Diagnostic and Treatment of Spinal Fracture and Luxation in Italian Wolves (Canis lupus italicus).

The medical records of 14 Italian wolves (Canis lupus italicus) with a vertebral fracture or luxation (SFL) between C1 and L7 treated at Ospedale Veterinario San Michele from 2017 and 2022 were reviewed. The most common cause of SFL was "road traffic accident". Neurological signs were graded from 0 to 6 using a modified Frankel scale. Spinal fractures occurred in C1-C5 in 1 case, in T3-L3 in 11 cases and in L4-L7 in 2 cases. Six wolves were euthanized without treatment because they presented paraplegia without deep pain perception (DPP). Two animals with motor function were treated conservatively, and later on one of them was euthanized because of neurological impairment. Six wolves were surgically treated. Seven wolves had good neurological recovery, and six of them were released into the wild. Our results suggest that wolves with DPP before surgery may have a good functional recovery.

Clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in a bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) with cervical spondylomyelopathy: A case report.

An adult neutered male Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) presented with abnormal gait. Neurological examination showed poor left ambulatory hemiparesis, spontaneous proprioceptive deficit in the left anterior limb, and decreased flexor reflex in the forelimbs. The neurological symptoms suggested a caudal cervical spinal cord lesion. Pathological findings included increased cholinesterase and protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Computed tomography examination revealed C2-C3 intervertebral disc herniation, C5-C6 intervertebral disc herniation associated with a reduction of the intervertebral space, and mild ventral dislocation of the C6 vertebra compared to C5. In addition, severe bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis and a hypoattenuating nodule in the left thyroid gland with an open etiology were observed. These findings were interpreted as indicating cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM). Treatment included analgesic and steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy as well as movement restriction. Follow-up at 4 weeks showed modest improvement. Thus, CSM should be included in the differential diagnosis of tigers with neurological cervical signs.

Um tigre-de-bengala macho castrado adulto (Panthera tigris tigris) foi apresentado com uma marcha anormal. O exame neurológico mostrou hemiparesia deambulatória deficiente à esquerda, déficit proprioceptivo espontâneo no membro anterior esquerdo e diminuição do reflexo flexor nos membros anteriores. Os sintomas neurológicos sugeriram uma lesão da medula espinhal cervical caudal. Os achados patológicos incluíram aumento do nível de colinesterase e proteínas na bioquímica do LCR. O exame de TC revelou uma hérnia de disco intervertebral C2-C3, uma hérnia de disco intervertebral C5-C6 associada a uma redução do espaço intervertebral e leve deslocamento ventral da vértebra C6 em comparação com C5. Além disso, osteoartrite grave do ombro bilateral e um nódulo hipoatenuante da glândula tireoide esquerda com etiologia aberta. Esses achados foram interpretados como uma espondilomielopatia cervical (CSM). A terapia médica incluiu tratamento analgésico e anti-inflamatório esteroidal, bem como restrição de movimento. O acompanhamento por 4 semanas mostrou uma melhora modesta. A CSM deve ser incluída no diagnóstico diferencial em tigres com sinais neurológicos cervicais.

Natural distemper infection in stone martens (Martes foina): From infection to neutralizing antibodies.

We report an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) among stone martens (Martes foina) in Italy. After being rescued in Northern Italy between April and June 2018, six subjects were kept in a wildlife and exotic animal rescue center in Bologna province. Subjects have been monitored for 15 months in captivity. Within this time-lapse, two subjects died, while among the remaining four, only one showed clinical symptoms referable to distemper. Surviving subjects have been regularly tested for CDV by means of reverse transcriptase-PCR from conjunctival and oropharyngeal swabs for eleven months. The identified viruses belonged to the Wildlife-Europe CDV genetic subgroup. Neutralizing antibodies were detected at the end of the eleven months, when all subjects tested reverse transcriptase-PCR negative. Our findings confirm the circulation of the Wildlife-Europe CDV genetic subgroup (Europe 1/South America 1 lineage) within the Italian wildlife, and improve knowledge on viral infection in stone martens.