Renal morphophysiology is not a significant correlate of observable body condition in Masked Palm Civets (Paguma larvata)

BackgroundViverrid species such as Masked Palm Civets (Paguma larvata) are commonly hunted and widely trafficked in Southeast Asia. Anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts to intercept trafficked animals are increasing in countries where the wild meat trade is dominant, such as Vietnam, due to concerns of potential animal-human disease transfer which may have caused the Covid-19 pandemic. MethodsThis study aimed to create a baseline of renal morphology for P. larvata using data collected from 91 individuals seized from wildlife traffickers in Vietnam. Since body condition was also scored and examined for each animal, we explored whether or not healthy or emaciated body condition could be used as a predictor of kidney morphometrics in the species.ResultsOur results indicate that renal morphology for P larvata is not significantly sexually dimorphic, and do not significantly reflect body conditions in the species. ConclusionSince baseline data for Viverrid average renal structure is deficient, and non-existent for the species, this information can be used to evaluate the species in future seizures, rescues, and release programs to detect kidney size abnormalities and exclude body condition as an associated sign.