—Royce D’Amelio (Mentors: Andrew Conroy, Laurie Marker, and Anne Schmidt-Küntzel)
Chronic kidney disease is a leading cause of mortality in captive cheetahs, yet early diagnostic tools remain limited. This study looked at cheetahs at the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, comparing kidney histopathology to three blood biomarkers: urea, creatinine, and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). A longitudinal case study of one cheetah was conducted alongside a cross-sectional analysis of sixteen deceased cheetahs with varying severities of chronic kidney disease. Blood samples were analyzed using a chemistry analyzer and kidney tissues were evaluated through histological staining techniques to assess structural damage. Results from the cross-sectional analysis showed increasing trends in urea and creatinine with greater disease severity. However, these differences were not statistically significant. SDMA values did not show a significant correlation with disease progression. In the case study, SDMA levels fluctuated over time and didn’t clearly predict renal decline, while creatinine and urea increased sharply near death. These findings contrast with previous research suggesting SDMA as an early and reliable biomarker of kidney dysfunction. Variability in sample timing, small sample size, and procedural differences may explain these findings. Further research to establish reliable reference ranges and improve early detection strategies for chronic kidney disease in captive cheetahs would ultimately support better management and conservation outcomes.
