Insufficient Colostrum Ingestion is a Risk Factor for Polyarthritis and/or Phlegmon in Hand-Reared Reticulated Giraffes (<i>Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata</i>): 7 Cases (2003–2012)

Abstract

Seven reticulated giraffes were hand-reared at Nogeyama Zoological Gardens, because the dam had agalactia. Six of the 7 calves exhibited polyarthritis and/or phlegmon in the lower legs. However, the cause of the disorder was unclear. The present study reviewed the clinical records of the 7 giraffes, including the type and amount of colostrum ingested during the first 72 hr. The disorder involved the fetlocks and carpal and tarsal joints in 6 of the 7 calves within an average of 8 days of birth. The average amount of fed bovine or powdered colostrum was 0–2.4 l in the first 24 hr and 2.0–6.2 l during the first 72 hr. Insufficient colostrum quantity might be a factor in polyarthritis and/or phlegmon.

Growth, Husbandry, and Diets of Five Successfully Hand-Reared Orphaned Giraffe Calves (Giraffa Camelopardalis Rothschildi and Giraffa Camelopardalis Reticulata)

“…Other dams may show normal maternal behavior but disallow the calf to suckle (C4), ignore it completely (C2), or suffer from agalactia. 23 A single calf has been documented to be assisted with suckling the dam until it was strong enough to reach for the udder on its own. 9 In most settings, no other dam is available to adopt the calf, but allonursing is very common in giraffes 15 and one giraffe has been documented to have reared two calves at a time successfully.…”

“…Insufficient passive immunity has been associated with health issues in young giraffes. 23 Transfer of passive immunity from colostrum was therefore assessed by measurements of serum antibody levels with tests (protein electrophoresis; radial immunodiffusion) used for domestic large animals, also validated for giraffes 26 in C1 and C5 (Table 2). Values were compared with bovine and giraffe reference data.…”