title: Diagnosis of hypothyroidism in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) using human thyroid-stimulating hormone assay.
abstract: Primary hypothyroidism was diagnosed in a 26-yr-old female western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) on the basis of serum levels of thyroxine (T4), free T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measured by human immunoassays. Compared with clinically normal gorillas, the TSH level (107 mlIU/L) was markedly elevated, and T4 (<14.0 nmol/L) and free T4 (5.0 pmol/L) levels were decreased. Thyroid hypofunction could explain the weight gain, unsettled appetite, anxious behavior, lethargy, and poor intraspecies interactions shown by this gorilla. The antibodies in the commercial immunoassay used in this study apparently cross-reacted with gorilla TSH. Supplementation with levothyroxine sodium was initiated and was followed by a marked decrease in circulating TSH and a noticeable improvement in the animal's physiologic status and activity level.
authors.affiliation: Toronto Zoo, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lair
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Crawshaw
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mehren
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Perrone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine