WOUND MANAGEMENT WITH AND WITHOUT MODIFIED CHOUKROUN'S PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN IN RESCUED FORMOSAN PANGOLINS (MANIS PENTADACTYLA PENTADACTYLA).

Abstract

Trauma is a key threat to wild Formosan pangolins (Manis pentadactyla pentadactyla) and the most frequent reason for presentation to the rescue center of the Taipei Zoo from 2008 to 2017. Of the 105 cases received during this time, 72% presented for trauma. Among these 76 cases, 72% survived and were returned to the wild. Traditional wound management resulted in healing times from 45 to 410 d. Improvements in the success and duration of wound healing could increase the success rate of pangolin release back to the wild. This case series describes wound management in five cases using either traditional wound management practices (two cases) or modified Choukroun's platelet-rich fibrin (MC-PRF) in an attempt to accelerate the wound-healing process (three cases). MC-PRF is relatively easily obtainable and widely used to promote tissue healing in other species. MC-PRF was applied to the wounds of three pangolins every 1 to 2 wk with satisfactory results. The healing time with MC-PRF were 21, 45, and 51 d, shorter than the 60-98 d seen in the cases of traditional wound management in this series. Given the scarcity of literature on pangolins, these cases evaluating both traditional and MC-PRF wound management practices can serve as examples for other pangolin rescue centers in their treatment of traumatic wounds.