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Conjoined twins are rare congenital malformations that have been reported in mammals. Two different cases are presented in this study. Case No. 1 features monocephalic, thoracopagus-conjoined twin piglets with anencephaly and palatoschisis of the Pietrain breed, and case No. 2 features monocephalic, thoracopagus conjoined twin piglets with palatoschisis and bifid root tongue of a mixed breed. These cases were examined using post-mortem and computed tomography (CT) examinations. In both cases, the conjoined symmetrical twins had a single head, one neck, and fused thoracic cavities, while the abdominal cavities were separated. Similarly, in both cases, they had four forelimbs and four hindlimbs and duplicated foramen magnum. During CT examination, in case No. 1, severe abnormalities were observed in the skull and vertebral column. In the left twin, occult dysraphism was seen from the C2 vertebra until the end of the vertebral column, and in the right twin, from the C3 vertebra until the end of the state vertebral level. In case No. 2, the oral cavity contained a tongue with a bifid root connected with one hyoid bone, and the soft palate presented a small cleft. During CT examination, the parietal bone and the occipital bones were partially duplicated. This case also presented occult dysraphism, but only in the cervical vertebrae, C1–C6 for the left twin and C1–C5 for the right twin. In both cases, abnormalities of the internal organs were revealed during necropsy. Conjoined twins with multiple congenital anomalies presented here enhance our understanding of the various clinical forms of conjoined cases in veterinary medicine.
Conjoined twins are rare congenital malformations that have been reported in mammals. Two different cases are presented in this study. Case No. 1 features monocephalic, thoracopagus-conjoined twin piglets with anencephaly and palatoschisis of the Pietrain breed, and case No. 2 features monocephalic, thoracopagus conjoined twin piglets with palatoschisis and bifid root tongue of a mixed breed. These cases were examined using post-mortem and computed tomography (CT) examinations. In both cases, the conjoined symmetrical twins had a single head, one neck, and fused thoracic cavities, while the abdominal cavities were separated. Similarly, in both cases, they had four forelimbs and four hindlimbs and duplicated foramen magnum. During CT examination, in case No. 1, severe abnormalities were observed in the skull and vertebral column. In the left twin, occult dysraphism was seen from the C2 vertebra until the end of the vertebral column, and in the right twin, from the C3 vertebra until the end of the state vertebral level. In case No. 2, the oral cavity contained a tongue with a bifid root connected with one hyoid bone, and the soft palate presented a small cleft. During CT examination, the parietal bone and the occipital bones were partially duplicated. This case also presented occult dysraphism, but only in the cervical vertebrae, C1–C6 for the left twin and C1–C5 for the right twin. In both cases, abnormalities of the internal organs were revealed during necropsy. Conjoined twins with multiple congenital anomalies presented here enhance our understanding of the various clinical forms of conjoined cases in veterinary medicine.
Anencephaly is a congenital disease manifesting with the absence of the brain due to the failure of the cranial part of the neural tube to close during the embryonic stage. The disease may be accompanied by other anomalies and usually results in premature death. A stillborn puppy of a 2-year-old female Pomeranian dog is examined in this case. The lack of brain tissue and accompanying abnormal skull formation was noted macroscopically. The eyes were protruding out of their normal position (exophthalmos), and a bifid tongue together with a secondary cleft palate was present. On serial sections stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin, only the medulla spinalis among the central nervous system structures could be inspected microscopically. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed GFAP immunoreactivity in the astrocytic glial cells. NeuN immunoreactivity was detected in the neurons in the medulla spinalis and spinal ganglions. Incomplete retinal layers were observed on the eye sections stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin and NeuN. The case was concluded to be coherent with skull and nervous system congenital malformations rarely observed in dogs. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first description of a dog with anencephaly, bifid tongue and cleft palate.
Background: Congenital malformations are structural or functional anomalies that occur during intrauterine life and can be identified prenatally, at birth or sometimes only later during life. These congenital defects can evolve from abnormal genetic or environmental factors or a combination of both but the causes of many cases are unknown. The risk factors are associated with congenital defects varies depending on species, breed, body system, geographical location and season. Some congenital malformations can cause death of newborn, while others can only create a structural defect without affecting vital functions and responsible for slowing down of genetic progress and economic loss for the breeders. Congenital defects constitute the at least fifth largest cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality but national estimate of the prevalence of these anomalies are lacking in inland literature. Thus, it is important to estimate the prevalence with identify the causes and risk factors of congenital defects for their possible prevention to minimize the economic losses in animal industry. Objective: The objective of the review was to derive an estimate of the birth prevalence and associated host risk factors of congenital anomalies reported in calves and kids in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: The occurrence of congenital anomalies in new born farm animals has been reviewed from the first report published in 1975 up to 2021 in Bangladesh. The search was carried out in Google, PubMed, Banglajol and also the original inland journals. Results: All types of search identified 33 inland articles and 35 articles published from foreign nations. Of the 33 available inland articles of which most of the articles based on either single clinical report or data abstracted from veterinary hospital records. Approximately 36 types of congenital malformations were recorded, of which 31 types in cow calves and only five types in kids. Higher occurrence of congenital defects reported in calves (96.95%; n = 1746 cases) than kids (3.05%; 55 cases), but both the calves (56.25%; n = 923) and kids (67.27%; n = 37 cases) affected with atresia ani comparatively higher than other reported congenital malformations. System-wise analysis on prevalence of congenital anomalies found highest prevalence in digestive system (67.18%), followed by ocular system (17.07%), musculoskeletal system (8.42%), urogenital system (2.58%), integument system (2.52%) and others. Comparatively higher prevalence of congenital defects reported in male (65.57%) than female (34.43%) and crossbred (67.03%) than indigenous (32.97%) calves in Bangladesh. Conclusion: Calves and kids born with various congenital defects in their different body systems with highest occurrence of atresia ani in both calves and kids have been recorded. Calves have a great variety of defects than kids probably due to genetic causes. Atresia ani and ocular dermoids are the most frequent occurrence but several cases are still not reported due to lack of disease monitoring system, leading to an underestimation of the real weight of congenital malformations especially in cross-bred cattle. Although some congenital defects can be corrected surgically, the majority cases may not be easily corrected surgically moreover surgically corrected animals may not be used for breeding purposes. Therefore, prevention of the occurrence of congenital defects is required based on the identification of causal factors.
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