title: Acute hepatic necrosis and death in a subadult southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) associated with exposure to sterigmatocystin in forage contaminated with Aspergillus nidulans.
abstract: A young male southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), which was resident in a zoo as part of a multi-rhinoceros group, died suddenly. Necropsy and histopathological findings supported a diagnosis of death from acute hepatic necrosis. The microscopic distribution of liver lesions was suggestive of hepatotoxicosis. Further investigation revealed potential exposure to a mycotoxin, sterigmatocystin, present in spoiled lucerne hay contaminated with Aspergillus nidulans. It was concluded that mycotoxicosis was the likely cause of the hepatic necrosis and death in this animal.
authors: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Obley Road, Dubbo, New South Wales 2830, Australia. bryantbenn@gmail.com.
authors: B R
authors: BR
authors: Bryant
authors: Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Obley Road, Dubbo, New South Wales 2830, Australia.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Campbell
authors: Taronga Zoo, Mosman, NSW, Australia.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Sangster
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology / Q000506:poisoning*; D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D015651:Mycotoxicosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009336:Necrosis; D010527:Perissodactyla; D013241:Sterigmatocystin / Q000506:poisoning*
chemical_list: D013241:Sterigmatocystin
keywords: 
  Aspergillus nidulans
  ; hepatic necrosis; hepatotoxin; mycotoxin; sterigmatocystin; white rhinoceros