society Life

On 25th May one of two lion cubs in Osijek ZOO died. We enclose veterinarians report on examination of lion cubs in Osijek ZOO that they did a month ago.

On March 27th we have examined two male lion cubs, 17 months old, weighing approximately 60 kilos. Cubs were placed in separate cages, size 2×2,8 meters, wooden bedding placed in the corner of each cage, size 1×0,6 meters, cages covered with hay. Upon our arrival both cubs were laying in the remote corner of the cage, behaving very frightened and aggressive. Despite every effort of the staff to call them, cubs refused to get up. After that staff anesthetised the cubs with Zoletil (air gun), under supervision of the Zoo manager, Dr. Tatjana Salika Todorovic. Anesthetised cubs were examined and blood, urine and lymph nodes samples taken.

CASE HISTORY:

• Lions, one male and three females were transported from Netherland to Osijek ZOO on 29th September 1998. There was no information on age and origin of the animals. It was just said that the male lion was sterilized.

• In 2001 female lion delivers one cub with head deformations (hydrocephalus), she received veterinarian aid.

• In 2002 female lion delivers two cubs, one dies on 25/12/2002, the other one dies on 30/07/2003. There is no information on the cause of death or treatment.

• In 2004 female lion delivers three cubs, size of an adult cat, with fur, without visible changes on the body, cubs were not vital, one died in a few hours, the other two after three days.

• On 18/08/2004 female lion delivers two vital male cubs, on 17/11/2005 they received preventive vaccine for the cats and anti-parasite treatment, last treatment given on 10/02/2007.

• Mid February, it was noticed that one cub was lying for a long time, had difficulty moving, was staggering when walking, distinctive weakness in rear legs, not interested in surroundings. The other cub showed the same symptoms but with mild intensity. Cubs had healthy appetite the whole time. Since symptoms have appeared, they were given bigger portions of food (with beef and intestines and occasional chicken which is given with fish oil once per week, also given milk and eggs, combination of minced meet, carrot, bakery leaven and Kostovit - food supplement that combat rickets and osteoporosis). Condition has not improved until today.

TEST RESULTS:

BIGGER CUB

Clinical features:
Body weight approximately 70 kilos
Body temperature 38, 1 Celsius degree - 100, 58 Fahrenheit
Lymph nodes proportioned with age of the animal
Respiratory sound regular Heart tone regular, without pathological sounds
Palpable abdomen tender, organs well situated

Urine findings:
Specific mass 1025 pH
6.5 Proteins 0.3g/l
Leucocytes +/-
Erythrocytes +/-

Serum findings:
FIV - (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus ) – negative
FELV – ( Feline Leukaemia Virus ) – negative
FIP – ( Feline Infectious Perionitis ) – negative

Lymph nodes cytology findings – predominantly small lymphocytes



SMALLER CUB

Clinical features:
Body weight approximately 60 kilos
Body temperature 38.0 Celsius degree - 100, 40 Fahrenheit
Lymph nodes proportioned with age of the animal
Respiratory sound regular
Heart tone regular, without pathological sounds
Palpable abdomen tender, organs well situated
Not possible to extract penis because of prepuce

Serum findings:
FIV - (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus ) – negative
FELV – (Feline Leukaemia Virus ) – negative
FIP – (Feline Infectious Peritonitis ) – negative

Lymph nodes cytology findings – predominantly small lymphocytes

Cage floors were cleaned at that moment, so it was not possible to take stool samples for parasitological exam, and we made a deal with Zoo manager Dr. Salika Todorovic that they will take stool samples when possible and send us the samples at the Vet University of Zagreb – it has not been done yet.


SURVEY REPORT:
Our professional opinion is that cubs are too small for their age, because all recent literature indicate that young lions 17 months of age should have mass at least 120 to 150 kg ( mean 134 kg ). Rear limbs muscles of the smaller cub are poorly developed in reference to expected findings in lions that age. We had no possibility to extract his penis out of the prepuce, because of prepuce abnormality - phimosis. Relating to haematological, immunological and urine findings, and the fact that we have not found any signs of common infectious syndrome, we concluded that there is no presence of acute infection in cubs. Findings of biochemical analysis are also within referenced value margins, with exception of amylase and lipases, but referenced value of these parameters depends on used lab methods, so values of these enzymes are incomparable within different laboratories. Biochemical laboratory of Clinic for the Internal Diseases have not determined referenced values for the lions, so we can’t properly interpret biochemical findings. Other biochemical findings in those two lions exclude possibility of renal failure and liver dysfunction. Calcium, phosphor, glucose, proteins, albumins, triglycerides and cholesterol values do not indicate presence of malnutrition in those two lions. Serum findings exclude every possibility of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Leukaemia Virus and Feline Infectious Peritonitis. Considering that we have not seen those two cubs in movement, and we examined them under the influence of anaesthesia, we can not exclude presence of neurological and orthopaedic diseases, (e.g. hips dysplasia, spinal disease, because of that we recommend that x-rays and additional orthopaedic exam should be performed. Also, we would like to recommend minor surgical intervention on the smaller lion because of phimosis. As we are not experts in lions housing and nutrition, we suggest that the big cats experts should be consulted.