An amorphus globosus (from Greek: αμορφή (amorphē) 'formless' and Latin: globus 'sphere'), also known as a globosus amorphus,[1] or an amorphus globosus monster,[1] is a malformation occurring in veterinary medicine, especially in domestic cattle. Instead of a normally developed fetus, it results in the formation of a more or less spherical structure covered with hairy skin, which 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 amorphus globosus has also been described in human medicine, where it was also a twin pregnancy.[8]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b 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. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ a b c M. T. Anwar, A. I. Khan, S. Balasubramanian, R. Jayaprakash, T. A. Kannan, S. Manokaran, S. A. Asokan, C. Veerapandian: A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat. In: The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue vétérinaire canadienne. Band 50, Nummer 8, August 2009, S. 854–856, ISSN 0008-5286. PMID 19881925. PMC 2711472.
- ^ Hopper, Richard M. (30 April 2021). Bovine Reproduction. John Wiley & Sons. p. 503. ISBN 978-1-119-60245-3. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ M. Hishinuma, Y. Takahashi, H. Kanagawa: Histological and cytological observation on a bovine acardius amorphus. In: Jpn J Vet Sci. 49, 1987, S. 195–197.
- ^ S. Kamimura, S. Enomoto, K. Goto, K. Hamana: A Globosus amorphus from an in vitro fertilized embryo transferred to a Japanese black cow. In: Theriogenology. Band 40, Nummer 4, Oktober 1993, S. 853–858, ISSN 0093-691X. PMID 16727366.
- ^ M. Hishinuma, N. Hoshi, Y. Takahashi, H. Kanagawa: Vasculature and chromosomal composition in a bovine acardius amorphus. In: Nihon juigaku zasshi. The Japanese journal of veterinary science. Band 50, Nummer 5, Oktober 1988, S. 1139–1141, ISSN 0021-5295. PMID 3199627.
- ^ P. J. Crossman, P. S. Dickens: Amorphus globosus in the mare. In: The Veterinary record. Band 95, Nummer 1, Juli 1974, S. 22, ISSN 0042-4900. PMID 4432366.
- ^ T. Maggiora-Vergano, G. Gentile: [A case of amorphous twin: holocardius amorphous globosus]. In: La Clinica ostetrica e ginecologica. Band 56, Nummer 4, August 1954, S. 235–244, ISSN 0393-9227. PMID 13231331.
External links edit
- Image of an amorphus globosus in cattle on website of Cornell University