The Dental Pathology of Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga angustirostris)

Abbott, Chris; Verstraete, Frank J.M.

doi:10.1016/j.jcpa.2004.09.007

Cited by 35 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…A series of papers has been published on dental and TMJ pathology of marine mammal species: the northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris) (Abbott and Verstraete, 2005), the southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) (Arzi et al, 2013a;Winer et al, 2013), the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) (Sinai et al, 2014;Arzi et al, 2015), the northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) (Aalderink et al, 2015a) and the eastern Pacific harbour seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) (Aalderink et al, 2015b). In general, museum collections of skulls, such as those making up the aforementioned studies and this study, are obtained from strandings, carcass recovery and donations by rehabilitation centres.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of the Walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus )

Winer

Arzi

Leale

et al. 2016

Journal of Comparative Pathology

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SummaryMaxillae and/or mandibles from 76 walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) were examined macroscopically according to predefined criteria. The museum specimens were acquired between 1932 and 2014. Forty-five specimens (59.2%) were from male animals, 29 (38.2%) from female animals and two (2.6%) from animals of unknown sex, with 58 adults (76.3%) and 18 young adults (23.7%) included in this study. The number of teeth available for examination was 830 (33.6%); 18.5% of teeth were absent artefactually, 3.3% were deemed to be absent due to acquired tooth loss and 44.5% were absent congenitally. The theoretical complete dental formula was confirmed to be I 3/3, C 1/1, P 4/3, M 2/2, while the most probable dental formula is I 1/0, C 1/1, P 3/3, M 0/0; none of the specimens in this study possessed a full complement of theoretically possible teeth. The majority of teeth were normal in morphology; only five teeth (0.6% of available teeth) were malformed. Only one tooth had an aberrant number of roots and only one supernumerary tooth was encountered. No persistent deciduous teeth were found in any of the young adult or adult specimens, nor were any specimens affected by enamel hypoplasia. The majority of teeth (85.5%) displayed attrition/abrasion. Of the adult and young adult specimens, 90.8% showed some degree of attrition/abrasion on at least one tooth. Tooth fractures were noted in eight walruses, affecting 10.5% of specimens and 1.3% of the total number of teeth, nearly three-quarters of which were maxillary canine teeth (tusks). Three specimens (3.9%), all adult males, displayed overt periapical disease. The majority (99.2%) of dental alveoli did not have bony changes indicative of periodontitis, with only five specimens (6.6%) affected by periodontitis. Lesions consistent with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJ-OA) were found in 46 specimens (60.5%) and TMJ-OA was significantly more common in adults than young adults and males than females. Although the clinical significance of dental and TMJ pathology in the walrus remains unknown, the occurrence and severity of these lesions may play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of this species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology of the Walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus )

Winer

Arzi

Leale

et al. 2016

Journal of Comparative Pathology

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“…Supernumerary teeth in extant northern elephant seals were relatively common on mandibles. 15 None of the seal mandibles exhibited supernumerary teeth or sockets.…”

Section: Dental Pathologiesmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The pathologically excavated socket walls are concave and the periosteum is damaged showing the subchondral bone and the presence of vascular foramina 10,15 suggesting periodontitis (an inflammatory reaction in the periodontium which can spread to the surrounding alveolar bone causing its destruction 10 ). Reabsorption is evident in the median wall separating the medial sockets and the smooth edges suggest that healing had occurred (Figure 2f).…”

Section: Dental Pathologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathologies in the Early Pliocene phocid seals from Langebaanweg, South Africa

Govender¹,

Avery²,

Chinsamy³

2011

S Afr J Sci

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Abundant vertebrate fossils have been recorded from the Early Pliocene locality, Langebaanweg, South Africa. This study documents the pathologies evident in the 5 millionyear-old fossil phocid seal assemblage. Careful anatomical assessment of the remains revealed that 0.73% showed evidence of disease and/or trauma. The majority of the ailments were forms of osteoarthritis, although periodontitis and osteomyelitis were also evident. Some bones also showed healed fractures, suggesting that the individuals survived the traumatic event. Two cases of dental pathologies were also noted.

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“…Fractures or fissures of the teeth, caused by trauma, can affect an animal in every stage of life (Malzoni Furtado et al, 2007;Lobprise, 2003;Sauther et al, 2002;Harvey et Orr, 1990). Several studies have shown a high prevalence of tooth fractures in wild animals (Malzoni Furtado et al, 2007;Abbot et Verstraete, 2005;Sauther et al, 2002). Attrition is the wear of one tooth moving against another or the wear of teeth against food during mastication (Miles et Grigson, 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%