Clinical Health Management and Disease Prevention in Captive Zoo Animals: A Multi-Institutional Study
Keywords:
Zoo animal medicine, Preventive veterinary care, Captive wildlife health, Anaesthetic complications, Infectious disease management.Abstract
Zoological institutions play an increasingly important role in conservation, education, and research; however, maintaining the health of captive wildlife presents unique clinical and management challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of structured preventive medicine programmes, assess anaesthetic safety, and analyse the burden and management of infectious diseases across multiple zoological settings.
A prospective observational study was conducted from January to December 2024 in three zoological institutions located in Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and India. A total of 273 animals representing five taxonomic groups (large felids, non-human primates, ungulates, reptiles, and birds) were enrolled in a comprehensive annual health programme. This included physical examinations, haematology, serum biochemistry, parasitological screening, vaccination, nutritional assessment, and dental evaluation. Anaesthetic events (n = 148) and infectious disease cases (n = 81) were systematically recorded and analysed.
Vaccination coverage reached 90.2%, and parasite prevalence significantly declined from 48.7% at baseline to 15.4% following intervention. The overall morbidity and mortality rates were 19.4% and 3.1%, respectively. Anaesthetic complications occurred in 8.1% of procedures, with the highest risk observed in giraffes. Infectious diseases of major concern included tuberculosis, herpesvirus, salmonellosis, aspergillosis, and canine distemper, with variable recovery rates ranging from 33.3% to 86.4%. Nutritional deficiencies were identified in 12.5% of animals, predominantly affecting reptiles and birds.
In conclusion, structured preventive medicine programmes significantly improve health outcomes in captive zoo populations by reducing parasite burden and enhancing disease control. However, challenges remain in managing anaesthetic risk in large ungulates and controlling high-impact infectious diseases, highlighting the need for strengthened biosecurity measures and species-specific clinical protocols.
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