Perosomus Elumbis (Vertebral Agenesis and Arthrogryposis) in a Stillborn Holstein Calf

Abstract

Perosomus elumbis, an infrequently encountered congenital anomaly of unknown etiology, was studied in a female Holstein calf. This error of morphogenesis represents a set of multiorgan malformations that produce a deformity of the caudal one third of the fetus. In this case, the spinal and pelvic malformations were radiographed and then dissected. Intra-abdominal abnormalities of the soft tissues are also described. The normal sequential embryologic development of the vertebrate skeleton, anterior-posterior fetal positioning, and neural tube migration are discussed. An extensive literature of this birth defect in cattle (and sheep) is reveiwed. The reports from a period covering 165 years are compared with the pathologic features in this case. Chromosomal aberrations within the homeobox gene family are postulated to be contributory factors in the development of this type of dysorganogenesis.

A Case of Perosomus Elumbis in a Holstein Calf

“…In cases of perosomus elumbis, complications are encountered when spontaneous labor is attempted because the hind limbs are often ankylosed and distorted [8]. Regardless, many of the calves described in the literature were stillborn or dead on presentation [1,2,6]. Compared with another case reported in Korea [11], the birth of the calf in this report was completely normal and the calf lived without extraordinary effort until euthanasia because it had normal gastrointestinal function except for an everted anus.…”

“…It is characterized by partial or complete agenesis of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae and usually includes arthrogryposis of the hind limbs and malformations of the musculature. This anomaly was first reported in a calf in the veterinary literature in 1832, and since then many cases have been reported [6]. However, its accurate etiology has not been fully elucidated.…”

“…Malformation or improper migration of the neural tube during the tail-bud stage, accompanied by partial agenesis of the caudal spinal cord, appears to be the cause of this abnormality [5,6]. Abnormal development usually occurs when a threshold of genetic and environmental insults is attained and the fetal compensatory mechanisms are overcome [10].…”

Congenital sternal foramen in a stillborn Holstein calf

“…Congenital disorders are caused by various factors such as genetic defects, infective agents of the fetus and ingestion of toxic plants by the dam at certain stages of gestation [8,9] . The sternum is one of the skeleton parts with different variations and anomalies in appearances.…”

Perosomus elumbis em um cordeiro no Brasil

“…Ocasionalmente, esta malformação é encontrada em animais domésticos e sua etiologia é desconhecida (JUBB & HUXTABLE, 1993;JONES, 1999). A enfermidade é descrita principalmente em bovinos (JONES, 1999) e ovinos (DENNIS, 1975a;DENNIS, 1975b;DENNIS, 1975c). No Brasil, há poucos relatos de sua ocorrência, sendo reportados casos em bezerros da raça holandês pretoe-branco (CASTRO et.…”