title: Morbidity and mortality of invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals at a major exotic companion animal wholesaler.
abstract: The authors formally investigated a major international wildlife wholesaler and subsequently confiscated more than 26,400 nonhuman animals of 171 species and types. Approximately 80% of the nonhuman animals were identified as grossly sick, injured, or dead, with the remaining in suspected suboptimal condition. Almost 3,500 deceased or moribund animals (12% of stock), mostly reptiles, were being discarded on a weekly basis. Mortality during the 6-week "stock turnover" period was determined to be 72%. During a 10-day period after confiscation, mortality rates (including euthanasia for humane reasons) for the various taxa were 18% for invertebrates, 44.5% for amphibians, 41.6% for reptiles, and 5.5% for mammals. Causes of morbidity and mortality included cannibalism, crushing, dehydration, emaciation, hypothermic stress, infection, parasite infestation, starvation, overcrowding, stress/injuries, euthanasia on compassionate grounds, and undetermined causes. Contributing factors for disease and injury included poor hygiene; inadequate, unreliable, or inappropriate provision of food, water, heat, and humidity; presumed high levels of stress due to inappropriate housing leading to intraspecific aggression; absent or minimal environmental enrichment; and crowding. Risks for introduction of invasive species through escapes and/or spread of pathogens to naive populations also were identified.
authors.affiliation: a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , Dallas , Texas.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ledford
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Ann-Elizabeth
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tristan
authors.forename: Clifford
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Warwick
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D003132:Commerce; D003415:Crime; D003441:Crowding; D007448:Invertebrates; D057805:Pets; D012104:Reptiles; D013781:Texas
keywords: companion animal; morbidity; mortality; pet; wholesaler; wildlife trade