Prevalence of Pathological Conditions in Zoo/Wild Animals in India: A Retrospective Study Based on Necropsy

Reporting of pathological conditions in wild/zoo animals is scanty and sporadic in developing countries. During a period from January 1999 to March 2013, carcasses of 380 zoo/wild animals were received for postmortem examination from different zoological parks/wildlife sanctuaries of northern India for the study at Centre for wildlife, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. Carcasses received for postmortem examination belonged to various categories viz. Reptilia including crocodilia, peacock and Mammals including pangolins, rabbits, cats, sloth bear, rhinoceros, deer, cows and buffalos, elephants and Primates. Among different diseases/pathological conditions diagnosed in various species of wildlife, deaths due to various types of traumatic injuries recorded were the highest: 179/380 (47.1 %) Other conditions documented were tuberculosis (22/380, 5.8 %), gastroenteritis (12/380, 3.2 %), fasciolosis (10/380, 2.6 %), septicemia (9/380, 2.4 %), pneumonia (7/380, 1.8 %) and hepatitis and cirrhosis (5/380, 1.3 %). Starvation/debility/anemia, stress, dystocia, splenic rupture, tetanus, ruminal impaction, acute abomasitis, predation, edema in serous cavities, electrocution, acute enteritis, poaching, intussusception, cold shock, dermatitis, mycotic gastritis, organochlorine and zinc phosphide poisoning were less frequently observed conditions. Advanced autolysis in 82 out of 380 (21.6 %) cases made it difficult to make specific diagnosis. Main hurdle in making diagnosis of the diseases particularly in free range wildlife is advanced autolysis as the carcasses remain undiscovered for extended periods of time. Present necropsy and laboratory investigation analysis has given a trend about prevalence of diseases in Indian wildlife. Using molecular tools for specific etiological diagnosis of diseases in even autolysed tissues could further improve disease diagnosis in wildlife.