Cyclospora continues to make national headlines as cases linked to contaminated fresh produce continue across the US, but do pets play a role? Meanwhile, a multidisciplinary team at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has performed what is believed to be the first reported mastoidectomy in a gorilla, and new research suggests a simple gait measurement could help veterinarians monitor cognitive decline in aging dogs.
Here’s a closer look at this week’s top stories.
With Cyclospora cayetanensis making headlines, veterinary teams may be fielding questions from concerned pet owners. Current evidence, however, suggests dogs and cats are not a source of infection.
According to Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), humans remain the only known major host of C cayetanensis, and no animal reservoir has been identified. Although related Cyclospora species infect some nonhuman primates and reptiles, there is no established role for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, or other domestic animals in maintaining or transmitting the parasite responsible for human cyclosporiasis.
People become infected by ingesting contaminated food or water, with fresh produce implicated in many outbreaks. Unlike many enteric pathogens, Cyclospora oocysts require approximately 1 to 2 weeks in the environment before they become infectious, making direct person-to-person transmission unlikely.
A 12-year-old western lowland gorilla named Mizani underwent what is believed to be the first reported mastoidectomy in a gorilla after a CT scan revealed mastoiditis and sinusitis.
The procedure, performed at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center, brought together wildlife veterinarians and surgeons from UC San Diego Health. Because no published reports of the surgery in a gorilla could be found, the team adapted techniques commonly used in human ear and skull base surgery while accounting for important anatomical differences between humans and gorillas.
The approximately 5-hour operation involved removing infected mastoid bone and tissue to prevent the infection from spreading. Mizani has recovered well, returned to his troop, and resumed his normal activity, with no reported complications during follow-up examinations.
Researchers at North Carolina State University found that shorter front-limb stride length was associated with greater owner-reported cognitive impairment in senior and geriatric dogs.
The longitudinal study followed 88 client-owned dogs that underwent neurologic, orthopedic, and physical examinations approximately every 6 months. Even after accounting for age and owner-reported pain, dogs with higher Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) scores tended to have shorter thoracic limb stride lengths.
The authors emphasize that stride length is not a standalone diagnostic test for canine cognitive dysfunction. Instead, they suggest it may become another objective, repeatable measurement that can complement owner questionnaires and other clinical findings as veterinarians monitor cognitive health over time.
