Tetraparesis resembling acute transverse myelitis in a captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes): long-term care and recovery

A 24-year-old, male chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) developed acute tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a diffuse T2-weighted hyperintensive lesion, indicating inflammation at the C1-2 level. All infective, autoimmune, and vascular investigations were unremarkable. The chimpanzee's con...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical primatology 2010-10, Vol.39 (5), p.336-346
Main Authors: Miyabe-Nishiwaki, T, Kaneko, A, Nishiwaki, K, Watanabe, A, Watanabe, S, Maeda, N, Kumazaki, K, Morimoto, M, Hirokawa, R, Suzuki, J, Ito, Y, Hayashi, M, Tanaka, M, Tomonaga, M, Matsuzawa, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Ape Diseases - diagnosis
Ape Diseases - therapy
Diagnosis, Differential
Long-Term Care
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Myelitis, Transverse - diagnosis
Myelitis, Transverse - veterinary
Nutritional Status
Pan troglodytes
Paresis - cerebrospinal fluid
Paresis - etiology
Paresis - veterinary
Pressure Ulcer - etiology
Pressure Ulcer - veterinary
Spinal Cord Injuries - cerebrospinal fluid
Spinal Cord Injuries - complications
Spinal Cord Injuries - diagnosis
Spinal Cord Injuries - therapy
Spinal Cord Injuries - veterinary
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A 24-year-old, male chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) developed acute tetraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a diffuse T2-weighted hyperintensive lesion, indicating inflammation at the C1-2 level. All infective, autoimmune, and vascular investigations were unremarkable. The chimpanzee's condition most resembled acute transverse myelitis (ATM) in humans. The chimpanzee was in severe incapacitated neurological condition with bedridden status and required 24-hour attention for 2 months followed by special care for over a year. Initially, corticosteroid therapy was performed, and his neurological symptoms improved to some extent; however, the general condition of the chimpanzee deteriorated in the first 6 months after onset. Pressure ulcers had developed at various areas on the animal's body, as the bedridden status was protracted. Supportive therapy was continued, and the general condition, appetite, mobility, and pressure ulcers have slowly but synergistically recovered over the course of 2 years.
ISSN:1600-0684
DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0684.2010.00415.x