HEPATOPATHY IN 2 BLACK RHINOCEROSES (DICEROS-BICORNIS) IN ZIMBABWE - CREOSOTE TOXICOSIS

Four of 20 black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) became lethargic, ano rectic, anemic, and jaundiced, with elevations in serum bilirubin, aft er being moved into creosote-treated holding pens (bomas). One of thes e animals died, and a second became moribund and was euthanized. Both had oral and gastric ulcers, widespread hemorrhages and hematomata, an d uniformly swollen, intensely green livers, containing excessive intr ahepatic bilirubin. The remaining two animals made full clinical recov eries, and additional cases were not seen in Zimbabwe, although three of these animals died with similar liver lesions after final transloca tion to the USA, and two with similar liver lesions died after translo cation to Australia. This report describes clinical, hematologic, and pathological findings in two black rhinoceroses that were confined in wooden pens that had been treated with creosote, noting similarities d escribed in creosote toxicosis in other animals.