CASE REPORT article

Front. Vet. Sci.

Sec. Zoological Medicine

Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1596698

Case report: Acute primary splenic torsion in a maned wolf (Chrysocyon Brachyurus)

Provisionally accepted
Geovanna  HernandezGeovanna Hernandez*Pierre  PicavetPierre PicavetAurelie  BruwierAurelie BruwierGretel  Tovar-LopezGretel Tovar-Lopez
  • Kansas State University, Manhattan, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Splenic torsion is an uncommon condition in the Canidae family, characterized by twisting of the splenic pedicle, leading to vascular compromise. The etiology remains unclear, although one hypothesis associates it with gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome. Splenic torsion may present acutely or chronically. Tentative diagnosis is often based on clinical signs, physical examination findings, and abdominal radiography, while ultrasonography or computed tomography confirms the condition.A six-year-old castrated male maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) was presented to the Veterinary Health Center at Kansas State University with an acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, and apparent ataxia. Physical examination revealed pale, moist mucous membranes, a firm and large mass occupying most of the cranial abdomen, and suspected abdominal effusion.Abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography confirmed an acute splenic torsion. Emergency splenectomy was performed, and diagnosis was confirmed grossly and subsequently by histopathologic study. The patient received a xenotransfusion with one unit of canine packed red blood cells and two units of canine plasma intraoperatively. Recovery was uneventful, and no complications were noted seven months postoperatively.This case report documents the first recorded instance of acute primary splenic torsion in a maned wolf. Diagnostic imaging findings were comparable to those seen in domestic dogs, and similar therapeutic approach resulted in a successful outcome.

Keywords: case report, Splenic torsion, Maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Gastropexy, Splenectomy, Abdominal CT, Blood Transfusion

Received: 20 Mar 2025; Accepted: 28 May 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Hernandez, Picavet, Bruwier and Tovar-Lopez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Geovanna Hernandez, Kansas State University, Manhattan, United States

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