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CONCURRENT IRON OVERLOAD AND NEOPLASIA IN LESCHENAULT'S ROUSETTES (ROUSETTUS LESCHENAULTII): A CASE SERIES
Renata Snow1, May Tse2, Fraser Hill2
1Fauna Conservation Department, Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong SAR, China, renatas@kfbg.org.
Summary
Deaths in Leschenault's rousettes were linked to iron overload (IO) and cancer. Excessive vitamin C may contribute to IO, prompting recommendations for careful supplementation in this bat species.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Comparative Oncology
- Mammalian Toxicology
Background:
- Leschenault's rousettes (Rousettus leschenaultii) are a fruit bat species.
- Captive bat colonies require careful health monitoring and management.
- Neoplasia and iron overload are significant health concerns in some animal species.
Observation:
- A cluster of deaths occurred in a captive colony of Leschenault's rousettes.
- Six of seven deceased bats were diagnosed with both iron overload and neoplasia.
- Neoplasms included hepatocellular carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and sarcoma.
Findings:
- Iron overload (hemochromatosis/hemosiderosis) was confirmed histopathologically and biochemically.
- Hepatic iron concentrations did not correlate with histopathological grading.
- Excessive dietary vitamin C was a potential contributing factor to iron overload; Panhepadnavirus was not detected.
Implications:
- This is the first report of iron overload and neoplasia in Leschenault's rousettes.
- Iron overload may be linked to a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in this species.
- Recommendations include conservative vitamin C and iron supplementation, and prompt postmortem examination for Leschenault's rousettes.
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