Abstract

Limited data are available summarizing binturong (Arctictis binturong) morbidity and mortality. Medical records and necropsies were summarized from 16 institutions through either completion of a survey or submission of complete medical records. Responses included 44 individuals from the years 1986–2011, 18 of which had necropsy data available. Median age at death was 16.3 yr. The primary cause of mortality was neoplasia 55% (10/18) and cardiovascular disease 28% (5/18). The remaining three were euthanized due to an endocrine disorder, neurologic disorder, and a non-neoplastic renal disorder. Neoplasms included renal carcinoma/sarcoma 40% (4/10), mammary gland carcinoma 20% (2/10) as well single instances of lymphosarcoma, uterine carcinoma, chemodectoma, and an undifferentiated liver mass. Pancreatic islet cell carcinoma was also once found as a comorbidity. Diagnoses were summarized by affected organ system, a few categories are clinical signs because no diagnosis was made. Primary affected systems were gastrointestinal 20%, integumentary 16%, behavioral 14%, renal 10%, and musculoskeletal 10%. Conditions were diagnosed most commonly (54%) in young to late adult stage (1–12 yr). Although renal neoplasia and cardiovascular disease were common causes of mortality, they were rarely diagnosed antemortem, and therefore do not appear as common diseases in the morbidity figures. It appears that binturongs commonly have subclinical renal and cardiovascular disease. Preventive medicine focused on detecting these diseases during routine physical exams may result in earlier detection. 86% (37/43) had available vaccine records with no reported reactions. Vaccines included inactivated rabies, canine and ferret attenuated distemper formulations and inactivated feline panleukopenia formulations.