Preventative Health Planning and Diseases of Carnivores and Zoo Birds

How frequently do vets need to visit:

• Large zoos

• Medium zoos

• Large Bird Parks

• Large Aquaria/Small Bird Parks

• Medium Aquaria/Specialist Reptile Facilities/Small and Mixed Zoos

• Small Aquaria/Butterfly Houses/Museum Type Vivaria, Falconry Centers

• Large zoos - weekly

• Medium zoos - every 2 weeks

• Large Bird Parks - monthly

• Large Aquaria/Small Bird Parks - every 2 months

• Medium Aquaria/Specialist Reptile Facilities/Small and Mixed Zoos - every 3 months

• Small Aquaria/Butterfly Houses/Museum Type Vivaria, Falconry Centers - every 6 months

Vaccinations required for Carnivores:

• Felids

• Canids

• Mustelids (like a weasel)

• Ursids (bears)

• Felids - Herpesvirus, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Feline Coronavirus, and in lions FIV. Rarely FelV. Lions may also need distemper

• Canids - Lepto, Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus

• Mustelids (like a weasel) - Distemper (ferret friendly one), Parvo

• Ursids (bears) - Lepto, Panleukopenia, Parvo, Distemper (ferret friendly)

Vaccinations required for:

• Marsupials

• Primates

• Marsupials -  Clostridial Toxin Vaccine

• Primates - Hep B, Measles, Polio, Strep Pneumoniae, Tetanus, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Rabies is not a risk for primates in the UK

Vaccinations required for:

• Artiodactyls (even toed ungulates)

• Perissodactyls (odd toed ungulates)

• Artiodactyls (even toed ungulates)

  • Bluetongue virus, clostridial toxin vaccines, Erysipelas Rhusiopathiae, Johnes, Schmallenberg/Erysipelas/Rotavirus, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

• Perissodactyls (odd toed ungulates) - Tetanus, equine flu, equine herpesvirus, west nile virus

Vaccinations Required for Birds:

• Avian influenza (not scotland)

• Polyomavirus (Psittaciforme - parrots)

• Paramyxovirus (Columbiformes - pigeons and doves)

• Poxvirus (Comlumbiformes)

• Clostridial Toxins (penguins)

• Erysipelas rhusiopathiae (ratites - ostriches)

How often do they recommend fecal sampling in zoos

every 3-4 months

How can you control parasites in carnivores, rodents, primates?

Carnivores/Rodents: be aware some are sensitive for fenbendazole and ivermectin (ie lions and porcupines)

Primates:

• Nematodes: ivermectin, mebendazole

• Protozoa: metronidazole, tinidazole

How should we control parasites in hoofstock?

• important to prevent resistence!!

• Consider pasture rotation with different species (equines and ruminants)

• If rotation is not possible, then rotate parasiticides annually (avermectins, benzimadazoles, etc)

How should we control parasites (nematodes/protozoa) in:

• Birds

• Reptiles

• Birds

  • Nematodes: ivermectin, fenbendazole

  • Protozoa: carnidazole/metronidazole for trichomoniasis, toltrazuril from coccidiosis

• Reptiles

  • Nemaotodes: ivermectin, fenbendazole

  • Protozoa: metronidazole

What is the neonate policy on hoofstock (What do you do when they are born)

• treat naval

• physical check

• vitamin E/selenium injection

• If not sucked in first hour-colostrum replacer by stomach tube

How can we control disease spread and biosecurity at the zoo

• request pre movement testing from sending institution

• post movement testing

• dont allow mixtures of certain species

• foot dips

• change of clothing high risk enclosures

Pre movement testing required for carnivores

• 3 pooled fecal samples at weekly intervals for parasites (E. multicularis) and significant bacteria

• basic hematology and biochemistry

Pre movement testing required for primates

• 3 pooled fecal samples at weekly intervals for parasites and significant bacteria

• basic hematology and biochemistry

• TB Testing

• If macaques then Herpes Simiae (B) testing (optional for others)

• SIV/STLV/resp syncticial virus/foamy virus 

Pre movement testing required for Hoofstock

• 3 pooled fecal samples at weekly intervals for parasites and significant bacteria

• TB intradermal skin test (not equids)

• Brucellosis testing (not equids)

• basic hematology and biochemistry

Pre movement testing required for Reptiles

• 3 pooled fecal samples at weekly intervals for parasites and significant bacteria

• basic hematology and biochemistry

• Serological or PCR (preferred) testing for paramyxovirus

• PCR for herpesvirus

Pre movement testing required for birds

• 3 pooled fecal samples at weekly intervals for parasites and significant bacteria

• Psittaciformes

  • - 3-5 days pooled feces for Chlamydia psittaci or preferably conjunctival, choanal, cloacal swab PCR

  • Psittiformes AND columbiformes = PCR blood + feather testing for circovirus

  • Cloacal PCR for polyoma virus

  • Cloacal PCR adenovirus

  • Serology and Fecal PCR Bornavirus

• Basic hematology and biochemistry

Here is a slide that shows resp diseases of carnivores

honestly the rest is just a list of diseases and i dont think it will be beneficial to have flashcards for it