First diagnosis of septic arthritis in a dinosaur

Abstract

Identification and interpretation of pathologies in the fossil record allows for unique insights into the life histories of extinct organisms. However, the rarity of such finds limits not only the sample size for palaeopathologic studies, but also the types of analyses that may be performed. In this study, we present the first occurrence of a palaeopathology in a vertebrate from the Mesozoic of the East Coast of North America (Appalachia), a pathologic ulna and radius of an indeterminate hadrosaur from the Navesink Formation (New Jersey). X-ray microtomography allowed for both detailed and more accurate diagnosis of the pathologic condition as well as virtual conservation of the specimen. Based on extant archosaurian comparisons, the hadrosaur was diagnosed with severe septic arthritis affecting the proximal ulna and radius. Diagnosis was based on erosion of the joint and highly reactive periosteal bone growth and fusion of the elements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first recorded account of septic arthritis in dinosaurs. The severity of the pathology suggests the animal suffered with this condition for some time before death. Unfortunately, only the ulna and radius were found. Thus, the extent to which the condition spread to other parts of the body is unknown.

A comprehensive diagnostic approach combining phylogenetic disease bracketing and CT imaging reveals osteomyelitis in a Tyrannosaurus rex

“…In addition, the gold standard for palaeopathology is the histological examination of specimens, and museum policies did not permit invasive diagnostics in the case of the two pathological lesions described. Furthermore, cited studies on diseases in paleontology differed in their methodological approach, of which a few used EPB to reach their diagnosis 12,13,15,88,123,124 .…”

Two types of bone necrosis in the Middle TriassicPistosaurus longaevusbones: the results of integrated studies

“…It may be caused by several pathogens, most commonly bacterial (both suppurative and mycobacterial), rarely fungal. Septic arthritis has been so far described in extant crocodilians [ 46 , 48 ] and marine turtles [ 49 , 50 ], and more recently in a duck-billed dinosaur [ 20 ]. The studied pathologies (SUT-MG/F/Tvert/43-1 as well as NME 78.341 and MHI 931) are very similar to the infectious-associated destructive changes in zoological and anthropological materials [ 46 , 49 , 51 ].…”

“…The latter is caused by an infectious process referred to as septic arthritis. It usually resulted in abnormal new bone formation with cauliflower-like appearance [ 20 ] and characteristic filigree texture. It is known in living tetrapods but has only been identified in fossil records to date in Cretaceous duck-billed dinosaur [ 20 ].…”

An elongate hadrosaurid forelimb with biological traces informs the biogeography of the Lambeosaurinae

“…3.1-3.6) is completely preserved and possesses a less-eroded bone surface than the radius. The ulna is elongate as in other hadrosaurids, but considerably more gracile than the corresponding element in other taxa (e.g., Brown, 1913;Parks, 1919Parks, , 1922Parks, , 1923Pinna, 1979;Godefroit et al, 2001Godefroit et al, , 2004Godefroit et al, , 2012aPrieto-Márquez et al, 2006Evans and Reisz, 2007;Senter, 2012;Prieto-Márquez, 2014;Anné et al, 2016;Kobayashi et al, 2019), with the exception of many hadrosauromorphs (e.g., Gilmore, 1933;Dalla Vecchia, 2009;Prieto-Márquez and Norell, 2010;McDonald et al, 2012;Tsogtbaatar et al, 2019). The ulna gently expands proximally in anterior and posterior views.…”