A team of veterinary and human neurologists at the University of Tennessee announced on Apr. 15 that they successfully removed a spinal tumor from Lu, a 35-year-old chimpanzee at Zoo Knoxville. The operation involved collaboration between the UT College of Veterinary Medicine and UT Medical Center, marking what may be the first documented case of such a procedure in a chimpanzee.
The partnership is significant because it demonstrates how cooperation between animal and human medical specialists can lead to new solutions for complex cases. Dr. Talisha Moore, clinical assistant professor and veterinary neurosurgeon, said she reached out to Dr. James Killeffer, chief neurosurgeon at UT Medical Center, due to the similarities between chimpanzees and humans compared to other animals typically treated by veterinarians.
Moore said, “One of the reasons we got Dr. Killeffer involved was because our thought process was chimps are more like humans than dogs and cats, which we work on all the time.” Both Moore and Killeffer believe this is likely the first operation of its kind. “This is not a routine surgery and, actually, the first documented surgery either Dr. Killeffer or myself could find for a spinal tumor removal in a chimpanzee,” Moore said.
The team successfully removed an extra osseous hemangioma from Lu’s spine—a benign collection of tiny blood vessels rarely found in this location among animals. Moore noted that this type of tumor is uncommon in veterinary medicine: “It turns out it was a tumor type we are not very familiar with on the vet med side.”
Lu has since recovered fully from his surgery. Zookeeper Crystal Mugan said, “He’s recovered well. He’s climbing. He’s back to his playful self.”
Looking ahead, Moore and Killeffer plan further collaborations involving research into hydrocephalus—fluid buildup on the brain—and gliomas—malignant brain tumors found in both humans and dogs. Moore concluded: “I think there is a lot to be gained and learned on both sides of the aisle… If we can become more collaborative as a whole, we can accomplish great things.”
