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Dietary Risk Factors in the Onset and Aetiology of Gastritis in Captive Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus)

Principal Investigator: 
Katherine Whitehouse-Tedd (published as Dr. K Bell), PhD.  Nutritional physiologist, specialising in carnivore nutrition.  Research Officer for Cheetah Outreach (South Africa) and Post-doctoral Researcher in Digestive Function for a companion animal nutrition group (England). 
Collaborators:             
Annie Beckhelling.  Founder/Director, Cheetah Outreach, South Africa. 
Cathryn Hilker.  Founder/Director, The Angel Fund, Cat Ambassador Programme, Cincinnati Zoo, United States of America. 
Prof. Dr. Geert Janssens; Prof. Dr. Myriam Hesta; Sarah Depauw.  Veterinary Nutritionist.  Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Ghent University, Belgium.
Dr. Emily Lane.  Veterinary Pathologist, The South African National Zoo, South Africa. 
Prof. George Gettinby.  Veterinary Informatics and Epidemiology.  University of Strathclyde, UK.
Other collaborators are being sought.

General Abstract

The captive cheetah population suffers from an unusually high incidence of the debilitating disease, gastritis.  Since dietary factors are known to influence the onset and progression of gastrointestinal disease in other species, it is hypothesised that certain dietary components may play an aetiological role in gastritis in cheetahs.  Although evidence indicates that stool quality and faecal bacteria content is modulated by diet in cheetahs, an epidemiological association between diet and gastrointestinal disease in the global captive cheetah population has not yet been investigated.  This study aims to survey a representative proportion of the international cheetah population in order to determine the existence of any dietary risk factors for gastritis and gastrointestinal disease.  The survey will identify diet type, composition and feeding regimes, as well as many other husbandry, management, environmental and genetic factors which will be assessed for correlation with incidence and severity of gastritis in captive cheetahs.  The results of this study will be used to generate critical dietary recommendations for the nutritional management of gastrointestinal health in captive cheetahs, and is likely to generate further research priorities regarding the mechanism of action of identified dietary risk factors.

The project has gained support from zoological facilities in Southern Africa and the Middle East, as well as from the Cheetah Nutrition Working Group in Europe (to which the Principal Investigator belongs).  Discussions are also underway with other zoological organisations in Europe, North America and Australasia.

First proposed 18th August 2006. Project team established and study planning initiated 7th September 2009.

For further details contact Dr. Bell: acinonyxkat@yahoo.com

Note: The captive cheetah population plays a critical role in the conservation of free-ranging cheetah populations and their habitat through education, awareness, fund-raising and the furthering of our fundamental understanding of the biology of this species.  Research undertaken by Cheetah Outreach to investigate the role of diet in preventing and/or treating gastrointestinal disease in captive individuals offers significant advances in captive animal welfare and longevity.  As such, we hope to contribute to the improvement of captive husbandry standards through an increased understanding of the nutritional and physiological needs of cheetahs.  Caring for the health and welfare of our ambassador cheetahs is a top priority for Cheetah Outreach, as we partner with them to disseminate the plight of the free-ranging cheetah.