Colyer Institute- Captivity Disorders in Elephants Impacted Molars and Broken Tusks

Gefangenschaftskrankheiten beim Elefanten

Captivity Disorders in Elephants
Impacted Molars and Broken Tusks

D.A. Fagan, J.E.Oosterhuis, and A. Roocroft.

INTRODUCTION

Note: In this article, the German phrase "Gefangenschaftskrankheiten" will be translated as "captivity disorders", as it properly refers to that range of illnesses and disorders, which are generally associated with captivity and/or confinement. It is an appropriate word, like "iatrogenic" to begin to classify that myriad of, as yet unrelated, ailments frequently diagnosed in animals residing in captive environments.

It has been well established that elephants in captivity are particularly subject to a variety of medical infirmities and care-related problems. In their wild state, these animals frequently develop similar conditions; however, with diminished frequency. At the outset, it should be frankly acknowledged that any elephant problem is, indeed, a potentially enormous problem. Prevention of tooth and tusk disorders is a far easier objective to realize, than is the application of the remedial treatment after the fact. Gefangenschaftskrankheiten is much easier to prevent, than it is to correct or cure!

Fig. 1. An impacted maxillary molar removed from an Asian elephant in 1979. Note that a portion of the root structure of the tooth marked at arrow "A" failed to de-mineralize, and remained as a sharp, pointed irritant within the animal's jaw. This tooth eventually became a major source of discomfort during mastication. The arrow marked "B" indicates the crest of the surrounding gingiva. Notice that the portion of the tooth above arrow "B" protrudes abnormally into the mouth, and is heavily encrusted with a smooth calculus deposit, which slowly accumulated onto this non-functional molar during several years of intentional disuse.

Experience suggests, one of the most common dental disorders of elephants living in captivity is impacted or mal-positioned molar teeth, which is more commonly seen in the Asian elephant ( see Fig. 1), than in the African. However in both species, abraded, split or fractured tusks are also all too frequently observed (see Fig. 2). These two dental problems occur specifically because of the uniqueness of the elephant's dentition. Both clinical problems are exacerbated when combined with elements not customarily found in the elephant's natural environment, such as steel or concrete enclosures and, from a dietary perspective, a lack of abrasivity. It is this species- specific uniqueness which makes these two relatively common dental disorders so formidable to address. In order to prepare a management strategy to promote the prevention of these two onerous clinical problems, one must have a pragmatic working knowledge of the development of the elephant's dentition. The fundamental cause of mal-positioned molars and abraded tusks, as well as their prevention, diagnosis and treatment constitutes the focus of this paper.

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