Tusk abnormalities in wild boar ( Sus scrofa L.)

Abstract

This paper describes pathological alterations in the permanent canines (tusks) of four male wild boars. The mandibular tusks of all individuals, and also some of the maxillary tusks, exhibited an extended enamel hypoplasia in their apical portion, denoting an impairment of secretory ameloblast function. Moreover, the pulp cavities of the mandibular tusks were exposed through cleft-like openings in the wear (whetting) surfaces of the teeth. Presence of a plug of reparative dentine within the pulp cavity was observed in a split mandibular tusk of one individual. In a second boar, the presence of a plug of reparative dentine within the pulp cavity of the mandibular tusks was indicated radiographically. These findings suggested a reparation process attempting to demarcate a vital, apical pulp portion from a necrotic, incisal portion. The enamel hypoplasias observed in the teeth are regarded to be sequelae of the pulp inflammation caused by bacterial invasion in the mandibular tusks. Most likely, bacterial invasion of the dental pulp occurred through the cleft-like openings in the tusks' whetting surfaces, the openings resulting from insufficient formation of secondary dentine. It is, however, also conceivable that pulp inflammation and partial necrosis occurred as a consequence of bacterial invasion of patent dentinal tubules, and that the openings in the whetting surface developed secondarily as a consequence of the pulp changes. One mandibular tusk showed marked signs of resorption apically, suggesting a spread of the inflammation from the pulp into the periodontium.

A supernumerary permanent mandibular premolar of wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) from the early medieval Novgorod, Russia

“…They usually result from the splitting of a bud or from local hyperactivity of the dental lamina (Garvey et al, 1999), although the topic is not resolved yet (Henderson & Greene, 1975). Studies of such anomalies in wild and domestic pigs have been carried out for quite a while (Gupta, 1978;Miles & Grigson, 1990;Feldhammer & McCann, 2004;Kierdorf et al, 2004b;Konjevic et al, 2006, and so on). However, most of the studies are focused on tusk abnormalities of modern animals (Kierdorf et al, 2000;Kierdorf and Kierdorf, 2003;,b,c, 2005Konjevic et al, 2004aKonjevic et al, ,b, 2006 with little or no information on archeological material (Magnell & Carter, 2007).…”

Short Contribution: Severe Enamel Defects and Malformations of Canines in Pre-Historic and Historic Domestic Pigs from Bohemia

“…Although there are several papers dealing with enamel defects on recent boars tusks (e.g. Palášthy, Palášthy 1991; Kierdorf, Kierdorf 2003;Kierdorf et al 2004;Konjević et al 2006), no author has discussed the time of onset of these defects. The same is true for prehistoric and historic finds of canines of domestic pigs.…”

“…Palášthy, Palášthy 1991; Kierdorf, Rühe 2002;Kierdorf, Kierdorf 2003;Kierdorf et al 2004;Konjević et al 2004;2006). This is due to the fact that (mainly the lower) tusks are valuable trophies for hunters.…”

Quantitative determination of the boar taint compounds androstenone, skatole, indole, 3α-androstenol and 3β-androstenol in wild boars (Sus scrofa) reveals extremely low levels of the tryptophan-related degradation products

“…The animals of interest, namely male adolescent boars older than 10 month and perennial male adult boars, were selected by their tooth eruption and tooth wear, where the tooth eruption allows for narrow age estimation in the period between the 5th and 24th month of life (Kierdorf et al, 2004;Stubbe, 2009). Whenever a shot boar was older than 24 month, the age was estimated due to the extent of tooth wear.…”