Zoo Animal Diseases

[HelgaJarmeen]

Hi All,

I am currently doing a course in Zoo Keeping and this forum has been really helpful to me regarding ideas for different enclosures etc, so thank you all so much!

The assignment I have just started is Health, and my first task is to find out the major health issues in UK Zoos and the management plans in place. As I do not know anyone who works in a zoo and I have not yet got a work placement, I'm struggling with this one!

My list so far contains:
Tuberculosis
Ringworm
Salmonella
Trichinella / Trichinosis
Foot and Mouth
Chromoblastomycosis
Ticks

Plus I thought I should add some "every-day" type ailments like:
Obesity / Malnutrition
Mental Health
Arthritis and Joint problems (ie elephants)
Wounds and infection.

I have no idea if what I am including is correct, and I really want to get this right. Could anyone with Zoo experience assist me with this? Are there things I could add, or things I have included that are not relevant?

Apologies for waffling on a bit!

I would be extremely grateful for any help.

Cheers,

Helen

 

[FBBird]

For birds, try Atoxoplasmosis, Yersinia, Duck Virus Enteritis and Aspergillosis.

 

[HelgaJarmeen]

Thanks for your help, FBBird. I'm in over my head with this assignment! Lol

Cheers,

H

 

[FBBird]

You could divide it into bacterial, virus, fungal, and parasitic, possibly adding management-related (diet, enclosure design). Don't forget disease transmission from wild animals, free-roaming/feral domestics (cats, pigeons), and humans (especially to primates). You might mention the risks associated
With visitors giving food to animals.

 

[Nisha]

Hi Helga

Welcome to the forum. You could also include the EEHV1 Virus which is causing a lot of problems in the UK and Europe with Asian Elephants... Research is currently ongoing but atm there is unfortunately no cure
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/us/27elephant.html?_r=0

 

[HelgaJarmeen]

Thanks Nisha, the link was very helpful. I'll definitely include EEHV1 in my assignment.

Thanks to you both - these are great suggestions

 

[callorhinus]

Hi Helga

Welcome to the forum. You could also include the EEHV1 Virus which is causing a lot of problems in the UK and Europe with Asian Elephants... Research is currently ongoing but atm there is unfortunately no cure
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/us/27elephant.html?_r=0

I was concerned by this information on polar bears.

 

[HelgaJarmeen]

Thanks, Callorhinus.

It's scary how these viruses are not species - specific. I read something the other day about Beluga Whales being infected with Toxoplasmosis!

 

[callorhinus]

I read something the other day about Beluga Whales being infected with Toxoplasmosis!

Can you provide link please?

 

[FBBird]

There's also the human cold sore (Herpes simplex I think), which is very dangerous to Callitrichids (marmosets and tamarins), to the extent that staff with active cold sores can't work with these species.

 

[JBZvolunteer]

You could look at ringbone in horses (a species specific type of osteoarthritis) and see if wild equines experience the same problem.

 

[HelgaJarmeen]

BBC News - Cat parasite found in Arctic Beluga Here's the Beluga article

Fatal Herpes simplex Infection in a Group of Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) looks like it's fatal to them :-(

JBZVolunteer - thanks, I'll check that out too!

 

[callorhinus]

BBC News - Cat parasite found in Arctic Beluga Here's the Beluga article

Thanks Helga!

I think you can mention eye problems such as cataract and corneal opacities in pinnipeds in you survey though I doubt that these problems are "major health issues in UK Zoos".