Procyonidae, Ailuridae, Vivveridae, Eupleridae Flashcards
Describe the taxonomy of the following small carnivores:
Red Pandas belong to which family?
Raccoons, kinkajous, olingos, coatimundis, and ringtail cats belong to which family?
What is the dental formula of these species?
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Binturongs belong to which family?
Taxonomy of Procyonids, Ailurids, Vivverids etc.
Order Carnivora.
- Small and medium-sized, mostly nocturnal except coati.
Procyonids – Arctoid or canoid, more closely related to canids than felids.
- All besides red panda native to temperate and tropical New World.
- Raccoon best studied member.
- Kinkajous, olingos, coatimundis, ringtail cats.
- Red pandas – only strictly herbivorous members of the family.
– Family Ailuridae.
– Only procyonid native to Old World – SE Asia.
- Dental formula: I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/4, M 2/2 = 40.
– Kinkajous: P 3/3.
- Manual dexterity in manipulating items with forepaws.
Viveridae – feloid carnivores, more closely related to felids vs canids.
- Predominantly forest dwellers.
- Small, nocturnal.
- Temperate and tropical regions of Eurasia and Africa.
- Mongooses – introduced to Pac and Carib islands for pest control, now detrimental.
- Meerkat most widely exhibited viverid spp.
- Binturong largest viverid, unique prehensile tail.
– Slightly lower body temp vs similarly sized dogs.
- Tail is not recommended for IM anesthetic injection, site of fat storage and absorption can be inconsistent.
Describe the unique anatomy and physiology of procyonids and viverids.
What two carvivores have prehensile tails?
What are the gaits of most viverids? How does this differ in binturongs?
What is unique about red panda feet?
Which family has a cecum?
Which family has a baculum?
What is unique about viverrid perianal scent glands?
Unique anatomy and physiology:
- Elongated, slender bodies, long tails.
- Kinkajous, binturongs – only carnivores with prehensile tails.
- Quadrupedal mammals, most have 5 digits per limb.
- Several spp (ringtails) have semi-retractable claws.
- Digitigrade viverids have waltzing trot gait.
- Plantigrade binturongs shuffling gait.
- Red panda feet – covered with hair, central pad scent gland commonly mistaken for lesion.
– Forelimb – enlarged radial sesamoid aka panda’s thumb.
– Used to grasp and hold bamboo.
- Kinkajous have long, narrow tongue for eating fruit and honey.
- Procyonids lack cecum.
- Viverids have a cecum except Nandinia spp (African civet).
- Male viverids have a baculum.
– Female fossa (Cryptoprocta ferox) has elongated clitoris with os clitoris.
- Viverids have enlarged perianal scent glands.
– Secretions used to mark territories or for defense.
– Perianal glandular secretion from genera Civetticus aka civet, used for perfume
Describe the nutrition of procyonids and viverrids.
What is the typical diet of the raccoon? What are some common nutritional problems?
What is the diet of the kinkajou?
What is the diet of the ringtail cat?
What is the diet of the red panda? How is that managed in captivity?
What is the diet of most viverids? How is that different for the binturong?
Feeding:
- Procyonids generally omnivorous.
– Commercial dog kibble basis for raccoons with fruits and vegetables.
– Obesity is common.
– Kinkajou mainly frugivorous, eats insects and small verts.
– Ringtail cats most carnivorous.
- Red pandas almost exclusively bamboo in wild.
– In captivity – primate biscuits, fruits, vegetables, ~50% bamboo.
- Viverids mostly carnivorous.
– Binturong also eats fruit.
Describe the physical and chemical restraint of procyonids and viverrids.
What is a complication with reintroducing social viverrids follwoing a procedure?
- How can this be mitigated?
What anesthetics are commonly used in these groups?
Restraint and handling.
- Can be trained to enter tubes or small kennels.
- Manual restraint with nets and raptor gloves.
- Chemical restraint often needed for PE and diagnostics.
- Social viverids i.e. meerkats – aggression assoc with reintroduction into group.
– Return to group same day or immobilize several at the same time. – Dusting animals to be reintroduced and other with talcum powder may help.
Chemical restraint, anesthesia, surgery:
- Usually combination of dissociative i.e. ketamine, tiletamine and alpha 2 i.e. xylazine and medetomidine or benzodiazepine i.e. zolazepam IM.
- Dexmedetomidine commonly used.
- Chamber induction with isoflurane widely used for small individuals.
- Maintenance with isoflurane following intubation.
What are the commonly used venipuncture sites for viverids and procyonids?
What are some unque normal clinicopathological findings in red pandas?
How do the liver enzyme activities typically compare in these families to domestic carnivores?
Diagnostics:
- PE, radiology, other diagnostics similar to domestic carnivore.
- Venipuncture – jugular, cephalic, femoral, saphenous.
- Red pandas commonly have lower serum or plasma Na (130-135) and Cl (100-105).
– May also have lower Hct 30-35% normally.
- Enzyme activities for AST, ALT, LDH, CK generally higher in procyonids and viverids vs domestic carnivores.
What is the scientific name of the raccoon?
Name 5 major diseases they are reservoirs for.
Procyon lotor
Rabies, canine amdoparvovirus 1, Baylisascaris procyonis, Leptospirosis, Babesia microti
Several infectious dz have been documented without causing clinical disease.
- Borrelia burgdoferi, Brucella, Aleutian mink dz virus, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, hemorrhagic dz of deer, raccoon poxvirus.
- Other cause clinical dz in raccoons:
– Leptospirosis, pseudorabies virus, canine adenovirus, salmonella spp, snowshoe hare virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, Tyzzer’s dz, yersiniosis.
- Raccoons may transmit – rabies, salmonella enterica, mycobacterium bovis, fanciella, bartonella, trichonella, giardia, toxoplasmosis, baylisascaris, lepto, babesia, canine amdoparvovirus 1, cryptosporidium, tularemia, sarcoptes.
Describe canine distemper virus in procyonids and viverids.
What type of virus is this?
- How is it transmitted?
What species have been documented with infection?
What species has vaccine induced disease been observed in?
What are the typical clinical signs?
- How does that differ for palm civets?
Canine distemper virus.
- ssRNA, morbillivirus (paramyxoviridae).
- Transmitted thorugh resp secretions and urine.
- Infects most if not all procyonids and viverids.
- Reported in raccoons, coatimundis, kinkajous, red pandas, palm civets, binturongs.
- Vaccine-induced CDV reported in kinkajous and red pandas vaccinated with MLV domestic dog distemper vaccines.
- CS: Diarrhea, upper resp signs, hyperkeratosis of foot pads, CNS dz.
– Neuro signs indistinguishable from signs of rabies, which can only be ruled out post-mortem.
- Palm civets with CDV have neuro lesions without GI signs.
- Pneumonia and lymphoid depletion/other comorbidities common.
Describe rabies in procyonids.
What type of virus is this?
Rabies is endemic in raccoons in what part of the US?
What are the typical clinical signs?
What histologic lesions are present?
What is the gold standard fro diagnosis?
Rabies.
- ssRNA, Lyssavirus genus, Rhabdoviridae family.
- Endemic in wild raccoons in eastern US.
- Most commonly reported rapid wildlife spp.
- Raccoon strain is the most common strain dx in rapid domestic companion and production animals.
- CS in raccoons – neuro signs, diurnal activity, ataxia, head-pressing, paralysis, aggressiveness.
- No gross lesions.
- Histo – polioencephalomyelitis with perivascular cuffing by lymphocytes and plasma cells throughout cerebrum, brainstem, SC.
– Viral intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in neurons – Negri bodies.
- Gold standard dx of rabies virus infection in any spp is direct staining with fluorescent antibody.
- Extensive oral vaccine campaigns to limit extent.
- Rare in captive raccoons.
Describe the following viral diseases in procyonids and viverrids.
What is the etiologic agent of Pseudorabies?
- What procyonid commonly get this?
- What clinical signs are typically present?
- What histological lesions are observed?
- What is the main reservoir?
What parvoviruses affect procyonids and viverids?
- What is teh mortality like?
- What lesions do these cause?
What orthomyxovirus are viverids susceptible to?
Cowpox has been documented in what viverid?
- What is the suspected reservoir?
Palm civets are an amplification host for what important virus?
Pseudorabies aka Aujeszky’s dz virus ADV aka suid herpesvirus 1.
- Reported in raccoons.
- Important ddx for rabies.
- Gross lesions either not evident or present with severe pruritus and self-trauma.
- Histo – Eosinophilic viral inclusion bodies in neurons, myocardial, lymphoid, and pancreatic necrosis.
- Feral swing and Eu wild boar main reservoirs (not raccoons).
Parvovirus.
- Raccoons and many viverids (civets, ganets).
- Feline parvovirus, canine parvovirus, mink enteritis virus in raccoons.
- Outbreaks attributed to canine parvovirus 2, more recently 2a.
- Morbidity restricted to juveniles and neonates.
- High mortality.
- Serologic evidence of parvo observed in red pandas, not clinical dz.
- Feline parvovirus has caused death in Asian palm civets.
- Lymphoid depletion, lymphoid necrosis, necrohemorrhagic enteritis with sloughing of intestinal crypt epithelium and mucosal collapse.
- Aleutian dz highly contagious, naturally occurs in mustelids, can infect raccoons, genets harbor Ab.
Other viral diseases:
- Several viverrid spp also susceptible to influenza virus infection.
– H1N1 influenza caused clinical dz in binturong.
- Cowpox virus in captive mongooses showed high morbidity and mortality, later transmitted to humans.
– Cowpox-infected rodents thought to be vectors.
– Pinpoint to coalescing foci of necrosis in LN, liver, spleen, GIT.
- Coronavirus that caused SARS in humans produced serologic response in palm civets. Fruit bats natural reservoirs.
– Civets sensitive to illness form this virus, likely represent amplification host.
What is the etiologic agent of dermatophytosis in red pandas?
What demographic is typically affected?
What are the clinical signs?
How is it treated?
Dermatophytosis in young red pandas.
- Microsporum gypseum.
- CS: Small areas of hair loss and crusting on face, limbs, chest, tail, pruritus may be rpesent.
- Lesions on face and paws respond to clipping, leaning, topical antifungals.
- Lesions on chest or tail can be more severe and lead to purulent crusted lesions.
- Systemic antifungals i.e. itraconazole also recommended in these cases. (Itra 5 mg/kg PO q12-24h)
- More common in juveniles (3 weeks - 11 months)
What is the most significant prasite of raccoons?
- What are the clinical signs of infected people?
Heartworm has been reported in what procyonids?
- What is a complication of melarsomine treatment in red pandas?
What protozoan diseases commonly affect meerkats?
What is the SC nematode of raccoons?
What nematode lives in the pulmonary arteries of meerkats?
Parasites of Procyonids & Viverids:
Baylisascaris procyonis. Nematode.
- Infects raccoons, kinkajous.
- Rarely symptomatic in procyonids. Raccoon natural host.
- Severe morbidity in humans, larval migrans.
– Blindness.
– Neuro signs, death with CNS migration.
– Most infections in children < 5yo or mentally impaired individuals with propensity for geophagia.
Canine HW reported in raccoons.
- Red pandas susceptible to infection with Dirofilaria immitis.
- Usually asymptomatic.
- Most zoos will put red pandas on routine HW prevention.
- Monthly oral ivermectin can be used.
- Tx of occult HW with melarsomine has been fetal in red pandas.
Tetrapetalonema and Paragonimus spp in binturongs in India.
Coccidiosis – Eimeria procyonis, E. nuttali, and Sarcocystis neurona reported in raccoons.
Toxoplasmosis and microsporidiosis in meerkat colonies.
- T. gondii – respiratory distress, neuro dzand death.
- Commonly concurrent infection with CDV in raccoons.
Microsporidiosis – neuro signs and high mort in meerkats.
Dracunculus insignis – SQ nematode of raccoons.
- Edema, inflammation in SQ and skeletal muscle fascia.
- Extrusion of female worm through skin may result in ulcerative wound.
Angiostrongylus dujardini in captive meerkats.
- Cardiovascular and respiratory system of DH.
- Gastropod IM host.
- Histo – inflammation in lungs surrounding parasite eggs and larvae.
- Adults in pulmonary arteries.
Describe the bacterial diseases of procyonids and viverids.
What mycobacterial species have been documented in these species?
What are the typical leptospiral serovars harbored by raccons?
- What are the associated lesions?
What are the lesions associated with yersiniosis in meerkats?
Bacterial Dz of Procyonids & viverids:
- Mycobacteriosis reported in meerkats and mongoose.
– M. tuberculosis complex.
– M. suricatta in meerkats closely related to M. mungi in mongose.
– M. microti also reported in meerkats.
– Olfactory behaviors important in transmission, high levels found in anal gland and nasal planum of mongoose.
– Lesions – Multifocal to coalescing granulomas in the lung, liver, LN, spleen, kidneys, skin.
– M. avium and M. bovis have been detected in raccoon tissues.
- Leptospirosis.
– Raccoons both susceptible and reservoir.
– L. interrogans serovars grippotyphosa, autumnalis, hardjo, icterohemorrhagiae.
– Lepto infecctions also reported in mongoose and genets – I. interrogans serovar icterohemorrhagiae most common.
– Lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis with fibrosis and tubular ectasia.
– Intralesional organisms ID with silver staining and IHC.
- Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in captive meerkats.
– Necrotizing enteritis, hepatitis, eplenitis.
- Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) significant, zoonotic, may be associated with carnivores.
Describe the noninfectious diseases of procyonids and viverids.
Patchy haircoats in red pandas adn racoons may be caused by what?
What cardiac diseases are reported in kinkajous and binturong?
What GI diseases are common in meerkats?
What neoplasia is commonly documented in captive raccoons?
Noninfectious Dz of Procyonids and Viverids:
- Patchy haircoat may be seasonal in red pandas and raccoons.
– Hypothyroidism reported in red panda.
– Tend to be seasonal hair loss, no tx required.
- Osteoarthritis in older animals.
- HCM reported in kinkajous and binturong.
- Pancreatitis and trichobezoars reported in merkats.
- Thyroid pathology.
– Raccoons.
– Thyroid adenocarcinomas commonly reported in captive raccoons.
– Also follicular hyperplasia, follicular adenomas, colloid goiters.
– Age likely plays role in oncogenesis (adults).
Describe the toxins affected procyonids and viverids.
What is a common toxin of raccoons?
What is a common toxin exposure for mongooses?
What mechanisms do mongooses have to avoid snake venom toxicity?
Toxins – Rodenticide exposure common in wild raccoons.
- Elevated tissue mercury reported in mongooses, no clinical toxicity.
- Mongooses have complex mechanisms to avoid snake venom toxicity.
– Toxin-neutralizing proteins in serum inhibit venom metalloproteinases and myotoxins.
– Genetic adaptation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor prohibit binding of alpha-neurotoxins.
A recent study evaluated the raccoon response to the ONRAB vaccine in New York.
What are the seroconversion rates like for this vaccine?
What marker is used to identify animals who have been vaccinated?
Is this bait successful in this area?
Pedersen, K., Gilbert, A. T., Nelson, K. M., Morgan, D. P., Davis, A. J., VerCauteren, K. C., … & Chipman, R. B. (2019).
Raccoon (procyon lotor) response to ontario rabies vaccine baits (onrab) in st. Lawrence county, new york, USA.
Journal of wildlife diseases, 55(3), 645-653
Key Points:
- Ontario Rabies Vaccine Bait ONRAB – Oral rabies vx bait linked to seroconversion rates of 66-84% in raccoons in SW Ontario.
Tetracycline biomarker seen within teeth
- Postbait RVNA seroprevalence increased each year, whereas the prebait seroprevalence varied annually. Significantly higher seroprevalences in adults pre and post bait.
– Postbait tetracycline prevalence among adults higher than prebait for all years.
Takeaway: Raccoons appear to be ingesting ONRAB baits in this area, higher seroprevalence in adults.
A recent study described lysosomal storage disease in banded mongooses.
What is the scientific name of the banded mongoose?
What is lisosomal storage disease?
- which one did these animals have?
Wimmershoff, J., Kuehni-Boghenbor, K., Sewell, A. C., Oevermann, A., Farwanah, H., Robert, N., … & Stoffel, M. H. (2018).
The lysosomal storage disease gm2 gangliosidosis in captive banded mongoose siblings (mungos mungo).
Journal of zoo and wildlife medicine, 49(2), 335-344
Key Points:
- Lysosomal storage diseases – degradation of intra or extracellular material by lososomal acid hydrolases is defective.
– Inherited single enzyme involved in lysosomal metabolism of glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans, glycoproteins.
– Other defects in processing or activation may interfere with enzymes.
– Lyzosomes accumulate substrate of defective enzyme and increasing size and number of lysosomes affect normal cell function.
- GM2 gangliosidosis – caused by defects in the genes encoding the lysosomal enzyme hexosaminidase.
– Reported in humans, dogs, cats, Yorkshire pigs, Muntjak deer, flamingos, Jacob sheep.
– CS – ataxia, hypermetria, tremors, spasticity, paralysis and seizure.
– First weeks of life up to 24mos age.
– CS from defective degradation of sphingolipids leading to accumulation of metabolites in CNS.
- This report – GM2 gangliosidosis in captive banded mongooses; dx based on histo, EM, enzyme assays, lectin histochemistry, lipid analysis.
- Necropsy:
– No gross lesions.
– Histo – neuronal swelling and degeneration associated with intraneuronal storage.
– Severely swollen neurons contained either numerous fine vacuoles with pale eosinophilic material or larger vacuoles of varying size containing pale eosinophilic droplets.
– Intraneuronal storage particularly prominent in larger neurons.
– Assoc with reactive changes including gliosis.
– Severe in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, caudate nuclei, cerebellar molecular layer, thalamus, midbrain.
– Vacuoles also present in astrocytes and neuropil macrophages.
– Storage material accumulated in MP around blood vessels and subarachnoid space.
– Diffuse swelling of cortex.
– Stored material stained positive with Luxol fast blue and PAS.
– Material failed to stain with carbol fuchsin, Sudan red, Alcian blue, Congo red.
– LSD with storage of glycol lipids and/or glycolipoproteins and neuronal degeneration was suspected.
– Lectin histochemistry.
– Brain tissue positive for Ulex europaeus aggluthinin UEA1 and Hippeastrum hybrid lectin HHL.
- Serum enzyme assays.
– Substantially decreased activity of total hexosaminidase, slightly lowered alpha fucosidase, normal alpha and beta mannosidases.
- Lipid analysis.
– Increased amount of GM2 gangliosides in acidic fraction from one affected animal.
– Slightly increased in renal tissue of both affected animals.
– Material identified as GM2 ganglioside by mass spectrometry.
- Discussion:
– Could ultimately not determine genetic basis for this dz because attempts to recover DNA were unsuccessful.
– Breeding within parent animals was discontinued regardless.
A recent study described the radiographic anatomy of the red panda.
What is the scientific name of the red panda?
Be prepared to identify the anatomy in the radiographs on the back of the card.
Makungu, M., du Plessis, W. M., Barrows, M., Groenewald, H. B., & Koeppel, K. N. (2018).
Radiographic abdominal anatomy in captive red pandas (Ailurus fulgens).
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 49(1), 214-218
Key Points:
- Most animals had 6 lumbar vertebrae.
- Majority had three fused sacral segments.
- Hypaxial muscles easily seen on VD view in larger animals.
- RL view – A large amount of abdominal fat in the retroperitoneal space and ventral to the liver in animals > 5 kg.
- VD view – pylorus right of midline, large intestine could be distinguished from SI.
Takeaway: Bunching of small intestine in right central abdomen in larger animals may be easily confused with a mass effect but is considered normal
A recent paper described congenital hypothyroidism in red panda cubs.
What is the scientific name of the red panda?
What are the signs associated with congential hypothyroidism?
What clinical pathologic abnormalities are also associated with this condition?
PRESUMPTIVE CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROIDISM IN RED PANDAS (AILURUS FULGENS FULGENS) FROM FOUR SUCCESSIVE LITTERS
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 52(2): 795–805, 2021
Ronan Eustace, DVM, Dalen Agnew, DVM, PhD, DACVP, Scott D. Fitzgerald, DVM, PhD, DACVP, John C. Fyfe, DVM, PhD, Ann E. Duncan, DVM, Brian Petroff, DVM, PhD, and Kimberly A. Thompson, DVM, MPVM, DACVPM, DACZM
Key Points:
- CH is a metabolic disruption with characteristic developmental abnormalities, including disproportionate dwarfism, central and peripheral nervous system abnormalities, and mental deficiency
– Disproportionate dwarfism occurs due to epiphyseal dysgenesis and delayed skeletal maturation
– Fasting hypercholesterolemia is the most common clinical abnormality in acquired canine hypothyroidism and is frequently observed in CH cases
– occurs in CH due to decreased hepatic metabolism and fecal cholesterol excretion
– Hypercalcemia occurs due to increased GI calcium absorption and decreased renal clearance
- High neonatal and juvenile mortality rate in captive red pandas (up to 55%), but cause is unknown
– Environmental or social stress of dam is believed to be a risk factor
- In 4 cases thyroid tissue could not be visualized and required histo evaluation and IHC staining with anti-thyroglobulin antiserum to confirm the tissue was thyroid in origin due to the hypoplastic appearance
- 66.7% mortality rate in affected cubs, but COD was NOT attributed to CH
Take-away: CH should be considered a ddx for neonatal red pandas presenting with hypercholesterolemia, hypercalcemia, poor growth, mental dullness, atonic bladders, delayed GI motility, or disproportionate dwarfism.
