Fetal monsters in cattle Flashcards
Fetal monsters in cattle
- They cause dystocia most of the time (C-section/fetotomy)
- Incompatible with life
- More than one form can be present in one fetus
Definition
- Monsters are fetuses with marked morphologic anomalies during intrauterine development.
- Most of these fetuses die either in utero or shortly after birth.
- Only very rarely does a monster live longer
Causes
- abnormal development of the placenta
- internal and external factors
- hereditable factors
Types
• Single monsters
• Double monsters
o Monstra duplicia form when the zygote does not split completely, therefore the fetus has some body parts once and others twice
o Symmetrical monsters: size identical.
▪ Duplicitas completa: double complete monsters.
▪ Duplicitas incompleta: double incomplete monsters
o Asymmetrical double monsters: size not identical.
Single monsters
Hydrocephalus Cleft palate Cyclops parasiticus Chondrodystrophia fetalis = Achondroplasia Anasarca Schistsoma reflexum Perosomus elumbis
Single monsters
Hydrocephalus
- Unusual amountof fluid accumulating in the chambers (hydrocephalus internus) or in the subarachnoidal space (hydrocephalus externus)
- Not an absolute indication for C-section (the fluid can be drained)
Single monsters
Chondrodystrophia fetalis
- Body : thickened
- Limbs : short, epiphysis enlargement
- Cranium: thickened
Single monsters
Anasarca
Often there is pulmonary hypoplasia present as well
• Subcutis
• Muscles and connective tissue
• Abdomen and thorax
Single monsters
Schistsoma reflexum
• Open thoracic and abdominal cavity, visceral organs are free
Single monsters
Perosomus elumbis
- Partial or complete agenesis of lumbar, sacral and coccygeal vertebrae, spinal cord and
- ankylosis of the hindlimbs
- malformation of the musculature
Double monsters
Diprosopus, dicephalus
• „Janus-face”
„Paguses”
• The exact name depends of the place of conjunction
