IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Robert, N.; Walzer, C. | |
| Pathological disorders in captive cheetahs | |
| 2009 Book Chapter | |
Captive cheetahs (_Acinonyx jubatus_) worldwide suffer from a number of health problems rarely observed in free-ranging ones, and unusual in other species, especially felids. These include diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) as well as non-CNS diseases. Among the neurological diseases, the encephalomyelopathy represents a serious threat to the European Endangered Species Plan (EEP) cheetah population, whereas the leucoencephalopathy affects only the Species Survival Plan (SSP) North-American population. Both are degenerative disorders of the CNS white matter, affecting the spinal cord or the cerebellum, respectively. Futhermore, several cases of feline spongiforme encephalopathy (FSE), a disease caused by a prion and considered to be related to the bovine spongiforme encephalopathy (BSE), have been diagnosed in captive cheetahs. Most of the FSE-affected cheetahs were born in the United Kingdom (UK) and probably were fed with infected bovine carcasses. Among the non-CNS diseases, lymphoplasmacytic gastritis associated with _Helicobacter_ spp. is prevalent in captive cheetahs worldwide (Europe, North-America, South-Africa, Japan). Mild gastritis has also been diagnosed in free-ranging cheetahs. Another important disease in the captive cheetah population is glomerulosclerosis. Systemic AA amyloidosis affecting the kidneys, liver and other organs is also frequently diagnosed in all captive populations. There is a high correlation between amyloidosis and chronic gastritis and glomerulosclerosis. Oxalate nephrosis and pyelonephritis are other frequently diagnosed renal diseases. Veno-occlusive disease of the liver resulting in progressive liver failure is a frequent disease in the North-American population but not in the European and South-African populations. Myelolipoma are common lesions seen in the spleen, sometimes also in the liver, but are however clinically not relevant. Among the infectious diseases, the clinical feline herpes virus (FHV) infection is widespread in captive cheetahs and frequently causes conjunctivitis, rhinitis and chronic facial dermatitis. Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP-caused by feline coronavirus [FCoV]) has been reported in cheetahs, but colitis caused by feline enteric corona virus (FECV) may deserve increased attention. Among parasites, in captive populations, massive infestation with _Ascarid_ sp. is a common problem despite regular deworming. Pneumonia by lungworms (_Aelurostrongylus abstrusus_) has been reported. The primary cause of these unusual diseases is mostly unidentified and the reason for their high prevalence in captive cheetahs is unknown, but the low level of these disorders in free-ranging cheetahs suggests extrinsic causes as predisposing factors (Munson, 2005). |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |