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30 June 2023 Congenital and Neoplastic Cranial Deformities in Wild Giraffe (Giraffa spp.)
Sara Ferguson, Titus Kaitho, Isaac Lekolool, Arthur Muneza, Jordan Michelmore, Lachlan McFeeters, Emma Wells, Katherine Ahl, Rigardt Hoffman, Michael Brown, Stephanie Fennessy, Julian Fennessy
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Congenital deformities and neoplasia are poorly documented in wildlife, owing to the difficulty of detection in wild populations. Congenital deformities may lead to premature mortality, thus reducing the chances of thorough documentation. Importantly, neoplasia diagnoses depend on either sampling suspicious lesions from living individuals or access to fresh, undisturbed carcasses, which can prove challenging. We describe five cases of suspected congenital cranial deformities (midfacial cleft, wry nose, and brachygnathia inferior) and two possible cases of cranial neoplasia (orbital bone mass and a soft tissue mass) opportunistically observed in wild giraffe (Giraffa spp.) across their range in Africa. Although cases are largely limited to subjective description because physical examination is often not possible, it is critical to document such observations to help identify and track potential health concerns in wild giraffe populations.

Sara Ferguson, Titus Kaitho, Isaac Lekolool, Arthur Muneza, Jordan Michelmore, Lachlan McFeeters, Emma Wells, Katherine Ahl, Rigardt Hoffman, Michael Brown, Stephanie Fennessy, and Julian Fennessy "Congenital and Neoplastic Cranial Deformities in Wild Giraffe (Giraffa spp.)," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 59(3), 472-478, (30 June 2023). https://doi.org/10.7589/JWD-D-22-00102
Received: 29 July 2022; Accepted: 7 February 2023; Published: 30 June 2023
KEYWORDS
Congenital cranial malformation
Giraffa
giraffe
neoplasia
wild
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