Cranial malformations in related white lions (Panthera leo krugeri).

White lions (Panthera leo krugeri) have never been common in the wild, and at present, the greatest population is kept in zoos where they are bred for biological and biodiversity conservation. During the years 2003 to 2008 in a zoological garden in northern Italy, 19 white lions were born to the same parents, who were in turn paternally consanguineous. Out of the 19 lions, 4 (21%) were stillborn, 13 (69%) died within 1 month, and 1 (5%) was euthanatized after 6 months because of difficulty with prehension of food. Six lions (32%) showed malformations involving the head (jaw, tongue, throat, teeth, and cranial bones). One lion (5%) still alive at 30 months revealed an Arnold-Chiari malformation upon submission for neurological evaluation of postural and gait abnormalities. Paternal consanguinity of the parents, along with inbreeding among white lions in general, could account for the high incidence of congenital malformations of the head in this pride of white lions.

Oral examination and radiographic evaluation of the dentition in wild cats from Namibia.

Feline tooth resorption has been widely reported in domestic cats and sporadically described in other felidae. The goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of tooth resorption and to report other dental problems in a population of wild felidae. Observations of dental disorders and anomalies were made in skulls from 73 wild felidae (cheetahs, leopards, caracals, African wildcats, and lions) originating from Namibia. In addition, radiographs were taken in 43 cases to determine signs of bone and root pathology. Radiographs showed varying stages of tooth resorption in 16.0% of the specimens. Other dental anomalies found included fused teeth, supernumerary roots, or missing teeth. The prevalence of dental resorption in wild felidae was lower than reported in the domestic cat.

Myocardial bridges in Mountain Lion (Puma concolor, Jardine-1834)(Felidae): a case report

In the present study, the myocardial bridges of an adult, female, mountain lion that died of natural causes at the "Parque do Sabiá" Zoo, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil were examined. The heart was fixed in a 10 por cento formalin solution and the coronary arteries were injected with neoprene latex 450(R). The myocardial bridge is a superficial muscular band that crosses a short segment of the coronary arteries on the epicardium various localizations in the heart. Twelve bridges were seen in this heart. Three crossed the first branch, five crossed the second branch and four crossed the fifth branch of the paraconal interventricular branch of the left coronary artery. The average length of the myocardial bridges was 2,08 mm (range 0,80-3,95 mm), the length of the left ventricle was 58.3 mm. Of the bridges examined 58,3 por cento were in the medial third ventricle, 33,3 por cento were in the apical third and 8,3 por cento were basal third.

Spinal compression due to atlantal vertebral malformation in two African lions (Panthera leo).

Two young (14-mo-old and 6-mo-old), unrelated, male African lions (Panthera leo) were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of Oklahoma State University and Kansas State University with progressive ambulatory difficulty. In both cases, limited neurologic evaluation demonstrated pelvic limb paresis and ataxia with conscious proprioceptive deficits. Spinal imaging showed nearly identical lesions in both cases. Radiography and myelography demonstrated cervical stenosis secondary to atlantal (C1) malformation producing a dorsoventral deformity of the laminar arch with atlantoaxial spinal cord compression between the ventrally displaced laminar arch of the atlas and the underlying odontoid process of C2. Computed tomography of the atlanto-axial junction confirmed cervical stenosis and cord compression, showing flattening of the spinal cord between the laminar arch of C1 and the dens of C2. Decompressive surgery consisting of dorsal laminectomy of C1 was performed. Each lion demonstrated progressive improvement of neurologic status to recovery of normal ambulation after surgical intervention. Neurologic disease in large captive felids is rare; atlanto-axial spondylomyelopathy has not been reported previously.

Double aortic arch and persistent left vena cava in a white lion cub (Panthera leo).

A 4-mo-old female white lion (Panthera leo) cub was presented with a 2-wk history of persistent postprandial regurgitation, mild dyspnea, and poor weight gain. The cub was weak and thin but otherwise alert. Survey and contrast radiography revealed a large dilated esophagus cranial to the heart base, with an esophageal filling defect present at the level of the fourth thoracic vertebra. A vascular ring anomaly was tentatively diagnosed. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed a double aortic arch and a persistent left vena cava. The left aortic arch was ligated and divided, and recovery was uneventful. A single episode of regurgitation occurred within the first postoperative month, and the cub gained 5.5 kg in weight during the same time period. Neither double aortic arch nor persistent left vena cava has been reported in a nondomestic felid.

Arnold-Chiari malformation in a captive African lion cub.

Progressive ataxia, delayed growth, dementia and tremors were noted in a female African lion (Panthera leo) cub at the Tel-Aviv Ramat-Gan Zoological Center (Israel). The lioness was 3-mo-old when clinical signs were first noticed. Repeated neurological evaluations and blood tests were conducted in an attempt to establish a diagnosis. A congenital abnormality was suspected and the lioness died 6 molater. Post mortem examination revealed an Arnold-Chiari malformation. The abnormality was classified as a Chiari type 2 malformation, based on the herniation of the cerebellar vermis and paravermis and the slight caudal displacement of the medulla, combined with lack of displacement in other parts of the brainstem.