Post-Mortem Examination of a Female Elephant Suspected of Having Degenerative Joint Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

D egenerative joint disease (DJD) and chronic ulceration of foot are very common in captive elephants. The abnormalities in foot of zoo elephants have been a major veterinary issue for a century. These conditions are affecting both African and Asian elephants under human care in different zoos (Houck, 1993; Schwammer, 2008). In a review of medical records of North American zoos, 50 % of captive elephants suffered from foot ailments and 64 % experienced musculoskeletal weaknesses (Mikota et al., 1994). Moreover, 33 % surveys of zoos showed at least one case of foot problems, 36 % reported at least one case of arthritis and 18 % reported the case of lameness in their elephant population (Lewis et al., 2010). Regular exercise of foot and muscles maintain a balance of blood circulation in foot pads and nails (Roocroft and Zoll, 1994). Degenerative joint disease (DJD) is very common in zoo elephants. Similarly, cracks, abscesses, chronic sole ulcers in the sole, nail and cuticle can produce pathological changes such as Osteoarthritis, bone remodelling and enthesopathy in elephants (Fowler and Mikota, 2008). These ailments can badly affect the normal gait of zoo elephants. Physical accidents, trauma, contaminated surfaces of enclosure, nutrition profile and exercise are also predisposing factors for the occurrence of DJD in elephants (Gage, 2000).