Abstract:
One hundred seventy-two medical records of captive jaguars (Panthera onca )were
examined from 30 American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA)institu-
tions housing jaguars between 1982 –2002.The study determined common
causes of morbidity and mortality,and the in fluence of age,gender,and
melengestrol-acetate (MGA)exposure on these rates.The most common causes
of morbidity in captive jaguars were found to be dental,gastrointestinal,
integumentary,and musculoskeletal diseases.Prevalence of types of disease
varied with age,with older animals experiencing a higher prevalence of multiple
types of disease.Females developed reproductive disease more frequently
than males,and the data suggest that MGA exposure increased the risk of
developing female reproductive disease.The most common causes of mortality
were reproductive diseases in females and musculoskeletal diseases in males.
There was a high rate of neonate and pediatric mortality,primarily due to
stillbirths or unexplained neonatal death,trauma,and pneumonia.Other diseases
or clinical signs that seemed remarkable were a high prevalence of episodes of
epistaxis among young,as well as old,jaguars.Based on these findings,
management suggestions for the captive jaguar population are presented.
