A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF PATHOLOGIC FINDINGS IN CAPTIVE ROCK HYRAX (PROCAVIA CAPENSIS) IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

A retrospective examination of gross and histologic reports was performed to find common lesions in young and adult captive rock hyrax ( Procavia capensis ) from multiple zoo populations. One hundred and thirty-seven reports were analyzed from specimens that were submitted to Northwest ZooPath from 1997 to 2013. Histologic findings from necropsy and biopsy reports and causes of mortality only from necropsy reports were compiled to determine the most common findings. Within the study population, 41 (30%) were male, 62 (45%) were female, and the remainder (34, 25%) were of undetermined sex. Of the 111 necropsies, 87 (78%) died naturally, and 24 (22%) were euthanatized. There were 26 (19%) biopsies with no known status of the animal. The most frequent causes of death or reason for euthanasia were bacterial septicemia (n = 29, 21%) and degenerative cardiomyopathy (n = 29, 21%). The other most prevalent lesions were hemosiderosis (n = 55, 40%), pancreatic islet and interstitial fibrosis (n = 36, 26%), pneumonia of undetermined cause (n = 26, 19%), enteritis/colitis (n = 24, 18%), and renal tubular necrosis (n = 20, 15%). In many animals of this study population (n = 115, 84%), multiple lesions affecting multiple organs were found.

Fatal systemic toxoplasmosis in a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)

“…On the other hand, the systemic toxoplasmosis may also have contributed to the emaciation of the animal. It should also be noted that chronic interstitial nephritis with subsequent metastatic mineralisation as well as cardiomyopathies or septicaemias have been reported as causes of sudden death in rock hyraxes 7 9. It remains unclear whether the sudden death in the present case results from a higher susceptibility to toxoplasmosis in this species or an immunosuppression of the specific individual.…”

“…8 Commonly reported non-infectious diseases include interstitial nephritis, 9 degenerative cardiomyopathy 7 and hepatic haemosiderosis. 7 The case presented herein describes the diagnosis of fatal toxoplasmosis in a rock hyrax. Although seropositivity for T gondii has been previously reported in rock hyraxes, 10 no clinical case of toxoplasmosis has been described so far in the family of Procaviidae.…”

“…There are few reports on infectious diseases in rock hyraxes, namely mycobacteriosis,3 4 Bartonella rochalimae ,5 demodicosis,6 7 leptospirosis7 and herpesviral infections 8. Commonly reported non‐infectious diseases include interstitial nephritis,9 degenerative cardiomyopathy7 and hepatic haemosiderosis 7.…”

Pulmonary silicosis in 2 rock hyraxes, and literature review

“…17 There are various reports on rock hyrax diseases, including a retrospective case series of 103 rock hyraxes, and individual case reports describing the following diseases: hemosiderosis, pancreatic islet fibrosis, diabetes mellitus, herpesviral stomatitis, dilated cardiomyopathy, metastatic mineralization, systemic toxoplasmosis, disseminated tuberculosis, and demodicosis. 7,9,10,12–14,19 Pulmonary silicosis has not been reported previously in rock hyraxes, to our knowledge.…”