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12 June 2020 MYONECROSIS AND DEATH DUE TO PRESUMED MICROCYSTIN TOXICOSIS IN AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCOS)
Stephanie McCain, Richard R. Sim, Elizabeth W. Howerth, Sophie Aschenbroich, Shannon G.M. Kirejczyk, Brittany McHale, Carmen Jerry, Jack J. Kottwitz, Alan E. Wilson, Rita McManamon
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Abstract

Over a period of 5 mo, seven out of eight American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) housed on a spring-fed pond at a zoo died or were euthanized. Clinical signs included inability to stand, anorexia, and weight loss. Clinicopathologic findings included heterophilic leukocytosis and elevated creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase. Histopathologic findings on all pelicans demonstrated severe, chronic, diffuse rhabdomyofiber degeneration and necrosis, making vitamin E deficiency a differential diagnosis despite routine supplementation. Based on tissue and pond water assays for the cyanobacterial toxin, microcystin, toxicosis is suspected as the inciting cause of death in these cases. We hypothesize that vitamin E exhaustion and resultant rhabdomyodegeneration and cardiomyopathy were sequelae to this toxicosis.

Copyright 2020 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
Stephanie McCain, Richard R. Sim, Elizabeth W. Howerth, Sophie Aschenbroich, Shannon G.M. Kirejczyk, Brittany McHale, Carmen Jerry, Jack J. Kottwitz, Alan E. Wilson, and Rita McManamon "MYONECROSIS AND DEATH DUE TO PRESUMED MICROCYSTIN TOXICOSIS IN AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (PELECANUS ERYTHRORHYNCOS)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 51(2), 407-415, (12 June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1638/2019-0117
Accepted: 4 January 2020; Published: 12 June 2020
KEYWORDS
cyanobacteria
microcystin
myonecrosis
myopathy
Pelecanus
pelican
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