• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.639-645
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• 2019

In the present study, a Spirometra species of Tanzania origin obtained from an African leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was identified based on molecular analysis of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (nad1) as well as by morphological observations of an adult tapeworm. One strobila and several segments of a Spirometra species were obtained from the intestine of an African male leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) in the Maswa Game Reserve of Tanzania. The morphological characteristics of S. theileri observed comprised 3 uterine loops on one side and 4 on the other side of the mid-line, a uterine pore situated posterior to the vagina and alternating irregularly either to the right or left of the latter, and vesicular seminis that were much smaller than other Spirometra species. Sequence differences in the cox1 and nad1 genes between S. theileri (Tanzania origin) and S. erinaceieuropaei were 10.1% (cox1) and 12.0% (nad1), while those of S. decipiens and S. ranarum were 9.6%, 9.8% (cox1) and 13.0%, 12.6% (nad1), respectively. The morphological features of the Tanzania-origin Spirometra specimens coincided with those of S. theileri, and the molecular data was also consistent with that of S. theileri, thereby demonstrating the distribution of S. theileri in Tanzania. This places the leopard (Panthera pardus) and spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) as new definitive hosts of this spirometrid tapeworm.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.614-617
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• 2010

A 3-year-old, female spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) was referred with dystocia. The hyena had been in labor for over 5 days, but she failed to expel the infant. The blood biochemistry profiles showed severe azotemia. During caesarian section, we confirmed that the uterus had expanded and contained 1 dead, decayed infant, which compress the urethra, leading to the expansion of the urinary bladder and that the dead fetus was nearly 3 kg in weight (approximately 5% of the maternal weight). Thus, we confirmed that the dystocia caused by oversized fetus and malposture, and the severe azotemia resulted in compression of the urethra by fetus in the hyena. This report is the first to show that the dystocia can induce postrenal azotemia in female spotted hyenas.