High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease
Approximately 17,000 bears undergo bile extraction in facilities across Asia for traditional medicines despite the availability of proven alternatives. Bears are confined to cages and bile harvested from the gallbladder via needle aspiration, implanted catheters, or transabdominal fistulas. Bile-ext...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Monica K. H. Bando O. Lynne Nelson Kyle Taylor Rance Sellon Clark Kogan Jill Robinson Emily Drayton Claudia Hartley David Donaldson Chris Linney Hannah Stephenson |
| author_facet | Monica K. H. Bando O. Lynne Nelson Kyle Taylor Rance Sellon Clark Kogan Jill Robinson Emily Drayton Claudia Hartley David Donaldson Chris Linney Hannah Stephenson |
| author_sort | Monica K. H. Bando |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Approximately 17,000 bears undergo bile extraction in facilities across Asia for traditional medicines despite the availability of proven alternatives. Bears are confined to cages and bile harvested from the gallbladder via needle aspiration, implanted catheters, or transabdominal fistulas. Bile-extracted bears develop numerous detrimental conditions, including abnormal repetitive behaviors, emaciation, dental disease, cholecystitis, hernias, abscesses, and neoplasia. A high prevalence of aortic dilation, commonly seen with systemic hypertension, was reported in bile-extracted bears, and aortic aneurysm rupture/dissection was the third leading cause of death in a population of 600 formerly bile-extracted bears. A high incidence of renal disease, a common cause of systemic hypertension in other species, was also identified in this population. We hypothesized that renal disease was positively correlated with lesions of systemic hypertension in bile-extracted bears. Archived medical records, imaging, and samples from 180 formerly bile-extracted bears were analyzed. Hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic dilation were used as validated correlates of systemic hypertension. The majority (76.1%) of bears exhibited at least one systemic hypertension lesion, and 62.8% had two or more lesions. Left ventricular hypertrophy was most common, followed by aortic dilation/aneurysm. Lesions of systemic hypertension were positively correlated to renal disease parameters of serum creatinine and renal histopathology. Understanding the etiology of systemic hypertension in this population is critical due to consequent comorbidities and increasing numbers of bile-extracted bears finding their way to sanctuary. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-a5bb125cfcd54a3e8a2064515ffba8e52025-08-20T02:35:49ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011513194010.3390/ani15131940High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal DiseaseMonica K. H. Bando0O. Lynne Nelson1Kyle Taylor2Rance Sellon3Clark Kogan4Jill Robinson5Emily Drayton6Claudia Hartley7David Donaldson8Chris Linney9Hannah Stephenson10Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 100 Grimes Way, ADBF, P.O. Box 646610, Pullman, WA 99164, USAVeterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 100 Grimes Way, ADBF, P.O. Box 646610, Pullman, WA 99164, USAVeterinary Microbiology and Pathology and Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, P.O. Box 647040, Pullman, WA 99164, USAVeterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, 100 Grimes Way, ADBF, P.O. Box 646610, Pullman, WA 99164, USACenter for Interdisciplinary Statistical Education and Research, Washington State University, Abelson Suite 227, Pullman, WA 99164, USAAnimals Asia Foundation, Room 1501, Tung Hip Commercial Building, 244-252 Des Voeux Road, Central, Sheung Wan, Hong KongAnimals Asia Foundation, Room 1501, Tung Hip Commercial Building, 244-252 Des Voeux Road, Central, Sheung Wan, Hong KongLangford Veterinary Services, University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UKLangford Veterinary Services, University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UKWillows Veterinary Centre & Referral Service, Highlands Rd, Shirley B90 4NH, UKHS Cardiology Ltd., Dalton House, 9 Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1WD, UKApproximately 17,000 bears undergo bile extraction in facilities across Asia for traditional medicines despite the availability of proven alternatives. Bears are confined to cages and bile harvested from the gallbladder via needle aspiration, implanted catheters, or transabdominal fistulas. Bile-extracted bears develop numerous detrimental conditions, including abnormal repetitive behaviors, emaciation, dental disease, cholecystitis, hernias, abscesses, and neoplasia. A high prevalence of aortic dilation, commonly seen with systemic hypertension, was reported in bile-extracted bears, and aortic aneurysm rupture/dissection was the third leading cause of death in a population of 600 formerly bile-extracted bears. A high incidence of renal disease, a common cause of systemic hypertension in other species, was also identified in this population. We hypothesized that renal disease was positively correlated with lesions of systemic hypertension in bile-extracted bears. Archived medical records, imaging, and samples from 180 formerly bile-extracted bears were analyzed. Hypertensive retinopathy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic dilation were used as validated correlates of systemic hypertension. The majority (76.1%) of bears exhibited at least one systemic hypertension lesion, and 62.8% had two or more lesions. Left ventricular hypertrophy was most common, followed by aortic dilation/aneurysm. Lesions of systemic hypertension were positively correlated to renal disease parameters of serum creatinine and renal histopathology. Understanding the etiology of systemic hypertension in this population is critical due to consequent comorbidities and increasing numbers of bile-extracted bears finding their way to sanctuary.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1940aortic aneurysmAsiatic black bearbear bilehypertensive retinopathyleft ventricular hypertrophyrenal disease |
| spellingShingle | Monica K. H. Bando O. Lynne Nelson Kyle Taylor Rance Sellon Clark Kogan Jill Robinson Emily Drayton Claudia Hartley David Donaldson Chris Linney Hannah Stephenson High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease Animals aortic aneurysm Asiatic black bear bear bile hypertensive retinopathy left ventricular hypertrophy renal disease |
| title | High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease |
| title_full | High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease |
| title_fullStr | High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease |
| title_short | High Prevalence of Lesions of Systemic Hypertension in Bile-Extracted Asiatic Black Bears (<i>Ursus thibetanus</i>) and Associated Renal Disease |
| title_sort | high prevalence of lesions of systemic hypertension in bile extracted asiatic black bears i ursus thibetanus i and associated renal disease |
| topic | aortic aneurysm Asiatic black bear bear bile hypertensive retinopathy left ventricular hypertrophy renal disease |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1940 |
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