| Autor: |
McCain S; Birmingham Zoo, Inc, Birmingham, AL 35223, USA, smccain@birminghamzoo.com., Sim RR; Birmingham Zoo, Inc, Birmingham, AL 35223, USA., Howerth EW; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Pathology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA., Aschenbroich S; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Pathology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA., Kirejczyk SGM; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Pathology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA., McHale B; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Pathology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA., Jerry C; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Pathology Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA., Kottwitz JJ; Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL 36849, USA., Wilson AE; School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA., McManamon R; Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Over a period of 5 mo, seven out of eight American white pelicans ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) housed on a spring-fed pond at a zoo died or were euthanized. Clinical signs included inability to stand, anorexia, and weight loss. Clinicopathologic findings included heterophilic leukocytosis and elevated creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase. Histopathologic findings on all pelicans demonstrated severe, chronic, diffuse rhabdomyofiber degeneration and necrosis, making vitamin E deficiency a differential diagnosis despite routine supplementation. Based on tissue and pond water assays for the cyanobacterial toxin, microcystin, toxicosis is suspected as the inciting cause of death in these cases. We hypothesize that vitamin E exhaustion and resultant rhabdomyodegeneration and cardiomyopathy were sequelae to this toxicosis. |
