Clinicopathological evaluation on capture myopathy due to chemical immobilization in spotted deer

Abstract

Objective: The study was focused to investigate the occurrence of a fatal capture myopathy (CM) after chemical immobilization during translocation in different places and to evaluate serum enzymes of stressed deer and pathologic alteration of vital organs of dead animals due to CM. Materials and Methods: The experimental data was collected from Bangladesh National Zoo, Dhaka and the experiment was conducted at the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh . Immediate after capture the animals were allowed to normalize body temperature by pouring sufficient water over the body. Peripheral blood was aspirated from jugular vein for serum biochemical analysis. Once the animals died, vital organs were collected and processed for histology. Results: Data from 2013 to 2018 revealed 178 animals captured through darting and among them 40 animals died due to post-capture myopathy reflecting death rate of 22.47%. We have closely studied on 16 animals captured on different occasions. Serum enzyme analysis were exhibited increased levels of ALT, AST, Bilirubin, Creatinine, BUN, LDH, CK, Troponin, Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL and LDL and were highly indicative of stress-linked muscle and organ damage. The macroscopic lesions consisted of muscular and cardiac degeneration, edema, hemorrhage and congestion in lung, adrenal gland and in kidney. Microscopically there were loss of striation and fragmentation of skeletal muscle, formation of contraction band necrosis in myocardial fiber, degenerative changes in renal tubule and formation of central intraluminal eosinophilic casts. Conclusion: The pathological findings were indicative of capture myopathy in spotted deer. This report underlines that mortality from capture is a risk that must be considered during restocking programs.