Bristol Foxes No. 4 & 5 Post Mortem Results

 

One thing I do not like to do but it comes with the job (an unpaid job I ought to add) is reading through the post mortem reports on foxes submitted after being found under unusual or suspicious circumstances. This includes going over the photographs to understand what the pathologist is describing.

 

Although PM Services can be a pain to get responses from the vet carrying out all of the post mortems has been very thorough and answered any questions I have asked. It may be his job but he deserves thanks for the work put in.

 

I have omitted a lot of the technical jargon and just present the summary and conclusion. With fox no. 5 it is assumed what the cause of death was and is nothing unusual. With a third fox submitted with (apparent) jaundice it will be interesting to see what conclusions come from that one.

 

Date Received 03/09/21

Date Necropsy 09/09/21

Species Red Fox

(Vulpes vulpes)

Age Juvenile

Sample Carcase X 1

 

Clinical History:

There have been reports of numbers of dead foxes being found in the Bristol area. It

is suggested that they may have been deliberately killed with some possibly

poisoned but disease has not been ruled out. Natural England were informed but

they have declined to investigate at present. This fox is from Shirehampton, and was

seen to be okay the night before but collapsed next day (02-09-21) and died soon

after (#48538).

 

Specimen Details:

Bristol fox no. 4  Female Mild/moderate frozen

 

Comment:

There was no evidence of trauma or anything obvious that might suggest poisoning.

There also was no evidence of bacterial septicaemia. The jaundice is obviously

significant and two of the three foxes that were suitable for examination were

jaundiced. Were these foxes from the same area? The E/M and histology samples

from the previous case (WNDS 05-08-21) are still being processed. The results from

them may be an indication of the cause of disease in this fox

 

 

Date Received 03/09/21

Date Necropsy 09/09/21

Species Red Fox

(Vulpes vulpes)

Age Adult

Sample Carcase X 1

 

Clinical History:

There have been reports of numbers of dead foxes being found in the Bristol area. It

is suggested that they may have been deliberately killed with some possibly

poisoned but disease has not been ruled out. Natural England was informed but they

have declined to investigate at present. This fox was from Arnos Vale Cemetery and

was taken to local PVS as had nervous signs and was pts.

Specimen Details:

 

Dead/Frozen

Bristol fox no. 5 Male

 

Comment:

These findings could indicate two possible causes for the clinical signs seen in this

fox.

 

Trauma;

This fox was possibly hit by a car resulting in internal haemorrhage and bleeding

from the left ear and grossly unrecognisable brain damage. It didn’t die but was

unable to find food due to its clinical condition before being seen and pts by a local

vet.

 

Bacterial Menigitis;

The excess bloody fluid in thoracic and abdominal cavities and gross evidence of

liver damage may be PM artefacts. There were no significant bacterial findings from

systemic sites. However Streptococcus canis was isolated from the brain stem. This

can be a normal gut commensal but it has been isolated from cases of otitis externa

and from meningitis in dogs. Therefore tracking from the external part of the ear to

the brain may have occurred, however there was no gross evidence of inner ear

infection. As Streptococcus canis can be a normal commensal bacteria its isolation

may just represent post mortem contamination especially as it was not isolated in

purity and profusion.

 

Brain histopathology providing there isn’t too much freeze/thaw changes will

hopefully indicate the likely diagnosis. However I would suspect that, unfortunately

this another case of trauma probably RTA. There were no findings suggestive of

poisoning.