Osseous pathologies in the lungless salamander Desmognathus fuscus (Plethodontidae)

Abstract

The majority of reported pathologies in lissamphibians (salamanders, caecilians and frogs) include limb deformities such as missing limbs, multiple extra limbs and digits, or incomplete limb formation. However, comparatively little is known about congenital vertebral malformations or posttraumatic pathologies (e.g. injuries, infections) in the vertebral column of salamanders. In the present study, we describe eight vertebral deformities in three cleared and stained specimens of Desmognathus fuscus. Two specimens display developmental deformities which range from a potential non‐segmented wedge vertebra to fully segmented hemivertebrae. The vertebral pathology in the third specimens possibly results from a parasitic infection. Apparently, these osseous deformities were not severe enough to prohibit survival of the specimens.

Vertebral anomalies in a natural population of Taricha granulosa (Caudata: Salamandridae)

“…Parasite-induced malformations are common in natural amphibian populations and normally encompass limb abnormalities and cysts (Johnson et al 1999(Johnson et al , 2002Blaustein and Johnson 2003). Pathologies of the vertebral column resulting from parasitic infection, however, have only rarely been reported in salamanders to date (Gamble et al 2005;Perpiñán et al 2010;Danto et al 2020). In the present study, two deformed vertebrae (MVZ 216288 and MVZ 216247) could possibly have resulted from parasitic infection.…”

“…polydactyly) are relatively common in lissamphibians and have been reported in the scientific literature for more than 200 years (among many others: De Superville 1740 ;Meteyer 2000;Ouellet 2000;Johnson et al 2002;Blaustein and Johnson 2003;Lunde and Johnson 2012;Rothschild et al 2012;Silva-Soares and Mônico 2017). Reports on developmental deformities of the spine, however, are less frequent as they can only be diagnosed via radiographic examination, dissection, histological sections or different clearing and staining techniques (Adolphi 1893(Adolphi , 1895(Adolphi , 1898Trueb 1977;Martinez et al 1992;Alvarez et al 1992Alvarez et al , 1995Gamble et al 2005;Maglia et al 2007;Park et al 2010;Pugener and Maglia 2009;Perpiñán et al 2010;Buckley et al 2013;Liu et al 2016;Danto et al 2020).…”