic agent causing septicemia and endocarditis in immunosuppressed humans. The relevance of this suspected etiologic agent in wildlife is currently unknown, with sparse literature on the normal flora of American black bears or other North American carnivores. This case series is the first report of an outbreak of bacterial bronchopneumonia in the American black bear and the first reported death from a contagious disease at this rehabilitation facility since its inception 28 yr ago.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":"57 1","pages":"47-55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147609231","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}