Acute respiratory distress in a 21-year-old southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons): diagnostic imaging and pathology findings

Authors: Hung LHT, Lenard Z, Last RD, Hopper B
Publication: Australian Veterinary Practitioner, Volume 50, Issue 3, pp 173-183, Sep 2020
Publisher: Australian Veterinary Association

Animal type: Wombat
Subject Terms: Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Clinical examination, Respiratory system
Article class: Clinical Report

---

Abstract:

21-year-old, southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) presented with acute onset lethargy and tachypnoea that was poorly responsive to antibiotics. The clinical signs and imaging findings were suggestive of severe inflammatory or infectious respiratory disease. The severity of the imaging findings prompted euthanasia; a histopathological diagnosis of pulmonary actinomycotic mycetoma was made on post mortem examination.

To the authors' knowledge this is the first detailed case report of radiographic, sonographic and echocardiographic examinations on a conscious southern hairy-nosed wombat, with a subsequent histopathological diagnosis of actinomyces infection.

---