engleski

Retrospective analysis of the deaths of three Siberian tiger cubs in Zagreb zoo

Canine distemper is contagious, potentially lethal disease of mainly domestic and wild canids, but also of other mammals including large felids. During the February 2004 three Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) cubs at the age of six months have died in Zagreb Zoo. Animals were presented for necropsy with two day history of severe digestive disorders characterized mainly by haemathemesis. Dissection revealed catarrhal to pseudomembranous gastroenteritis (depending on animal) accompanied with haemorrhagic oedema of the lungs. Necrotic tonsillitis and disseminated depletion of lymphocytes were the most prominent histological findings in all examined animals, while intranuclear inclusion bodies were found in the tongue epithelium of one animal in question. Representative portions of liver, intestines, tonsil’ s and lymph nodes were submitted for bacteriological and mycological analysis. The presence of Clostridium spp., Campylobacter coli and Escherichia coli was detected in gut samples, coli-like bacteria were found in samples of liver, tonsil’ s and lymph nodes, while Candida sp. was found in the gut and pharynx samples. Toxicological analysis excluded poisoning as the cause of death. After two years, paraffin embedded samples of tiger organs were sent to the University of Bern for additional immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). IHC positive staining was obtained for canine distemper virus. Based on all, epizootiological, clinical and additional findings a canine distemper was recognized as the cause of death of respective animals.

Siberian tiger; digestive disorders; canine distemper virus

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