UROLITHIASIS IN FREE-RANGING AND CAPTIVE OTTERS (<i>LUTRA LUTRA</i> AND <i>AONYX CINEREA</i>) IN EUROPE

Bochmann, Monika; Steinlechner, Stephan; Hesse, A. J.; Dietz, H. H.; Weber, Heike

doi:10.1638/2016-0223.1

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 16 publications

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“…In our study, one male, road-killed otter showed histological features of multicentric lymphoma involving multiple lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, and adrenal glands, although freezing of the carcass did not allow for proper immunophenotyping of the lymphoid population. Urolithiasis was not observed in our cases, although nephrolithiasis has been reported in captive and free-ranging Eurasian otters [ 62 ]. Notwithstanding this, multifocal, variably intense, renal dystrophic calcifications were histologically detected, possibly resulting from toxic injuries or previous infections, although these lesions were not associated with the presence of inflammatory infiltrations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Health and Mortality Monitoring in Threatened Mammals: A First Post Mortem Study of Otters (Lutra lutra L.) in Italy

Fusillo¹,

Romanucci

Marcelli³

et al. 2022

Animals

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Dead specimens provide valuable data for the conservation of threatened species, allowing investigations of mortality, health conditions, and demographic parameters. The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a semiaquatic carnivore listed as endangered in Italy. In 2009, we started the first post mortem (PM) study of otters in Italy, through collaborative research between mammal ecologists and veterinary pathologists, using standardized protocols. Twenty-eight otters, mostly collected between 2009 and 2017, were examined. Most otters were males (67%), between 1 and 3 years old (64%), and predominantly in good nutritional condition. Adult males were significantly larger than adult females (p < 0.02), as expected for the species, although both sexes appeared to be smaller than otters examined in Central–northern Europe. The youngest sexually mature female was 3 years old. Road traffic collisions were the major cause of death, especially in young individuals, and mainly occurred in autumn–winter, particularly for females. Investigations of the scene of death contributed to revealing factors forcing otters to travel out of the water and move over the road, suggesting appropriate measures to reduce vehicle collision risk. Other causes of death included blunt chest trauma of uncertain origin, dog and conspecific attacks, or diseases of infectious or non-infectious origin, such as ulcerative gastritis, pleuropneumonia and peritonitis. Other diagnosed diseases included lymphoma. Ecto- and endoparasites were rarely detected, although we report the first documentation of heartworm and Ixodes hexagonus infestation in Italian otters. It is important to continue comprehensive, standardized PM investigations of otters in Italy to define baseline health, biometric and demographic parameters, collect biological samples for comparative analyses, and to reduce road-kill mortality. The present study suggests that the timely collection of carcasses and collaborative and coordinated research efforts are essential for obtaining useful data for the conservation of otters.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%