Parasitological examination results of zoo animals in Germany between 2012 and 2022.

Parasitic infections in zoo animals are a critical concern for both animal health and management. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of endo- and ectoparasites among zoo animals in Germany. A retrospective analysis of the submitted samples of a diverse range of zoo animals (5768) from a ten-year period (2012-2022) was conducted. Overall, 31.1% of those samples tested positive for at least one parasite. In the examined samples, helminths (28.4%) were found more often than protozoans (10.3%) or ectoparasites (0.8%). Among the various animal groups the following parasites were found most commonly: Artiodactyla: Coccidia (34.6%), Strongylida (23.4%); Perissodactyla: Strongylida (19.3%), Ascaridida (12.0%); Carnivora: Ascaridida (16.6%), Coccidia (8.1%); Rodentia: Oxyurida (18.2%), Coccidia (10.5%); Marsupialia: Coccidia (9.4%), Oxyurida (5.9%); Primates: Trichuris spp. (9.7%), Oxyurida (2.2%); Aves: Capillaria (7.8%), Ascaridida (7.6%); Reptilia, Amphibia, Insecta: Oxyurida (18.7%); Pisces: Ciliates (6.2%). Furthermore, potentially zoonotic parasites were identified, including Toxoplasma gondii (0.1%), Cryptosporidium sp. (0.1%). By examining the occurrence of specific parasites, these findings demonstrate the importance of parasites in the context of zoo animal health. They also highlight the need for effective strategies to control parasite burden to improve the overall welfare of zoo animals.

Validation of an enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta).

The use of enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) to measure faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM) is a useful non-invasive technique to monitor adrenocortical activity in vertebrates. The first objective of this study was to validate an 'in-house' EIA (cortisol-3-CMO) for the measurement of fGCM concentrations in spotted hyenas. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to characterise fGCM in samples from a captive hyena that received an i.v. injection of [(3)H] cortisol. All HPLC fractions were analysed with the EIA for the presence and quantities of radiolabelled fGCM. Radiolabelled fGCM consisted of substances with a higher polarity than cortisol and substances of lower polarity that eluted between cortisol and corticosterone. Authentic radiolabelled cortisol was not detected. The EIA measured substantial amounts of immunoreactivity corresponding to the radioactive peaks. It also detected a significant increase in fGCMs after an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge in two other captive animals and a significant increase in fGCMs in a fourth captive animal after anaesthesia. The second objective was to investigate an age effect on fGCM: we conducted pairwise comparisons of fGCM concentrations in individual free-ranging juvenile spotted hyenas when less than 6 months of age and when between 6 and 24 months of age. We expected juveniles to experience a more unpredictable and therefore more stressful environment when younger than when older. When younger, juveniles had significantly higher fGCM concentrations than when they were older. Our results demonstrate that our assay can be used to assess adrenocortical activity in spotted hyenas.

Thoracic auscultation in captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) with an electronic stethoscope.

Thoracic auscultation is an important diagnostic method used in cases of suspected pulmonary disease in many species, as respiratory sounds contain significant information on the physiology and pathology of the lungs and upper airways. Respiratory diseases are frequent in marine mammals and are often listed as one of their main causes of death. The aim of this study was to investigate and report baseline parameters for the electronic-mediated thoracic auscultation of one cetacean species and two pinniped species in captivity. Respiratory sounds from 20 captive bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 6 California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), and 5 South African fur seals (Arctocephalus pusillus) were recorded with an electronic stethoscope. The sounds were analyzed for duration of the respiratory cycle, adventitious sounds, and peak frequencies of recorded sounds during expiration and inspiration as well as for sound intensity as reflected by waveform amplitude during the respiratory cycle. In respiratory cycles of the bottlenose dolphins' expiring "on command," the duration of the expiration was significantly shorter than the duration of the inspiration. In the examined pinnipeds of this study, there was no clear pattern concerning the duration of one breathing phase: Adventitious sounds were detected most often in bottlenose dolphins that were expiring on command and could be compared with "forced expiratory wheezes" in humans. This is the first report of forced expiratory wheezes in bottlenose dolphins; they can easily be misinterpreted as pathologic respiratory sounds. The peak frequencies of the respiratory sounds reached over 2,000 Hz in bottlenose dolphins and over 1,000 Hz in California sea lions and South African fur seals, but the variation of the frequency spectra was very high in all animals. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic analysis of respiratory sounds of bottlenose dolphins and two species of pinnipeds.

Microscopic morphology of the elephant's hoof.

As a result of the lack of basic microscopic anatomy of the elephants' foot, this study deals with the normal microscopic morphology of both the Asian (Elephas maximus) and African (Loxodonta africana) elephant foot with consideration of pathologic changes. A total of 727 histologic samples from defined locations of 24 hooves of both species (17 Asian and seven African species) were studied, measured, and evaluated. Minor differences between the feet and species are seen histologically. Poor horn quality in captive elephants' hooves and loci of minor resistance in captive and wild animals are detected. The thickness of the weight-bearing surface of the captive elephants' hooves is histologically measured as "very thin" (about 10 mm). The normal histologic findings provide a basis for assessing histopathologic changes and especially horn quality. The histologic findings might explain some of the foot problems, but they also give rise to questions about the quality and correctness of current husbandry techniques.

[Investigation of the presence of the etiological agents of malignant catarrhal fever in clinically healthy ruminants in zoological gardens]. / Untersuchung zum Nachweis von Erregern des Bösartigen Katarrhalfiebers bei klinisch gesunden Wiederkäuern in zoologischen Gärten.

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is an infectious disease in even-toed ungulates including domestic cattle and wild living ruminants, which repeatedly also occurred in zoological gardens in Europe. The goal of the study presented here was to determine whether wild ruminants--here in the sense of non-domesticated ruminant species in zoological collections--normally not known as carriers of MCF viruses, may carry and shed these viruses and thus might play a possible role as source of infection. To this end, swap samples from eye, nose, and rectum, and also some blood samples, collected from different ruminant species in 11 zoological gardens and animal parks in the years 2007 to 2009 were examined with real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) for the presence of the genome of viruses known to cause MCF most frequently: alcelaphine herpesvirus 1 (AIHV-1), ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2), caprine herpesvirus 2 (CpHV-2) and malignant catarrhal fever virus--white-tailed deer (MCFV-WTD) The results of this investigation showed the presence of the genomes of one--or more--of these MCF viruses in five of the contributing institutions. A total of 28 samples (12.84%) proved to be positive. In no case, the presence of the AIHV-1 genome was detected. For the first time, the presence of the MCFV-WTD genome was demonstrated in goats, indicating a carrier state of this animal species.

Proteomic distinction between humans and great apes based on plasma transthyretin microheterogeneity.

Although humans and their closest relative, the chimpanzee are 98.5% identical in their DNA sequences, they differ in morphologic, behavioural and cognitive aspects. Recent studies imply observed differences in transthyretin (TTR) as a unique feature in human evolution. We studied differences in the molecular heterogeneity of plasma TTR between humans and great apes (chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, orang-utan) using a mass spectrometry immunoassay. Compared to humans, TTR levels were higher in chimpanzees and lower in orang-utans (both P<0.05). In all species, four major mass signals were observed. In humans, mass signals were at 13,755+/-4, 13,875+/-4 (greatest intensity), 13,935+/-8 and 14,053+/-10 Da representing native, S-cysteinylated, S-cysteinglycinylated and glutathionylated TTR, respectively. In chimpanzees and bonobos molecular masses were slightly lower than in humans (7-8 Da), whilst in gorillas and orang-utans masses of TTR adducts were respectively 20 and 100 Da lower (P<0.05). Peak pattern and relationship to each other was similar in all species. The close relationship between humans and chimpanzees is reflected in the similarity of their post-translational modification of TTR whilst mutations on the amino acid level are indicated. Results represent a proteomic distinction between humans and great apes with the possibility of resulting functional consequences.

Great apes show highly selective plasma carotenoids and have physiologically high plasma retinyl esters compared to humans.

Great apes are the closest living relatives of humans. Physiological similarities between great apes and humans provide clues to identify which biological features in humans are primitive or derived from great apes. Vitamin A (VA) and carotenoid metabolism have been only partially studied in great apes, and comparisons between great apes and humans are not available. We aimed to investigate VA and carotenoid intake and plasma concentrations in great apes living in captivity, and to compare them to healthy humans. Dietary intakes of humans (n = 20) and, among the great apes, chimpanzees (n = 15) and orangutans (n = 5) were calculated. Plasma retinol (ROH), retinol-binding protein (RBP), retinyl esters, and major carotenoids were analyzed. The great ape diet was higher in VA than in humans, due to high intake of provitamin A carotenoids. Plasma ROH concentrations in great apes were similar to those in humans, but retinyl esters were higher in great apes than in humans. Differences in plasma carotenoid concentrations were observed between great apes and humans. Lutein was the main carotenoid in great apes, while beta-carotene was the main carotenoid for humans. RBP concentrations did not differ between great apes and humans. The molar ratio of ROH to RBP was close to 1.0 in both great apes and humans. In conclusion, great apes show homeostatic ROH regulation, with high but physiological retinyl esters circulating in plasma. Furthermore, great apes show great selectivity in their plasmatic carotenoid concentration, which is not explained by dietary intake.

Treatment of myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary oedema in an infant chimpanzee.

The care of any critically ill infant requires special technical equipment for monitoring of cardiac and pulmonary functions including mechanical ventilators and blood gas analysers. The present paper describes the treatment of myocardial dysfunction and pulmonary distress, complicated by severe brain oedema in an infant chimpanzee admitted to an intensive care unit in the Department of Neonatology of the Children's Hospital of the University of Leipzig. The condition of the chimpanzee was diagnosed and monitored by standard clinical tooös including radiography, echocardiography, cerebral Doppler sonography and laboratory parameters. The chimpanzee was treated in close cooperation between veterinarians and paediatricians.

Tachydyspnea in an infant chimpanzee.

Reports on intensive care and invasive treatments of primates are scarce. Generally, there is little knowledge and experience in regard to resuscitation, cardiac support and ventilation support especially in small infants of primate species. We therefore report on our experience with respect to the successful treatment of a former small-for-date chimpanzee infant with severe cardiorespiratory distress due to pneumonia inflicted by an unknown infective agent. Treatment was primarily with analgosedation, oxygen application and dobutamine infusions. Cooperation of neonatologists and veterinarians is recommended for treatment of young primates.