No abstract

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animal heads of 184 species from significant genetic diversity and five million visitors’ influx round the year is placing it a public health important spot. This study was conducted to investigate histoplasmosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo to ascertain animal health, welfare and public health safety standard. One hundred and two necropsied tissue samples preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy from 36 animals of 25 different species were collected from Dhaka Zoo during 2007 - 2009. Twenty five out of 36 study animals were suffering from granulomatous diseases of mycotic and/or bacterial origin. Among them three animals were found suffering from histoplasmosis. Clinical history, nodular lesions from necropsy findings, granulomatous reactions with fungal spores on histopathology; macrophages laden with histoplasma organisms on histopathology and on special staining were revealed histoplasmosis in six rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). Present study provides evidence of existing histoplasmosis and similar long standing zoonotic diseases in majority of rest of the animals with health risk that shades health safety standard at Dhaka Zoo.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjvm.v11i2.19145Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2013). 11 (2):177-181

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animal heads of 184 species from significant genetic diversity and five million visitors' influx round the year is placing it a public health important spot. This study was conducted to investigate blastomycosis in animals at Dhaka Zoo to ascertain animal health, welfare and public health safety standard. One hundred and two necropsied tissue samples preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy from 36 animals of 25 different species were collected from Dhaka Zoo. Twenty five out of 36 study animals were suffering from granulomatous diseases. Among them three animals were found suffering from blastomycosis. Clinical history, nodular lesions from necropsy findings, granulomatous reactions with fungal spores on histopathology and spherical yeast cells with double contoured wall and broad base budding on special staining were used for the confirmation of blastomycosis in spotted deer (Cervus axis/Axis axis), nilgai (Boselaphustragocamelus) and horse (Equuscaballus).Present study provides evidence of existing blastomyosis and similar long standing zoonotic diseases in majority of rest of the animals with health risk that shades health safety standard at Dhaka Zoo.

Dhaka Zoo with 2000 animals of 184 species and five million visitors a year is important from a public health point of view. This study was conducted to investigate coccidioidomycosis in captive animals at Dhaka Zoo. One hundred and two tissue samples were collected and preserved in 10% neutral buffered formalin at necropsy of 36 animals of 25 species. Twenty five animals were suffering from granulomatous diseases, of which ten were identified as coccidioidomycosis. Clinical history, nodular lesions at necropsy, granulomatous lesions on histopathology and characteristic spores on special staining confirmed coccidioidomycosis in six rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), one horse (Equus caballus), one common langur (Presbytis entellus), one beisa oryx (Oryx beisa beisa) and one reticulated python (Python molurus). It is suggested that coccidioidomycosis in captive animals threatens human and animal health. (Bangl. vet.