propensity for stress and their extended life
span in captivity, as well as their adaptation
for fecundity (rather than longevity) and
adrenaline-mediated high speed prey
chases.
Alimentary tract lesions (palatine ulcers,
gastritis and enteritis) were not associated
with amyloidosis. In a previous study, I found
that amyloidosis was most closely related to
interstitial nephritis. Amyloid deposition may
therefore be triggered by the inflammation
that results from hypoxic tubular injury.
Amyloid also likely exacerbates that injury
by physically separating tubules from their
blood supply.
So, what does this mean for management
of captive cheetahs? Firstly, that cheetahs
over 7 years old should be treated and fed as
geriatric animals since they rarely live longer
than this in the wild. Also, work by other
researchers strongly suggests that gastritis
is mediated by adrenocorticoid stress
responses. So, prevention, identification
and mitigation of stress (whether mediated
by adrenergic or adrenocorticoid responses)
may be critical to the successful prevention
of both kidney disease and gastritis in
captive cheetahs. We know that it is the
quieter, apparently calmer cheetahs that
are the most stressed, and that cheetahs
may be stressed by changing enclosures or
locations, changing animal attendants, being
on display, by not having raised platforms or
hiding places in their enclosures and by lack
of exercise. Since a few subadult animals
in my study had medullary fibrosis and
one had amyloidosis, stress management
should start with young animals. Lastly, any
condition that might exacerbate hypoxia
(such as anaemia due to ectoparasites
or low blood pressure during anesthesia)
should be quickly identified and prevented
where possible.
Profs Emily P Mitchell, Leon Prozesky, John
Lawrence. The details of the published paper
are available free online: A new perspective on
the pathogenesis of chronic renal disease in
captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). Plos One
13(3):e1094114
2018
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