The comparative morphology of the oral cavity glands in captive South African painted dogs (Lycaon pictus pictus) and captive fennec foxes (Vulpes zerda) (Carnivora: Canidae).

Background: The African painted dog is classified as a relic canid lineage, inhabiting areas south of the Sahara. The fennec fox is the smallest member of the Canidae family, found in the Arabian Peninsula and northern Sahara.

Methods: The gross anatomy and light microscopic examination of the oral cavity glands were studied in five adult captive South African painted dogs and five adult captive fennec foxes from the Wroclaw Zoological Garden, Poland. In this research, the zygomatic gland, monostomatic sublingual gland, polystomatic sublingual gland, mandibular gland, and parotid gland were examined for their topography, morphometry, histology, and histochemistry using hematoxylin and eosin, azan trichrome, mucicarmine, PAS, AB pH 1.0, AB pH 2.5, AB pH 2.5 PAS, and HID.

Results: We found that the parotid glands were consistently the largest, followed by the mandibular and sublingual glands (both monostomatic and polystomatic). The zygomatic gland was the smallest in both South African painted dogs and fennec foxes. Interestingly, there were noticeable differences in the size, shape, and even composition of the secretory products between the two species. The zygomatic and polystomatic sublingual glands in the South African painted dog and the fennec fox were complex branched tubular. In the South African painted dog, the monostomatic gland was a branched tubular compound gland, while in the fennec fox, it was a branched tubuloalveolar compound gland. The mandibular gland in hunting dogs was a branched tubular compound gland, while in the fennec fox a branched tubuloalveolar compound gland. The parotid gland in the fennec fox was a branched acinar compound gland, whereas in the painted dog was a branched tubuloacinar.

Conclusions: The basic structure of their glands is similar to that of other terrestrial carnivores, indicating a shared evolutionary origin and function. However, differences in the composition of their secretory products can reflect adaptations to their specific diets. This research provides valuable insights for veterinary medicine and underscores the importance of further studies. By analyzing wild canid populations and including a broader range of species with diverse diets, we could gain a deeper understanding of how diet influences salivary gland morphology within the Canidae.