In a groundbreaking advancement for veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, a 28-year-old Cinereous Vulture named Bernard has received the first-ever stem-cell treatment for arthritis in a vulture. This pioneering treatment aims to improve his mobility, reduce pain, and boost his chances of breeding with his partner, Twinkle. Bernard and Twinkle live at the Horstmann Vulture Trust in South Wales, where they produced the UK’s first Cinereous Vulture chick.
Holly Cale, curator at the Horstmann Vulture Trust, has cared for Bernard for over a decade. She was the first to notice he was slow and cautious in his movements. Later, he developed arthritic symptoms in his leg to the point that it was limiting his mobility. The arthritis posed not only a quality-of-life issue but also a significant conservation concern, since it limited Bernard and Twinkle ability to build a nest and mate. Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus) population around Europe is still facing the consequences of being close to extinction around the 1980s, and each captive-breeding pair is crucial for the survival of the species.
Stem-Cell Treatment: A New Frontier
To ease Bernard’s pain the veterinary team chose to try an innovative approach: stem-cell therapy, an exciting development in avian medicine. Stem cells are undifferentiated or partially differentiated cells that can develop into various types of cells and proliferate. The team aimed to use Bernard’s own stem cells to improve the conditions of his left leg and alleviate his symptoms.
The world-renowned avian specialist Dr. Neil Forbes, together with Dr. Tom Bailey and Dr. Lance Jepson of Origin Vets, extracted Bernard’s stem cells, while Dr. Jo Miller’s team at Cell Therapy Sciences cultured them for four weeks. They produced a dose of 7.2 million stem cells in a 1ml suspension, which was then injected into Bernard’s affected leg. The treatment took place at Seren Vets in Carmarthen, under the direction of Dr. Kevin Jones of Gibson & Jones Vets.
A few weeks after the treatment, Bernard’s mobility improved, and he and Twinkle began preparing a new nest – a promising sign as the new breeding season approaches. Bernard’s progress will be monitored closely, but the initial results are encouraging for future applications of stem-cell therapy in avian species.
The Horstmann Vulture Trust and Cinereous Vultures conservation worldwide
Cinereous Vultures are the largest European Vultures and among the heaviest and largest raptors in the world. They faced a drastic decline in Europe due to illegal wildlife poisoning, habitat destruction and reduced food availability. Since the 1980s, conservation efforts, including reintroduction programs, have helped populations stabilize. The Horstmann Vulture Trust, the only vulture-focused conservation charity in the UK, contributes to these efforts maintaining one of the largest captive vulture collections in the world.
Bernard and Twinkle have the potential to successfully contribute to the recovery of their species across Europe. This pioneering stem-cell treatment is a milestone in improving the lives of vultures in captivity and supporting their conservation in the wild.
