Pathology in Captive Wild Felids at German Zoological Gardens

Abstract

This retrospective study provides an overview on spontaneous diseases occurring in 38 captive wild felids submitted for necropsy by German zoological gardens between 2004 and 2013. Species included 18 tigers, 8 leopards, 7 lions, 3 cheetahs and 2 cougars with an age ranging from 0.5 to 22 years. Renal lesions, predominantly tubular alterations (intra-tubular concrements, tubular degeneration, necrosis, intra-tubular cellular debris, proteinaceous casts, dilated tubuli) followed by interstitial (lympho-plasmacytic inflammation, fibrosis, metastatic-suppurative inflammation, eosinophilic inflammation) and glomerular lesions (glomerulonephritis, glomerulosclerosis, amyloidosis) were detected in 33 out of 38 animals (87%). Tumors were found in 19 of 38 felids (50%) with 12 animals showing more than one neoplasm. The tumor prevalence increased with age. Neoplasms originated from endocrine (11), genital (8), lympho-hematopoietic (5) and alimentary organs (4) as well as the mesothelium (3). Most common neoplasms comprised uterine/ovarian leiomyomas (5/2), thyroid adenomas/adenocarcinoma (5/1), pleural mesotheliomas (3), hemangiosarcomas (2) and glossal papillomas (2). Inflammatory changes were frequently encountered in the intestine and the lung. Two young animals displayed metastatic mineralization suggestive of a vitamin D- or calcium intoxication. One tiger exhibited degenerative white matter changes consistent with an entity termed large felid leukoencephalomyelopathy. Various hyperplastic, degenerative and inflammatory changes with minor clinical significance were found in several organs. Summarized, renal lesions followed by neoplastic changes as well as inflammatory changes in lung and gastrointestinal tract represent the most frequent findings in captive wild felids living in German zoological gardens.

Large felid leucoencephalomyelopathy in a Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) from an Australian zoo

“…A solitary case in a cheetah from the UK was identified during the same period 2 and there has been one other published case of a Sumatran tiger from a retrospective study of spontaneous diseases occurring in captive wild felids in German zoological gardens between 2004 and 2013. 3 The condition has not been reported since 2013 and has never been reported in Australia. Here we describe a very similar leucoencephalomyelopathy in a tiger from an Australian zoo.…”

Copper isotopes as possible neoplasia biomarkers in captive wild felids

“…Large‐scale reviews are often complex as procedures of necropsy and data collections are heterogeneous between zoos. However, recently, some regional studies have been performed, such as the ones from Vandrendries () and Jayasree et al (), based on felid neoplasia respectively in French and Indian zoos, or Junginger et al () and Escalante, Nguyen, and Lewandowski (), who specifically focused on tigers in German and North American zoos, respectively. While data about neoplasia in wild felids are sporadic, it appears that some neoplasia seem to be species‐specific.…”

“…and Jayasree et al (2016), based on felid neoplasia respectively in French and Indian zoos, orJunginger et al (2015) andEscalante, Nguyen, and Lewandowski (2011), who specifically focused on tigers in German and North American zoos, respectively. While data about neoplasia in wild felids are sporadic, it appears that some neoplasia seem to be species-specific.…”

Generation and characterization of highly purified canine Schwann cells from spinal nerve dorsal roots as potential new candidates for transplantation strategies

“…Samples were fixed in non‐buffered formalin (10%) and embedded in paraffin. Serial sections were mounted on SuperFrost‐Plus slides (Menzel Gläser, Braunschweig, Germany) and immunohistochemistry was performed (Junginger et al, ).…”

“…Samples were fixed in non-buffered formalin (10%) and embedded in paraffin. Serial sections were mounted on SuperFrost-Plus slides (Menzel Gläser, Braunschweig, Germany) and immunohistochemistry was performed(Junginger et al, 2015).To investigate the ability of isolated Schwann cells of dogs with IVDH to favour neurite formation and neurite outgrowth, DRG of four healthy Beagle dogs without alterations of CNS and PNS euthanized in the context of an unrelated study at a scheduled time point (permission number: 33.9-42502-05-14A443; DRG samples were taken postmortem and were not included in the original study) were taken for neuron isolation for further co-culture experiments.…”