Amorphous globosus
An amorphous (or amorphus) globosus (from Greek αμορφή (amorphē, 'formless') and Latin globus ('sphere')), also known as a globosus amorphus,[1] or an amorphous globosus monster,[1] is a fetus malformation in veterinary medicine, particularly in domestic cattle, resulting in the formation of an approximately spherical structure covered with hairy skin. An amorphous globosus contains parts of all three germ layers; the differentiation of its contents can vary greatly. An amorphus globosus is not viable due to the lack of functional organs.[2]
Origin
[edit]The teratological reasons for the development of amorphus globosus are not fully understood, but it is believed that the malformation is generally associated with twin gestation,[3] in which one embryo does not develop normally. In two cases, the karyotype of the amorphus was identical to its normally developing twin,[4][5] while in another case, the karyotype deviated from the normal twin,[6] so an emergence from fraternal twins also seems possible.
Distribution
[edit]Amorphus globosus is more common in livestock than generally assumed.[2] It occurs most commonly in cattle, but there are also case reports in goats[2] and horses.[7] A case of amorphous globosus has also been described in human medicine, where it was also a twin pregnancy.[8]
See also
[edit]- Birth defect – Condition present at birth regardless of cause
- Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus – Species of virus
- Spherical cow – Humorous concept in scientific models
- Twin reversed arterial perfusion – Rare complication of monochorionic twin pregnancies
References
[edit]- 1 2 Kamimura, S.; Enomoto, S.; Goto, K.; Hamana, K. (1 October 1993). "A Globosus amorphus from an in vitro fertilized embryo transferred to a Japanese black cow". Theriogenology. 40 (4): 853–858. doi:10.1016/0093-691X(93)90220-Y. PMID 16727366. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- 1 2 3 Anwar, M. T.; Khan, A. I.; Balasubramanian, S.; Jayaprakash, R.; Kannan, T. A.; Manokaran, S.; Asokan, S. A.; Veerapandian, C. (2009). "A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat". The Canadian Veterinary Journal. 50 (8): 854–6. PMC 2711472. PMID 19881925.
- ↑ Hopper, Richard M. (30 April 2021). Bovine Reproduction. John Wiley & Sons. p. 503. ISBN 978-1-119-60245-3. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ↑ Hishinuma, M.; Takahashi, Y.; Kanagawa, H. (1987). "Histological and cytological observation on a bovine acardius amorphus". Jpn J Vet Sci. 49 (1): 195–197. doi:10.1292/jvms1939.49.195. PMID 3573485.
- ↑ Kamimura, S.; Enomoto, S.; Goto, K.; Hamana, K. (1993). "A Globosus amorphus from an in vitro fertilized embryo transferred to a Japanese black cow". Theriogenology. 40 (4): 853–8. doi:10.1016/0093-691x(93)90220-y. PMID 16727366.
- ↑ Hishinuma, M.; Hoshi, N.; Takahashi, Y.; Kanagawa, H. (1988). "Vasculature and chromosomal composition in a bovine acardius amorphus". Nihon Juigaku Zasshi. The Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science. 50 (5): 1139–41. doi:10.1292/jvms1939.50.1139. PMID 3199627.
- ↑ Crossman, P. J.; Dickens, P. S. (1974). "Amorphus globosus in the mare". The Veterinary Record. 95 (1): 22. doi:10.1136/vr.95.1.22-b. PMID 4432366.
- ↑ Maggiora-Vergano, T.; Gentile, G. (1954). "[A case of amorphous twin: holocardius amorphous globosus]". La Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologica. 56 (4): 235–44. PMID 13231331.
External links
[edit]- Image of an amorphus globosus in cattle on website of Cornell University