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Watson AM, Cushing AC, Sheldon JD, Anis E, Wilkes RP, Dubovi EJ, Craig LE. Natural Canine Distemper Virus Infection in Linnaeus's 2-Toed Sloths ( Choloepus didactylus). Vet Pathol 2020; 57:311-315. [PMID: 32079498 DOI: 10.1177/0300985819900017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak of canine distemper virus in a private zoo in eastern Tennessee in July 2016 led to fatal clinical disease in 5 adult, wild-caught Linnaeus's 2-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus). Clinical signs included hyporexia, lethargy, mucopurulent nasal discharge, and oral and facial ulcers. At necropsy, affected animals had crusts and ulcers on the lips, nose, tongue, and oral cavity. Microscopically, all sloths had widespread, random, hepatic necrosis; lymphoid depletion; and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. The central nervous system did not contain gross or histopathologic lesions in any of the 5 sloths, although immunoreactivity for viral antigen was present within vessel walls. Epithelial cells and histiocytes within numerous organs contained intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusions and occasional syncytial cells. Canine distemper virus was confirmed with immunohistochemistry and virus isolation. Viral sequencing identified the novel American-4 strain prevalent in eastern Tennessee wildlife. This is the first pathologic characterization of canine distemper virus infection in sloths (family Choloepodidae, order Pilosa) and emphasizes the significant morbidity and mortality in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Watson
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Andrew C Cushing
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Julie D Sheldon
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA.,Illinois Zoological and Aquatic Animal Residency Program, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Eman Anis
- Department of Infectious Disease, Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton, GA, USA.,Department of Pathobiology, New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA
| | - Rebecca P Wilkes
- Department of Infectious Disease, Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory, University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Tifton, GA, USA.,Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Edward J Dubovi
- Animal Health Diagnostic Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Linden E Craig
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN, USA
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RENAL EVALUATION IN CHOLOEPUS SPECIES. J Zoo Wildl Med 2020; 50:983-987. [PMID: 31926532 DOI: 10.1638/2018-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Two species of sloths in the family Megalonychidae, Hoffmann's (Choloepus hoffmanni) and Linnaeus's (Choloepus didactylus) two-toed sloths, are commonly held in zoological institutions. Despite frequent published reports of urinary tract disease in these species, reports of diagnostics are mostly limited to descriptions of hematology and serum chemistry. In this study, repeated urinalysis, urinary chemistry, serum chemistry, and radiographs were collected opportunistically from six Hoffmann's and five Linnaeus's sloths. Proteinuria, bacteriuria, low urine specific gravity, and crystalluria were common in the absence of other signs of urinary tract pathology.
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