Evenhuis Janny V, Soltero-Rivera Maria, Arzi Boaz, Verstraete Frank J M
William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
J Comp Pathol. 2025 Feb;217:39-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2025.01.001. Epub 2025 Feb 3.
Museum skull specimens from 165 North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) from Alaska, USA, were analysed systematically using an established protocol designed for examination of mammalian dentition. The study population was collected from 1956 to 2012 and comprised a similar proportion of males (n = 82, 49.7%) and females (n = 72, 43.6%). Eleven animals were of unknown sex. The study group incorporated a higher proportion of skeletally mature adults (n = 128, 78.5%) compared to young adults. As with many other mammalian species, the most common types of pathology in this species were periodontitis (n = 158, 95.7%), attrition/abrasion (n = 160, 92.7%) and tooth fractures (n = 87, 52.7%). The North American river otter also had a relatively high prevalence of periapical lesions (n = 41, 24.8%) and root number variation (n = 98, 59.4%) when compared with other mammalian species. Temporomandibular joint pathology occurred at a similar rate to that of the closely related southern sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) but most cases were mild in severity.
利用一种既定的用于检查哺乳动物牙齿的方案，对来自美国阿拉斯加的165个北美水獭（加拿大水獭）博物馆头骨标本进行了系统分析。研究群体采集于1956年至2012年，其中雄性（n = 82，49.7%）和雌性（n = 72，43.6%）比例相近。11只动物性别未知。与年轻成年个体相比，研究组中骨骼成熟的成年个体比例更高（n = 128，78.5%）。与许多其他哺乳动物物种一样，该物种最常见的病理类型为牙周炎（n = 158，95.7%）、磨耗/磨损（n = 160，92.7%）和牙齿骨折（n = 87，52.7%）。与其他哺乳动物物种相比，北美水獭根尖周病变（n = 41，24.8%）和根数变异（n = 98，59.4%）的患病率也相对较高。颞下颌关节病理发生率与亲缘关系密切的南海獭（海獭指名亚种）相似，但大多数病例严重程度较轻。
