CASE STUDY: ELIMINATION DIET FOR A FEMALE ORANGUTAN {PONGO PYGMAEUS ABELII) WITH DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS AT THE TORONTO ZOO

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1 CASE STUDY: ELIMINATION DIET FOR A FEMALE ORANGUTAN {PONGO PYGMAEUS ABELII) WITH DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS AT THE TORONTO ZOO Michelle E. Shaw, MS, * Ceridwyn J. Rich, MS Trnt Z, 361A Old Finch Ave., Scarbrugh, ON M1B 5K7 Canada Backgrund Ramai (ISIS #20164) is a female Sumatran rangutan {Png pygmaeus abeiii) wh was bm at the Trnt Z n 4 Octber She was parent-reared, and cunently weighs apprximately 62 kg. Ramai has had a histry f lse stl and skin prblems. A fecal scring chart was develped t illustrate the range f fecal cnsistency bserved in rangutans at the Trnt Z (Figure 1). This tl was based n all cllectin animals t standardize keeper bservatins. In the past tw t three years, the cnditin f her stl has degraded frm grade 3 t explsive grade 5 fecals (Figure 1). It is nt knwn whether the dry, itchy skin and hair lss she experiences is related t allergies, stress, and/r diet. There have been several nutritin-related attempts at imprving Ramai's fecal scres in the past, nne f which have been successful. Trials have included the additin f psyllium t the diet (2003), high-fiber (bran & psyllium) muffins (2004), a water restrictin diet (2005), due t Ramai's tendency t drink excessive amunts f water, a remval f citms fruits frm the diet (2005), a pancreatic enzyme supplement (Vikase-V pwder, Frt Ddge Animal Health, St. NW, Frt Ddge, IA, 50501, U.S.A.; 2006), and prebitics (2007). The rangutan diet used at the Trnt Z is cunently based n the recmmendatins listed in the Assciatin f Zs and Aquariums Species Survival Plan (AZA-SSP) Orangutan Husbandry Manual with apprximately 50% f the diet (dry matter basis) ffered as nutritinally cmplete primate biscuits, and 50% ffered as prduce, with an emphasis n vegetables rather than fruit. 6 Hwever, the Trnt Z rangutans, based n their activity and intake levels, seem t require nly 50% f the ttal recmmended amunts listed in the manual. Fr example, the manual recmmends 2200 kcal ME/day fr an average 62 kg female. A 62 kg female at the Trnt Z seems t require nly 1100 kcal ME/day t maintain her bdy weight (Table 1). On an as-fed basis, this diet includes 13% primate biscuit, 5% Trnt Z primate gelatin diet, 66% vegetables, and 16% fruit. An eliminatin diet is a useful tl t help determine the sensitivity an individual has t certain fds, and invlves eliminating thse fds which are suspected t prvke a reactin. 7 A radical eliminatin diet was designed fr Ramai t determine whether certain fd items were respnsible fr nging digestive prblems. The eliminatin diet invlved a restrictin phase, when prduce items were eliminated frm the diet, and a challenge phase, during which prduce was gradually reintrduced, t establish if certain fd items resulted in a negative fecal reactin.

2 Case Reprt: Eliminatin Diet Restrictin Phase The first phase f the eliminatin diet was t restrict feed t ne banana (150 grams) and ne kilgram f primate biscuits (Mazuri Leaf-Eater Primate Diet 5M02, PMI Nutritin Internatinal, LLC, Brentwd, MO 63144, U.S.A.), daily, and t remve all ther items (including any enrichment items) frm the diet fr a perid f ne mnth. Water was available ad libitum thrughut the entire diet trial. Ramai was hused n her wn thrughut the trial s that she did nt have access t ther fd items ffered t the rest f the grup. This phase began n 6 May Within a week, Ramai's average fecal scre imprved frm a grade 5 t a grade 3. Challenge Phase The secnd phase f the eliminatin diet, the challenge phase, invlved reintrducing each prduce item, ne at a time. Keepers mnitred Ramai fr any adverse reactins (grade 4 and/r grade 5 fecals immediately fllwing the challenge, r any behavirs t indicate symptms f a reactin such as sleepiness, jint pain, headaches, r md changes). 5 ' 7 Fecal scres and bservatins were recrded by keeping staff daily. This phase began n 8 June Tw items f similar cmpsitin were intrduced n each challenge day (ne in the mrning and ne in the aernn). Previus anecdtal evidence frm the keepers indicated that items cntaining higher sugar cntent (i.e., fruit) resulted in pr fecal cnsistency. Therefre challenge items were ffered accrding t sugar cntent in the fllwing rder: leafy greens (hypthesized as least reactive due t lw sugar cntent), ther vegetables, and finally fruit (hypthesized as mst reactive due t high sugar cntent). Vegetable items were ffered in 3 OOg quantities, and fruit items were ffered in 160g quantities; this is duble the amunt that wuld nrmally be received (Table 1). Aer eating the mrning challenge item, Ramai was clsely mnitred fr tw hurs. If Ramai did react t any fd item, she wuld nly be ffered primate biscuits fr a minimum f 24 hurs, and wuld nt receive anther item until her system was cleared f that reactin. If n adverse reactins were nted during this time, primate biscuits and banana were fed, and the secnd test item wuld be ffered in the aernn. As befre, Ramai was mnitred fr any reactins within tw hurs f receiving the secnd challenge item. Each challenge day was separated by a rest day, when nly primate biscuits and a banana were fed, t mmtr any pssible delayed hypersensitivity reactins and ensure any residual effects frm previus challenge items were nt cnfunding the bservatins. If Ramai was still unreactive aer the rest day, then the fd items tested n the previus day were cnsidered t be nn-reactive. If a reactin did ccur, then mre rest days were required until her system was cleared f that reactin, aer which time new challenge items wuld be tested. It culd nt be determined with certainty whether sme adverse reactins were caused by envirnmental stress (e.g., fire alarms, grup dynamics, differences in keeper husbandry) r residual effects frm a previus challenge item. Thse items were re-tested at the end f the challenge phase.

3 Mdified Diet Aer all prduce items were tested, nly thse items that did nt shw a significant reactin were added back int Ramai's diet rtatin (Table 2). Ramai began receiving the mdified diet in December Discussin Ramai had a psitive pregnancy test n 15 June In August 2006, keepers cnsistently reprted grade 4 and 5 fecals, even when Ramai was returned t a restricted diet f primate biscuits and banana fr lng perids. It was suspected that hrmnal and physical changes due t pregnancy were respnsible fr this decline in fecal cnditin. It was incnclusive as t whether the fecal cnditin was due t challenge items, pregnancy, stress, r a cmbinatin f the abve. Therefre, the challenge phase f the eliminatin diet was discntinued when Ramai was 4 mnths int her pregnancy (3 Octber 2006). At this time, nly training and enrichment items had nt been tested. Brwn rice was intrduced int the diet n 13 December 2006 aer several weeks f particularly explsive dianhea. Interestingly, her skin cnditin imprved during the pregnancy, but then deterirated aer giving birth. Ramai gave birth n 15 December Ramai did nt prduce fecals fr six days fllwing parturitin, althugh she was behaving nrmally and eating well therwise. Ramai did nt return t baseline fecal cnsistency (grade 3), but it was decided t begin feeding her mdified diet (Table 2) n 25 December 2006 rather than cntinue with the challenge phase. By late January, fecal cnsistency was alternating between buts f grade 2 and 3 fecals, and perids f grade 5 fecals. This is still a cnsiderable imprvement ver the fecal recrds frm the tw years prir t the eliminatin diet trial. Althugh great apes in captivity tend t receive a large number f training/enrichment items, such as peanut butter, hney, etc., nly items n Ramai's mdified diet are nw available fr her training and enrichment sessins. We hpe t gradually intrduce sme f these items back int her diet. It is thught that Ramai's digestive trubles are multi-factrial, with a cmbinatin f fd sensitivity and stress playing majr rles. Further studies will examine hrmnal and seasnal patterns in fecal cnsistency. A cmmercial enzyme-linked immunsrbent assay is cunently available fr dmestic dgs, 4 pigs, 3 and rdents 3 and has been utilized t dcument fd hypersensitivity issues in the black rhincers {Dicers bicrnis)? Asian elephant {Elephas maximus)? and Bengal tiger {Panthera tigris tigris)} An assay fr use in great apes is cunently being develped. Althugh these assays are nt cnsidered exclusively definitive, in cnjunctin with clinical signs and eliminatin diet bservatins, they may help t diagnse the surce f Ramai's fd sensitivities. Acknwledgem ents We wish t thank the Indmalayan keeping staff at the Trnt Z fr their dedicatin t this prject.

4 LITERATURE CITED 1. Ball, R.L., Burtn, M.S., & Olsen, J.H Diet hypersensitivity in captive wildlife in zlgical cllectins. Prceedings f the Cmparative Nutritin Sciety 6: Ball, R.L., Burtn, M.S., & Olsen, J.H Hypersensitivity t captive diets as a pssible underlying etilgy fr clinical signs and pathlgy in captive black rhincers {Dicers bicrnis). Prceedings f the Cmparative Nutritin Sciety 6: Helm, R.M Fd allergy animal mdels. An verview. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 964: Jeffers, J.G., Shanley, K.J., & Meyer, E.K Diagnstic testing f dgs fr fd hypersensitivity. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assc. 198(2): Sampsn, H.A., & Andersn, J.A Summary and recmmendatins: classificatin f gastrintestinal manifestatins due t immunlgic reactins t fds in infants and yung children. J. Pediatr. Gastrenterl. Nutr. 30(1): S87-S Schmidt, D Nutritin Chapter. Orangutan SSP Husbandry Manual. 7. Sicherer, S.H Fd allergy. Lancet 360:

5 Jl I 113 Grade 1: Well frmed, slid and dry Grade 2: Well frmed, slid and firm wm TM_fc_ Grade 3: Frmed, mist and s Grade 4: Smth and s Grade 5: Diarrhea Figure 1. Trnt Z rangutan {Png pygmaeus abeiii) fecal scring chart.

6 Table 1. The current diet fr an average 62 kilgram rangutan {Png pygmaeus abeiii) at the Trnt Z. Fruit (75 gram per item*) Frage Items (150 gram per item) Other Vegetables (150 gram per item*) MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRD3AY SATURDAY SUNDAY Apple Banana Cantalupe Grapes Hneydew Mang Pear Tmat 2 x x M 5-2 c g JJ.3 x x 2 x 2 x x x x 2 x x x -2 _ x> a _ 5 S - 2 C c. a ^a g> if gc l r = Hi^s ucusu- -s s- PS S c i <urere=iahb^=3rt^ 2 ffluuouwoooh^n fruit and ther vegetables are ffered individually; frage items are ffered n exhibit, banana and rmaine quantities are dubled n sme days Other fd items ffered daily include the Mazuri Leaf-Eater Primate Biscuit (23 Og), Trnt Z primate gelatin diet (100g), and Trnt Z fiber (bran, psyllium) muffins (60g). Items given as enrichment r fr training include applesauce, hney, jam, fruit juice, peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and salad dressing.

7 Table 2. Mdified diet fed t ne adult female rangutan {Png pygmaeus abeilii) at the Trnt Z. MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY? > JA _; pa i. CB CU u «_: es es Z 225 gram per item 0> c "8 S i J= inac Q, rrt ca a? U x s- "3 «U - Cv 3 3 u + J 3 C3 O 6* W '3 3 H *P4 a 5B 'a CS P-H Tw whle bananas (300g), tw cups cked brwn rice (350g), and 250g Mazuri Leaf-Eater Primate Biscuit are als fed daily. Nte: Enrichment and training items, Trnt Z primate gelatin diet, and muffins are being withheld until they can be prperly tested. 238