Modern weights and morphometric measurements of the cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus)

[Acinonyx sp.]

Radiographic analysis of the thickness of the cranial bones in captive compared to wild-living cheetahs and in cheetahs with hypovitaminosis A





Captive healthy cheetahs

One hundred and sixty-two skull radiographs from 142 cheetahs between May 2010 and February 2018 were reviewed. The majority of cheetahs came from the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre and the remainder came from private game farms in South Africa. All animals were accommodated in fenced bushveld camps in small groups. The animals were clinically healthy with normal reproductive status, and with no radiographic abnormalities. Radiographs were obtained under general anaesthesia as part of routine annual health examinations, or of traumatised cheetahs. Twelve of these cheetahs were examined twice, and four animal three times, all at different ages. Seventy-one images were rejected either because of poor radiographic quality or poor positioning of the skull. The radiographs of the remaining 91 cheetahs were allocated to the group of captive clinically sound cheetahs. Forty-two males and 41 females were evaluated whilst for eight, the gender was unknown. Their ages ranged from three to 182 months (mean 73.7 ± 44.14 months). Mean body weight was 33.1 kg ± 7.7 kg.


Cheetahs diagnosed with hypovitaminosis A

Twelve captive cheetahs were identified with a diagnosis of hypovitaminosis A. Eight of the affected cheetahs were female, four were male. The mean age was 8.3 months (7–13 months). Mean body weight was 21±3.1. All cheetahs were in appropriate body condition. Clinical workup included physical and neurological examination, complete blood count, biochemistry panel and electrolytes. Clinical signs of hypovitaminosis included depressed mental status, ataxia of all four limbs, impaired balance, and opisthotonus. Three cheetahs had visual impairment that manifested as bumping into objects.

The mean serum vitamin A levels of the affected cheetahs were 0.2 ± 0.09 μmol/L (range 0.11–0.3) whereas in prior research reports clinically healthy cheetahs range is between 0.25–4.2 (Ø 1.82) μmol/L [11]. Clinical signs improved after vitamin A supplementation in affected animals.
Radiographs of ten immature cheetahs were used as a control group. None of these cheetahs had any characteristic signs of hypovitaminosis A. Age and body weight were not significantly different between the control vs study group (control group: 9 months, 19±5.1 kg vs. study group: 8.3 months; 21±3.9 kg). Vitamin A levels of these animals were not known.

Free-living cheetahs

Twenty radiographs of free-living cheetahs were examined. Radiographs from living animals were obtained under general anaesthesia as part of routine annual health examinations, or of traumatised cheetahs. Twelve were males and eight were females. Their age was estimated based on skeletal characteristics [35] and ranged from six to 126 months (mean 61.4 ± 43 months). Data on bodyweight was available for 10 animals (mean 38.1 kg ± 9.3 kg). Reply