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Fahrenholz IC, Dennis MM, Morandi F, Dittmer KE, Sheldon JD. Debilitating Musculoskeletal Disease in Two Free-Ranging Juvenile American Black Bears ( Ursus americanus). Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2088. [PMID: 39061550 PMCID: PMC11273583 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe musculoskeletal disease characterized by marked joint laxity was the cause of euthanasia in two wild juvenile American black bears (Ursus americanus) admitted to a rehabilitation facility in eastern Tennessee in 2023. Previously, almost all reported musculoskeletal diseases in this population were of traumatic etiology, even in malnourished yearlings. Case 1 was an orphaned 11-month-old male cub exhibiting disproportionate dwarfism, progressive immobility, and joint laxity. Necropsy findings suggested either chondrodysplasia or rickets, and imaging findings supported a skeletal dysplasia. Case 2 was a 14-month-old emaciated male yearling exhibiting joint laxity and immobility. Necropsy findings showed osteoporosis and serous atrophy of fat, and imaging findings were inconsistent with a skeletal dysplasia. Both cases were clinically inconsistent with rickets based on normal calcium, phosphorous, and parathyroid hormone concentrations; however, Case 1 had hypovitaminosis D (9 nmol/L) compared to healthy juvenile black bears. We hypothesize that Case 1 had a genetic chondrodysplasia while the osteoporosis of Case 2 was due to chronic malnutrition. The goal of this case report is to inform wildlife agencies and facilities to monitor for similar, non-trauma-related debilitating musculoskeletal disease in free-ranging bears and evaluate cases that allow us to further understand the disease processes involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabella C. Fahrenholz
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (I.C.F.); (F.M.)
| | - Michelle M. Dennis
- Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA;
| | - Federica Morandi
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (I.C.F.); (F.M.)
| | - Keren E. Dittmer
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, NZ 4410, USA;
| | - Julie D. Sheldon
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA; (I.C.F.); (F.M.)
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Wehrle-Martinez A, Lawrence K, Back PJ, Rogers CW, Gibson M, Dittmer KE. Osteoporosis is the cause of spontaneous humeral fracture in dairy cows from New Zealand. Vet Pathol 2023; 60:88-100. [PMID: 36112824 DOI: 10.1177/03009858221122500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Outbreaks of humeral fractures in dairy cows have been reported in New Zealand for several years. Gross, histologic, and histomorphometric findings in the humerus from primiparous cows with spontaneous humeral fracture were compared to age-matched control cows. Affected cows had a complete nonarticular spiral fracture of the humerus. Histologically affected humeri had a thicker growth plate with abnormal architecture, thinner cortex with increased abnormal resorption, increased resorption in the distal humerus, decreased trabecular density, abnormal trabecular architecture, presence of growth arrest lines and woven bone formation. Histomorphometry showed reduction in bone volume, trabecular perimeter, and trabecular width. Cows grazed on fodder beet had thicker growth plates with an abnormal appearance compared with cows grazed on pasture, and cows with low/marginal liver copper concentration had more resorption cavities in the distal humerus and thinner cortical bone compared with cows with adequate liver copper concentration. Decreased trabecular density (OR = 249.5), abnormal cortical resorption (OR = 54.2), presence of woven bone formation in the proximal metaphysis (OR = 37.2), and the number of resorption cavities in the distal humerus were significantly associated with a high probability of fracture. Ribs had enlargement of the costochondral junction with fractures in different stages of healing. Histology of the ribs revealed abnormal growth plate appearance, presence of fracture lines, callus tissue, fibrosis, and microfractures. Cows with humeral fracture have osteoporosis due to decreased bone formation and increased bone resorption, likely associated with inadequate feed quality and perhaps copper deficiency leading to a reduction in bone strength and fracture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Penny J Back
- Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Correlations between Sodium Selenite and Vitamin E with Serum Macro-Minerals in Male Lambs. FOLIA VETERINARIA 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/fv-2022-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The effects of selenium and vitamin E (Vit. E) were evaluated on the macro-elements and their relationships were also surveyed. Lambs were divided into 4 groups of control, Vit. E, sodium selenite and sodium selenite/Vit. E (Se/E). Sodium selenite (0.1 mg.kg−1) and Vit. E (8 mg.kg−1) were administered. The mean blood selenium was high in sodium selenite. Selenium only in the Se groups was continuously increased. The lowest and highest blood selenium were in Vit. E and sodium selenite, respectively. The mean serum macro-minerals were within the normal range. The trend of calcium and magnesium in the selenium groups was to increase until day 60, but phosphorus was to decline. The lowest and highest calcium were observed in the control and sodium selenite groups, for magnesium in Vit. E and control groups, and for inorganic phosphorus were in the control group, respectively. The comparison of minerals showed that selenium had a significant increase from day 14 to 90 in sodium selenite. Selenium showed the most positive relationships with calcium and inorganic phosphorus in Vit. E and sodium selenite. Overall, selenium was correlated with macro-minerals on day 90 and overall sampling times were with calcium. In conclusion, administration of selenium with Vit. E increased selenium, which was more observed in the sodium selenite group. Sodium selenite alone or with Vit. E had no effect on the macro-minerals. The least correlation was observed between selenium and macro-minerals in the Se/E administration. The correlation between macro-minerals was positive. It was concluded that the effect of sodium selenite on treatment and prevention of selenium deficiency was more effective than other groups. Vit. E per selenium did not change the selenium concentration. Selenium administration was associated with an increase in calcium level and their co-administration is recommended.
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Asin J, Murphy BG, Samol MA, Polanco J, Moore JD, Uzal FA. Rickets in a Thoroughbred-cross foal: case report and review of the literature. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 33:987-992. [PMID: 34160312 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211025232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rickets is a metabolic bone disease associated with failure of endochondral ossification and impaired osteoid mineralization in growing animals. As a consequence, affected individuals can develop gross and microscopic bone malformations. The most common causes of rickets in domestic species include vitamin D and phosphorus deficiency. Rickets has been described in multiple species; however, comprehensive postmortem characterizations with confirmatory histopathology in equids have not been published. A 6-mo-old, Thoroughbred-cross foal was diagnosed with rickets based on gross autopsy findings and microscopic examination of the ribs and long bones. Grossly, all costochondral junctions of the ribs were enlarged with a "rachitic rosary" appearance, and there were multiple fracture calluses in the rib bodies. Epiphyses and metaphyses of the long bones appeared widened on sagittal section, and their physes were irregularly thickened. Histologically, there were poorly organized columns of hypertrophic chondrocytes within the physes of affected bones, islands of chondrocytes embedded within the primary and secondary spongiosa, and faintly eosinophilic seams of poorly mineralized osteoid within the bone trabeculae. Areas of focally increased osteoclastic activity were observed in some of the sections, perhaps pointing to a more complex metabolic bone disease in a growing animal. Low serum concentrations of calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were detected in an antemortem sample. The pathogenesis of these imbalances was not definitively established, but lack of sunlight exposure, low concentration of vitamin D precursors in the diet (perhaps secondary to malnutrition), or both, were suspected; a genetic basis cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Asin
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Brian G Murphy
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Monika A Samol
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jose Polanco
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Janet D Moore
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, San Bernardino branch, University of California-Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology, University of California-Davis, CA, USA
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Hurst E, Henderson K, Stevenson H, Schwarz T, Scholes S, Carty H, Mason C, Mellanby RJ. Rickets in Scottish blackface lambs on five South West Scotland farms. VETERINARY RECORD CASE REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1136/vetreccr-2019-001008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Hurst
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin InstituteThe Hospital for Small AnimalsUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | | | | | - Tobias Schwarz
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin InstituteThe Hospital for Small AnimalsUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
| | | | | | | | - Richard J Mellanby
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin InstituteThe Hospital for Small AnimalsUniversity of EdinburghMidlothianUK
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Uhl EW. The pathology of vitamin D deficiency in domesticated animals: An evolutionary and comparative overview. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2018; 23:100-109. [PMID: 29544996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Although vitamin D is critical to calcium/phosphorus homeostasis, bone formation and remodeling, there is evolution-based variation between species in vitamin D metabolism and susceptibility to rickets and osteomalacia. Most herbivores produce vitamin D3 in response to sunlight, but dogs and cats have generally lost the ability as carnivore diets are rich in vitamin D. Nutritional deficiencies and/or poor exposure to sunlight can induce rickets in birds, swine, cattle and sheep, but horses are less susceptible as they have evolved a calcium homeostasis that is quite different than other animals. Adaptations to specific environments also affect disease incidence: llamas/alpacas out of their natural high altitude intense solar radiation environments are highly susceptible to vitamin D deficiency. The pathology of rickets/osteomalacia is similar across species, however fibrous osteodystrophy is more common and may also be present. Rickets/osteomalacia were likely more common in animals before the advent of commercial diets, but can be difficult to definitively diagnose especially in single archeological specimens. Consideration of species susceptibility, location - especially in terms of latitude, and any available information on diet, season of occurrence, husbandry practices or descriptions of affected animals can support the diagnosis of metabolic bone disease in animals.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- History, 15th Century
- History, 16th Century
- History, 17th Century
- History, 18th Century
- History, 19th Century
- History, 20th Century
- History, 21st Century
- History, Ancient
- History, Medieval
- Vitamin D Deficiency/history
- Vitamin D Deficiency/veterinary
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Uhl
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 501 DW Brooks Drive, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-7388, United States.
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Waghorn GC, Collier K, Bryant M, Dalley DE. Feeding fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) with either barley straw or pasture silage to non-lactating dairy cows. N Z Vet J 2018; 66:178-185. [DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2018.1465484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- GC Waghorn
- DairyNZ, Cnr Ruakura and Morrinsville Roads, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
- Current address: 6 Berkley Avenue, Hamilton, 3216, New Zealand
| | - K Collier
- DairyNZ, Cnr Ruakura and Morrinsville Roads, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - M Bryant
- DairyNZ, Cnr Ruakura and Morrinsville Roads, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - DE Dalley
- DairyNZ, PO Box 85066, Lincoln University, 7647, New Zealand
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