International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

(esp. around approx. 10 to 11 years old) and possible associated health problems in Part B
below and Chapter 4.
Distemper has not been reported to cause any giant otter deaths/illnesses in captivity. A
parvovirus infection combined with severe cryptosporidiosis caused the death of a 7 1/2 month
old otter in a European zoo (Hagenbeck & Wünnemann 1992; Flügger 1997). A Venezuelan
rancher reported two handreared orphaned wild cubs died from parvovirus, although no
necropsy or veterinary consultation was reported therefore the diagnosis must be considered
unconfirmed. The cubs weighed approx. 2 kg (4.41 lbs.) at their death and they were
handreared for 24 days until their death (Lopez de Ceballos pers. comm. 2000). At least two
captive-born otters contracted leptospirosis at a Brazilian Zoo and both of these animals died
(one female died at 1 year and 2 months old and the other died before he reached 2 years old
(Louzada da Silva & Pimentel, pers. comms.). It seems that one of the two aforementioned
animals may have contracted leptospirosis two times and the first time it was successfully
treated (Pimentel et. al), although this remains uncertain from available records. These cases
were supposed to have occurred because the otters were fed much more fish than they could eat
at each feeding and staff felt that the significant amounts of fish left over in the enclosure during
the day/overnight attracted rats that carried leptospirosis. (Left-over food should be minimized
by feeding only what otters eat readily to avoid these problems.)
Disease prevention methods should be promoted and/or developed. Some appropriate/safe
medical vaccinations are not used or they are not available or produced in many countries/zoos.
The availability and production of specific appropriate/safe medical vaccinations need to be
increased. Some vaccinations that had been formerly used for giant otters are no longer
produced and there is a demand for them. An adequate/safe vaccination for distemper is
currently lacking or very difficult to find in South America, Europe, and the U.S. For example,
in Germany killed parvovirus and killed distemper vaccinations have been used for giant otters,
although currently neither are produced (Osmann, pers. comm.). The company, Hoechst AG,
that used to produce killed canine parvovirus, is no longer in business. (See below under
Hagenbeck and Dortmund vaccination schedules.)
Vaccinations
Otters are susceptible to contracting feline and canine diseases such as distemper, parvovirus,
leptospirosis, and rabies (Duplaix-Hall 1975; Foster-Turley 1990). Pet, domestic, feral/stray,
wild (e.g. rodents, raccoons, foxes), and zoo animals can transmit diseases to captive otters.
There is a possibility (although no cases were found) that wild giant otters may be susceptible to
contracting canine distemper or canine parvovirus through contact with infected domesticated
dogs or their excretions (Schenck et al 1997).
“Giant otters are susceptible to most viral diseases of dogs and cats…. They should be
vaccinated, if possible, only with killed vaccine [referring to all vaccines]! There is too little
experience to take a risk with these endangered animals.” (Wünnemann 1995). Killed
parvovirus (canine or feline origin vaccine), killed rabies, killed leptospirosis, killed canine
distemper (see cautions for modified-live distemper below) vaccinations should be considered
for otters held where these diseases are present and there is a risk of contraction (Lewis 1995;
Moore 1997). [With regards to parvovirus, univalent / monovalent vaccines are preferable over
polyvalent (combination) vaccines in mustelids (Hinshaw et al 1996; Petrini et al 2001). Only
killed virus rabies vaccines should be given (Merck 1986; Hinshaw et al 1996; Moore 1997).
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