Improved conservation and understanding for this species might result from the validation and measurement of chronic stress biomarkers. The collective term DHEA(S) signifies dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated counterpart, DHEA-S. Ratios of serum DHEA(S) to cortisol (cortisol/DHEA(S)) have demonstrated potential as indicators of chronic stress in human, domestic animal, and wildlife populations. 14 wild narwhals were collected for sampling at the commencement and conclusion of the capture-tagging procedures in Baffin Bay, Nunavut, Canada, during field tagging activities in 2017 and 2018. Quantification of serum DHEA(S) levels was accomplished using commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) developed explicitly for human samples. The ELISA assays' partial validation process included evaluating the intra-assay coefficient of variation, confirming the DHEA(S) dilution linearity, and determining the percentage of recovery. At the start and finish of the handling process, the mean values (nanograms per milliliter, standard error of the mean) of narwhal serum cortisol, DHEA(S), and cortisol/DHEA(S) ratios are shown below. Serum cortisol levels were 3074 ± 487 at the beginning and 4183 ± 483 at the end. Corresponding DHEA values were 101 ± 052 and 099 ± 050, while DHEA-S values were 872 ± 168 and 770 ± 102. Ratios of cortisol/DHEA were 7543 ± 2435 and 8441 ± 1176, and cortisol/DHEA-S ratios were 416 ± 107 and 614 ± 100. Post-capture, serum cortisol and the cortisol/DHEA-S ratio were observed to be statistically higher, with p-values of 0.0024 and 0.0035 respectively. In addition, the final serum cortisol measurement following handling correlated positively with the total body length (P = 0.0042), and a higher level was observed, on average, in male specimens (P = 0.0086). Rapid and user-friendly assays were developed to precisely measure serum DHEA(S) levels in narwhals; these assays were also suitable for use in this species, and the calculated cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio emerges as a potential biomarker for chronic stress not only in narwhals but also potentially in other cetaceans.

Cardiac pathologies were the most frequent cause of death among adult captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens), based on a recent mortality review. This investigation aimed to provide a description of the typical echocardiographic measurements obtained from 13 healthy, captive, adult red pandas participating in elective health examinations. An examination was undertaken to explore the differences in echocardiographic characteristics between the red panda subspecies A. f. styani and A. f. fulgens, while also determining their association with age, sex, and body condition score. Anesthesia was administered and sustained by means of isoflurane, an inhaled anesthetic agent. A full physical examination, coupled with a comprehensive echocardiogram including 2D, M-mode, and Doppler ultrasound, was performed on each animal. The mean and standard deviation of each echocardiographic variable are reported. The anesthetic agent's impact on systolic performance was substantial enough to classify it as subnormal. While echocardiographic variables generally mirrored each other across both subspecies and genders, left atrial dimension (2D) differed significantly (P=0.003), being greater in A. f. styani than in A. f. fulgens, and left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (P=0.004) also varied, exhibiting greater dimensions in male specimens compared to females. The correlation of age with several echocardiographic measurements was observed (P < 0.05), while end-diastolic volume uniquely correlated significantly with body condition score (P = 0.01). The ranges within these results serve as a guide for predicting cardiac disease occurrences in red pandas.

Due to systemic mycotic infections, six adult eastern bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci), all hailing from a single institution, passed away over the course of six years. All animals, when they died, possessed the same genetic lineage and were in good physical health. The macroscopic assessment of every specimen revealed multifocal white-to-tan nodules, some of which reached a diameter of up to 10 centimeters, and which were most concentrated in the heart, lungs, and kidneys. The histologic study revealed granulomatous inflammatory foci within these nodules, displaying branching, septate, broad, undulating fungal structures. Employing PCR sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and the process of culturing enabled the identification of the fungal species. Various analytical techniques revealed a multitude of fungal species; however, the shared fungal identification was restricted to Cladosporium sp. in four specific cases. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/thal-sns-032.html The identical clinical and postmortem findings in these cases pointed to a single infectious disease. In this population of bongo antelopes, the Cladosporium sp. was identified as a potential, lethal, emerging infectious agent. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/thal-sns-032.html Death in all these cases was directly linked to conduction dysfunctions arising from the cardiac lesions, or the use of euthanasia procedures.

Medical (n = 121) and necropsy (n = 144) records pertaining to captive northern bald ibis (NBI), African sacred ibis (ASI), and scarlet ibis (SCI) at London Zoo (LZ) during the period 2000 to 2020 were analyzed. In all species examined (247), pododermatitis proved a frequent cause of morbidity, leading to 79 observed cases. Mortality in the zoo was significantly impacted by trauma, largely from collisions with stationary objects (58 of 144 cases), infectious diseases (32 of 144), primarily valvular endocarditis (10 of 32), and aspergillosis (9 of 32). NBI patients experienced a 44-fold higher risk of morbidity from toxicosis compared to ASI patients (95% confidence interval, 15 to 133; P < 0.005); all cases in the NBI cohort were attributable to plumbism. A substantial 34-fold greater risk of undetermined morbidity was observed in female animals of all species, in comparison to males (95% confidence interval 15-79; p < 0.005). Importantly, 16 of 25 affected animals were thin birds with no clear cause. Nutritional morbidity was 113 times more prevalent among nestlings than among adults (95% confidence interval, 17 to 730) and 55 times more prevalent than among juveniles (95% confidence interval, 7 to 410; P-value < 0.005). These data point to areas in need of additional investigation within the NBI, ASI, and SCI populations located at LZ.

We aim to characterize the common and substantial causes of mortality and disease processes within the captive Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) population at Al Ain Zoo in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates through a retrospective study. Postmortem records, encompassing 25 Arabian sand cats that succumbed between 2009 and 2022, were examined in a retrospective manner. A complete postmortem examination was performed in each instance, and the gathered information was subsequently recorded in the Al Ain Zoo's database system and associated documentation. Among the 25 animal fatalities, 11 individuals were adults (4-12 years old), while 12 were categorized as geriatric (over 12 years old); only two neonatal (0-4 months) deaths were observed, with no reported juvenile (4 months to 4 years) deaths. Remarkably, and predictably considering the demographic profile, 24% of the deceased exhibited concurrent pathologies. Adult and geriatric felines, in a majority (60%) of cases, presented with nephropathies. These nephropathies were either among the most critical contributing factors to or the primary cause of mortality. Four cases presented a diversity of neoplastic lesions, including a previously unidentified benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor in this subspecies, along with hepatobiliary carcinoma and two disparate thyroid neoplasms, each of which was a novel finding. One of the cases presented a characteristic example of peliosis hepatis, a vasculoproliferative condition affecting the liver. Among the observed findings, thyroid neoplasia and hyperplasia, combined with clinical symptoms and other post-mortem lesions, prompted strong suspicions of hyperthyroidism in at least four cases. Six cases involved traumatic causes of death, including the two reported neonatal fatalities. Improved veterinary care for the Arabian sand cat is facilitated by this information, which identifies common pathologies in the species, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis and, ultimately, enhancing management and husbandry for captive breeding populations.

Veterinary publications regarding binturong (Arctictis binturong) illnesses frequently consist of case studies or single-patient reports, failing to encompass broader population-level details. The acquisition of morbidity and mortality data from North American institutions was achieved via survey completion or medical record submission. Across 22 institutions, data on 74 individuals (37 male, 30 female, and 7 unidentified neonates) was collected between 1986 and 2019. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/thal-sns-032.html A total of 39 individuals provided antemortem data, while 53 more contributed postmortem data. A total of eighteen individuals exhibited documented histories that included pre-death and post-death events. A mean age at death of 152 years, with a standard deviation of 43 years, was observed in 41 adults. A count of 160 morbidity events was compiled, broken down by the affected organ system. The most commonly reported systemic issues were gastrointestinal, affecting 33% (53 out of 160 cases); integumentary, comprising 19% (31 out of 160 cases); urinary, accounting for 12% (20 out of 160 cases); and musculoskeletal, representing 19% (12 out of 160 cases) of the observed events. Among individuals beyond the neonatal stage, the main causes of death included neoplasia (51%, 21 out of 41), infectious or inflammatory conditions (24%, 10 out of 41), and cardiovascular disease (17%, 7 out of 41). A histopathological analysis of 21 of 41 (51%) specimens revealed renal adenocarcinoma in 47% (10 of 21 cases), mammary carcinoma in 14% (3 of 21), pancreatic islet cell carcinoma in 2 (10% of 21), plus single cases of multicentric lymphoma, uterine carcinoma, and submucosal urethral adenoma. Three extra cases of presumptive neoplasms, devoid of histological verification, presented; masses were seen in the liver, the heart base, and the pancreas. A noteworthy 71% (15 of 21) of the neoplasms displayed metastases.