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Abstract
BackgroundThe southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common species of anteater. Even though much is known about its ecology, behavior, and parasites, there is very limited information about bone diseases in Tamandua and other anteaters. Here, we examined postcranial skeletons of 64 T. tetradactyla museum specimens covering most of the material available in Brazilian collections.ResultsThe following bone diseases were identified for the first time in Tamandua and other extant and fossil vermilinguans: osteophytes, osteitis, osteoarthritis, periostitis, exostoses, enthesopathies, and a severe chronic pyogenic osteomyelitis associated with fistulae, cloacae (pus), bone loss, and neoformation processes. Musculoskeletal reconstruction revealed that an old specimen was restricted to terrestrial locomotion due to osteopathological processes that impaired its climbing.ConclusionsNew osteopathological informations are presented for T. tetradactyla, favoring a better understanding of the expression of some bone diseases in wild animals. In addition, the diagnosis of these bone diseases in living anteaters provides useful information for studies on animal health and welfare, as well as contributing to the more effective recognition of paleodiseases in fossil xenarthrans.
Highlights
The southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common species of anteater
Tamandua mexicana occurs from Central America southward to northern South America, whereas T. tetradactyla, widely distributed in South America, is the most common anteater throughout its distribution range [2, 6]
Description and diagnosis of diseases in the appendicular skeleton of Tamandua tetradactyla Of the 64 T. tetradactyla skeletons examined, we found evidence of osteopathological lesions in four specimens (MN 79028, Mammal collection at the National Museum (MN) 79287, MZUSP 32329, and NPM 069)
Summary
The southern tamandua, Tamandua tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1758), is the most common species of anteater. Even though much is known about its ecology, behavior, and parasites, there is very limited information about bone diseases in Tamandua and other anteaters. Cotts et al BMC Veterinary Research (2019) 15:120 and the northern and southern anteater, Tamandua mexicana and T. tetradactyla, respectively [2]. Tamandua mexicana occurs from Central America southward to northern South America, whereas T. tetradactyla, widely distributed in South America, is the most common anteater throughout its distribution range [2, 6]. Bone diseases are very common in humans and domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and horses, with osteomyelitis being one of the most recurrent injuries in the appendicular skeleton of these groups [15,16,17,18,19]. Fungi, and viruses can infect the bone tissue and cause osteomyelitis, but the most frequent etiologic agent is the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus [22, 23]
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