Gharehaghajlou Yashar, Khordadmehr Monireh, Jigari-Asl Farinaz, Ghorani Mohammadreza, Nofouzi Katayoon, Sadri Hassan
Wildlife Veterinarian, Baghlar Baghi Zoo and Birds Garden, Tabriz, Iran.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
Vet Med Sci. 2025 May;11(3):e70317. doi: 10.1002/vms3.70317.
This study investigates the pathology of two stillborn lion cubs presented to the Laboratory of Pathology by analysing their necropsy findings and concluding with possible diagnoses.
At first, a systematic necropsy was performed, and then, the samples of various tissues were collected and divided into three parts for bacterial culture, histopathology studies and molecular analysis. The conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted to detect common foetal infectious agents associated with stillbirth in carnivores, such as canine adenovirus-2, canine distemper virus, canine parainfluenza virus, canine parvovirus and Toxoplasma gondii. In the case of the liver, an additional sample was taken for vitamin A analysis.
As reported in history, the lions were kept in a small zoo, where they were fed the same amount of chicken and red meat. At necropsy, it was observed that both cubs had haemoperitoneum and haemothorax. Moreover, diffuse congestion and focal haemorrhage were observed in the lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen and tight muscles. Notably, extensive haemorrhage was observed in the adrenal gland. The marked thickening of the cranial (skull) bones associated with the brain compressing and marked vascular congestion was found. At PCR, no infectious agent was found. At microscopic examinations, the tracheal epithelium showed squamous metaplasia along with focal and mild vascular congestion. Additionally, the desquamation of epithelium was observed in the stomach and intestine along with mild focal congestion. Notably, severe and extensive haemorrhage and necrosis were found in the other examined tissues. The liver vitamin A levels in both stillborn cubs were significantly low, at 85.7 and 23.3 µg/g of tissue, respectively.
Our findings supported a diagnosis of vitamin A deficiency when compared with the normal reference value reported in another previous study on wet liver samples obtained from a wild lion. It is suspected to be the cause of stillbirths, neonatal deaths and multiple anomalies in lion cubs.
本研究通过分析两头死产狮崽的尸检结果并得出可能的诊断结论，对提交至病理学实验室的这两头死产狮崽进行病理学研究。
首先进行系统尸检，然后采集各种组织样本并分为三份，分别用于细菌培养、组织病理学研究和分子分析。采用常规聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测与食肉动物死产相关的常见胎儿感染因子，如犬腺病毒2型、犬瘟热病毒、犬副流感病毒、犬细小病毒和弓形虫。对于肝脏，额外采集样本进行维生素A分析。
如病史报告所述，这些狮子饲养在一个小型动物园中，喂食相同量的鸡肉和红肉。尸检时，观察到两头幼崽均有腹腔积血和胸腔积血。此外，在肺、心脏、肝脏、肾脏、脾脏和骨骼肌中观察到弥漫性充血和局灶性出血。值得注意的是，肾上腺出现广泛出血。发现颅骨明显增厚，伴有脑受压和明显的血管充血。PCR检测未发现感染因子。显微镜检查时，气管上皮显示鳞状化生，伴有局灶性和轻度血管充血。此外，在胃和肠道观察到上皮脱落，伴有轻度局灶性充血。值得注意的是，在其他检查组织中发现严重且广泛的出血和坏死。两头死产幼崽肝脏中的维生素A水平均显著偏低，分别为85.7和23.3微克/克组织。
与先前另一项关于从野生狮子获取的湿肝样本的研究报告的正常参考值相比，我们的研究结果支持维生素A缺乏的诊断。怀疑这是狮崽死产、新生儿死亡和多种畸形的原因。
