Title
A Retrospective Study of Mortality in Maned Wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in North American Zoological Institutions
Author(s)
Magdalena Marcinczyk; Nucharin Songassen; Elizabeth Hammond; Melissa Rodden; Denise McAloose
Published
2022
Abstract
The objective of this 38-yr retrospective study was to review and summarize causes of mortality in maned wolves (Chrysocyon brachyurus) in the North American Species Survival Plan® (SSP) population to inform and enhance animal health, husbandry, and conservation efforts. Pathology reports were requested from all zoological institutions housing maned wolves that died between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 2021. The data were reviewed and cause of death (COD) and concurrent diseases were summarized and compared by age group, organ system and disease process. One hundred and seventy-two wolves, 83 females and 89 males, met the inclusion criteria; the majority were geriatric (>11 yr; n=95) or adult (2–11 yr; n=67) wolves. Overall, noninfectious diseases were the most common COD across all age groups (n=95; 55.2%). In adults and geriatrics, neoplasia (dysgerminoma) and metabolic disease (urolithiasis) were the most common COD. The most common COD by organ system were digestive (n=40) and urinary (n=34) system diseases. Cause of death in the former included enteritis (n=10) and gastric dilation/volvulus (n=7). The most common comorbidities were intestinal inflammation and urolithiasis. Infectious COD was reported in 17 wolves and included viral (n=1), babesiosis (n=4), acanthocephalans (n=2), acariasis with anemia (n=1), and dirofilariasis (n=1); bacterial infections were a COD in eight wolves. A total of 135 benign and malignant neoplasms were diagnosed in 44 individuals. All but two tumors, a thymoma and astrocytoma (both in juveniles), were diagnosed in geriatric or adult wolves. Neoplasia was the primary COD in 38 individuals. Dysgerminoma was the most reported tumor (n=17) and the most common neoplastic COD (n=7).
Keywords
maned wolf; chrysocyon brachyurus; mortality; zoos
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