Chronic stress biomarker validation and measurement may lead to advancements in understanding and conservation for this species. The collective term DHEA(S) signifies dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfated counterpart, DHEA-S. Promisingly, the ratio between serum cortisol and DHEA(S) (cortisol/DHEA(S)) is a potential marker for chronic stress in diverse species, ranging from humans to domestic animals and wildlife. Field tagging procedures, conducted in Baffin Bay, Nunavut, Canada, during 2017 and 2018, involved sampling 14 wild narwhals both at the onset and conclusion of each capture-tagging operation. Using commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), serum DHEA(S) levels were quantified, specifically those developed for human samples. Partial validation of the ELISA assays included a measure of the intra-assay coefficient of variation, confirmation of the DHEA(S) dilution linearity, and assessment of the percentage of recovery. Measurements of narwhal serum cortisol, DHEA(S), and cortisol/DHEA(S) ratios (reported in nanograms per milliliter, standard error of the mean) at both the beginning and end of the handling procedure are: cortisol (3074 ± 487, 4183 ± 483); DHEA (101 ± 052, 099 ± 050); DHEA-S (872 ± 168, 770 ± 102); cortisol/DHEA (7543 ± 2435, 8441 ± 1176); and cortisol/DHEA-S (416 ± 107, 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). The assays for measuring serum DHEA(S) in narwhals proved to be both rapid and straightforward to execute, proving suitable for this purpose, and the calculated cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio presents itself as a promising biomarker for chronic stress in narwhals, and potentially other cetaceans as well.

The most common cause of death in the adult population of captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens) was found to be cardiac pathology, according to a recently published review. The purpose of this study was to describe the typical echocardiographic measurements observed in 13 healthy, adult red pandas kept in captivity and undergoing elective health examinations. Red panda subspecies A. f. styani and A. f. fulgens were compared in terms of their echocardiographic distinctions, with a focus on how these differences correlate with age, sex, and body condition score. By inhaling isoflurane, anesthesia was both induced and maintained throughout the procedure. All animals had a thorough physical examination and a complete echocardiogram including measurements via 2D, M-mode, and Doppler ultrasound techniques. The mean and standard deviation of each echocardiographic variable are reported. The anesthetic agent's influence caused the systolic performance to be deemed 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. A connection was observed between age and multiple echocardiographic measurements (P < 0.05), but only end-diastolic volume had a statistically significant correlation with the body condition score (P = 0.01). Cardiac disease prediction in red pandas can be facilitated by the ranges provided in these findings.

Systemic mycotic infections claimed the lives of six adult eastern bongo antelope (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci) from a single institution over a period of six years. All animals, at the time of their demise, shared a common genetic lineage and were in robust physical condition. Upon gross examination, a uniform finding in all cases was multifocal white-to-tan nodules, the largest measuring up to 10 centimeters in diameter, which were most prevalent in the cardiac, pulmonary, and renal regions. A detailed histologic examination of these nodules identified granulomatous inflammation, featuring branching, septate, broad, undulating fungal forms. To identify the fungal species, PCR sequencing, immunohistochemistry, and culturing techniques were employed. Analysis of various modalities unveiled diverse fungal species, but Cladosporium sp. was the sole shared identification in four of the examined samples. AZD3229 These cases showcased matching clinical and postmortem findings, suggesting a unified infectious disease process. A candidate for emerging, fatal infectious agent in this bongo antelope population was the Cladosporium sp. AZD3229 In every instance, the cause of death was identified as conduction irregularities stemming from the heart's damaged tissue or humane termination.

In reviewing the history of the captive northern bald ibis (NBI), African sacred ibis (ASI), and scarlet ibis (SCI) at London Zoo (LZ) between 2000 and 2020, medical (n = 121) and necropsy (n = 144) records were examined. Across various species, pododermatitis was a noteworthy cause of morbidity, amounting to 79 cases out of 247 examinations. Trauma, largely due to suspected collisions with stationary objects (58 out of 144 cases), infectious diseases, primarily valvular endocarditis (10 out of 32 cases) and aspergillosis (9 out of 32 cases), constituted major causes of death. The heightened probability of morbidity linked to toxicosis was 44 times greater in NBI compared to ASI (95% confidence interval, 15-133; P<0.005); all NBI cases exhibited plumbism. A striking 34-fold greater likelihood of undetermined morbidity was observed in females of all species compared to males (95% confidence interval, 15-79; P < 0.005). A substantial proportion (16 out of 25) of these cases were thin avian specimens, with no apparent origin of the condition. Nestlings experienced an odds ratio of 113 for nutritional morbidity compared to adults (95% confidence interval, 17 to 730) and 55 compared to juveniles (95% confidence interval, 7 to 410; P<0.005). Areas within the NBI, ASI, and SCI populations held at LZ warrant further study, according to these data.

This retrospective study aims to pinpoint prevalent and substantial causes of mortality and disease within the captive Arabian sand cat (Felis margarita harrisoni) population at Al Ain Zoo, Abu Dhabi, UAE. A retrospective analysis of the complete postmortem records for 25 Arabian sand cats, which died between 2009 and 2022, was performed. All cases were subjected to a comprehensive postmortem examination; the subsequent data was meticulously recorded in the Al Ain Zoo's database and associated files. The 25 animal deaths comprised 11 adult animals (aged 4-12 years), 12 geriatric animals (over 12 years of age), 2 neonatal fatalities (0-4 months), and no juvenile deaths (4 months to 4 years). The cases, surprisingly, but not unexpectedly considering the age group, saw 24% exhibiting concurrent pathologies at the time of death. More than half (60%) of cases in adult and geriatric felines, expectedly, involved nephropathies that were either a key contributor to or the primary cause of the animal's death. In four instances, diverse neoplastic lesions were identified, representing a novel benign peripheral nerve sheath tumor within this subspecies, along with hepatobiliary carcinoma and two different types of thyroid neoplasms, each of which was reported for the first time. In one of the instances, peliosis hepatis, a vasculoproliferative disorder of the liver, was observed. In a notable four cases, the combination of thyroid neoplasia and hyperplasia, clinical signs, and other observed postmortem changes suggested a strong correlation with hyperthyroidism. Death from traumatic causes was documented in six cases, among which were the sole two fatalities among neonates. This information, crucial for identifying common pathologies in the Arabian sand cat, will potentially allow for earlier diagnosis, ultimately improving their management and husbandry within captive breeding populations and thereby enhancing veterinary care.

Case series and individual reports, rather than population-wide studies, typically form the basis of veterinary literature on ailments affecting the binturong (Arctictis binturong). Morbidity and mortality data collection from North American institutions involved completing surveys or submitting medical records. A total of 74 individuals, encompassing 37 males, 30 females, and 7 unknown neonates, were represented in the data from 22 institutions, collected between 1986 and 2019. AZD3229 Thirty-nine individuals offered antemortem data; 53 individuals contributed postmortem data. Eighteen individuals possessed records encompassing both pre-death and post-death occurrences. The average age at death for 41 adults was 152 years, plus or minus a standard deviation of 43 years. Morbidity events, categorized by the affected organ system, totaled 160 reported events. Of the total 160 reported events, gastrointestinal problems comprised 33% (53 cases), while integumentary (19%, 31 cases), urinary (12%, 20 cases) and musculoskeletal (19%, 12% of total) concerns also were significant. 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). Of the 41 specimens examined, 21 (51%) displayed neoplasms, which included renal adenocarcinoma in 10 (47%) of 21, mammary carcinoma in 3 (14%) of 21, 2 (10%) cases of pancreatic islet cell carcinoma, and individual cases of multicentric lymphoma, uterine carcinoma, and submucosal urethral adenoma. Three more unconfirmed cases of suspected neoplasia were found; the masses were situated in the liver, the heart base, and the pancreas. A noteworthy 71% (15 of 21) of the neoplasms displayed metastases.