DISEASE AND MORTALITY IN AUSTRALASIAN MARSUPIALS HELD AT LONDON-ZOO, 1872-1972

Although marsupials have been kept in the collection at the London Zoo for over a century, many of the findings on causes of disease and dea th have not been published. With the recent increase in research into the diseases of wild marsupials, such a large zoo data base can provid e important information with implications for both captive and free-li ving populations. This report analyzes mortality in Australasian marsu pials held at the London Zoo between 1872 and 1972. Of the 1,217 recor ds analyzed, 763 were of macropods, 269 of possums and gliders, 113 of dasyurids, 38 of wombats, 19 of bandicoots and bilbies, nine of thyla cines (Thylacinus cynocephalus), and six of koalas (Phascolarctos cine reus). Approximately 60% of the deaths occurred between 1892 and 1931. During this period, many animals died shortly after arrival due to po or conditions of transportation. Increased mortality also often follow ed periods of cold weather, when marsupials died from a variety of dis eases, especially pneumonia. Cellulitis and osteomyelitis of the head and neck (''necrobacillosis'' or ''lumpy jaw'') was the main disease p roblem in 137 macropods. Respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases wer e partly caused by the same organisms associated with lumpy jaw. In mo st groups of marsupials, pneumonia, gastroenteritis and gastric ulcera tion were common findings. Death due to trauma occurred in 51 macropod s, 16 possums and gliders, and 10 dasyurids. Nineteen macropods had tu berculosis, and 11 had gastric neoplasia. Ten macropods and seven womb ats had intestinal obstructions. Twelve of the possums and gliders had liver disease. Seven dasyurids had neoplasia. Five of the nine thylac ines had peritonitis secondary to ulcerative gastroenteritis. Many of these disease conditions have been well documented in marsupials held at other zoos and in wildlife parks. This study suggests that the rang e of diseases detected in captive marsupials at the London Zoo has not changed greatly during the time records on causes of death have been kept, but the prevalence of these diseases has been influenced by chan ging management.