Courtney N Patson, Elizabeth J Elsmo, Lauren Trepanier, Michael M Garner, Michael J Murray, Ellen Bronson, Lorelei L Clarke, Sherry K Cox, Robert J Ossiboff, Marley E Iredale, Bryce M Miller, Lindsey Waxman, Eric Littman, Mary I Thurber
{"title":"FATAL ACUTE HEMOLYSIS FOLLOWING TRIAZOLE THERAPY IN AFRICAN PENGUINS (<i>SPHENISCUS DEMERSUS</i>).","authors":"Courtney N Patson, Elizabeth J Elsmo, Lauren Trepanier, Michael M Garner, Michael J Murray, Ellen Bronson, Lorelei L Clarke, Sherry K Cox, Robert J Ossiboff, Marley E Iredale, Bryce M Miller, Lindsey Waxman, Eric Littman, Mary I Thurber","doi":"10.1638/2023-0073","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2023-0073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aspergillosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in penguins, with triazole antifungal drugs being commonly used for prophylaxis and treatment. This report describes 15 cases of fatal hemolysis associated with liquid itraconazole and voriconazole formulations administered to African penguins (<i>Spheniscus demersus</i>) from four institutions. All penguins underwent stressful events (e.g. relocation, induced molt) and were administered commercial liquid itraconazole formulations or compounded voriconazole liquid suspension. Observed clinical signs in affected penguins prior to death included hyporexia, weight loss, lethargy, dyspnea, red-tinged droppings, and obtunded mentation. Intra- and extravascular hemolysis and hemoglobinuric nephrosis were the primary pathologic manifestations on postmortem examination. The concentration-dependent hemolytic potentials of itraconazole, voriconazole, and commercial and compounded vehicle suspensions were evaluated in vitro by exposing chicken whole blood as a surrogate for penguin blood. Hemoglobin content in blood plasma was then measured by spectrophotometry. Neither itraconazole nor voriconazole alone induced hemolysis in vitro. The vehicle ingredients sorbitol and hydromellose induced hemolysis, but not at predicted plasma levels in chicken erythrocytes, suggesting neither the azole antifungals nor their major vehicles alone were likely to contribute to hemolysis in vivo in these penguins. Potential mechanisms of toxicosis include generation of an unmeasured reactive metabolite causing hemolysis, preexisting erythrocyte fragility, or species-specific differences in hemolytic thresholds that were not assessed in the chicken erythrocyte model. More research is needed on the potential for toxicosis of azole antifungal drugs and carrier molecules in this and other avian species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321091","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}
Kayla L Bonadie, Alex M Lynch, Laura K Ruterbories, Emily F Christiansen, Craig A Harms
{"title":"DEVELOPING A THROMBOELASTOGRAPHY ASSAY IN ELASMOBRANCHS.","authors":"Kayla L Bonadie, Alex M Lynch, Laura K Ruterbories, Emily F Christiansen, Craig A Harms","doi":"10.1638/2023-0061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Thromboelastography (TEG) is a hemostatic assay evaluating clot initiation time, kinetics, strength, and extent of fibrinolysis. Hemostatic assays in nonmammalian species have been less extensively studied because of lack of taxon-specific reagents and unique physiology. Hemostatic or hemorrhagic disease has been described postmortem in elasmobranchs, but antemortem detection of coagulopathies is limited in this taxon. The study aimed to establish an elasmobranch TEG protocol to improve hemostatic evaluation and facilitate advanced treatment options for animals under human care. Multiple clotting initiators were assessed for efficacy with frozen-thawed citrated plasma, fresh citrated plasma, and fresh whole citrated blood: RapidTEG<sup>TM</sup>, citrated kaolin, Reptilase<sup>®</sup>, and species brain-derived thromboplastin prepared by two different methods. Initial evaluation found plasma samples clot inconsistently, but TEG analyses using fresh whole blood consistently led to measurable TEG reactions using multiple clotting initiators. The most reliable elasmobranch TEG results were observed using citrated fresh whole blood and the RapidTEG clot initiation reagent.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321088","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}
Michal Avdeev, Smadar Tal, Ruth Fishman, Yoni Vortman, Uri Shanas
{"title":"THE EFFECT OF 4-VINYLCYCLOHEXENE DIEPOXIDE ON FEMALE NUTRIA (<i>MYOCASTOR COYPUS</i>) FERTILITY IN CAPTIVITY-A PILOT STUDY.","authors":"Michal Avdeev, Smadar Tal, Ruth Fishman, Yoni Vortman, Uri Shanas","doi":"10.1638/2023-0064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The nutria (<i>Myocastor coypus</i>) is a globally widespread invasive species. Attempts to eradicate nutria by shooting, poisoning, and trapping have been mostly unsuccessful, leading to calls for the development of new control methods. The compound 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) is known to cause follicular atresia in mammals and may control conception when administered orally. It was hypothesized that VCD administered PO will cause follicular destruction in female nutria. VCD (250 mg/kg PO) was administered or coconut oil, as a control, to five nutria females each for 12 d. Sixty days following VCD exposure, males were introduced to the females. Over the following 7 mon, the effect of VCD on nutria fertility was assessed by conducting ultrasound monitoring to determine pregnancy status and measuring blood serum progesterone and estradiol levels. Finally, after performing ovariectomies, viable follicles were counted on histologic ovarian cortical sections. It was found that the female estrous cycles became synchronized, suggesting a Whitten effect in this species. Also, an increase in the females' serum progesterone levels following the introduction of males occurred, suggesting a male presence effect. Orally administered doses of 250 mg/kg VCD for 12 d had no significant effect on nutria pregnancy rates or on the number of follicles in the ovaries examined. Further studies, using a higher dose or longer administration period, are necessary to conclude whether orally administered VCD can be used as a contraceptive agent for nutria.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321105","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}
Samantha C Rummel, Andrew C Cushing, Christopher K Smith, Pablo Jarrín Yépez, Deborah Haines
{"title":"FIELD TECHNIQUES FOR VASECTOMY IN BLACK HOWLER MONKEYS (<i>ALOUATTA PIGRA</i>).","authors":"Samantha C Rummel, Andrew C Cushing, Christopher K Smith, Pablo Jarrín Yépez, Deborah Haines","doi":"10.1638/2022-0145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2022-0145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Three adult black howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta pigra</i>) were vasectomized for the purpose of population control. Two different surgical approaches (inguinal and pelvic) were used to vasectomize the animals under general anesthesia. One monkey was vasectomized with a pelvic approach, and the other two monkeys were vasectomized with an inguinal approach. The inguinal approach was minimally invasive and proved to be an effective field procedure, utilizing minimal surgical equipment with a mean operative time of 35 min. The inguinal approach allowed for better visualization of the spermatic cord, which prompted easier ligation and transection of the ductus deferens. Identification of the ductus deferens was successfully performed intraoperatively using a tuberculin syringe to aseptically aspirate cord contents, as histopathology was not available. All howler monkeys fully recovered without complication. The social hierarchy of the troop and mating behavior has not been affected. There have been no new pregnancies reported in the troop since the vasectomies were performed. The inguinal approach is preferred as it is minimally invasive and can be performed confidently in a field setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321092","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}
Anthony P Lisankis, Anne K Weigt, Kevin Barrett, Devon Youngclaus, Paul Bradenburger, Ellen Bronson
{"title":"PREVALENCE OF OCULAR ABNORMALITIES AND NORMAL DIAGNOSTIC PARAMETERS IN TWO GROUPS OF PANAMANIAN GOLDEN FROGS (<i>ATELOPUS ZETEKI</i>).","authors":"Anthony P Lisankis, Anne K Weigt, Kevin Barrett, Devon Youngclaus, Paul Bradenburger, Ellen Bronson","doi":"10.1638/2023-0072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Panamanian golden frog (PGF) (<i>Atelopus zeteki</i>) is a critically endangered species. The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore houses two groups of PGF originating from distinct geographic locations as an assurance colony, with the goal of upholding genetics for future release of individuals back to their native environment. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to characterize the prevalence of ocular abnormalities in these two zoo-housed populations of PGF as well as to establish normal parameters for selected diagnostic tests in these groups. Twenty-five females and 25 males were randomly selected from each group (100 PGF; 200 eyes in total) to undergo ocular examination using slit lamp biomicroscopy and direct ophthalmoscopy. Endodontic absorbent paper point test (EAPPT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) and Rose Bengal stain diagnostic tests were also performed. Reference ranges for tear production (EAPPT, 0.5-3 mm/min) and IOP (14-26 mmHg) were calculated in the nondiseased PGF eyes (<i>n</i> = 160 eyes). Rose Bengal stain uptake was negative on all eyes. In total, 40 eyes of 30 PGF were found to have some form of ocular abnormality (28% of PGF, 20% of eyes). The most frequently observed ocular abnormalities were cataract (9% of PGF, 6% of eyes) and keratitis (nonlipid keratopathy; 10% of PGF, 5.5% of eyes). There was no significant difference in overall ocular abnormality prevalence between the two groups studied (<i>P</i> = 0.37) or between the sexes (<i>P</i> = 0.76). The median age of an eye with cataract and keratitis (nonlipid keratopathy) was 10.35 and 7.7 yr, respectively. Ocular abnormalities are common in these two populations of PGF. Documentation of these ocular abnormalities and establishment of diagnostic reference ranges have not previously been published and may be important for maintaining the health of this endangered species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321100","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 STUDY OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY IN A CAPTIVE POPULATION OF <i>CRYPTOSPORIDIUM</i>-POSITIVE LOUISIANA PINE SNAKES (<i>PITUOPHIS RUTHVENI</i>).","authors":"C Mayer, J Lee, M Carossino, J G Nevarez","doi":"10.1638/2023-0096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Louisiana pine snake (<i>Pituophis ruthveni</i>) is a diurnal colubrid species native to Louisiana and eastern Texas whose free-ranging populations have been declining over at least the past 30 yr. The creation and maintenance of sustainable captive breeding programs of <i>P. ruthveni</i> to restore native populations has also provided ample opportunity for research into this species and for <i>P. ruthveni</i> to serve as a research model for other colubrid snakes. However, no investigation into prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality in captive populations of this species has been described. A research population of <i>P. ruthveni</i> was maintained at Louisiana State University (LSU) for over 4 yr due to unsuitability for breeding after testing positive for <i>Cryptosporidium serpentis</i>. Since arrival at LSU, the snakes were under close veterinary surveillance. Complete postmortem examinations were performed on 12 snakes that died or were euthanized. The aim of this study was to further understanding of common factors influencing morbidity and mortality in captive <i>P. ruthveni</i> infected with <i>C. serpentis</i>, by retrospectively reviewing postmortem exam findings from the 12 deceased members of the population at LSU. A predominant finding across individuals included bacterial infections, which were responsible for major illness or death in 37.5% of the animals. Fifty percent of snakes tested positive for <i>Cryptosporidium</i> sp. based on PCR performed from postmortem samples; it was directly implicated as cause of death or morbidity in 83.3% of positive cases. Although infectious disease represented the most common pathologic postmortem finding, several noninfectious disease processes were identified, including gout, goiter, and neoplasia. These findings mirror those of other retrospective investigations of reptile collections at various institutions and highlight the need for appropriate emphasis on the identification, treatment, and prevention of infectious disease as part of routine veterinary care.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321102","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}
Gabriel C Camargo, Sheila C Rahal, Ricardo S Ichikawa, Andre L Filadelpho, Heloisa C Lima, Elton L R Oliveira, Anneke Moresco
{"title":"DESCRIPTION OF ESOPHAGOSTOMY TUBE PLACEMENT IN TWO GIANT ANTEATER (<i>MYRMECOPHAGA TRIDACTYLA</i>) CADAVERS.","authors":"Gabriel C Camargo, Sheila C Rahal, Ricardo S Ichikawa, Andre L Filadelpho, Heloisa C Lima, Elton L R Oliveira, Anneke Moresco","doi":"10.1638/2023-0098","DOIUrl":"10.1638/2023-0098","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Feeding of managed populations of giant anteater (<i>Myrmecophaga tridactyla</i>) is challenging in injured patients that present with anorexia. This report describes an approach for esophagostomy tube placement in this species. Cadavers of two adult giant anteaters were used for technique development. The animal was positioned in dorsal recumbency, and a guide feeding tube was inserted orally into the esophagus. A ventral midline incision in the midcervical region was made to access the esophagus and to protect submandibular salivary glands. The cervical musculature was dissected and retracted laterally to the right, the vagosympathetic nerve trunk was identified and preserved, and the esophagus was incised over the guide tube. The guide tube was removed to facilitate placement of the definitive tube, which was premeasured from its insertion point in the midcervical area to the level of the seventh-ninth intercostal space. The tube was secured to the cervical skin on the left side with a finger-trap suture.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321086","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":"SEROLOGICAL RESPONSE TO CANINE DISTEMPER VACCINATION IN WILD CAUGHT RACCOONS (<i>PROCYON LOTOR</i>).","authors":"Molly R Selleck, Shylo R Johnson, Amy T Gilbert","doi":"10.1638/2023-0078","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a well-known RNA virus that affects domestic dogs and all families of wild terrestrial carnivores. Spillover infections from wildlife to domestic animals are mitigated by preventive vaccination, but there is limited information on the off-label use of veterinary vaccines for wildlife like raccoons (<i>Procyon lotor</i>). Twenty wild-caught raccoons were inoculated with a commercial recombinant DNA canarypox-vectored CDV vaccine, applying a regimen of two serial doses by SC route with an interval of 25-28 days between doses. The CDV serum virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) baseline titers and the postvaccination titers were measured at fixed time points. Forty percent (8/20) of the wild-caught raccoons had CDV VNA titers of 1:8 or greater upon intake, and all but a single individual were juvenile animals. Approximately one month following the first vaccine dose, 8% (1/12) of raccoons seronegative at baseline had serum CDV VNA titers of 1:24 or greater. Approximately one month following the booster vaccine dose, 67% (8/12) of raccoons seronegative at baseline had serum CDV VNA titers of 1:24 or greater. Among raccoons with CDV VNA titers greater than or equal to 1:8 at baseline, 13% (1/8) demonstrated a fourfold or greater rise in titer one month after the first vaccine dose, whereas 38% (3/8) reached the same threshold one month after the booster dose. The presence of naturally acquired CDV VNA in juvenile raccoons at the time of vaccination may have interfered with the humoral VNA response. A regimen of at least two serially administered SC vaccine doses may be immunogenic for raccoons, but further investigation of alternative routes, regimens, and CDV vaccine products is also warranted for this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321103","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}
Sara E Schmitt, Gabriela B das Neves, Jéssica A Withoeft, Leonardo S Costa, Giovana Biezus, Rafael S Pagani, Luiz C Miletti, Ubirajara M Costa, Renata A Casagrande
{"title":"<i>PARROT BORNAVIRUSES</i> IN PSITTACINES KEPT IN CAPTIVITY IN THE STATE OF SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL.","authors":"Sara E Schmitt, Gabriela B das Neves, Jéssica A Withoeft, Leonardo S Costa, Giovana Biezus, Rafael S Pagani, Luiz C Miletti, Ubirajara M Costa, Renata A Casagrande","doi":"10.1638/2023-0051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0051","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Parrot bornaviruses</i> are responsible for proventricular dilatation disease (PDD) in psittacines. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and factors associated with <i>Parrot bornaviruses</i> infection in psittacines kept in captivity in a state in the southern region of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 192 birds from two facilities (A and B) in 2019, using choanal, esophageal, and cloacal swabs and feathers, totaling 768 samples subjected to reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), for the matrix (M) protein gene with a final product of 350 base pairs (bp). Genetic sequencing of three positive samples was performed by the Sanger method. In the study, the overall virus occurrence was 35.9% (69/192), with 40.4% (42/104) in Facility A and 30.7% (27/88) in Facility B. Sequencing analysis of the samples revealed the presence of <i>Parrot bornavirus 2</i> (PaBV-2) in both facilities. Swab samples from the choanal (40/69), esophageal (30/69), cloacal (35/69), and feather (15/69) tested positive, facilitating the molecular diagnosis of <i>Parrot bornaviruses</i>. The results indicated that there is no single ideal sample type for antemortem molecular diagnosis of this virus. Simultaneously testing all four samples at the same time point yielded more diagnoses than testing any single sample among the four. Most of the 29 sampled psittacine species were native, and 46.9% of the birds (90/192) consisted of endangered species. Among the psittacines that tested positive, 88.4% (61/69) were clinically healthy, and 8.7% (6/69) exhibited clinical or behavioral signs, including behavioral changes, alterations in feathering, and changes in body score at the time of collection. This study showcases the application of minimally invasive sampling for diagnosing <i>Parrot bornaviruses</i>, enabling sample collection when the birds are restrained for clinical evaluation. This approach facilitates a prompt and effective antemortem diagnosis, thereby serving as an efficient screening method for parrots kept in captivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321083","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 MORTALITY CAUSES AND PREVALENCE OF RENAL LESIONS IN ZOO-HOUSED CHAMELEONS: 2011-2022.","authors":"Amélie Aduriz, Isabelle Lanthier, Stéphane Lair, Claire Vergneau-Grosset","doi":"10.1638/2023-0023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1638/2023-0023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Of the 202 species of Chamaeleonidae, 38.6% are globally threatened. Currently, nearly a thousand individual chameleons from 36 different species are kept in zoological institutions worldwide. The objectives of this study were to assess the main mortality causes of chameleons in zoological institutions, the prevalence of renal lesions at necropsy, and the environmental factors associated with renal lesions. An online survey was sent to 245 zoological institutions worldwide to collect information about species and sex distribution, necropsy results, and husbandry parameters. Necropsy reports of the last 10 yr were requested from participating institutions (<i>n</i> = 65) when available. Mortality causes were classified into three categories (open diagnosis, infectious, and noninfectious), and noninfectious causes were further subdivided into seven categories (renal, reproductive, myoarthroskeletal, digestive, ophthalmologic, denutrition/multisystemic, and neoplastic). The prevalence of renal lesions was recorded. Multiple linear regression models were used with the prevalence of renal diseases as the dependent variable, and exhibit minimum and maximum hygrometry; exhibit highest and coolest temperature; as well as minimum, mean, and maximum hygrometry of the geographical area as independent variables, combining all chameleon species with similar environmental requirements. Results were obtained for 14 species (<i>n</i> = 412 individuals). The main mortality causes were infectious (46.8%), noninfectious renal (11.4%), and noninfectious reproductive (10.7%) diseases, with all cases of fatal reproductive diseases reported in females. Of the individuals that underwent renal histopathology, 41.7% displayed renal lesions. There was a tendency towards higher renal lesion prevalence in zoos located in areas with lower mean hygrometry (<i>P</i> = 0.05). Further research studies about infectious, renal, and reproductive diseases of Chamaeleonidae are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":17667,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141321090","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}