Dystocia in a Captive Reared Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Jones, Kegan Romelle; Lall, Kavita Ranjeeta; Garcia, Gary Wayne

doi:10.3390/vetsci7010030

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…The information obtained from diagnostic tests from the adult male albino revealed that the animal had a severe bacterial infection that affected the lungs and the liver. Nondomesticated animals tend to show little clinical signs to disease, which was the case with this agouti [ 23 , 24 ]. There are few reported cases in the literature of infectious organisms affecting the agouti.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systemic Bacterial Infection in a Captive Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758)

Jones

Lall

Suepaul

et al. 2022

The Scientific World Journal

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The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) is a neotropical rodent which has the potential to be domesticated. As such, some research studies have been done on the biology of this animal. Recently, these animals are being kept in captivity as a source of animal protein. Animals which are kept in captivity may present diseases that would not have been reported in the wild due to lack of observation or the lack of occurrence. The aim of this short communication is to report a case of systemic bacterial infection that affected the lungs and liver of a captive agouti. Bacterial analysis revealed that the infection was caused by Escherichia coli. Bacterial infections have been reported in the mammary tissue as well as the skin of the agouti, but to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of systemic infection in the agouti affecting several organs. This case was seen in a nine-month-old male agouti that was being housed at the University of the West Indies Field Station (UWI, UFS). The animal showed no apparent sign of disease except for lethargy and subsequently died before any treatment was administered. These findings showed that the agouti may have been under some stress (nutritional or environmental) which predisposed this animal to this infection. Future work has to address the nutritional requirements for the growing agouti as well as some treatment options for managements of similar cases in the future.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systemic Bacterial Infection in a Captive Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758)

Jones

Lall

Suepaul

et al. 2022

The Scientific World Journal

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“…The gestation period one average is 117 days; females produce between one to four (average 1.70± 0.4) offspring per parturition. Birth weight of these animals ranged between 140 to 330 g (210 ± 35) (Jones and Garcia, 2022;Jones et al, 2020;Mohammed et al, 2018;Brown-Uddenberg, 2001).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sources:Jones and Garcia (2022);Jones et al, (2020);Mohammed et al, (2018);Brown-Uddenberg (2001).Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2022, vol. 82, e237869 3/8Reproductive diseases in Dasyprocta leporina…”

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confidence: 99%

Reproductive diseases in captive Agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina)

2022

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Reproductive diseases have been well documented in domestic livestock such as sheep, goat, cattle and pigs. However, there is very little information on these diseases in the agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). The agouti is used for its meat in South America and the Caribbean. More recently, intensive farming of this animal is being practiced in the Neotropics. There is dearth of information on dystocia and vaginal prolapses in the agouti. This document reports on three cases of reproductive diseases in captive reared agoutis in Trinidad and Tobago. The first case was a female agouti weighing approximately 3 kg that was in the last stage of pregnancy, which was found dead in its cage. The vulva of the mother had the protruding hind-limbs of the fetus. Necroscopic evaluation of carcass revealed little fat tissue and the mother had two fetuses in the right horn of the uterus. Each fetus weighed approximately 200 g. The fetuses were well formed with fur, teeth and eyes. The placenta was attached to each fetus. The pathological findings suggested that dystocia resulted from secondary uterine inertia which was the cause of death of the adult female agouti. The second case was that of an adult female agouti weighing 2.5 kg. This female had given birth to an offspring three weeks prior and was observed to have had a vaginal prolapse. Surgery was performed and the prolapsed vagina was placed back into the pelvic cavity. Further to this intervention, the vagina prolapsed twice. Subsequent to the re-insertion of the vaginal tissue the agouti was euthanized. The third case was also that of a dystocia. However, the fetuses weighed 235 g and 165 g respectively and were in normal presentation, posture and positioning. The fetus however was unable to pass via the vagina and was trapped in the pelvic cavity. This caused secondary uterine inertia which was the cause of death. The causes of reproductive diseases in these cases are unknown but the feeding management and space allowance given to the agouti in late gestation may be contributing factors.

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“…In contrast to infectious diseases, there is little information on non-infectious disease that affects the agouti. There have been some reports on Vitamin D toxicity [ 16 , 17 ], dystocia [ 18 ] and uterine tumors [ 19 ]. Some non-infectious diseases of captive reared agoutis which were diagnosed by pathological examination include: esophageal obstruction, cecal and fecal impaction, urolithiasis, polycystic kidneys, fetal maceration and mummification, dystocia, retained placenta, endometritis and pyometra [ 20 , 21 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mammary Diseases in a Captive Reared Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) in Trinidad

Jones

Lall

Suepaul

et al. 2020

Veterinary Sciences

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The agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) is a neotropical rodent that is utilized for its meat by hunters as well as wildlife farmers. There is a dearth of information on infectious diseases that affect these animals. At present, there has been no recording in the literature on diseases of mammary tissue in these animals. This case reported on the abnormal mammary enlargement of a four year old female agouti post-partum. Blood, milk and tissue samples were taken for diagnostics to determine the cause of disease. Histological samples confirmed the swelling of the mammary gland as a diffuse mammary hyperplasia. Hematological values obtained were within the reference range of agoutis reared in captivity. The milk samples that were taken cultured Staphylococcus spp. in one mammary gland (left inguinal). The cultured bacteria in the milk samples confirmed this animal had mastitis. The bacterial cultured (Staphylococcus aureus) was sensitive to tetracyclines, ampicillin, trivetrin and ceftiofur. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first record in the literature on mastitis in the agouti. Thus, this information will add to the knowledge of diseases in captive reared agoutis.

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Dystocia in a Captive Reared Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Cited by 9 publications

References 33 publications

Systemic Bacterial Infection in a Captive Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758)

Systemic Bacterial Infection in a Captive Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758)

Reproductive diseases in captive Agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina)

Mammary Diseases in a Captive Reared Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) in Trinidad

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