Key result
A fish-only diet for over 10 years in 123 captive American alligators was associated with granulomatous steatitis and fat necrosis, identified at commercial slaughter.
Observational (n=123)
Captive alligators fed a fish-only diet for prolonged periods can develop asymptomatic granulomatous steatitis and fat necrosis.
May warrant dietary diversification in captive alligators; leaves open optimal nutritional strategies for commercial husbandry.
Steatitis and fat necrosis were identified in a group of 123 American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) kept in an enclosed pond and fed a diet of only fish for more than 10 years. All affected animals were outwardly healthy and had had no signs of disease in the period immediately before slaughter. The diagnosis was made at the time of commercial slaughter for harvest of meat and hides. Lesions consisted of firm yellow-brown masses distributed in fat tissue throughout the body. The histopathologic diagnosis was granulomatous steatitis, with fat necrosis, based on the finding of multinucleated giant cells, ceroid, and multiple foci of inflammatory cells.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Larsen et al. (1983) conducted an observational in Steatitis and fat necrosis (n=123). Fish-only diet was evaluated on Granulomatous steatitis and fat necrosis. A fish-only diet for over 10 years in 123 captive American alligators was associated with granulomatous steatitis and fat necrosis, identified at commercial slaughter.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: