A Retrospective Study of Macropod Progressive Periodontal Disease (“Lumpy Jaw”) in Captive Macropods across Australia and Europe: Using Data from the Past to Inform Future Macropod Management
Jessica Rendle,
Bethany Jackson,
Stephen Vander Hoorn,
Lian Yeap,
Kristin Warren,
Rebecca Donaldson,
Samantha J. Ward,
Larry Vogelnest,
David McLelland,
Michael Lynch,
Simone Vitali,
Ghislaine Sayers,
Fabia Wyss,
Darren Webster,
Ross Snipp,
Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins
Affiliations
Jessica Rendle
Conservation Medicine, College of Science Health, Education and Engineering, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
Bethany Jackson
Conservation Medicine, College of Science Health, Education and Engineering, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
Stephen Vander Hoorn
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia
Lian Yeap
Conservation Medicine, College of Science Health, Education and Engineering, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
Kristin Warren
Conservation Medicine, College of Science Health, Education and Engineering, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
Rebecca Donaldson
Conservation Medicine, College of Science Health, Education and Engineering, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
Samantha J. Ward
Brackenhurst Campus, School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF, UK
Larry Vogelnest
Taronga Conservation Society, Mosman 2088, Australia
David McLelland
Adelaide Zoo, Adelaide 5000, Australia
Michael Lynch
Melbourne Zoo, Parkville 3052, Australia
Simone Vitali
Perth Zoo, South Perth 6151, Australia
Ghislaine Sayers
Paington Zoo, Painton, Devon TQ4 7EU, UK
Fabia Wyss
Basel Zoo, 4054 Basel, Switzerland
Darren Webster
Blackpool Zoo, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 8PP, UK
Ross Snipp
Flamingo Land, Malton, Yorkshire YO17 6UX, UK
Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins
Conservation Medicine, College of Science Health, Education and Engineering, Murdoch University, Perth 6150, Australia
Macropod Progressive Periodontal Disease (MPPD) is a well-recognised disease that causes high morbidity and mortality in captive macropods worldwide. Epidemiological data on MMPD are limited, although multiple risk factors associated with a captive environment appear to contribute to the development of clinical disease. The identification of risk factors associated with MPPD would assist with the development of preventive management strategies, potentially reducing mortality. Veterinary and husbandry records from eight institutions across Australia and Europe were analysed in a retrospective cohort study (1995 to 2016), examining risk factors for the development of MPPD. A review of records for 2759 macropods found incidence rates (IR) and risk of infection differed between geographic regions and individual institutions. The risk of developing MPPD increased with age, particularly for macropods >10 years (Australia Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 7.63, p p < 0.001). Prognosis was typically poor, with 62.5% mortality reported for Australian and European regions combined. Practical recommendations to reduce disease risk have been developed, which will assist zoos in providing optimal long-term health management for captive macropods and, subsequently, have a positive impact on both the welfare and conservation of macropods housed in zoos globally.
