title: Causes of mortality in the Florida panther (Felis concolor coryi).
abstract: Panthers necropsied at the University of Florida ranged between 2 weeks and 14 years of age; there were 38 males and 17 females in the cohort. Main categories of causes of death included trauma inflicted from either vehicular collisions (43%) or territorial fights (16%). Specific endogenous diseases involved the respiratory system in 13%, the urinary system in 4%, and the central nervous system in 2%. Ostium secundum atrial septal defects (ASD) were diagnosed in 11% of the panthers necropsied. Seventeen (54%) of the 38 male panthers had either unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism. Cause of death remained undetermined in 11% of the total cohort.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Forida 32610, USA. Buergelt@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Buergelt
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Spalding
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D000367:Age Factors; D000374:Aggression; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001344:Autopsy; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D002335:Carnivora; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D008297:Male; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary