Injured Brazilian Wolf Is First Wild Animal Treated With Stem Cells

[EmperorScorpious]

[QUOTE]A maned wolf that had been left for dead after being hit by a truck was released back into the Brazilian wild this month, granted a speedy recovery through the use of stem cells. The female wolf is reportedly the first wild animal treated with stem-cell therapy, according to the Brazilian National Journal.

The wolf was in a pre-coma state when a passerby brought her to the Brazilian National Zoo in September, the National Journal said. She had broken bones and various other injuries.

Veterinarian Rafael Bonorino implanted stem cells near the site of the wolf’s broken bones, and the animal was back on its feet within hours, Brazilian media reported. After a few days, she no longer needed pain meds, and just eight days after her surgery, the wolf pried open her enclosure and escaped. Veterinarians found her about two miles away and brought her back for further treatment and monitoring.

Her broken leg had completely healed after three weeks, the National Journal said. After four months of rehabilitation, the wolf was released back to the wild. That’s half the time it would normally take to treat a wild animal with her level of injuries, veterinarians said.

“Making use of stem cells, we will have faster healing of the bone,” Bonorino said (translated with Google). “This animal is now less prone to re-fracture and the healing is more complete.”

Plenty of other animals have been treated with stem cells, but normally it’s to test stem cell therapy's efficacy and safety for eventual use in humans. Human stem cell therapy is still brand-new — the first regulated clinical trial using stem cells for stroke treatment started in November, for instance. Experimental treatments have shown stem cells can grow teeth, restore sight to eyes damaged by burns and even cure HIV (by accident).

Now they've been shown to help wild creatures hurt by interactions with humans.

[img]http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/injured%20maned%20wolf%20photo.jpeg[/img][/QUOTE]

Source: [url]http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/injured-brazilian-wolf-first-wild-animal-treated-stem-cells[/url]

[Roof]

How do I rate winner and hearts and useful at the same time?

[Lewdis]

[quote]Experimental treatments have shown stem cells can grow teeth, restore sight to eyes damaged by burns and even [B]cure HIV (by accident)[/B].[/quote]

:aaa:

I didn't know that.

[AlphaGunman]

Awesome :D

[Sharkface]

I just wanna grab the side of that wolf's head and wiggle its ears while baby-talking. It is pitifully adorable.

Glad to see Stem Cell research is proving its dues though; fantastic news! Some truly sweet capabilities right there, science.

[goon165]

Stem Cells, what can't they do?.

[gbtygfvyg]

That thing looks like a Hyena to me /offtopic

This is a reason why stem cells have to be supported more.

[RayDark]

Like a boss. Fuck anyone who opposes stem cells.

[Biotoxsin]

[QUOTE=RayDark;27431355]Like a boss. Fuck anyone who opposes stem cells.[/QUOTE]

But... think of the 'children'!

[Hazard Fox]

Is it me or does the leg wrap look terribly drawn on?

Well, its pretty damn cool. I have to say that Steam Cell research is probably the most interesting field of research right now.

[TimeBomb]

[QUOTE=Biotoxsin;27432776]But... think of the 'children'![/QUOTE]

EXACTLY! Think of the Children! Think of all the stem cells we could be getting! :q:

[Ronin]

[QUOTE=Roof;27431171]How do I rate winner and hearts and useful at the same time?[/QUOTE]

Do you remember "Gold Star"

[editline]15th January 2011[/editline]

[QUOTE=Louis;27431192]:aaa:

I didn't know that.[/QUOTE]

Happened a few weeks ago, I almost shit my pants when I found out. The fact that nobody gives a shit about it worries me. Stem cells are now PROVEN to cure what used to be an incurable disease, and now it is being used to help wildlife instead of just killing it to stop the suffering.

[Baldr]

[QUOTE=goon165;27431283]Stem Cells, what can't they do?.[/QUOTE]

Toke me a while but: Cure stupidity.

[shatteredwindow]

Is it just me, or does the bandaged leg look fake?

[Mr.Dounut]

[QUOTE=shatteredwindow;27433674]Is it just me, or does the bandaged leg look fake?[/QUOTE]

what

[Cl0cK]

Stem cells is the future of medicine! Along with nano technologies.

[Used Car Salesm]

Why are we wasting this on wolves when millions of people go without any kind of medical care due to our shitty for-profit healthcare system?

[ChristopherB]

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;27439445]Why are we wasting this on wolves when millions of people go without any kind of medical care due to our shitty for-profit healthcare system?[/QUOTE]

Because human trials are risky and expensive. It's cheaper and safer to test these kinds of things on animal analogues.

[Funky Pickle]

Why are some people against stem cell research anyway?

[Jasper Jones]

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;27439445]Why are we wasting this on wolves when millions of people go without any kind of medical care due to our shitty for-profit healthcare system?[/QUOTE]

good work fitting a political message in there

[Protection]

Fuck yeah, Brazil!

Delicious delicious stem cells :3:

[Carbon Knight]

First they suffer losses, then they shoot us, Now they steal our experimental medical treatments.

[ExplodingGuy]

If the pain subsides within three days, this would be great for use on treatment with horses.

[Lemonator]

Did they use human stem cells on an animal

what the fuck were they thinking

[Zeke129]

[QUOTE=Used Car Salesman;27439445]Why are we wasting this on wolves when millions of people go without any kind of medical care due to our shitty for-profit healthcare system?[/QUOTE]

Stem cell are godless but animals are already godless so [i]~loophole~[/i]

[Dance_Commander]

Stem cells have been put here by the devil to trick us.

Just like fossils.

[bravehat]

Fuck yeah Hyena stem cell wolf!

A force to be reckoned with, she will maim all who stand before her in her almighty stem cell campaign.

Praise the Wolf Lord! :worship:

[Am I Really?]

[quote]Experimental treatments have shown stem cells can grow teeth, restore sight to eyes damaged by burns and even cure HIV (by accident).[/quote]
Why the [B]fuck[/B] are people against stem cell use?

[bravehat]

[QUOTE=Am I Really?;27450912]Why the [B]fuck[/B] are people against stem cell use?[/QUOTE]

Most people are against embryonic stem cells, most people don't give a fuck, and most scientists will happily continue their work despite the protests of scientifically illiterate mongs.

[Moose]

thats a fox

who is brazil fooling?