Diprosopiasis in a Lamb. A Case Report

Abstract

Conjoined twinning has been reported in most of the domestic animal species. Among them, sheep have the highest incidence of craniofacial defects. A live male crossbreed dystocic two-headed lamb was delivered from a 2-year-old Pinzerita sheep after first mating. After 40 h of life, the lamb spontaneously died. The most important gross findings involved the head, whereas the examination of different organ and tissue sections did not reveal remarkable histomorphological changes. The lamb was classified as a conjoined twinning and, on the basis of the facial duplication, as a diprosopus tetraophtalmus.

Partial facial duplication (diprosopus) in a goat kid : clinical communication

“…In most cases of diprosopus described in humans, the most common additional feature found is anencephaly 10 . However, anencephaly was not present in this case and has also not been reported in cases of diprosopus in domestic animals, including sheep 3,8 , and cattle 7 . There has been little research on the morpho-pathogenesis of diprosopus in humans and animals in the past.…”

“…However, a few cases of diprosopus have been reported in sheep 3,8 , cattle 7 , cats 1 , horse 4 and chicken 12 . Cases of diprosopus in goats have not been reported, although several cases of congenital malformations in goats such as dicephalus 11 and multiple malformations 6 have been reported.…”

Bir Kuzuda Nadir Rastlanan Diprosopus, Tetraophthalmus ve Meningoensefalosel Olgusu

“…Diprosopus has been reported most frequently in domestic animals such as calves and lambs, However, any race and gender predisposition have not reported so far 11,19 . In this case, although the stillborn animal as a result of dystocia, in previous reports that have been reported from time to time to off spring born alive 2,14 . Diprosopus and dicephalus should not be confused with, but in dicephalus has two heads and two different shaped neck 8,20,21 .…”

“…Diprosopus, have often been reported in calves and lambs [11][12][13] , goats 14 , cats 15 and rarely in foals 16 . Although several cases 2,3,12,17 of diprosopus have been reported in ewes, no literature about a diprosopus case with defective frontal and parietal bone development and meningoencephalocele has been reported to the knowledge of the authors. Therefore, this case of diprosopic lamb was described with clinical and pathological findings.…”

“…The majority of human and animal malformations are because of a multifactorial aetiology 2 . Congenital defects are caused by genetic or environmental factors (infectious diseases, viruses, drugs, poisonings, plants, mineral salts and vitamin (A, D, E) deficiency, hormonal factors and physical reasons) or by their interactions [3][4][5] .…”