Flaccid trunk paralysis in free-ranging elephants (Loxodonta africana) in Zimbabwe

J Wildl Dis. 1994 Jul;30(3):432-5. doi: 10.7589/0090-3558-30.3.432.

Abstract

An epizootic of flaccid trunk paralysis began in free-ranging Zimbabwean elephants (Loxodonta africana) on the southern shore of Lake Kariba in 1989. It involved a selective neuropathy of peripheral nerves supplying the trunk, with axon and myelin degeneration, muscle atrophy, compensatory hypertrophy, and fine endomyseal fibrosis, without inflammatory changes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Elephants*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Muscle Hypotonia
  • Muscle, Skeletal / innervation
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscular Atrophy / etiology
  • Muscular Atrophy / veterinary
  • Nose / innervation*
  • Paralysis / epidemiology
  • Paralysis / etiology
  • Paralysis / pathology
  • Paralysis / veterinary*
  • Peripheral Nerves / pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / epidemiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / veterinary*
  • Zimbabwe / epidemiology