TY - JOUR
T1 - CLINICOPATHOLOGIC EVALUATION of AN EX SITU POPULATION of ADULT AFRICAN WHITE-BELLIED PANGOLIN (PHATAGINUS TRICUSPIS)
AU - Kane, Lauren P.
AU - Aitken-Palmer, Copper
AU - Sokolik, Sara
AU - Stacy, Nicole I.
AU - Adkesson, Michael J.
AU - Chinnadurai, Sathya K.
AU - Langan, Jennifer N.
AU - Adamovicz, Laura
AU - Allender, Matthew C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2022 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.
PY - 2022/9/26
Y1 - 2022/9/26
N2 - Death due to illegal trade and trafficking serves as the largest threat to pangolins in their geographic range countries. Appropriate veterinary care is essential to the welfare of sick or debilitated pangolins. Given the challenge of comprehensive physical examination of this species due to its unique anatomic features and poorly studied physiology, laboratory diagnostics can provide essential information to guide appropriate medical care. This retrospective study included previously analyzed blood and urine samples collected from adult (n = 17) African white-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis) under managed care that were sampled over a 4-yr period as part of routine veterinary examinations. Samples from clinically normal animals were used to summarize results for this species. Pangolins had a lymphocyte-predominant leukogram with a mean neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio of 0.83 (min-max: 0.13-4.81). Seasonal, sex, and age differences were present for several hematologic and serum biochemical analytes. Urine samples had a median urine specific gravity (USG) of 1.040 (min-max: 1.006-1.060), a neutral-to-basic urine pH (6.0-8.6), and contained mainly struvite crystals or infrequently calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals. Winter samples had higher USG than summer samples. The clinicopathologic data provided herein offers applicable information useful for the clinical management of pangolins.
AB - Death due to illegal trade and trafficking serves as the largest threat to pangolins in their geographic range countries. Appropriate veterinary care is essential to the welfare of sick or debilitated pangolins. Given the challenge of comprehensive physical examination of this species due to its unique anatomic features and poorly studied physiology, laboratory diagnostics can provide essential information to guide appropriate medical care. This retrospective study included previously analyzed blood and urine samples collected from adult (n = 17) African white-bellied pangolins (Phataginus tricuspis) under managed care that were sampled over a 4-yr period as part of routine veterinary examinations. Samples from clinically normal animals were used to summarize results for this species. Pangolins had a lymphocyte-predominant leukogram with a mean neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio of 0.83 (min-max: 0.13-4.81). Seasonal, sex, and age differences were present for several hematologic and serum biochemical analytes. Urine samples had a median urine specific gravity (USG) of 1.040 (min-max: 1.006-1.060), a neutral-to-basic urine pH (6.0-8.6), and contained mainly struvite crystals or infrequently calcium oxalate dihydrate crystals. Winter samples had higher USG than summer samples. The clinicopathologic data provided herein offers applicable information useful for the clinical management of pangolins.
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U2 - 10.1638/2021-0055
DO - 10.1638/2021-0055
M3 - Article
C2 - 36214240
AN - SCOPUS:85139421815
SN - 1042-7260
VL - 53
SP - 551
EP - 560
JO - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
JF - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
IS - 3
ER -