Mortality analysis of captive red panda cubs within Chengdu, China

BMC Veterinary Research

Chanjuan Yue¹  Xiaoyan Su¹  Yunli Li¹  Lin Li¹  Xia Yan¹  Kuixing Yang¹  Dongsheng Zhang¹  Rong Hou¹  Yi Xie¹  Guifu Zhuo¹  Songrui Liu¹  James E.Ayala¹  Rita McManamon² 

[1] Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chenghua District, 1375 Panda Road, 610081, Chengdu, Sichuan, China;Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service, Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Department of Pathology College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 30602, Athens, GA, USA;

关键词: China;    Cub mortality;    Ex-situ;    Pathological characteristics;    Red panda;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12917-022-03170-2

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe red panda has been classified as an endangered species due to the decreased number in the world and disease is considered as a great threat to the health and survival of the cubs in captivity.ResultsThis study analyzed 32 red panda cub mortalities (15 females and 17 males, age less than two months) through gross necropsy, microbiological examination, and histopathological observation at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China, during 2014–2020. The results showed that screenings for canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, rotavirus and parasite infection were all negative, however bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas were isolated from the tissue samples of some cubs. The major causes of death were respiratory (43.75%) and digestive system disease (28.13%), followed by cardiovascular disease (12.5%) and neonatal stillbirths (9.38%). Renal system diseases and trauma were also detected, at lower incidence (one case for each). The mortality rate within 15 days of birth was 68.75% and gradually decreased with age, there was no significant difference in gender.ConclusionThis study can provide a scientific basis for the analysis of the cause of death among red panda cubs in captivity, so as to improve the survival rate, help build the captive population and further the ex-situ conservation management of this endangered species. Additionally, our research may also provide insights into the in-situ conservation of wild red pandas by identifying emerging disease threats within the wild population and potential treatment for rescued individuals.

【 授权许可】

CC BY