A small nocturnal wallaby, the Rottnest quokka (Setonix brachyurus), and the nyala (Tragelaphus angasi) seem to be exquisitely susceptible. Outbreaks within species of interest such as brown pelicans and geckoes have precluded additional testing that would require sacrifice of remaining animals, and diagnosis in these cases has relied on characteristic clinical and pathologic findings and response to diet therapy, often supplementation with vitamin E. A number of zoo animals appear to be susceptible to nutritional myopathy, but details are scarce and evidence largely circumstantial. Nutritional myopathy and steatitis in ranch mink has largely disappeared following addition of vitamin E to commercial mink feed. Cats fed vitamin E–deficient diets develop steatitis (yellow fat disease). There are several reports in dogs fed prolonged diets unusually low in vitamin E and selenium, and dogs with chronic biliary fistulas developing nutritional myopathy and myocardial damage. Clinical, morphologic, and therapeutic evidence suggests that it does occur. Nutritional myopathy is unusual in carnivores and primates. Valentine, in Jubb, Kennedy & Palmer's Pathology of Domestic Animals: Volume 1 (Sixth Edition), 2016 Nutritional myopathy of other species By the time animals are seen with neurologic signs, they appear to be unresponsive to supportive care.īarry J. Most cases occur in females, and the condition is thought to be exacerbated by folliculogenesis, follicular degeneration, and yolk coelomitis. A dietary correlation is suspected but currently unable to be identified. Metabolic derangements associated with hyperuricemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipidemia are suspected in cases of xanthomatosis. Xanthomatosis is suspected to be frequently accompanied and exacerbated by renal disease. 31,32 Xanthomas are cholesterol-laden granules that develop in various organs and are thought to be caused by hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia. Clinical signs are stargazing, torticollis, dorsal recumbency, and seizures. Xanthomatosis has been reported in captive female Leaf-tailed Geckos ( Uroplatus henkeli) with hydrocephalus and encephalopathy.
MEHLER, in Reptile Medicine and Surgery (Second Edition), 2006 Xanthomatosis