Spontaneous Pathology of Endangered Geriatric Julia Creek Dunnarts (<em>Sminthopsis douglasi</em>, Archer 1979) with Emphasis in Reproductive Pathology

Abstract

Julia Creek dunnarts are an endangered species of carnivorous marsupials and the focus of multiple conservation strategies involving significant resources such as captive breeding programs. Despite the relevance for conservation, no study to date has focused on evaluating geriatric diseases in dunnarts. This study describes the pathology findings in a group of 36 captive-born, mostly geriatric Julia Creek dunnarts that failed to produce offspring over multiple breeding periods. A total of 20 females and 16 males were submitted for a postmortem examination, with ages ranging from 9-42 and 12-42 months for females and males, respectively. Of these, 10 had unremarkable findings. The most common condition in females was cystic endometrial hyperplasia (n=7) and cystic ovaries (n=2), typical of hormonal dysregulation profiles in senescence, particularly hyperestrogenism. Rarely, cutaneous disease represented by unidentified dermal round cell infiltrates was observed in females (n=2). Primary reproductive hormonal dysregulation was also suspected in males diagnosed with testicular degeneration, necrosis and aspermatogenesis and/or atrophy (n=3). Cutaneous round cell infiltrates, possibly compatible with epitheliotropic lymphomas were more common in males (n=3), and 2/3 affected males also had concurrent testicular degeneration or necrosis, indi-cating male sex could be a predictor for lymphoid neoplasia in aged dunnarts especially in indi-viduals with concurrent testosterone-luteinizing hormone dysregulation as it occurs in gonadec-tomized animals. The role of an underlying viral etiology is also explored. This study is the first to describe major spontaneous diseases in endangered aged Julia Creek dunnarts, providing an im-portant understanding of senescence and geriatric diseases within a conservation context.