Salmonella Enteritidis Fatal Septicemia with Meningoencephalitis in a Tiger (Panthera tigris) Cub.

Simple Summary: Salmonellosis is an infectious bacterial disease, which causes moderate to severe gastrointestinal manifestations or severe syndromes, including septicemia and death. The presence of Salmonella spp. in captive exotic felids is generally asymptomatic in adults that may act as environmental carriers and shedders of the bacterium. This case report describes the occurrence of fatal septicemia with meningoencephalitis in a Panthera tigris cub caused by Salmonella Enteritidis. The fragility of the perinatal period (e.g., inadequate management and poor parental care) and a possible immunocompromised state of the infected cub may have favored the systemic spread of the infection and the colonization of the central nervous system. This case highlights the importance of thoroughly investigating the causes of perinatal mortality in captive felids, both for animal health protection and for potential zoonotic implications. A 15-day-old, female, captive Panthera tigris cub was hospitalized after developing severe hyperthermia, depression, and lack of appetite. The clinical condition rapidly worsened, and the tiger cub died in 72 h after the onset of neurological symptoms, septic shock, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The postmortem main gross findings consisted of a severe and diffuse bilateral fibrino-suppurative meningoencephalitis and ventriculitis, mild fibrinous and sero-hemorrhagic polyserositis and cystitis, severe pulmonary edema, and hemorrhages. Microscopically, the meninges, ependyma, and choroid plexuses were diffusely expanded by abundant infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, with multifocal fibrinous exudation. Histiocytic interstitial pneumonia, fibrinous and neutrophilic polyserositis, and pyelocystitis were also observed. Vascular thrombosis with multifocal vasculitis and vascular necrosis were frequently observed. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures performed on the brain, lungs, intestine, kidneys, and in pericardial effusion reported the presence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis. Environmental and nutritional contamination were identified as putative sources of infections. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of Salmonella Enteritidis septicemia with meningoencephalitis in a tiger cub, which highlights the need to further investigate the cause of acute perinatal death to reduce the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]