Interstitial nephritis of unknown aetiology in captive slender‐horned gazelles (Gazella leptoceros)

Abstract

Four captive slender‐horned gazelles (Gazella leptoceros) died in a short period. The clinical signs were lethargy progressing rapidly to stupor and death. Differential diagnoses included trauma, intoxication, hepatic and renal failure. Blood analyses revealed increased blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase. Serum mean copper levels had risen almost two‐fold. No trauma was found and salient post‐mortem examination results were friable livers and granular and/or pitted renal capsular surfaces with indentations. The most consistent histological change was chronic interstitial lymphoplasmacytic nephritis, tubular degeneration and glomerulosclerosis. Potential causes were investigated and ruled out. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae was cultured from the liver and the kidney of three animals, but could not be confirmed histopathologically. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) carried out on kidney and liver and serological screening were negative for leptospirosis. Copper involvement could not be confirmed by toxicological analysis of liver and kidney tissue or by histopathology. The aetiology remains unknown.

Gazella leptoceros(Artiodactyla: Bovidae)

“…Pulmonary tuberculosis killed one of three G. leptoceros reared at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, California, perhaps due to exposure to avian tuberculosis that killed two adult ducks in a nearby waterfowl lagoon (Griner et al 1974). Interstitial renal nephritis of unknown etiology killed four of seven G. leptoceros (4.5–8 years old) during 35 days at Zoo Planckendael (Vercammen et al 2021).…”