Health evaluation of a radiocollared population of free-ranging Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) in Costa Rica.

The health of a population of free-ranging tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) inhabiting Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica, was assessed as part of an ongoing ecologic study. Nineteen tapirs were immobilized between March 1997 and February 2000, and samples of blood, skin biopsies, and ectoparasites were collected. Ticks were identified as Amblyomma oblongoguttatum or A. coelebs. Hematology and serum biochemistry results suggest statistically significant differences between free-ranging and captive populations that should be interpreted with caution in view of inherent environmental differences between the two populations. Five of 17 animals tested positive for Leptospira bratislava, and 12 individuals tested positive for Venezuelan equine encephalitis. One of nine skin biopsies examined was abnormal and diagnosed as leukoderma. This report represents the first health assessment of a free-ranging population of tapirs.     

Haemochromatosis in a Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) in an Australian zoo

A 23-year-old Brazilian, or lowland, tapir with a 6-month history of loss of body condition developed clinical signs and laboratory findings consistent with liver failure. The animal was euthanased and a diagnosis of hepatic haemochromatosis was made based on histopathology. Two other healthy tapirs in the same collection had chronically elevated serum and tissue iron concentrations. The excessive accumulation of iron in tissues with resultant tissue damage (i.e. haemochromatosis) has been reported in a range of captive species. This and other reported cases of haemochromatosis in the Brazilian tapir would suggest that this condition is an important consideration in the management of this species in zoos. Further research into the endogenous regulation of iron metabolism, especially the role of hepcidin, in tapirs and other species at risk of iron storage disorders may be helpful in the prevention of this condition.     

Resorptive tooth root lesions in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)

Facial abscessation and osteomyelitis due to dental disease is commonly seen in the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus), but little is known about the prevalence or etiology of these lesions. To determine the prevalence of dental ailments, 56 skulls and mandibles of deceased Malayan tapirs were visually and radiographically evaluated. Dental lesions were scored according to severity, and individuals were classified according to their age (juvenile/ young adult/adult) and origin (captive/free ranging). All of the lesions identified were of a resorptive nature. seemingly originating at the cementoenamel junction and burrowing towards the center of the tooth. Overall, 27% of the investigated skulls presented radiolucent dental lesions. The prevalence among captive animals was 52% (13/25), while only 6% (2/31) of the free-ranging tapirs had dental lesions. The second, third, and fourth premolars and first molar were the teeth most commonly affected, and the mandibular teeth were more often involved than the maxillary dentition. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of resorptive dental lesions in captive Malayan tapirs and provides a strong indication that age and captivity are significant risk factors in the development of these lesions. Dental disease, Malayan tapir, radiology, resorptive lesions, Tapirus indicus.     

Successful treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma with intralesional fluorouracil in a Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus).

An oral mass was observed in a Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus). Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed by histologic examination of a biopsy specimen. A series of intralesional injections using fluorouracil resulted in complete regression of the neoplasm with no recognized adverse effects.     

Microanatomy of the terminal air spaces of Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii) lungs

The terminal airways and microvasculature of five adult Baird's beaked whales (Berardius bairdii) lungs have been examined by means of light and scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts. The respiratory system of the Baird's beaked whale has various anatomical features which allow them to attain great depths and remain submerged for long periods. The whale lung has components including hyaline cartilage and smooth muscle throughout, reaching as far as the peripheral bronchi, sphincters surrounding the terminal bronchioles, the thick alveolar septa with a connective tissue core and a bi-layer capillary bed, and a distinctive venous plexus of the pulmonary veins. The well-developed venous plexuses of the pulmonary vein are found in the interlobular connective tissue, and around the airways and pulmonary arteries with close apposition. The hyaline cartilage throughout the airways may increase the effective dead air space that accommodates most of the air forced from the collapsed alveoli during a dive. The sphincter might serve as a cock for regulating buoyancy and for trapping air in the alveoli to prevent their complete collapse and a sucking in of alveolar tissue as the dive becomes deeper. The venous plexuses might be for pooling the large volume of blood in the lung to conserve oxygen for deep and prolonged diving.     

Microvasculature in the terminal air spaces of the lungs of the Baird's beaked whale (Berardius bairdii)

Lungs were obtained from five adult Baird's beaked whales (Berardius bairdii) and examined by means of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of corrosion casts. The alveolar septa of these whales are thick with a connective tissue core and a bi-layer capillary bed. A double capillary network is regularly found in the alveolar duct and alveolar septa. Occasionally, septa adjacent to alveoli and alveoli themselves show only a single capillary layer. The distance between the two capillary layers has a tendency to decrease toward the end of airspaces, suggesting an end result of capillary fusion. Vascular replicas of venous vessels have annular furrows at regular intervals of 50 to 100 microm, which are caused by focal aggregations of collagen fibers circularly oriented and located immediately underneath the endothelium. The first valves appear in the collecting venules gathering alveolar capillaries. These valves are quite characteristic of flap-, funnel-and/or chimney like structures.     

Sarcoids in two captive tapirs (Tapirus bairdii): clinical, pathological and molecular study

This case report describes for the first time sarcoids in tapirs (Tapirus bairdii), namely, a 2-year-old male and a 3.6-year-old female born and housed at the same facility. The male presented with a 3-cm nodular, red, pedunculated, hairless, ulcerated mass on the inner surface of the left pinna. No recurrence or additional growths were present during the 3 years following surgical excision of the mass. The female presented with a similar 2-cm mass on the inner surface of the right pinna, which recurred 2 months following surgical excision, but was subsequently successfully treated locally with liquid nitrogen with no further recurrence during a 2-year follow-up period. Histologically, these two masses closely resembled equine sarcoids. Similarly, an association with bovine papillomavirus 1 was demonstrated using polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization.     

Serial immobilization of a Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestrus) with oral detomidine and oral carfentanil.

Detomidine (0.17 +/- 0.03 mg/kg, p.o.) followed in 20 min by carfentanil (7.88 +/- 1.85 microg/kg, p.o.) reliably restrained an adult Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestrus) eight times for short medical procedures. Detomidine caused head droop, sawhorse stance, ataxia or head pressing (or both). Sternal or lateral recumbency was reached within 10.75 +/- 7.6 min of carfentanil administration. Recoveries after i.v. and s.c. administration of yohimbine and naltrexone were smooth and rapid, with the tapir standing within 2-5 min.     

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in a lamb of the Texel breed]

The subject presented here is a hitherto undescribed case of embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma found in one particular lamb. The neoplasm was localized in the left hemisphere of the head and exited in the regio supraorbitalis. After anatomical and histopathological examination of the tumor, together with immunochemistry tests, an embryonic rhabdomyosarcoma could be positively diagnosed. This is the main type of tumor that occurs in the soft tissue of children, but its appearance in other species has until now not been extensively documented.     

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis in goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutrosa subgutrosa) and a Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus)

An outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Choleraesuis enteritis occurred in two juvenile goitered gazelles and an adult Malayan tapir over a period of 5 wk at the Minnesota Zoo. Diagnosis was made postmortem on one gazelle and one tapir, and a second gazelle was diagnosed via fecal culture. The death of the tapir was attributed to S. enterica serovar Choleraesuis septicemia, while salmonellosis was considered to be a contributing factor besides ostertagiasis for the death of one goitered gazelle and for the diarrhea of another goitered gazelle. A third gazelle became ill in the same time period, but Salmonella infection was not confirmed by culture. All exhibited the clinical signs of profuse, watery diarrhea. The gazelles developed a protein-losing enteropathy, and the tapir showed signs of sepsis and endotoxemia. Serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed the Salmonella isolates to be indistinguishable from each other. One year prior to this outbreak, Salmonella sp. was cultured from a Visayan warty pig (Sus cebifrons) housed in the same building as the tapir. After further investigation into the outbreak, spread of this pathogen was speculated to be associated with human movement across animal areas.     

Surgical management of an abdominal abscess in a Malayan tapir

A captive Malayan tapir was observed to have inappetence, weight loss, signs of depression, mild dehydration and diar rhoea. Haematological and serum biochemical tests showed anaemia, hypoproteinaemia, hyperfibrinogenaemia and neu-trophilia with a left shift. Ultrasonic examination of the abdomen under anaesthesia revealed a well-encapsulated abscess. The abscess was marsupialised to the ventral body wall. Culture of the pus produced a mixed bacterial growth. Antimicrobial therapy was based on bacterial sensitivity results. Follow-up ultrasonic examinations showed resolution of the abscess. Ninety-one days after surgery the tapir began regurgitating food and water. An abscess originating from the stomach and occluding the lumen of the duodenum was identified at surgery. The abscess ruptured during surgical manipulations and the tapir was euthanased.     

Presence of encysted immature nematodes in a released whooping crane (Grus americana).

Numerous nematode cysts were observed throughout the mesentery and on the surface of gastrointestinal organs in a whooping crane (Grus americana) that was found dead in a central Florida marsh. Morphology of the excysted nematodes most closely resembled third-stage larvae in the order Spirurida but were not similar to any species previously reported in whooping cranes. Evidence presented suggests that the larvae may be Physocephalus sexalatus, a swine spirurid in the subfamily Ascaropsinae that is commonly found encapsulated in birds, amphibians, and reptiles. We suspect that the whooping crane may potentially serve as a transport host for this parasite.     

Lecithin--cholesterol--acyltransferase activity in the plasma of immature, oestrogenised and laying fowl (Gallus domesticus).

A study was made of the role of the lecithin-cholesterol-acyltransferase (LCAT) enzyme in the changes in the concentrations and fatty acid composition of the plasma cholesteryl esters of the fowl associated with oestrogen treatment and sexual maturity. Although there was a considerable increase in the concentration of free cholesterol in the plasma of oestrogen treated and laying birds, only in the oestrogen treated birds was it associated with an increased rate of cholesterol esterification. In both laying and oestrogen treated birds, changes in the fatty acid composition of the plasma cholesterol esters could be attributed to related changes in the fatty acid specificity of the LCAT enzyme. Evidence is provided to indicate that the cholesterol esters in the plasma of the fowl are synthesised mainly by the plasma LCAT system. The changes in the rates and fatty acid specificity of the LCAT system in the plasma of the fowl associated with sexual maturity or oestrogen treatment are discussed in relation to the extensive alterations shown to occur in the lipoprotein pattern of the plasma.     

Locations and types of neoplasms in immature dogs: 69 cases (1964-1989).

Sites, histologic types, and frequencies of neoplasms in immature dogs (less than or equal to 6 months old) were evaluated from data collected over 25 years. The frequencies of neoplasms in immature dogs were compared with those of mature dogs (greater than 6 months old). Of 69 immature dogs with neoplasms, 5 had 2 primary neoplasms each, resulting in a total of 74 neoplasms. The 3 most common sites for neoplasia, in decreasing order, were the hematopoietic system, brain, and skin. Immature dogs were 10.9 times more likely to have a neoplasm located in the brain, compared with mature dogs. Immature dogs also were 3.3 times more likely to have a neoplasm associated with the hematopoietic system, compared with mature dogs.     

Multiple trichoepitheliomas in an alpaca (Lama pacos).

A 13-yr-old male Alpaca (Lama pacos) presented with multiple ovoid, well-circumscribed, nonulcerated intradermal masses. Individual masses measured 1-4 cm in diameter, and the overlying skin was alopecic. Several of the masses were surgically removed and evaluated microscopically. Histopathologic evaluation demonstrated multiple dermal cysts lined by neoplastic follicular epithelium. The cysts were filled with multiple layers of lamellar keratin and lined by abortive inner and outer root sheaths exhibiting cellular atypia, supporting the diagnosis of trichoepitheliomas. No additional treatment was initiated, and the alpaca continues to do well.     

A case of an undifferentiated rhabdomyosarcoma in a hen

A more than hen's-egg-sized tumour was found in the breast muscle of a seven months old chicken. In liver, lungs and kidney metastases were seen. The light- and electronmicroscopic survey led to the diagnosis of an undifferentiated rhabdomyosarcoma.     

Metaphyseal osteomyelitis in an immature Abyssinian cat

Metaphyseal osteomyelitis is a rarely described condition in small animals, especially the cat. Infection, most commonly Staphylococcus sp, is considered to occur in the metaphyseal region of the immature animal due to vascular anomalies that predispose to the haematogenous seeding of bacteria in this area. There is also speculation that the characteristics of the bacteria that allow them to adhere to cartilage matrix, rather than vascular linings and erythrocytes, may provide an advantage for colonisation in the metaphysis, resulting in infection. This case describes the successful management of a case of distal radial metaphyseal osteomyelitis in an immature cat using surgical intervention and antibacterial therapy.