Retrospective Evaluation of Histopathologic Findings in Captive Gazelle Species

Abstract

Capturing disease trends among different species has indisputable value to both veterinary clinicians and zoo managers for improving the welfare and management of zoo species. The causes of mortality for eight species of gazelle (addra gazelle, Nanger dama; dorcas gazelle, Gazella dorcas; Grant's gazelle, Nanger granti; sand gazelle, Gazella leptoceros; Saudi goitered gazelle, Gazella subgutturosa; Soemmerring's gazelle, Nanger soemmerringii; Thomson's gazelle, Eudorcas thomsonii; and Speke's gazelle, Gazella spekei) are presented from an 18-yr period (1996 2014). The leading cause of mortality for all species was trauma, followed by bronchopneumonia, and failure to thrive/maternal neglect. Nephritis and rumenitis/abomasitis/enteritis were common ancillary lesions across all species. On average, female gazelle lived twice as long as male gazelle, with an average overall adult survival time of 9.3 yr. Dorcas, Thomson's and addra gazelle females had the longest average survival time (10-13 yr). Calves up to 6 mo of age died most frequently from failure of passive transfer or maternal neglect. Thyroid carcinoma was frequently identified in Thomson's gazelle. Sand and Speke's gazelle frequently died from systemic amyloidosis, and Saudi goitered gazelle were more likely to have renal amyloidosis. Hematuria syndrome was the second most common cause of death in Grant's gazelle. The majority of lesions identified in this study that cause or contribute to mortality are preventable with appropriate management. Knowledge of disease trends in captive gazelle populations can help guide veterinary care, management decisions, and collection management planning.

Interstitial nephritis of unknown aetiology in captive slender‐horned gazelles (Gazella leptoceros)

“…[4][5][6][7] One retrospective histopathologic evaluation of captive gazelle species in the USA, where trauma and amyloidosis were the most common causes of death in slender-horned gazelles, found 13 gazelles of this species out of 31 diagnosed with nephritis, yet without further specifying the lesions or describing clinical data. 8 This is the first report of the clinical presentation, haematology, biochemistry, gross postmortem examination, histopathology and ancillary laboratory examinations of interstitial nephritis in slender-horned gazelles, highlighting the importance of this renal disease to the practitioner.…”

“…Published reports on interstitial nephritis in antelopes are scarce; an extensive literature search yielded only four references, however, not a single one concerning the genus Gazella 4–7 . One retrospective histopathologic evaluation of captive gazelle species in the USA, where trauma and amyloidosis were the most common causes of death in slender‐horned gazelles, found 13 gazelles of this species out of 31 diagnosed with nephritis, yet without further specifying the lesions or describing clinical data 8 …”

Gazella leptoceros(Artiodactyla: Bovidae)

“…Among eight species of gazelles (including G. leptoceros ), infant mortality in human care is most frequently attributed to maternal neglect, failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins (an indicator of lack of nursing in the first 24 h), and trauma (Anderson et al 2016). Trauma is also a leading cause of death of older G. leptoceros , accounting for nine of 31 deaths (29%) in one study from the United States (data gathered 1996 to 2014—Anderson et al 2016) and five of six deaths (83%) at Zoo Planckendael, Belgium (Goossens et al 2005). Trauma can occur when individuals panic and run into fences (Anderson et al 2016) or due to aggression, especially between males (Goossens et al 2005; Abáigar et al 2009).…”

“…Trauma is also a leading cause of death of older G. leptoceros , accounting for nine of 31 deaths (29%) in one study from the United States (data gathered 1996 to 2014—Anderson et al 2016) and five of six deaths (83%) at Zoo Planckendael, Belgium (Goossens et al 2005). Trauma can occur when individuals panic and run into fences (Anderson et al 2016) or due to aggression, especially between males (Goossens et al 2005; Abáigar et al 2009). Traumatic risks can be reduced through enclosure construction that uses visible fencing with rounded corners, and by habituation to, and training in, capture facilities such as restraint chutes (Anderson et al 2016).…”

“…Trauma can occur when individuals panic and run into fences (Anderson et al 2016) or due to aggression, especially between males (Goossens et al 2005; Abáigar et al 2009). Traumatic risks can be reduced through enclosure construction that uses visible fencing with rounded corners, and by habituation to, and training in, capture facilities such as restraint chutes (Anderson et al 2016). Males may be aggressive and fight among each other, particularly when females are present (Abáigar et al 2009).…”