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Zoo: Red panda died of brain infection

The young red panda that died unexpectedly at the Elmwood Park Zoo last month had a brain disease likely caused by a parasite.

The young red panda that died unexpectedly at the Elmwood Park Zoo last month had a brain disease likely caused by a parasite.

A brain biopsy determined that Clinger, who was just a year and a half old, died of meningoencephalitis, the zoo said Friday.

The disease causes inflammation of the brain and Clinger, who died Nov. 29, was likely infected by a parasite.

His mother also died of encephalitis that was brought on by a parasite. Clinger and his brothers all received preventative treatment, but the zoo said the disease is hard to detect without a brain biopsy.

Clinger and his two brothers, Shredder and Slash, arrived at the Norristown zoo in June, a year after they were born at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute.

An initial necropsy, or animal autopsy, didn't reveal a cause of death, prompting the zoo to send tissues for further testing.

Zoo officials said Slash and Shredder were receiving preventative treatment and being monitored.

Red pandas typically live about 10 to 12 years.