Proliferative Thyroid Lesions and Hyperthyroidism in Captive Fishers (Martes pennanti)

• DOI: 10.1638/2009-0186r2.1
• Publication Date: 2010-06-09T14:09:13Z
• Authors: Elizabeth M. Bunting; Michael M. Garner; Noha Abou-Madi; Robert E. Schmidt; George V. Kollias
• Keywords: Subclinical infection; Histopathology

Diseases of the thyroid gland are common in many zoo species, but there few descriptions dysfunction Mustelidae. A 7-yr-old, captive-bred female fisher (Martes pennanti) with progressive alopecia was diagnosed clinical hyperthyroidism based on persistent elevation both total and free serum thyroxine triiodothyronine, ultrasound examination, histologic evidence adenomatous hyperplasia. Four additional geriatric adult fishers (two male two female) were identified hyperplasia a review 23 postmortem records. Banked sera available for hormone testing from three four necropsy cases. Total elevated animals tested, triiodothyronine tested. Necropsy findings cases cardiac hypertrophy, congestive heart failure, vascular lesions consistent hypertension; complete tissues not remaining case. Clinical subclinical may be overlooked condition captive fishers.