Clinical and diagnostic evaluation of a wild ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) specimen.

Abstract

Background: Monitoring the health of wild animals under the principles of one health contributes to the prevention of diseases and the preservation of human and animal health, thus contributing to the conservation of species.

Aim: The current study describes the clinical and paraclinical status of an ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) captured in Buriticá, Antioquia, Colombia, for research purposes with the aim of contributing to the construction of animal health reference values in the wild, considering the scarcity of published data for the country on capture, management, and paraclinical parameters related to this species.

Methods: For this, hematological parameters, blood chemistry, urine cytochemical analyses, and coprological examinations were carried out.

Results: The hematological values of the captured individual do not show relevant differences concerning those reported in the literature in both captive and free specimens. However, differences were identified between the reference blood chemistry and urine cytochemical values between reports of animals in captivity and the wild, revealing the need to develop reference standards for animals in the wild that guarantee adequate management of these species and favor their conservation. A possible picture of renal failure and multiple parasitic infections of epidemiological importance was found.

Conclusion: This study reports for the first time a urine infection by Capillaria sp. and an infection by Dicrocoelium spp. in fecal matter for the species.