Peritonitis in a South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris)

A 6-year-old male tapir was admitted because it had been anorexic for 1 day . On admission, the tapir weighed 160 kg. Its rectal temperature was 32.4 d egrees C, its heart rate was 120 beats per minute, and its respiratory rate was 12 breaths per minute. The elasticity of the skin was diminshed. Haema tological evaluation upon admission revealed a haematocrit of 0.63 L.L-1., 6.0 G.L-1 leucocytes with 40 per cent band neutrophils. The concentrations of urea nitrogen and creatinine in plasma were raised (18.9 mmol L-1, and 4 75 mu mol L-1., respectively). Severe combined acidosis was apparent; the v enous pH was 6.965, the bicarbonate concentration was 13.7 mmol.L-1., and t he venous pCO(2) was 8.6 kPa. No strongyle eggs were isolated from faeces b y flotation, but a faecal sample yielded a positive culture for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Urinalysis revealed proteinuria and the presence of leucocyte and renal epithelial cells. Treatment with fluids, TMP/S (17.5 and 3.5 mg/k g body weight, twice a day, respectively), and clenbuterol (0.56 mu g/kg bo dy weight, twice a day) intravenously was unsuccessful and the tapir died 4 days after hospitalization. At necropsy, peritonitis due to a colon infarc t as well as chronic bronchopneumonia and renal tubulonecrosis were found. The antibiotic susceptibility of the bacteria isolated (Streptoc. sp., E. c oli, and K. pneumoniae) from the tapir post-mortem was assessed.