title: Brain, Craniofacial, and Dental Lesions of a Free-ranging Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) Implicated in a Human Attack in Minnesota, USA.
abstract: We describe significant brain, craniofacial, and dental lesions in a free-ranging wolf (Canis lupus) involved in a human attack. On postmortem examination, the wolf presented asymmetric atrophy and bone remodeling affecting the mandible, incisive, maxilla, lacrimal, palatine, frontal, and ethmoid bones. There was an asymmetrical skeletal malocclusion and dental abnormalities including rotated, malpositioned, partially erupted teeth, and an odontogenic cyst associated with an unerupted canine tooth. Brain changes were bilateral loss and atrophy of extensive cortex regions including olfactory bulb, peduncles, and tract, and the frontal lobe. We highlight the relevance of a thorough postmortem examination of wildlife to elucidate disease-based abnormal behavior as the reason for human-animal conflict.
authors.affiliation: 1 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1333 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwabenlander
authors.affiliation: 2 Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stepaniuk
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carstensen
authors.affiliation: 1 Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1333 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.|4 Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, 1365 Gortner Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, USA.
authors.forename: Aníbal G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Armién
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000209:etiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal; D005145:Face / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014071:Tooth Abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019596:Wolves / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Abnormal behavior; Canis lupus; brain injury; craniofacial injury; malocclusion; odontogenic cyst; wolf attack