Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of Wild Carnivores in the Western USA

• Published in: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
• Main Authors: Rickert, Siobhan S., Kass, Philip H., Verstraete, Frank J. M.
• Other Authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Frontiers Media SA 2021
• Subjects: General Veterinary; Pacific; Canis lupus; gray wolf; harbor seal; Odobenus rosmarus; Phoca vitulina; polar bear; Ursus arctos; Ursus maritimus; Callorhinus ursinus; Lynx; Northern fur seal; walrus*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.657381; https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.657381/full

Skull specimens from: southern sea otter ( Enhydra lutris nereis ), Eastern Pacific harbor seal ( Phoca vitulina) , California sea lion ( Zalophus californianus) , northern fur seal ( Callorhinus ursinus ), walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus ), polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) , North American brown bear ( Ursus arctos) , American black bear (Ursus americanus) , California mountain lion ( Puma concolor couguar ), California bobcat ( Lynx rufus californicus) , gray fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus) , kit fox ( Vulpes macrotis) , and gray wolf ( Canis lupus) ( n = 5,011) were macroscopically examined for dental and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology. The presence of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) varied across species: 4.1% of southern sea otter, 34.5% of harbor seal, 85.5% of California sea lion, 20% of northern fur seal, 60.5% of walrus, 9.2% of polar bear, 13.2% of North American brown bear, 50% of American black bear, 20.9% of California mountain lion, 0% of California bobcat and gray fox, 6.3% of kit fox, and 11.6% of gray wolf specimens had lesions consistent with TMJ-OA. TMJ-OA was significantly more prevalent in males than females in walrus, North American brown bear, polar bear, American black bear, and California mountain lion ( p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.005, p = 0.002, and p = 0.004, respectively). No other species showed a sex predilection. Adult specimens were significantly more affected with TMJ-OA than young adults in the harbor seal, fur seal, walrus (all p < 0.001), and kit fox ( p = 0.001). Gray wolf and American black bear young adults were significantly ( p = 0.047 and p < 0.001) more affected by TMJ-OA than adults. Of the 13 species analyzed, only three species, namely the harbor seal, northern fur seal, and polar bear, had a significant increase in the prevalence of TMJ-OA if their teeth had attrition and abrasion ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.033, respectively). TMJ-OA can lead to morbidity and mortality in wild animals, but its etiology is ...