Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Conservation Biology for Endangered Wildlife, Chenghua District, 1375 Panda Road, Chengdu, 610081, Sichuan, China.
Zoo and Exotic Animal Pathology Service, Infectious Diseases Laboratory, Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Department of Pathology College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
BMC Vet Res. 2022 Feb 10;18(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03170-2.
The red panda has been classified as an endangered species due to the decreased number in the world and disease is considered as a great threat to the health and survival of the cubs in captivity.
This study analyzed 32 red panda cub mortalities (15 females and 17 males, age less than two months) through gross necropsy, microbiological examination, and histopathological observation at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, China, during 2014-2020. The results showed that screenings for canine distemper virus, canine parvovirus, rotavirus and parasite infection were all negative, however bacteria such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas were isolated from the tissue samples of some cubs. The major causes of death were respiratory (43.75%) and digestive system disease (28.13%), followed by cardiovascular disease (12.5%) and neonatal stillbirths (9.38%). Renal system diseases and trauma were also detected, at lower incidence (one case for each). The mortality rate within 15 days of birth was 68.75% and gradually decreased with age, there was no significant difference in gender.
This study can provide a scientific basis for the analysis of the cause of death among red panda cubs in captivity, so as to improve the survival rate, help build the captive population and further the ex-situ conservation management of this endangered species. Additionally, our research may also provide insights into the in-situ conservation of wild red pandas by identifying emerging disease threats within the wild population and potential treatment for rescued individuals.
由于全球数量减少，大熊猫已被列为濒危物种，疾病被认为是圈养幼仔健康和生存的巨大威胁。
本研究通过对中国成都大熊猫繁育研究基地 2014 年至 2020 年期间的 32 只死亡的红熊猫幼仔（15 只雌性和 17 只雄性，年龄小于两个月）进行大体剖检、微生物检查和组织病理学观察，进行了分析。结果表明，犬瘟热病毒、犬细小病毒、轮状病毒和寄生虫感染的筛查均为阴性，但从一些幼仔的组织样本中分离出了克雷伯氏菌、奇异变形杆菌、大肠杆菌、粪肠球菌、假单胞菌等细菌。主要死亡原因是呼吸系统（43.75%）和消化系统疾病（28.13%），其次是心血管疾病（12.5%）和新生儿死产（9.38%）。还检测到肾脏系统疾病和创伤，但发病率较低（各一例）。出生后 15 天内的死亡率为 68.75%，随着年龄的增长逐渐降低，性别间无显著差异。
本研究可为分析圈养红熊猫幼仔死亡原因提供科学依据，提高幼仔的存活率，有助于建立圈养种群，进一步开展该濒危物种的迁地保护管理。此外，我们的研究还可以通过识别野生种群中出现的疾病威胁以及对获救个体的潜在治疗方法，为野生红熊猫的就地保护提供参考。
