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Upper respiratory tract disease in captive orangutans ( Pongo sp.): prevalence in 20 European zoos and predisposing factors
Author(s) -
Zimmermann N.,
Pirovino M.,
Zingg R.,
Clauss M.,
Kaup F.J.,
Heistermann M.,
Hatt J.M.,
Steinmetz H.W.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of medical primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1600-0684
pISSN - 0047-2565
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0684.2011.00490.x
Subject(s) - pongo pygmaeus , biology , disease , captivity , physiology , respiratory system , respiratory tract , respiratory disease , captive breeding , zoology , medicine , pathology , anatomy , ecology , endangered species , lung , habitat
Background Upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) is a significant cause of morbidity in captive orangutans ( Pongo abelii , Pongo pygmaeus ), and the pathogenesis is often unknown. Methods The prevalence of respiratory disease in captive European orangutans (201 animals; 20 zoos) and possible predisposing factors were investigated. Results Bornean orangutans ( P. pygmaeus ) showed chronic respiratory signs significantly more often (13.8%) than Sumatran ( P. abelii ; 3.6%), and males (15.8%) were more often afflicted than females (3.9%). Hand‐reared animals (21%) developed air sacculitis more often than parent‐reared animals (5%). Diseased animals were more often genetically related to animals with respiratory diseases (93%) than to healthy animals (54%). None of the environmental conditions investigated had a significant effect on disease prevalence. Conclusion Results suggest a higher importance of individual factors for the development of URTD than environmental conditions. Bornean, male and hand‐reared orangutans and animals related to diseased animals need increased medical surveillance for early detection of respiratory disease.