Iod in Rhinos—epidemiology Group Report: Report From the Epidemiology Working Group of the International Workshop on Iron Overload Disorder in Browsing Rhinoceros (February 2011)

The Epidemiology Working Group, a subgroup of the participants of the International Workshop on Iron Storage Disease (renamed iron overload disorder, IOD), identified several areas in which information is lacking regarding IOD in browser rhinoceros. One of the first steps necessary in understanding iron overload disorder (IOD) is to define the parameters by which to identify IOD. Some of the parameters that have been used to evaluate IOD include serum iron, serum iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin. Clarification of whether a single parameter or a combination of these parameters is best for evaluating IOD is needed. Once IOD can more clearly be defined using these parameters, it will be necessary to identify whether clinical signs of disease are associated with the presence of IOD. This working group feels that it is necessary to define what is ‘‘normal’’ and what constitutes ‘‘abnormal’’ with regard to IOD. Are all browsing rhinos in captivity affected by IOD, and if not, how many are affected? Is IOD associated with an increased risk of developing disease? PRIORITIES