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Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition
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Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition

A Special Issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615) belonging to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 5917

Editors

Dr. Lorenzo Domenis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
Interests: wildlife pathology; parasitology; histopathology; microbiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Serena Robetto

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
Interests: wildlife pathology; parasitology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, studies on wild animals have primarily focused on their potential epidemiological role in transmitting infectious diseases to humans, livestock, and pets. While recognizing the importance of this aspect—widely acknowledged by the scientific community within the One Health framework—this Special Issue aims to reconsider wild fauna as a genuine subject of veterinary and medico-legal investigation, beyond its role as an (often healthy) carrier of zoonotic agents.

We welcome scientific contributions reporting pathological processes in wild animals—free-ranging or captive (including exotic species)—such as congenital, metabolic–degenerative, parasitic, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. Submissions may be supported by necroscopic and histopathological findings demonstrating the harmful action of the identified etiological factors, confirmed through validated diagnostic protocols (e.g., bacteriological and virological analyses, biomolecular techniques, and clinical chemistry).

Articles addressing non-pathological causes of death (i.e., trauma and starvation) or studies on anatomical and physiological that enhance our understanding of wild fauna are also encouraged. Particular attention will be given to the quality of the iconographic material (high- resolution photos of gross and microscopic lesions) and to the detailed description of materials and methods supporting each case report.

Dr. Lorenzo Domenis
Dr. Serena Robetto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pathology
  • histopathology
  • bacteriology
  • microbiology
  • diseases
  • wildlife
  • captive and free-ranging wild animals
  • exotic species

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

28 pages, 17675 KB  
Article
Polyparasitism in Two-Stranded Dolphins: Multisystem Pathological Alterations and Cellular Responses
by Patcharaporn Kaewmong, Piyarat Khumraksa, Tatsawan Suttiboon, Nuttapong Limusunno, Domechai Kaewnoi, Sasibha Jantrakajorn, Peerapon Sornying, Narissara Keawchana, Pornphutthachat Sota, Pimwarang Sukkarun, Apinya Arnuphapprasert and Watcharapol Suyapoh
Animals 2026, 16(17), 2808; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16172808 - 7 Sep 2026
Abstract
Polyparasitism is frequently documented in cetaceans; however, the pathological consequences of concurrent multispecies helminth infections and their associated tissue responses remain incompletely understood. This study characterized multispecies helminth infections in two live-stranded dolphins from the Andaman coast of Thailand, a spinner dolphin ( [...] Read more.
Polyparasitism is frequently documented in cetaceans; however, the pathological consequences of concurrent multispecies helminth infections and their associated tissue responses remain incompletely understood. This study characterized multispecies helminth infections in two live-stranded dolphins from the Andaman coast of Thailand, a spinner dolphin (Stenella longirostris) and a pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata), using integrated postmortem, parasitological, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical approaches. Both dolphins harbored helminths involving multiple organ systems. Pulmonary nematodes were identified as Halocercus delphini, while larval and intestinal cestodes were identified as Clistobothrium sp. and Tetrabothrius sp., respectively. The most prominent pathological alterations occurred in the respiratory tract and included chronic pyogranulomatous bronchopneumonia, airway epithelial injury, fibrosis, and pulmonary congestion associated with Halocercus infection. Additional parasite-associated lesions included chronic enteritis, cholangitis with biliary epithelial injury and ductular reaction, pancreatic inflammation, and localized inflammatory responses surrounding larval cestode cysts in the blubber and testis. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated extensive interleukin-4 (IL-4) immunoreactivity in affected pulmonary and intestinal tissues, whereas interleukin-10 (IL-10) was undetectable. Nitrotyrosine and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) immunoreactivity were widely distributed across parasite-associated tissues, while caspase-3 immunoreactivity showed tissue-dependent patterns. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that multispecies helminth infections in stranded dolphins were associated with multisystem pathological alterations accompanied by inflammatory, oxidative/nitrosative stress, cellular stress, and apoptotic responses. These findings highlight the potential pathological significance of polyparasitism in stranded dolphins and support consideration of parasite burden and associated tissue responses during cetacean postmortem investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition)
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8 pages, 2951 KB  
Communication
Trematode-Associated Renal Lesions in Stranded Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) Along the Chilean Coast
by Carlos A. Flores Olivares, Juan Pablo Ruíz Yañez, Gerardo Cerda, Sofía Marambio, Tomás Pino, Maximiliano Schultz, Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz and Carlos Sandoval
Animals 2026, 16(6), 859; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16060859 - 10 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) are classified as Vulnerable and listed in Appendix I of CITES, making the investigation of stranding and mortality causes essential for their conservation. This study describes the post-mortem findings of five Humboldt penguins stranded along the Chilean [...] Read more.
Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) are classified as Vulnerable and listed in Appendix I of CITES, making the investigation of stranding and mortality causes essential for their conservation. This study describes the post-mortem findings of five Humboldt penguins stranded along the Chilean coast during 2025, focusing on renal and ureteral lesions associated with trematode infection. Gross examination revealed multifocal to coalescing renal lesions, including intrapelvic white purulent material and marked thickening of the ureteral walls. Histopathological analysis demonstrated moderate to severe renal and ureteral inflammation, characterized by intratubular and intraureteral trematodes associated with tubular degeneration, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, vascular alterations, occasional glomerular changes, and severe ureteritis. Morphological and morphometric analyses of adult parasites obtained from histological renal sections confirmed the presence of trematodes. On clinical evaluation, stranded animals presented with lethargy, no evidence of external trauma, and body condition ranging from normal to emaciated. These findings confirm the presence of trematode-associated nephropathy and ureteropathy in Humboldt penguins. To our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide linking renal and ureteral parasitosis to disease in this species. Further molecular analyses are required to achieve definitive etiological identification and to support the recognition of this condition as an emerging disease relevant to conservation strategies for Humboldt penguins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition)
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Review

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18 pages, 2291 KB  
Review
Fibropapillomatosis in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas): Etiology, Pathology, Diagnostic Challenges, and Rehabilitation Management
by Manuela Tripepi, Ellianna Ruggeri, Ahmad Arfan, Emily Valenzuela and Isabella Vitales
Animals 2026, 16(12), 1906; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16121906 - 19 Jun 2026
Viewed by 1304
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a disease that threatens the health and safety of sea turtles globally, with green sea turtles having the highest FP prevalence. FP is associated with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5, but the primary etiological agent remains unknown as expression and severity of [...] Read more.
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a disease that threatens the health and safety of sea turtles globally, with green sea turtles having the highest FP prevalence. FP is associated with Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5, but the primary etiological agent remains unknown as expression and severity of the virus are influenced by host susceptibility, immunological status, development of epithelial lesions, and environmental factors. This review explores current understanding of FP in green sea turtles, focusing on etiology, pathological features, diagnostic approaches, and rehabilitation strategies. Emphasis is placed on the compounded nature of the disease, integrating factors that influence disease expression. Screening challenges are examined through the limitations of clinical, histological, and molecular methods, particularly in distinguishing latent from active infection. Rehabilitation practices, including surgical intervention and long-term supportive care, are evaluated in the context of treatment outcomes and recurrence risk. Collectively, the evidence supports the interpretation of FP as a disease shaped by host–pathogen–ecology interactions. Improved integration of diagnostic tools and greater focus on natural drivers are essential for advancing understanding of the disease and informing conservation and management efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition)
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Other

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10 pages, 2008 KB  
Case Report
First Report of Mycobacterium bovis and Nocardia spp. Co-Infection in a Roan Antelope
by Luca Botta, Matteo Cuccato, Neva Cormio, Veronica Crocchianti, Maria Goria, Emanuelle Bergeron, Delphine Mouniée, Veronica Rodriguez Nava and Frine Eleonora Scaglione
Animals 2026, 16(11), 1721; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16111721 - 4 Jun 2026
Viewed by 797
Abstract
Nocardia spp. and Mycobacterium spp. are known etiological agents of granulomatous pulmonary infections in humans and animals; however, co-infections involving these pathogens have not previously been reported in veterinary medicine. This paper describes the first documented case of co-infection with Mycobacterium bovis and [...] Read more.
Nocardia spp. and Mycobacterium spp. are known etiological agents of granulomatous pulmonary infections in humans and animals; however, co-infections involving these pathogens have not previously been reported in veterinary medicine. This paper describes the first documented case of co-infection with Mycobacterium bovis and Nocardia spp. in a captive roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus). The animal was a 9-year-old female roan antelope from a safari park in northern Italy that died suddenly with a one-month history of weight loss. Post-mortem examination revealed severe, diffuse, chronic granulomatous pneumonia associated with fibrino-granulomatous pleuritis and granulomatous pericarditis. Histologically, multifocal to coalescing necrotizing granulomas were observed, with intralesional acid-fast bacteria. Microbiological culture and biomolecular analyses allowed the identification of M. bovis and Nocardia spp. in lung tissue samples. The Nocardia genome sequence was 98.5% similar to N. tengchongensis, a recently discovered species. The findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive diagnostic approaches in animal granulomatous lung disease. Mixed infections in captive wildlife represent a One Health concern, as the potential for zoonotic adaptation and transmission to humans cannot be excluded. Therefore, pathogen surveillance is of particular importance within zoological collections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 4311 KB  
Case Report
Inflammatory Mammary Carcinoma in a Captive Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) with Lymph Node and Pulmonary Metastases
by Ju-Won Kang, Jaewoo Choi, Hajin Jeong, Hyeon Jeong Moon, Gun Lee, Chung-Do Lee, Ho-Jin Lee, Min-Seop Song, Ji-Hyeon Kim, Yeong-Hun Ko, Hyunwoo Kim, Changmin Sung, Jun-Gyu Park, Yeong-Bin Baek and Sang-Ik Park
Animals 2026, 16(5), 757; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16050757 - 1 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1040
Abstract
Inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) is an aggressive mammary carcinoma phenotype characterized by tumor emboli within superficial dermal lymphatic vessels and early metastasis. A captive Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) presented with large abdominal mammary masses and regional lymphadenopathy; contrast-enhanced computed tomography [...] Read more.
Inflammatory mammary carcinoma (IMC) is an aggressive mammary carcinoma phenotype characterized by tumor emboli within superficial dermal lymphatic vessels and early metastasis. A captive Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) presented with large abdominal mammary masses and regional lymphadenopathy; contrast-enhanced computed tomography also revealed a pulmonary nodule. Postmortem examination and histopathology confirmed mammary carcinoma with dermal lymphatic tumor emboli and metastases to regional lymph nodes and the lung. Tumor emboli were cytokeratin positive, supporting epithelial origin and an IMC diagnosis, and neoplastic cells were immunopositive for cytokeratin with concurrent vimentin immunoreactivity. This case highlights the clinicopathologic basis of IMC and the diagnostic importance of including full-thickness skin and adjacent subcutis in the sampling plan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition)
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10 pages, 6679 KB  
Case Report
Non-Invasive Diagnosis and Management of Pancreatic Tetragomphius sp. Infection in Asian Badgers (Meles leucurus) Using Computed Tomography
by Kangyeon Yu, Seri Hong, Sohwon Bae, Woojin Shin, Minjae Jo, Daji Noh, Son-Il Pak, Soo-Young Choi and Sangjin Ahn
Animals 2026, 16(4), 577; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040577 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 989
Abstract
Pancreatic lesions in wildlife are rarely diagnosed antemortem and are often misinterpreted as neoplastic due to limited diagnostic information. This report describes two clinically linked cases of pancreatic infection caused by Tetragomphius spp. in rescued Asian badgers (Meles leucurus) from Gangwon [...] Read more.
Pancreatic lesions in wildlife are rarely diagnosed antemortem and are often misinterpreted as neoplastic due to limited diagnostic information. This report describes two clinically linked cases of pancreatic infection caused by Tetragomphius spp. in rescued Asian badgers (Meles leucurus) from Gangwon State, Republic of Korea, between 2020 and 2025, and the diagnostic advantages of advanced imaging techniques. The first case involved a badger rescued from a trap with severe traumatic injuries that was subsequently euthanized. Postmortem examination revealed nematodes identified as Tetragomphius sp. within the pancreatic duct, alongside tumor-like nodular lesions in the pancreatic tail. These findings were critical for the second case, where a rescued badger with no overt clinical signs underwent computed tomography (CT) that revealed a pancreatic tail nodule and splenomegaly. Drawing on findings from the initial necropsy case, a parasitic etiology was tentatively diagnosed in a second live badger presenting with a similar pancreatic nodule. Follow-up CT indicated a significant reduction (approximately 75%) in lesion size, supporting a diagnosis of parasitic infection. To our knowledge, this represents the first report of a CT-based therapeutic diagnosis of pancreatic Tetragomphius infection in a live Asian badger. These cases demonstrate that pancreatic nodules in Asian badgers may result from parasitic infection rather than neoplasia and emphasize the integration of pathological precedent, advanced imaging, and therapeutic response in wildlife medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Diseases: Pathology and Diagnostic Investigation—2nd Edition)
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