Content uploaded by Carmen Diéguez
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Carmen Diéguez on Sep 03, 2015
Content may be subject to copyright.
An introduction toZoo-Paleopathology and an update on fossil Phyto-pathology from Spain
Abstract
Animal Paleopathology and Phytopaleopathology are neglected subspecialities of Paleopathology , a term created in 1913 by Sir : A. Ruffer to describe ancient diseases; such studies being framed within general paleontological works. Only very striking and obvious pathologies, or those pathologies found in species of great interest , were published from time to time. However it is a rising scientific field. The work we present here is to give a glimpse of the history of Zoo-paleopathology from researches carried out in Spain.
... Teratology is defined as the study of structural anomalies, monstrosities and malformations of living beings (Torre-Bueno, 1985). In this sense, the galls produced by cynipids, can also be considered as teratological structures (Dieguez et al., 1996;Khoury, 2013). ...
... Even this name is not ideal, however, since humans are animals too and many animals exhibiting pathology do not possess an endoskeleton. For this reason, zooarchaeological paleopathology, zoopaleopathology (sensu Brothwell 2007Brothwell , 2008Dieguez et al. 1996) or archaeozoopathology ( Bartosiewicz 2002, 320) are probably more accurate descriptors; however, since the term "animal paleopathology" is already in common parlance within zooarchaeology in many countries (e.g., paläopathology-Germany; paléopathologie-France; paleopathologia-Spain), that convention is followed here. ...
Few pathological cases have been identified in fossils of small mammals. Here we report the most ancient paleopathological evidence identified in a lagomorph (Ochotonidae, middle Miocene). The tibiofibular bone was macro- and microscopically (uCT) inspected to provide a diagnosis, an etiology, and its possible relationship with the individual’s cause of death. Osteogenesis (reactive bone growth) and osteolysis, processes related with neoplasms and infections, are identified in the abnormal bony region. Its location (juxta-articular) and morphology allow us to identify it as a joint infection (septic arthritis) consequential of a violent mechanism, such as a bite. Both the origin of bone accumulation (avian pellets) and the poor vital state of the specimen (with a joint infection) point to predation as the most probable cause of death. Up to now, lagomorph paleopathologies had only been described in insular populations, and the present one is the first evidence in a mainland specimen.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.