Abstract

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridacyla) belongs to family Myrmecophagidae, order Xenarthra. They are animals of terrestrian and solitary habits found in fields, savannahs and rain forests from Guatemala to Argentina. In nature, their diet is based on termites and ants, but in captivity they receive different kinds of food. Biologic data allied to the incidence with different morbid cases in free-living animals, are important tools for disease prevention and control, allowing the better understanding of their impact.

This study presents a retrospective analysis of causes of death of giant anteaters registered at FPZSP, from 1964 to 2003. Necropsy reports of 74 animals were analyzed at the veterinary division of FPZSP. The main diagnosis of death causes were 22,97% (17/74) for caquexia and/or malnutrition, 13,51% (10/74) cardio-pulmonary failure, 22,97% (17/74) hypovolemic shock, 6,76% (5/74) trauma, 10,71% (8/74) pneumonia, 1,35% (1/74) hepatitis, 5,41% (4/74) endoparasitosis, 6,76% (5/74) septicemia, 1,35% (1/74) renal failure, and 8,11% (6/74) couldn’t be determined because of advanced autolysis. Due to the lack of published data about Xenarthra’s pathology, studies like this can be helpful in elucidating problems involving these animals, leading to better therapeutic approaches and guidelines to improve the animal’s welfare.