Feline Dental Resorptive Lesions in Captive and Wild Leopards and Lions

Abstract

Are there feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORL) in large cats? Macroscopic and radiological investigations of teeth of a zoo leopard, two wild lions and a wild leopard revealed that there are lesions identical to those found in teeth of domestic cats. Because of the radiological and clinical similarity between resorptive lesions and caries, additional examinations were carried out in order to differentiate between those two conditions. Based on the results of investigations such as Rhodamin B dye test, fuchsin/acetic light green staining, hardness measurements by the Knoop-diamond (KHN), and electron-microscopy, we conclude that FORL also occur in captive and wild large cats.