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Clinical Presentation

Link to Zoo Survey

A World Survey of Neurological Diseases among Captive Lions (Panthera leo) in Zoological Gardens

 

merav

Merav Shamir, DVM Dipl. ECVN
Professor of Veterinary Neurology & Neurosurgery
E-mail: Merav.shamir@mail.huji.ac.il

 

rona

Rona Nadler Valency, DVM
Wildlife Veterinarian and PhD student
E-mail: lionsurvey15@gmail.com

School Contact Information

Koret School of Veterinary Medicine,
The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agricultural, Food & Environment,
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Address: Herzl 229, P.O. Box 12,
Rehovot 76100, Israel

Phone: +972-(0)8-9489021/31;
Fax: +972-(0)8-9467940
E-Mail: vet.school@mail.huji.ac.il

 

Signalment

  • young to young adult captive lions

History

  • progressive neurologic abnormalities
  • blood work, ultrasound usually normal
  • delayed growth
  • death of young cubs and stillbirth

Initial presentation

  • ataxia
  • weakness
  • moderate dementia or depression
  • reluctance to move
  • reduced appetite
  • seizures

Findings on neurological examination

  • pronounced weakness
  • unstable hypermetric gait
  • progressive ataxia
  • uncontrollable head movements and head posture
  • tremors
  • head tilt
  • abnormal cranial nerves function manifested as hyper salivation, protrusion of the tongue
  • inability to stand or walk
  • head pressing
  • opisthotonos
  • death

Neuro-anatomical localization

Neurological examination findings lead to localizing the lesion to the cerebellum, medulla, and the cranial segment of the spinal cord. Forebrain signs are usually a result of increased intracranial pressure due to compromised cerebrospinal fluid drainage.

merav_shamir