Disease patterns in the Detroit Zoo: a study of the mammalian population from 1973 through 1983.

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate disease patterns in the mammals at the Detroit Zoo from 1973 through 1983. The reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), common eland (Taurotragus oryx), rednecked Wallaby (Protemnodon rufogrisea), sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekii), and kangaroo (Macropus spp)- were the most frequently affected mammalian species. Parasitic agents (80% of which were internal parasites) caused morbidity in 60.2% of the mammals evaluated (n = 2,475) and microbial agents caused morbidity in 20.8% of the animals. Strongyloides spp, Trichostrongylus spp, coccidian species, Diphyllobothrium spp, and Trichuris spp were the internal parasites most frequently found. Overall annual mortality rate was 14% to 34%, with microbiological agents causing the highest mortality (26.5%). Pasteurella spp, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus spp, pathogenic Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium spp, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most frequent microbial causes of death. Cause of mortality could not be determined in 21.5% of the animals evaluated. The percentage of animals successfully treated increased from 1973 through 1983. Generally, however, the percentage of successfully treated animals was low (21% to 39%).