WildLife Group
of the SAVA
phase, it should be considered a
differential diagnosis in any cases
of diarrhoea in adult rhino. Gastric
ulcers have been documented in
hand reared white rhino calves.
One calf developed diarrhoea
after the stress of the removal
of a companion. Digested blood
was found in the faecal sample
and the diarrhoea resolved after
treatment with gastric ulcer
medication5.
Figure 1: Evidence of faecal staining of perineum and hind limbs
Figure 2: Diarrhoea passed during initial assessment
died after an episode of acute watery diarrhoea.
Salmonella could not be isolated but histopathological
findings were consistent with Salmonella or a bacterial
infection3. Two years ago, Salmonella had also been
identified as a cause of sudden death in a sub-adult
male white rhino on the same area of the reserve.
Johnes disease was diagnosed in a wild caught adult
black rhino with a four month history of diarrhoea.
Mycobacterium avium tuberculosis was cultured from
the faeces4. Although this calf was considered too
young for Johnes disease due to its long pre-clinical
6
A faecal float, wet prep and smear
were performed on the faecal
sample in house. The remaining
faeces was sent to full analysis
at an external laboratory. The faecal float and wet
prep were both negative. The smear showed a mixed
population of bacteria.
Two days later, the rangers reported that diarrhoea
was still present but no further clinical signs had
developed. No further disorientation had been
identified since the initial reports. It was decided
to revisit and reassess the calf with the potential of
further investigation or treatment if required. No
faecal results were available from the laboratory
at that time but with the negative in house results,
parasitism was considered unlikely. On arrival, the
calf appeared to be much improved. No perineal or
perianal staining was evident (see figure 3) and she
passed firmer, darker faeces during the assessment
(see figure 4). As with the previous visit, she appeared
bright, alert and responsive and was grazing normally.
Again no suckling was observed and she was not seen
to be browsing on any shrubs as seen at the previous
visit. A repeat faecal sample was collected for storage
and repeat in house analysis. As there were signs of
improvement, it was decided to continue to monitor
the calf closely.
Repeat in house faecal float and wet prep were
negative and the smear once again showed a mixed
bacterial population. The rhino calf was monitored
closely over the next couple of days and she continued