WildLife Group
of the SAVA
Vet Diagnostix
Blue Green Algal Poisoning in White Rhino
Dr Rick Last – BVSc; M.Med.Vet (Pathology)
Vetdiagnostix – Veterinary Pathology Services
P.O. Box 13624
Cascades
3202
[email protected]
Dr Peter Rogers
Provet Wildlife Services
P.O. Box 692
Hoedspruit
1380
[email protected]
Dr Peter Rogers was called out to perform post
mortems on four adult white rhino which had died
acutely following access to a dam with an active
blue green algal bloom (Figure 1). Prevailing winds
had driven the algae onto the banks of the dam and
the rhino had been observed drinking in these areas
(Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 1: Blue green algal bloom with greenish tinge to the dam water.
Figure 3: Closer view of the heavy accumulation of blue green algal
material on the waters edge.
Figure 2: Dense accumulates of Microcystis aeruginosa on the waters
edge with clear evidence of animals having frequented this area.
22
Gross post mortem findings were dominated
by hepatic necrosis and widespread suggilation
hemorrhages on serosal surfaces. The most
outstanding histopathology was observed in the
liver which demonstrated severe pan-necrosis with
fragmentation of hepatocellular cords due to cell
dissociation and only sinusoidal lining still intact
(Figure 4). Extensive sinusoidal hemorrhages with