Hepatic siderosis in a neonatal gemsbok

Abstract

This report describes the case of a 5‐day‐old gemsbok (Oryx gazella) that experienced sudden convulsions and tachypnoea on the fifth day after birth. Serum chemistry analysis revealed multiple abnormalities, including hyperammonaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hyperphosphataemia. Despite therapeutic intervention to address these abnormalities, the animal succumbed to the symptoms approximately 12 hours later. Histopathological examination revealed iron accumulation primarily in periportal hepatocytes. Infectious diseases were unlikely as the aetiology, given the minimal inflammation observed in the complete blood count and histopathology results, as well as a negative blood culture result. Therefore, we propose alloimmune disease as the suspected underlying cause, leading to hepatic siderosis in the gemsbok.