Abstract

ROSSI JUNIOR, João L.; GIOSO, Marco A.; TELES, Marcelo Q.  and  DOMINGUES-FALQUEIRO, Léslie M.. Accompaniment of the dental growth in Puma concolor kept in captivity. Pesq. Vet. Bras. [online]. 2007, vol.27, n.5, pp. 205-208. ISSN 0100-736X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2007000500004.

The development of dentistry is delayed in the preventive internal medicine for wild animals. Some international papers about wild animal dentistry have already been published regarding some species in wild life or kept in captivity in different geographical regions, but not specifically about the great neotropical felines Panthera onca and Puma concolor. The aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of malocclusion in neotropical felines maintained in the state of São Paulo. For the study a sample of 42 jaguars (Panthera onca) and 36 pumas (Puma concolor) was used, totalizing 78 animals, proceeding from 18 institutions where such species were kept in captivity. All animals were examined if the occlusion was in accordance with the normal for the species. The teeth were identified one by one, examined directly by means of a dental explorer. Malocclusion was present in 47.61% (20 cases) in Panthera onca, and in 5.55% (2 cases) of Puma concolor. The animals with malocclusions apparently did not have problems of food apprehension or chewing ability, although they presented a more reduced interproximal space, with food accumulation the lack of removal of which could provoke oral problems.

Keywords : Felidae; Puma concolor; captivity animals; stomatognathic system.