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World |
| Subject: |
Diseases |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a difficult disease to assess due to a long incubation period and the lack of a standard testing procedure in exotic animals. It has been indicated that TB is not prevalent in rhinoceros
Survey was distributed to 68 North American zoos. Of the 40 institutions responding, 26 (65.0%) indicated that they did not TB test their rhinos. 14 (35.0%) had tested rhinos for TB at some time, 2 of the 14 (14.3%) tested their rhinos regularly.
Test results were provided for 53 intradermal tests which were conducted on 45 different animals and 3 tests conducted at necropsy. The most commonly used antigen for intradermal testing (45.5%) was purified protein derivative bovis (PPD-B), with PPD-avian, mammalian tuberculin, mammalian old tuberculin and avian for export used less frequently. The test location used most often (34.2%) was the caudal fold, with the eyelid, vulva and base of the ear being lower in frequency of use. The abdomen and side of the neck were utilized in 1 instance each. The most common form of reading the TB test was by visual inspection, with palpation, caliper measurement and biopsy used less frequently. Antemortem cultures taken included 2 instances each of nasal discharge and feces and 1 each of urine and gastric lavage.
Out of the 53 intradermal tests administered, 43 (81.1%) were considered complete negatives. Two C.s.simum were classified as having minor reactions but still negative, and 8 animals (7 C.s.simum and 1 D.b.michaeli) had equivocal results. One animal (D.b.michaeli) was classified as positive based on test results at necropsy with no antemortem tests reported.
Based on the results of this survey, it is apparent that there is not any one standard test for TB in rhinos.
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Tuberculosis testing of captive rhinoceros
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