Premium
Acute hepatic necrosis and death in a subadult southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum ) associated with exposure to sterigmatocystin in forage contaminated with Aspergillus nidulans
Author(s) -
Bryant BR,
Campbell M,
Sangster C
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/avj.12509
Subject(s) - sterigmatocystin , rhinoceros , necrosis , biology , mycotoxin , pathology , aspergillus , beluga whale , physiology , zoology , medicine , botany , ecology , arctic
A young male southern white rhinoceros ( Ceratotherium simum), which was resident in a zoo as part of a multi‐rhinoceros group, died suddenly. Necropsy and histopathological findings supported a diagnosis of death from acute hepatic necrosis. The microscopic distribution of liver lesions was suggestive of hepatotoxicosis. Further investigation revealed potential exposure to a mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin, present in spoiled lucerne hay contaminated with Aspergillus nidulans. It was concluded that mycotoxicosis was the likely cause of the hepatic necrosis and death in this animal.