DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP AND SUPPORTIVE CARE OF AN ILL WOMBAT
The principles of disease investigation in wombats are extrapolated from those in domestic animal practice. Thorough history evaluation, physical examination and appropriate selection of diagnostic tests will usually result in a presumptive or definitive diagnosis.
Careful consideration should be given to the provision of nutritional support, analgesia and fluid therapy in an animal with poorly defined health problems (Bryant and Reiss 2008). In addition to venous access sites previously described (Bryant and Reiss 2008), the auricular vein is a useful site for maintenance of an IV catheter for fluidTable 37.1. Summary of the clinical signs and diagnostic options for selected diseases of wombats
| Aetiology/disease | Clinical signs | Diagnostics | Comment |
| Viral | |||
| Vombatid herpesvirus 1 and 2 (gammaherpesviruses), Vombatid herpesvirus 3 (alphaherpesvirus)1 | Non-specific (e.g. lethargy, poor body condition, concurrent disease) | Histopathology,* electron microscopy, virus isolation, PCR | Subclinical infection, periods of latency and reactivation possible See Chapter 23 |
| Encephalomyocarditis virus | Sudden death | Histopathology,* immunofluorescence, serology, virus isolation | Associated with the presence of rodents |
| Bacterial | |||
| Tyzzer's disease (Clostridium piliforme) | Depression, hyperthermia, jaundice, seizures | Histopathology,* silver stains or Giemsa, immunofluorescence, PCR | Treatment is largely supportive |
| Other bacterial infections (e.g. pneumonia, dermatitis, polyarthritis) | Various depending on organ system involved | Bacterial culture | Treat with antibiotics on the basis of susceptibility testing |
| Fungal | |||
| Adiaspiromycosis (Emmonsiellopsis sp., previously Emmonsia parva}2 | Usually subclinical, respiratory signs | Thoracic radiography,* lung cytology, histopathology, fungal culture and sequencing/PCR | Often an incidental finding; marked burdens have been associated with pleuritis and pulmonary oedema and fibrosis in northern hairy-nosed wombats |
| Other fungal infections (dermatomycosis, Pneumocystisjiroveci, candidiasis) | Various, depending on organ system involved | Light microscopy, fungal culture | Treat with an antifungal agent appropriate for the organism involved |
| Protozoa | |||
| Toxoplasmosis3 | Lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, respiratory and/or neurological signs | Serology,* histopathology, immunohistochemistry, PCR | Subclinical infection possible See Chapter 21 |
| Coccidiosis | Weight loss, bloating, diarrhoea, cloacal prolapse | Faecal floatation, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, PCR | Subclinical infection possible Treat with toltrazuril (drug of choice) or sulfa drugs (mild cases only); amprolium in drinking water has been described for prevention4 |
| Trypanosomes | Mostly non-pathogenic | Blood film (note - low sensitivity), PCR | See Chapter 26 |
| Cryptosporidium spp. (C. fayeri, C. ubiquitum)5 | Disease has not been reported | PCR, Immunomagnetic separation/flow cytometry | Potentiallyzoonotic See Chapter 16 |
554 CurrentTherapyin MedicineofAustraIian Mammals
| AetioIogyZdisease | Clinical signs | Diagnostics | Comment |
| Parasitic | |||
| Assorted helminths | Mostly non-pathogenic | Faecal flotation | Treat (with anthelmintics) only if considered clinically relevant |
| Mites: sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) (see Chapter 12) or heavy infestations with Acaroptes vombatusβ | Erythema, parakeratosis, excoriation, scaling and fissuring of skin; alopecia; emaciation | Light microscopy of skin scrapings, histopathology | Treatment for mild to moderate cases involves: 1. acaracides - repeated doses Ofinjectable or topical avermectins; or topical fluralaner once 2. supportive therapy - analgesia, fluid therapy, antibiotics Ifsecondary infections, nutritional support, removal ofcrusts, monitoring of thermal environment Euthanasia is indicated for severely affected animals |
| Ticks (assorted species) | Burdens can be heavy, clinical signs of illness may be seen occasionally | Physical examination | May harbour potentially pathogenic organisms (e.g. Coxiella, Rickettsia). Treat with an acaricide (e.g. fipronil, moxidectin or permethrin) |
| Fleas (e.g. Lycopsylla nova, Echidnophaga spp.) Lice (Boopia tarsata) | Mostly non-pathogenic, mild dermatitis with heavy burdens | Physical examination, light microscopy of ectoparasites | Treatment options for fleas (fipronil, selamectin, pyrethrins); for lice (fipronil, pyrethrins, carbaryl powder) |
| Physical injury | |||
| Trauma (e.g. road trauma, conspecific trauma, predator trauma, trap injuries) | Wounds, soft tissue injuries, fractures | History, physical examination, imaging, clinical pathology | Treatment follows first principles of small animal medicine and surgery |
| Degenerative, nutritional and unknown | |||
| Degenerativejoint disease, lumbosacral spondylosis, cardiac disease, acute abdomen, neoplasia | Various | History,* physical examination, imaging | Apply principles of small animal medicine for evaluation and treatment |
| Acquired dental disease | Weight loss, inappetence/dysphagia | Dietary history,* oral examination (requires anaesthesia), skull imaging | See Chapter 13 |
| Metabolic bone disease (osteodystrophy due to disturbance in calcium metabolism) | Dental abnormalities, gait stiffness, enlarged joints, limb deformities, dyspnoea, seizures, gastrointestinal disturbances | Signalment (age, species)∕history (dietary)/ physical and dental examination*, radiography (generalised osteopaenia, indistinct metaphyseal margins, widening of metaphyseal ends, concavity of metaphyses, angular deformity, pathological fractures) | Anecdotally hand-reared southern hairynosed wombats appear to be predisposed, with speculation sunlight (via basking) plays a role in their vitamin D/calcium metabolism; treatment with judicious supplementation and supportive care may only be effective in early cases7 |
37-Wombats 555
Table 37.1. (continued)
| Aetiology/disease | Clinical signs | Diagnostics | Comment |
| Toxicoses | |||
| Sodium fluoroacetate (1080), pyrrolizidine alkaloids, oxalates, vitamin D | Various depending on toxin | History,* laboratory screening of tissues/feed | See Chapter 19 |
| Environmental | |||
| Heat stress | Recumbency, stupor, hypersalivation, red feet | History,* physical examination | Provide a cool environment with good air flow and low humidity, fluid therapy indicated if unable or unwilling to drink |
| Effects ofdrought (malnutrition, dehydration) | Poor body condition, death | History,* physical examination* | For southern hairy-nosed wombats, weanlings appear to be particularly vulnerable8 |
| *Suggestive of the diagnosis only (not definitive). 1StaIder etal. 2015; 2Danesi etal. 2020; 3Donahoe etal. 2015; | 4Rose 1999; 5KoehIer etal. 2016; 6Skerratt 2005; 7LVogeInest, M Shawand G Tobias pers. comm.; 8Gaughwin etal. 2021; Bryant and Reiss 2008; Ladds 2009; ARWH 2018. Table adapted from | ||
Woolford (2012).
556 CurrentTherapyin MedicineofAustraIian Mammals
administration in hospitalised wombats (S Vitali pers. comm.). The IO route is an appropriate alternative for juveniles with difficult venous access (T Portas pers. comm.).
8.
More on the topic DIAGNOSTIC WORK-UP AND SUPPORTIVE CARE OF AN ILL WOMBAT:
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