Background Disease prevention and control is a significant part in the ex-situ conservation of the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens), being bacterial infection is one of the most important health threats to the captive population. To date, studies about the infection caused by Escherichia coli in the red panda are scarce. This study was conducted to determine the cause of death of a captive red panda through clinical symptoms, complete blood count, biochemical analysis, pathological diagnosis and bacterial whole genome sequencing. Case presentation The following report describes a case of a 1.5 year old captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens) that was found lethargic and anorectic. She was moved to the quarantine area for daily treatment with 50mg of Cefpodoxime Proxetil. During the three-day treatment, she did not eat or defecate, and then died. Clinical hematology revealed the values of neutrophils, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly higher. Histological analysis demonstrated major pathological damage in the kidneys, liver and lungs, characterized by hyperemia, parenchymal cell degeneration and necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration which were predominantly neutrophilic. A bacterial strain confirmed as Escherichia coli was isolated post mortem. Whole genome sequencing of the E. coli showed the complete genome size was 4.99 Mbp. PapA, PapC, OmpA, OmpU and other virulence factors which specific to Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) were found in the isolate. Among the virulence factors, P pili, type I pili and related factors of the iron uptake system were associated with nephrotoxicity. Conclusion The red panda died of bacterial infection caused by an uropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. The pathogenic mechanisms of the strain are closely related to the expression of specific virulence genes.

Background Disease prevention and control is a significant part in the ex-situ conservation of the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens), being bacterial infection is one of the most important health threats to the captive population. To date, studies about the infection caused by Escherichia coli in the red panda are scarce. This study was conducted to determine the cause of death of a captive red panda through clinical symptoms, complete blood count, biochemical analysis, pathological diagnosis and bacterial whole genome sequencing.Case presentation The following report describes a case of a 1.5 year old captive red panda (Ailurus fulgens) that was found lethargic and anoretic. She was moved to the quarantine area for daily treatment with 50mg of cefpodoxime proxetil. During the three-day treatment, she did not eat or defecate, and then died. Clinical hematology revealed the values of neutrophils; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly higher. Histological analysis demonstrated major pathological damage in the kidneys, liver and lungs, characterized by hyperemia, parenchymal cell degeneration and necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration which were predominantly neutrophilic. A bacterial strain confirmed as Escherichia coli was isolated post mortem. Whole genome sequencing of the E. coli showed the complete genome size was 4.99 Mbp. PapA, PapG, OmpA, OmpU and other virulence factors which specific to Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) were found in the isolate. Among the virulence factors, P pili, type I pili and related factors of the iron uptake system were associated with nephrotoxicity. Conclusion The red panda died of bacterial infection caused by an uropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. The pathogenic mechanisms of the strain are closely related to the expression of specific virulence genes.

BackgroundDisease prevention and control is a significant part in the ex-situ conservation of the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens), with bacterial infection being one of the most important health threats to the captive population. To date, studies about the Escherichia coli infection in the red panda are scarce. This study was conducted to determine the cause of death of a captive red panda through clinical symptoms, complete blood count, biochemical analysis, pathological diagnosis and bacterial whole genome sequencing.Case presentationOne 1.5 year old captive female red panda (Ailurus fulgens) was lethargic and anoretic. She was moved to the quarantine area for daily treatment of oral cefpodoxime proxetil 50mg. During this period, she did not eat or defecate, and died at 15:00 on November 21. Clinical examination revealed the values of neutrophils; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were significantly higher. Histological analysis demonstrated major pathological damage in the kidneys, liver and lungs, characterized by hyperemia, parenchymal cell degeneration and necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration which was predominantly neutrophilic. A bacterial strain confirmed as Escherichia coli was isolated from the red panda post mortem. Whole-genome sequencing of the E. coli showed the complete sequences of the chromosome was 4.99 Mbp. PapA, PapG, OmpA, OmpU and other virulence factors were specific to Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Among the virulence factors, P pili, type I pili and related factors of the iron uptake system were associated with nephrotoxicity. ConclusionThe red panda died of bacterial infection caused by an Uropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. The pathogenic mechanisms of the strain are closely related to the expression of specific virulence genes.

Background Disease prevention and control is a significant part of the ex-situ conservation of the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens), with bacterial infection being one important threat to the health of the captive population. To date, there are no systematic and detailed publications about E. coli-associated disease in red pandas. This study was conducted to determine the cause of death, etiology and pathogenesis in a captive red panda through clinical symptoms, complete blood count, biochemical analysis, pathological diagnosis, antimicrobial susceptibility test, mouse pathogenicity test, and bacterial whole genome sequencing. Results A bacterial strain confirmed as Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) was isolated from one captive red panda post mortem. This strain is resistant to most of the β-lactam antibiotics and a small number of aminoglycoside medications. The mouse pathogenicity test results showed that the strains isolated post mortem from mice were identical to that in the red panda, and the pathological findings were similar to those seen in the red panda. Whole-genome sequencing of the E. coli isolated from the red panda showed the complete sequences of the chromosome was 4.99 Mbp. PapA , PapG , OmpA , OmpU and other virulence factors were specific to Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Among the virulence factors, P pili, type I pili and iron uptake system related factors were associated with nephrotoxicity. Conclusion The red panda died of septicemic bacterial infection which was identified as Uropathogenic Escherichia coli . The pathogenic mechanisms of the strain are closely related to the expression of specific virulence genes.