Teratology

It is the division of embryology and pathology dealing with the abnormal development and
malformations of the antenatal individual.

Mosaicism The occurrence in an individual of two or more cell populations or tissues each with
a different chromosome complement derived from a single zygote.

Chimerism The occurrence in an individual of two or more cell populations or tissues each
with a different chromosome complement derived from different zygotes, as in twins with
placental anastomoses.

Anomaly It refers to the malformation involving only an organ or part of the body.

Monster It refers to an animal with extensive deformity.

Achondroplasia, or dwarf, “comprest” or “bull dog calves” Inherited lethal and semi lethal
character in cattle. All breeds but most commonly in the Hereford, Ayrshire, Angus and Dexter
breeds. Most common type is, the brachycephalic “snorter” dwarf in Herefords with’ a short,
broad head, bulging forehead, malocclusion of the jaw, prognathism of mandible, pot-belly, low
viability and great susceptibility to bloat and dystocia. This type was generally considered to be
due to a simple autosomal recessive defect with some modifiers.

In domestic animals, there are innumerable types and degrees of non-genetic anomalies, or
monsters.

The zygote is not as susceptible to teratogens during the period of the ovum or blastula or the
period of the fetus as it is during the period of the embryo and organogenesis, especially the first
half of that period. The period of early differentiation in the embryo or about the time germ
layers and organs are rapidly developing - Highly susceptible.

Hydrocephalus An anomaly of head Occurs due to an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the

cranial cavity. Internal hydrocephalus is due to excessive fluid in the ventricular system.
External hydrocephalus is rare and due to excessive fluid between the brain and dura mater.
Internal and external hydrocephalus may be combined. In marked cases, the dorsal portion of
the brain is encompassed only by the skin, the subcutaneous tissues, and the brain coverings.

SCHISTOSOMUS REFLEXUS

Schistosomus reflexus is seen most commonly in cattle, but in rare cases may be observed in
sheep, goats, and swine. It is characterized by a marked ventral curvature of the spine so the
occiput of the head lies near the sacrum. The body and chest walls are bent laterally and the
thoracic and abdominal viscera are exposed. The pelvis is deformed. The liver is abnormal in
shape and cystic. The rumen is occasionally distended with fluid. The limbs are usually
ankylosed and rigid. In rare cases the limbs and head may be enclosed in a complete sac of skin

PEROSOMUS ELUMBIS

Seen occasionally in cattle and swine. It is characterized by a lack of vertebrae and spinal cord
caudal to the thoracic region. The monster has a small, flattened, deformed pelvis with strongly
ankylosed and flexed hind limbs and atrophy of the muscles of the rear quarters.

PEROSOMUS HORRIDUS

Perosomus horridus is a bovine fetal monster with general ankylosis and muscle contractures.
This is due to a marked double S-shaped lateral twisting of the vertebrae. It is characterized on
external examination by a short spine.

AMORPHUS GLOBOSUS

Usually appears as a round or oval, edematous structure weighing 1/2 to 7 lbs. Covered with
skin and hair and containing connective tissue, fat and other soft tissues and occasionally
cartilage and bone.

INTERSEXES

Intersexes are individuals in which the diagnosis of the sex is confused because of congenital
anatomical variations. In goats and pigs: Most common

Hermaphrodites are usually classified on the basis of gonadal sex as o True hermaphrodites:
Presence of both testes and ovaries or ovotestes. o Pseudohermaphrodites: Presence of gonads of
only one sex. _ Male pseudohermaphrodites: Phenotypically resemble females but have testes.

_ Female pseudohermaphrodites: Phenotypically resemble males but have ovaries.

Caprine pseudohermaphrodites, even though they have testes, are females according to the sex
ratio, sex chromatin studies and chromosome analyses. In goats this condition is a simple
recessive sex-limited character associated with hornlessness or the polled condition. Horned
hermaphrodites are extremely rare. In swine, a similar recessive type of hermaphroditism, some
may be non genetic.

Male pseudohermaphrodite Very common Symptoms o Testes in the abdominal cavity or

beneath the skin in the scrotal region. o Scrotum seldom develops, due to the anomalous growth
of the external genital organs which usually resemble the female. o Often a greatly enlarged
clitoris is present, which with the vulvar configuration, called “fishhook” vulva. In swine, often,
when urinating, leads to direct the stream in a greater dorsal arc than does the normal female.
Location of the urethral opening may be anywhere from that of the normal female to one in a
penis-like structure with hypospadias in the scrotal or abdominal region. May be detected by
their failure to show signs of estrum. Body appears as a male castrate. Hermaphrodites
commonly resemble cryptorchid males or nymphomaniacs in their male actions and attitudes. In
the male pseudohermaphrodite, the internal genitalia resemble both sexes and a uterus like
structure is nearly always present. Hermpahrodites are invariably sterile, especially males with
intra abdominal or subcutaneously located testes.

FREEMARTIN

Freemartin is an infertile female with a modified genital tract born cotwin, or in greater
multiples, with a bull with which it has exchanged whole blood. The freemartin is one of two
dizygotic individuals that are of different sexes and do not resemble each other. CLINICAL
SIGNS IN CATTL
E
Ovaries usually fail to develop and remain small, about the size of a flattened barley grain, and
undifferentiated. In rare cases some differentiation toward the female or male gonad may occur.
The genital tract, especially the portion arising from the paramesonephric duct, is markedly
arrested in development. Often in the region of the cervix, two tubular structures or remnants of
the mesonephric duct resembling seminal vesicles are present. The vagina is undeveloped. The
vulva is fairly normal, except for the occasional presence of a prominent clitoris and a large tuft
of vulvar hair. In the yearling animal, failure of estrous cycle; the udder and teats remain very
small and the external characteristics resemble a steer.

Fincher’s Test tube Test • Insert a test tube or glass speculum of 3/8- to 1/2-inch with
lubrication into the vulva of the suspected heifer. In freemartin • Tube will go no farther than the
hymen, or the caudal portion of the vagina or about 7.5 to 10 cm, 3 to 4 inches, in a young calf,
as there is no normal vagina. • Use of a light will reveal, the no vaginal opening anterior to the
urethral opening on the floor of the vulva. In normal • Some resistance may be encountered when
the test tube passes through the vulvovaginal region but it then will pass 12 to 18 cm, 5 to 7
inches into a freely dilatable vagina. • Use of a light will reveal a normal small cervix.