MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS)
A 14.6-yr-old, female, multiparous polar bear (Ursus maritimus) acutely developed an apparent hind limb weakness. Physical examination and diagnostic tests including a hemogram, serum biochemistry, electrolytes, radiographs, and myelogram did not provide a definitive diagnosis. No improvement in con...
Published in: | Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |
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American Association of Zoo Veterinarians
2004
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ftbioone:10.1638/03-034 2023-07-30T04:07:24+02:00 MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) David E. Kenny Jeffery Baier Felicia Knightly Daniel Steinheimer David M. Getzy G. Diane Shelton David E. Kenny Jeffery Baier Felicia Knightly Daniel Steinheimer David M. Getzy G. Diane Shelton world 2004-09-01 text/HTML https://doi.org/10.1638/03-034 en eng American Association of Zoo Veterinarians doi:10.1638/03-034 All rights reserved. https://doi.org/10.1638/03-034 Text 2004 ftbioone https://doi.org/10.1638/03-034 2023-07-09T10:44:24Z A 14.6-yr-old, female, multiparous polar bear (Ursus maritimus) acutely developed an apparent hind limb weakness. Physical examination and diagnostic tests including a hemogram, serum biochemistry, electrolytes, radiographs, and myelogram did not provide a definitive diagnosis. No improvement in condition was noted during 4 days of supportive care, and the bear was euthanized. An ovoid mass was present in the anterior mediastinum, and a thymoma was confirmed histologically. Compared with control polar bears, elevated serum acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies (0.13 ± 0.06 nmol/L vs. 0.86 nmol/L) were detected by immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay, which is consistent with myasthenia gravis (MG) in other species. Although the AChR antibody test has not been validated in the polar bear, we are confident in the postmortem diagnosis of MG, which is commonly associated with thymoma in other species. Text Ursus maritimus BioOne Online Journals Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 35 3 409 411 |
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ftbioone |
language |
English |
description |
A 14.6-yr-old, female, multiparous polar bear (Ursus maritimus) acutely developed an apparent hind limb weakness. Physical examination and diagnostic tests including a hemogram, serum biochemistry, electrolytes, radiographs, and myelogram did not provide a definitive diagnosis. No improvement in condition was noted during 4 days of supportive care, and the bear was euthanized. An ovoid mass was present in the anterior mediastinum, and a thymoma was confirmed histologically. Compared with control polar bears, elevated serum acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies (0.13 ± 0.06 nmol/L vs. 0.86 nmol/L) were detected by immunoprecipitation radioimmunoassay, which is consistent with myasthenia gravis (MG) in other species. Although the AChR antibody test has not been validated in the polar bear, we are confident in the postmortem diagnosis of MG, which is commonly associated with thymoma in other species. |
author2 |
David E. Kenny Jeffery Baier Felicia Knightly Daniel Steinheimer David M. Getzy G. Diane Shelton |
format |
Text |
author |
David E. Kenny Jeffery Baier Felicia Knightly Daniel Steinheimer David M. Getzy G. Diane Shelton |
spellingShingle |
David E. Kenny Jeffery Baier Felicia Knightly Daniel Steinheimer David M. Getzy G. Diane Shelton MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) |
author_facet |
David E. Kenny Jeffery Baier Felicia Knightly Daniel Steinheimer David M. Getzy G. Diane Shelton |
author_sort |
David E. Kenny |
title |
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) |
title_short |
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) |
title_full |
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) |
title_fullStr |
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) |
title_full_unstemmed |
MYASTHENIA GRAVIS IN A POLAR BEAR (URSUS MARITIMUS) |
title_sort |
myasthenia gravis in a polar bear (ursus maritimus) |
publisher |
American Association of Zoo Veterinarians |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1638/03-034 |
op_coverage |
world |
genre |
Ursus maritimus |
genre_facet |
Ursus maritimus |
op_source |
https://doi.org/10.1638/03-034 |
op_relation |
doi:10.1638/03-034 |
op_rights |
All rights reserved. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1638/03-034 |
container_title |
Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine |
container_volume |
35 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
409 |
op_container_end_page |
411 |
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1772820696874876928 |