INFLAMMATORY ARTHRITIS IN LARGE CATS - AN EXPANDED SPECTRUM OF SPONDYLOARTHROPATHY

Spondyloarthropathy was documented for the first time in 14 (3.7%) of 386 large cats, affecting eight species belonging to three genera. The limited distribution of joint erosions, associated with spine and sac roiliac joint pathology, was indistinguishable from that occurring in humans with spondyloarthropathy of the reactive type. This form of inf lammatory arthritis is almost twice as common as osteoarthritis (for f elids as a whole), and animal wellbeing may be enhanced by its recogni tion and by initiation of specific treatment.