Arthritis in a Glyptodont (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Cingulata)

Abstract

Arthritic lesions have been frequently diagnosed in the fossil record, with spondyloarthropathy (a type of erosive and pan-mammalian arthritis) being one of the most common types described to date for mammals, though not restricted to this group. Here, we identify spondyloarthropathy in fossil bones from the late Pleistocene in Brazil assignable to a large glyptodont individual. Bone erosions in the peripheral joints (viz., the ulna, radius, left femur and tibiae-fibulae) associated with osteosclerosis allow the diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy. The presence of osteophytes in seven bones of the forelimbs (viz., the ulna and radius) and hind limbs (viz., the tibiae-fibulae, left femur and patellae) and a subchondral cyst in one element (viz., the left femur) indicate secondary osteoarthritis. A calcified deposition on the articular surface of the left patella indicates the presence of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, which, like the observed osteoarthritic alterations, likely represents a complication of spondyloarthropathy. This is the first report of spondyloarthropathy for xenarthrans.

Ectoparasitism and infections in the exoskeletons of large fossil cingulates

“…The carapace osteoderms of the genus Glyptotherium presented the typical rosette ornamentation pattern on their external surface, including: a centrally positioned main figure delimited by a central sulcus, six to eight peripheral figures separated by the radial sulci, and hair follicle pits placed in the intersection of the central and radial sulci. Field records report that these osteoderms were collected in association with endoskeleton elements, which included various paired elements showing anatomic and ontogenetic correlation (e.g., left and right tibia-fibulae) and might belong to a single individual [ 24 ]. Different types of arthritis were identified in several bones of this presumed individual [ 24 ].…”

“…Field records report that these osteoderms were collected in association with endoskeleton elements, which included various paired elements showing anatomic and ontogenetic correlation (e.g., left and right tibia-fibulae) and might belong to a single individual [ 24 ]. Different types of arthritis were identified in several bones of this presumed individual [ 24 ].…”

“…The exoskeleton elements of Glyptotherium collected in the Lajedo da Escada site were found in association with several postcranial bones that might belong to a single individual [ 24 ]. The partial carapace of Panochthu s in the Lagoa do Santo site were also found in association with isolated osteoderms and with several postcranial bones [ 25 ].…”

Arthritic lesions and congenital fusion in foot bones of Panochthus sp. (Xenarthra, Cingulata)

“…Among xenarthrans -a notable group of endemic mammals of the Neotropical region (Wetzel 1985) -arthritis has a modest record, including cases of spondyloarthropathy associated with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease and osteoarthritis in the glyptodonts Glyptotherium sp. (Barbosa et al 2014b) and Panochthus sp. (Barbosa and Luna 2014).…”

Astrágalo e osteodermos de Glyptotherium Osborn, 1903 do Pleistoceno Superior de Pernambuco, Nordeste do Brasil

“…Nova, Pernambuco, materiais do esqueleto apendicular e osteodermos coletados em cavernas calcárias de Lajedo da Escada, Rio Grande do Norte (Oliveira et al, 2010;Barbosa et al, 2014) e osteodermos isolados de um depósito de tanque no munícipio do Congo, Paraíba (Andrade et al, 2016(Andrade et al, , 2017.…”