HYPERLIPIDEMIA IN 4 RELATED MALE CHEETAHS (ACINONYX-JUBATUS)

Hyperlipidemia was identified in an 11-yr-old male cheetah (Acinonyx j ubatus) and three related 3-yr-old male cheetah littermates. Hyperlipi demia in these four cheetahs was characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia. The mean percentages of chylomicron and bet a-lipoproteins were greater (P < 0.05) and the mean percent of alpha-l ipoproteins was lower (P < 0.05) than the respective means for a group of 20 nonhyperlipidemic and clinically normal cheetahs. The etiology of the hyperlipidemia in these four cheetahs was not determined. Howev er, the older cheetah also had chronic renal insufficiency and a parat hyroid adenoma, conditions that have been associated with hyperlipidem ia.