Miller, R.E., 1994. Diseases of black rhinoceroses in captivity: pp. 180-185
 | In: Penzhorn, B.L. et al. Proceedings of a symposium on rhinos as game ranch animals. Onderstepoort, Republic of South Africa, 9-10 September 1994: pp. i-iv, 1-242 |
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Diseases |
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Black Rhino |
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Encephalomalacia has been reported in three black rhinoceros calves and one 2-year-old animal. All were female. Clinical signs varied from somnolence and hyperthermia to hyperexcitability. Three died during their episodes and one was euthanized subsequent to becoming a 'dummy' calf. Histologically the lesions were notable for massive white matter necrosis (leucoencephalomalacia), and in some areas, adjacent gray matter was also affected. Evidence of inflammation was evident only in the older lesions where presumably it was a reaction to necrosis. It is believed that the variable neurological signs may simply reflect which areas of the brain in each individual were most severely affected.
Histology or specific diagnostic tests were not supportive of vitamin E-induced malacia, polioencephalo-malacia, or viral infections (eg., encephalomyocarditis virus or equine encephalitis). The histologic pattern most closely resembled that of leucoencephatomalacia due to ingestion of food contaminated with the mould Fusarium moniliforme, however, feedstuffs ingested prior to the onset of the neurological symptoms were not available for analysis. The variable clinical presentation of this disease emphasizes the importance of collecting brain and spinal cord tissues from all rhinoceros deaths, particularly those in which a diagnosis is not readily evident. It is possible that this syndrome is under-diagnosed due to the difficulties in removing a rhinoceros brain.
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Diseases of black rhinoceroses in captivity
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