Pancreatic Lesions and Hepatobiliary Neoplasia in Captive Bears

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1990
Authors:Canfield, P, Bellamy, T, Blyde, D, Hartley, WJ, Reddacliff, G, Spielman, D
Journal:Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
Volume:21
Pagination:471-475
Date Published:1990
ISBN Number:10427260
Keywords:Helarctos malayanus, Ursus arctos
Abstract:

Two aged captive brown bears (Ursus arctos) held at Taronga Zoo died with pancreatic masses. The female bear died suddenly and had acute pancreatic necrosis with evidence of long-standing inflammation and fibrosis in association with excessive hyperplasia. The male bear had episodes of anorexia and vomiting over an 18-mo period. Hematologic and biochemical analyses revealed a neutrophilia with left shift, eosinopenia, lymphocytopenia, and elevated levels of enzymes (lactate dehydrogenase, alanine transaminase, gamma glutamyl transferase, and amylase). At necropsy, the male had a pancreatic adenoma with extensive unexplained fibrosis. The mass involved the pancreatic and bile ducts. In addition, pancreatic necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis were detected retrospectively (from Taronga Zoo records) in a grizzly bear (U. a. horribilis), an American black bear (U. americanus), and a Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus). A second sun bear had pancreatic metastases of extrahepatic biliary adenocarcinoma, and a third sun bear had metastatic extrahepatic biliary adenocarcinoma. The apparent commonness of pancreatic lesions and hepatobiliary neoplasia in aging bears at Taronga Zoo may be a result of environmental factors, especially dietary factors. However, aging as a factor cannot be assessed until information on wild bears becomes available.

URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/20095101
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