26-05-2025
Video: MRI reveals cause of George lion cub's neurological symptoms
Zamba, the one-year-old lion cub who underwent an MRI scan at Garden Route Radiology in George last week, has been diagnosed with a vitamin A deficiency.
According to the cub's MRI report, compiled by Dr Christelle le Roux of Vetimaging Specialists in Pretoria, the scan showed mild cerebellar herniation with compression of the medulla oblongata, George Herald reports.
This means his cerebellum (the area of the brain responsible for balance and co-ordination) is slightly pushed down into an area it should not normally be. This, in turn, puts pressure on the medulla oblongata (the lowest part of the brainstem that connects the brain and the spinal cord).
Ruling out inflammatory disease and trauma, the report attributes Zamba's condition to a vitamin A deficiency, sometimes seen in captive lions.
A carnivore scientist explained that a vitamin A deficiency in captive lions has been known to cause abnormal growth in the bones of the skull, particularly in a way that narrows its openings. This, then, leads to the pushing down and subsequent pressure described above.
One of Zamba's co-owners, Jurg Olsen of the Outeniqua Game Farm, said Zamba's vitamin A deficiency was likely caused by limited absorption. He said to address his, they will supplement the cub's diet with beef liver (rich in vitamin A and calories) and administer a vitamin A injection once a week for four weeks, followed by biweekly injections for another eight weeks.
'If any symptoms reappear, we will administer cortisone as needed. Fortunately we caught this issue early, and we're optimistic Zamba will make a full recovery and grow into a strong, impressive male like his father and brothers,' Olsen said.
He explained that as a rule of thumb, they specifically added supplements such as Predator Supplement powder, carnivore supplements, thiamine and calcium to their lions' food. The fact that Zamba's half-brother, Impi, who eats the same food as Zamba, is not showing similar symptoms, leads Olsen to believe the cause of Zamba's limited absorption could be genetic.
Zamba was brought in for an MRI scan on May 19 after experiencing sudden episodic balance issues during some rough play with his half-brothers on the farm, specifically after falling out of a tree.
Garden Route Radiology was the only practice in the region able to accommodate the 100kg lion cub. To ensure human patient safety, the examination was done after hours at 17:30, while the outpatient centre was closed to the public.
The results of the MRI scan was subsequently sent to a specialist veterinarian, Le Roux, for analysis. From her report, Zamba's local veterinary team has charted the course of treatment as outlined above.
Watch the video here:
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