A SURVEY OF DISEASES IN CAPTIVE RED WOLVES (CANIS RUFUS), 1997–2012

Abstract

Conservation efforts to preserve the red wolf (Canis rufus) have been in progress since the 1970s through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Red Wolf Recovery Program and the Association of Zoos and Aquarium's Red Wolf Species Survival Plan. An ongoing part of this project has been to monitor mortality trends, particularly to look for potential genetic conditions resulting from inbreeding given the small founding population of only 14 individuals. An initial survey was conducted in the 1990s but a comprehensive assessment of the population has not been done since then. This retrospective review evaluates mortality in the population from 1997 to 2012 through analysis of gross necropsy and histology records provided by cooperating institutions that housed red wolves during the time period of interest. Of the 378 red wolves that died during this 15-yr period, 259 animals had gross necropsy records, histology records, or both that were evaluated. The major causes of neonatal death were parental trauma, stillbirth, or pneumonia. Overall, juveniles had very low mortality rates with only 12 wolves aged 30 days to 6 mo dying during the study period. The most common cause of death within the adult populations was neoplasia, with epithelial neoplasms, carcinomas, and adenocarcinomas being the most common types reported. Gastrointestinal disease was the second most common cause of death, particularly gastric dilation and volvulus, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastrointestinal perforations. These findings are in stark contrast to causes of mortality in the wild population, which are primarily due to human-related activities such as vehicular trauma, gunshot, or poisoning. Overall, the captive population has few health problems, but an increase in inflammatory bowel disease in particular warrants further investigation.

Pathological findings in the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), stone marten (Martes foina) and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), with special emphasis on infectious and zoonotic agents in Northern Germany

“…The etiology remains unclear in most cases and it would seem that protein-rich nutrition possibly favours the condition. Moreover, acquired infectious (such as leptospirosis) or non-infectious (such as autoimmune) diseases or congenital factors might be involved [45, 89, 90]. Mild bacterial or viral infections are primarily suspected of causing the inflammation.…”

Gut Microbiomes Differ Among Dietary Types and Stool Consistency in the Captive Red Wolf (Canis rufus)

“…Unfortunately, the captive red wolf population is threatened by health issues, especially gastrointestinal (GI) disease that are not described in the wild population (Acton et al, 2000). Gastrointestinal disease is the second most common cause of mortality in the captive red wolf population (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016). For instance, from 1992 through 2012, 21% (32/151) of mortalities in adult red wolves were related to GI disease, with 25% (8/32) of these individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016).…”

“…Gastrointestinal disease is the second most common cause of mortality in the captive red wolf population (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016). For instance, from 1992 through 2012, 21% (32/151) of mortalities in adult red wolves were related to GI disease, with 25% (8/32) of these individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016). An additional 25% (37/151) of wolves that died from 1992 to 2012 had non-lethal GI lesions (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016).…”

“…For instance, from 1992 through 2012, 21% (32/151) of mortalities in adult red wolves were related to GI disease, with 25% (8/32) of these individuals suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016). An additional 25% (37/151) of wolves that died from 1992 to 2012 had non-lethal GI lesions (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016). While IBD did not kill these individuals, 68% (22/37) possessed lesions similar to IBD (Acton et al, 2000;Seeley et al, 2016).…”

Characterization of genetic variation and basis of inflammatory bowel disease in the Toll-like receptor 5 gene of the red wolf and the maned wolf

“…Gastrointestinal disease is a major factor in mortalities in both red and maned wolves and has a high prevalence in both ex situ populations (Acton et al 2000, Maia & Gouveia 2002, Stirling et al 2008, Seeley et al 2016.…”