 Reference Base  Disseminated intravascular coagulation in a neonatal whit... |
|
Page, C.D.; Schmidt, R.E., 1987. Disseminated intravascular coagulation in a neonatal white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum). Journal of Zoo Animal Medicine 18: 53-55, fig. 1
|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Captive - World |
| Subject: |
Diseases |
| Species: |
White Rhino |
 |
|
A 10-day-old, 71-kg, female white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) was found dead in its yard without exhibiting premonitory signs of disease. Gross lesions at necropsy consisted of heavy, dark lungs, petechial hemorrhages on serosal surfaces in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, and petechial hemorrhages throughout the cut surface of the kidneys. Histologic lesions included fibrinoid thrombi in the capillaries of the small intestine and kidneys. A Salmonella species was isolated from the heart blood and spleen. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) secondary to endotoxemia was determined to be the cause of death and is described in this case report.
CASE HISTORY
A female white rhinoceros was born 14 August 1986 at the Jacksonville Zoological Park. The baby appeared to be normal except for erythema of the conjunctival tissue surrounding the left eye and superficial skin irritation on the left side of the head. On the following day, epiphora and blepharospasm were noted on the left eye. The mother and baby were separated for manual restraint and examination of the baby. Results of the exam were considered within normal limits, except for neovascularization and a circular, cratered defect on the left cornea and superficial abrasions on the left side of the head. Fluorescein stai, of
`Jacksonville Zoological Park, P.O. Box 26767, Jacksonville, Florida 32218.
t Veterinary Pathology Consultants, Inc., 3911 West Capitol Avenue, West Sacramento, California 95691
the cornea revealed a centrally located ulceration 5 mm in diameter. The baby's body weight was 62 kg.
Treatment consisted of the application of 2% tincture of iodine to the ulcer, followed by 1 % atropine sulfate' and gentamicin sulfate, ophthalmic ointments. A nictitating membrane flap was constructed. Long-acting penicillin ? was given i.m. (22,000 U/kg), as well as vitamin E-selenium ? vitamin A-D,1 tetanus antitoxin,' and flunixin meglumine' (0.22 mg/kg). The baby was returned to the mother without incident. Six days later, the baby was reexamined and the nictitating membrane flap was taken down. The neovascularization was reduced and fluorescein stain of the cornea revealed a central defect 2 mm in diameter. The baby had gained 9 kg. The penicillin and flunixin meglumine injections were repeated, as was the topical application of atropine and gentamicin. The mother and baby were reunited again without incident. Further follow-up on the corneal lesion was considered unnecessary. Two days later the baby was found dead in the enclosure.
At necropsy, gross lesions included a healing corneal ulcer on the left eye, heavy, dark lungs, and scattered petechial hemorrhages on the endocardium and on the serosal surfaces of the trachea, pericardium, and intestinal tract. Diffuse petechial hemorrhages were noted on the cut surface of the kidneys. Abdominal lymph nodes were hemorrhagic and the spleen was enlarged and pulpy.
Tissues from major organs were handled in a routine manner for histopathology. Samples of heart blood and spleen were cultured for bacteria.
RESULTS
Histologic lesions included diffuse congestion in the spleen, lymph nodes, small intestine, liver, and lung. Hemorrhage was seen in the kidney, pericardium, and lymph nodes. Scattered macrophages were present within alveoli in the lung, and multiple foci of necrosis and minimal inflammatory infiltrate were noted in the liver. Small fibrinoid thrombi were present in capillaries in the lamina propria ofthe small intestine and within almost all glomerular capillaries of the kidney (Fig. 1).
A heavy growth of a Salmonella species was cultured from the heart blood and spleen.
DISCUSSION
Acute renal failure occurs in about 50% of human patients with DIC when fibrin thrombi form within renal glomeruli. This has also been reported in horses. The thrombi result in ischemia that leads to cortical medullary necrosis. Infections with gram-negative, endotoxin-containing bacteria are common causes of DIC in people and animals. Endotoxin can trigger DIC by indirect factor XII activation through endothelial damage, direct activation of factor XII, or by stimulating granulocytes to produce tissue factor.'
The absence of premonitory signs of illness; the hepatic necrosis with minimal inflammatory infiltrate, and the isolation of Salmonella sp. from the heart blood and spleen indicate a peracute septicemia and endotoxemia causing release of thromboplastic substances and DIC in the rhinoceros. The stress of handling and the age of the animal predisposed it to infection. The source of the Salmonella was thought to be stagnant wallows in the enclosure; however, this was not confirmed. A fecal culture from the mother was negative for pathogenic bacteria.
|
|
|
File available
details
Original text on this topic: