No full-text available
To read the full-text of this research,
you can request a copy directly from the authors.
Skeletal Impact of Disease
... In MAU-Pv-LJ-472/1 there is: (1) lower density of the pathological bone tissue, (2) an amorphous mass of rough-textured bone with an irregular, shallow depression, and (3) an elliptical erosion (cloaca). Based on these radiological and morphological characteristics, we rule out fractures due to the lack of evidence in the CT images, since no disruption in the continuity of the bone is observed [39,40]. ...
... Developmental disorders produce an abnormal proliferation of cells, and to rule them out, it is necessary to undertake an analysis of the pattern of bone destruction and the nature and extent of the medullary, cortical, or periosteal reaction or disruption, as well as of the calcification of the matrix of the tumor [40]. In this way, one can rule out hemolytic anemia and hemangiomas, since these affect the cortical tissue by thinning it, and malignant tumors (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma [41]) produced by errors in the regulation of cell division [41] because they use thinning and present a spiculated periosteal reactions [40]. ...
... Developmental disorders produce an abnormal proliferation of cells, and to rule them out, it is necessary to undertake an analysis of the pattern of bone destruction and the nature and extent of the medullary, cortical, or periosteal reaction or disruption, as well as of the calcification of the matrix of the tumor [40]. In this way, one can rule out hemolytic anemia and hemangiomas, since these affect the cortical tissue by thinning it, and malignant tumors (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and hemangiosarcoma [41]) produced by errors in the regulation of cell division [41] because they use thinning and present a spiculated periosteal reactions [40]. ...
Studies of the paleopathology of the vertebrae provide an interesting, oblique approach to their paleobiology and even paleoethology. They tell us about possible ethological causes such as accidental blows with objects, social interactions within a group, and defense against predators, etc. There are numerous works on the anatomical and phylogenetic aspects of sauropod dinosaurs, and in recent years paleopathological studies have also increased. Here, we describe the injuries recorded in the caudal vertebrae of two indeterminate titanosaurids, and undertake a compilation and analysis of the pathological fossil record worldwide, focusing on the tails of sauropods. Two pathologies have been identified as present in the indeterminate titanosaurids under study: a possible case of spondyloarthropathy in MAU-Pv-LI-601, and a case of suppurative spinal osteomyelitis in MAU-Pv-LJ-472/1. Both titanosaurids are from Gondwana. In the world registry of pathologies associated with the tails of sauropod dinosaurs, it is observed that titanosaurs are the sauropods with the highest percentage of diagnosed pathologies (69% including the two new records from the province of Neuquén) and that all of these have been described in Gondwanan specimens.
... The study of diseases in the deep time, through the accurate and comprehensive review of fossil remains, may discern novel biological details about extinct taxa, including relevant data on immunology, physiology, life history, behavior, and intraand interspecific relationships (Rothschild and Martin, 2006;Waldron, 2009Waldron, , 2012. For a long time, palaeopathological findings were reported as merely "curiosities", and they have been described as unusual abnormalities in particular specimens (Rothschild and Martin, 1993;Upex and Dobney, 2012 and references therein). ...
... Some authors, however, account the role of particular lifestyles (mechanical factors, repetitive movements carried out during life) for the development of pOA (Waldron and Cox, 1989;Hunter and Felson, 2006;Rothschild and Martin, 2006). For instance, the high frequency of pOA observed in the Late Pleistocene lions from Natural Trap Cave (Wyoming, USA) has been associated with the habitat differences in modern lions, since their hunting took place on uneven grounds (rocky environments) (von Koenigswald and Schmitt, 1987;Rothschild and Martin, 2006). ...
... Some authors, however, account the role of particular lifestyles (mechanical factors, repetitive movements carried out during life) for the development of pOA (Waldron and Cox, 1989;Hunter and Felson, 2006;Rothschild and Martin, 2006). For instance, the high frequency of pOA observed in the Late Pleistocene lions from Natural Trap Cave (Wyoming, USA) has been associated with the habitat differences in modern lions, since their hunting took place on uneven grounds (rocky environments) (von Koenigswald and Schmitt, 1987;Rothschild and Martin, 2006). Conversely, Dawson (1969), who described the skeleton of P. sardus, did not detect extreme deviations in the postcranial bones of this taxon. ...
The study of past pathologies by means of quantitative reports is an underexplored approach to deal with the biology and ecology of extinct taxa. In the present study, we assessed the prevalence rate of primary osteoarthritis in a large sample of Prolagus sardus (Mammalia, Lagomorpha) from Medusa Cave (also known as Grotta Dragonara, Sardinia, Italy; Late Pleistocene) to shed light on the evolutionary history of small mammals under isolation regimes. The hip and knee joints of 246 femora were examined grossly, microscopically, and using advanced radiology, recording essential biological features such as age or weight. We noted that 27.7% of skeletally mature sample had degenerative disorder of the joints, with higher frequency in adults (p-value < 0.05), regardless of their body mass (p-value > 0.05). Histologically, affected joints displayed changes in subchondral plate potentially reflecting adaptive modeling. Our analysis revealed ageing (the extended lifespan) as the main driver of this prevalence rate, whereas mechanical factors (caused by a particular lifestyle) were considered of significantly lesser importance. Our results provide additional empirical support to the analytical framework of life history theory from a new perspective, according to which, under low extrinsic mortality regimes, selection should favor slow-strategies (extended lifespan) in small-sized mammals.
... Studying this type of lesions provides insights into possible causes of accidents, abuse, working exploitation injury, and care and treatment in cases of domestic animals (Baker & Brothwell, 1980;Bartosiewicz, 2008a;Bartosiewicz & Gál, 2013;Bendrey, 2014;Grimm, 2008;Groot, 2008;Markovi c et al., 2014Markovi c et al., , 2018Onar et al., 2012;Rannamäe et al., 2019;Rothschild & Martin, 2006;Udrescu & Van Neer, 2005;Van Neer & Udrescu, 2015). Samples of all three specimens were sent for AMS dating at the Debrecen HEKAL MICADAS-type Accelerator Mass Spectrometer. ...
... The differential diagnosis of pathological changes was determined based on the criteria widely used in paleopathological (Appleby et al., 2015;Baker & Brothwell, 1980;Bartosiewicz & Gál, 2013;Rothschild & Martin, 2006) and veterinary medicine research (Craig et al., 2016). The external surfaces of pathological changes were examined using a white light-emitting diode (LED) Dino-lite digital microscope with polarizing optics (AM73115MZT, 220X). ...
... Bone fractures are commonly reported in the paleopathological and veterinary medicine literature (Baker & Brothwell, 1980;Bartosiewicz & Gál, 2013;Craig et al., 2016). There are two main and stab or bite wounds (i.e., penetrating injuries) may cause osteomyelitis as a secondary bone infection (Baker & Brothwell, 1980;Bartosiewicz & Gál, 2013;Craig et al., 2016;Hofer et al., 1993;Rothschild & Martin, 2006). Osteomyelitis can even develop by blunt trauma, even when the skin surface has remained intact (Craig et al., 2016). ...
This paper aims to assess the etiology and differential diagnosis of severe pathological lesions in wild and domestic cattle from the Late Neolithic site of At‐Vršac in the northeast part of the present‐day Serbia. Excavations of this multilayered site revealed the remains of a Late Neolithic settlement belonging to the Vinča culture network of the Central Balkans. An aurochs metacarpal bone, two domestic cattle fragments of fused ulna and radius and of tibia, all with massive bone proliferations were recovered during the archaeological excavations in 1976. Paleopathological study was undertaken using an interdisciplinary approach, including AMS dating, radiography, computed tomography (CT), and histopathology. The results show severe oblique healed fracture with secondary pronounced bone reaction in the aurochs metacarpal bone and in the domestic cattle ulna‐radius, while traumatic alteration infected with disseminated osteomyelitis was found in the domestic cattle tibia. These pathologies of wild and domestic cattle are discussed to reveal the level of environmental and human influence on the origin and development of the lesions in the Late Neolithic cattle.
... Recognition of disease in the fossil record is challenging. Although patterns of disease have proven diagnostic (at least when applied to skeletal populations) 35 , examination of isolated elements usually does not allow discrimination, and diagnosis of lytic lesions has been especially problematic 36,37 . Nevertheless, some diseases have reproducible differences in skeletal expression, e.g., metastatic cancer, tuberculosis, fungal disease, and as those documented in the current study, which enable distinguishing between them 4,35,38 . ...
... Although patterns of disease have proven diagnostic (at least when applied to skeletal populations) 35 , examination of isolated elements usually does not allow discrimination, and diagnosis of lytic lesions has been especially problematic 36,37 . Nevertheless, some diseases have reproducible differences in skeletal expression, e.g., metastatic cancer, tuberculosis, fungal disease, and as those documented in the current study, which enable distinguishing between them 4,35,38 . All forms of LCH in clinical cases are diagnosed through bone marrow aspirates or biopsies of lesions. ...
... Non-infectious granulomatous bone disorders have rarely been mentioned as a possibility in the anthropological literature 27,[40][41][42][43] . The absence of previous reports of non-infectious granulomatous bone disorders in the fossil record may be related to difficulties in distinguishing these disorders from other bone tumors due to meager detailed macroscopic descriptions 44 as the differences between the various lesions are below the resolution of routine radiological techniques, e.g., plain radiographs and CT 35 . Therefore, systematic surveys of skeletal collections for pathologies whose clinical records are available enables recognizing the apparent uniqueness of lesions and tumors such as granulomatous diseases, and creates a standard for their identification in the archaeological and paleontological records. ...
Susceptibility to diseases is common to humans and dinosaurs. Since much of the biological history of every living creature is shaped by its diseases, recognizing them in fossilized bone can furnish us with important information on dinosaurs’ physiology and anatomy, as well as on their daily activities and surrounding environment. In the present study, we examined the vertebrae of two humans from skeletal collections with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a benign osteolytic tumor-like disorder involving mainly the skeleton; they were diagnosed in life, along with two hadrosaur vertebrae with an apparent lesion. Macroscopic and microscopic analyses of the hadrosaur vertebrae were compared to human LCH and to other pathologies observed via an extensive pathological survey of a human skeletal collection, as well as a three-dimensional reconstruction of the lesion and its associated blood vessels from a µCT scan. The hadrosaur pathology findings were indistinguishable from those of humans with LCH, supporting that diagnosis. This report suggests that hadrosaurids had suffered from larger variety of pathologies than previously reported. Furthermore, it seems that LCH may be independent of phylogeny.
... Some specimens bear also traces of physical traumas, diseases and resulting pathologic pro- cesses, thus providing valuable insight into often elusive aspects of ancient life (e.g. Rothschild & Martin 2006). ...
... Osseous infections have been reported for dinosaurs (e.g. Tanke & Rothschild 2002), and modern domestic/captive as well as free-ranging wild birds (Rothschild & Panza 2005;Rothschild & Martin 2006). Since at least some of these diseases, such as osteomyelitis, were found in both dinosaur and recent avian bones (Tanke & Rothschild 2002;Rothschild & Panza 2005), there is no reason to doubt that they had afflicted Mesozoic and extinct Cenozoic birds as well. ...
... Actually, all of the first four varie- ties of reaction may be found in a single individual (Rothschild & Yoon 1982), so specificity is not guaranteed. However, the filigree/lacelike periosteal reaction (Figure 1(J)) has only been found with infection (Rothschild & Martin 2006). ...
Traces of skeletal response to trauma are poorly documented for early (i.e. Paleogene, 66–23 Ma) penguins (Sphenisciformes) and infectious diseases that afflicted these seabirds have not been previously put on record. We report osteomyelitis (OM), typically a bacterial infection of bone, in a proximal pedal phalanx of a ‘giant’ penguin from the Eocene (56–34 Ma) of West Antarctica. Osteomyelitis had apparently complicated healing of a fracture. The injury left an oblique scar within the proximal aspect of the plantar surface, resulting in deformation of the articular surface. The recognised evidence of OM includes characteristic periosteal reaction as well as focal bone-loss and necrosis.
... I therefore concentrated on my original question – Triceratops cervical fusion: disease or phylogeny? I soon realized the necessity of distinguishing apparent fusion (e.g., incomplete specimen preparation) and, actually, intervertebral fusion, which often required x-ray examination (Resnick, 2002; Rothschild and Martin, 2006). One important subject of that phylogenetic survey included one of the dinosaurs that originally drew me to paleontology, Roy Chapman Andrews' Protoceratops. ...
... We each had to convince the other of our perspectives or have them disabused . It became obvious that we shared a common language , often total disparate in meaning (Rothschild and Martin, 2006; Rothschild et al., 2013). Much of our discussions related to clarification of the specific (medical versus paleontological/anthropological ) meaning of particular terms. ...
... That was remedied by Robert Woods, who knew whose closets contained the requisite skeletons. Once we characterized bony alterations in the major disorders commonly present as population phenomena (Rothschild and Martin, 2006; Rothschild, 1995, 1998b; Rothschild and Woods, 1991a; Rothschild et al., 1990 Rothschild et al., , b, 2002 ), we confirmed the findings by comparison with bony alterations of contemporary afflicted individuals – using x-rays as the common denominator (Resnick, 2002; Rothschild and Martin, 2006 ). We then had the requisite profiles necessary for the recognition of these diseases in the archeological record. ...
A recent report suggesting perceived limitations of and opportunities in the study of paleopathology suggested the importance of incorporation of scientific methodologies. It seems reasonable to also explore how those methodologies are developed and, indeed, how one approaches paleopathology as a science. The development of one such paleopathologist is delineated from his serendipitous observations to application of hypothesis generation and subsequent testing approach developed during basic medical science education. This approach resulted in recognition of how much he thought he knew was actually contrary to the facts. A critical factor was the collaborative approach with specialists in other fields, wherein linguistic confusion was overcome and perspectives refined by point–counterpoint analysis of hypotheses. The limited reliability of tertiary information was clearly exposed through examination of primary sources – original articles rather than what might be referred to as "meta-analyses".
It became clear that linguistics was not the only challenge; application of techniques had to be observed and validated. Without validation one might obtain precision (method repeatedly reveals same results) but at the expense of accuracy (assurance that the method actually assesses the question). Paleontological studies are generally limited to examination of organisms and their traces. Archeologically based studies incorporate additional sources of information (e.g., historic), but are no less subject to such semantic and methodological issues. Proof of concept studies provided new windows to recognition not only of disease but to previous anatomical challenges (e.g., localization of direct muscle attachment sites and distribution). Trans-phylogenetic representation of disease falsified speculation that "evolution" would preclude analysis through time. Pathology is an intrinsic component of life and transcends both species and time. Knowledge gained in a given species and time can be applied to similar disease manifestations in other species in modern time. Once speculations were tested and either verified or falsified, paleo-epidemiologic approach allowed identification of patterns of spread and even application of that knowledge to recognition of human migration patterns. Proof of concept studies provided new windows to recognition not only of disease but to previous anatomical challenges (e.g., localization of direct muscle attachment sites and distribution).
... Open fracture or disorders exposing bone have a higher rate of altered healing because of the increased frequency of infection . These lesions allowed bacteria to enter the wound, resulting in the periosteal reaction and irregular bone surface characteristic of osteomyelitis (Resnick & Niwayama 1981; Rothschild & Martin 2006). The most common infecting organism in pyogenic spinal osteomyelitis in human is Staphylococcus aureus (Nather et al. 2005). ...
... The consequence of this bacterial reaction on the periosteum can be clearly seen on the bone surface of all vertebrae described here. Given the extent of axial skeleton involvement, a chronic granulomatous infection (similar to tuberculosis – mycobacterial or fungal) must also be considered (Rothschild & Martin 2006). The bone outgrowth observed in vertebrae 13 (MSC Pv-183/1) and 14 (MSC Pv-183/2) (Fig. 2) is recognized as a specific form of enthesophytes, referred to as syndesmophytes. ...
... The bone outgrowth observed in vertebrae 13 (MSC Pv-183/1) and 14 (MSC Pv-183/2) (Fig. 2) is recognized as a specific form of enthesophytes, referred to as syndesmophytes. This abnormality is a type of reaction that can complicate severe infections (Rothschild & Martin 2006; Rothschild 2009 ). Differential diagnosis includes spondyloarthropathy, A B Fig. 6. ...
Osteomyelitis is reported for the first time in a sauropod dinosaur. The material
(MCS-PV 183) comes from the Anacleto Formation (Campanian, Late Cretaceous), at
the Cinco Saltos locality, R�ıo Negro Province, Argentina. The specimen consists of 16
mid and mid-distal caudal vertebrae of a titanosaur sauropod. Evidence of bacterial
infection is preserved in all of these vertebrae. The main anomalies are as follows:
irregular ‘microbubbly’ texture of bone surfaces produced by periosteal reactive bone,
abscesses on the rims of the anterior articular surfaces of two centra, numerous pits on
centra anterior articulation surfaces, erosions on the anterior articulation of the vertebral
centra, a vertical groove in posterior articular face of all the centra and disruption
of the prezygapophysis and postzygapophysis (mainly the articular face) from the vertebra
19 and beyond. The last anomaly is increasingly pronounced in more distal elements
of the series. Thin sections reveal that the anomalous cortical tissue is
composed of avascular and highly fibrous bone matrix. The fibres of the bone matrix
are organized into thick bundles oriented in different directions. Both morphological
and histological abnormalities in the MCS-PV 183 specimen are pathognomonic for
osteomyelitis. □ Histology, osteomyelitis, paleopathology, sauropoda, titanosauri
... This term describes a group of arthritic bone alterations that occur in the axial and appendicular bones (Rothschild and Martin 2006; Lacout et al. 2008). Spondyloarthropathies include ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome (Vallés-Arvonen et al. 2010 ). ...
... Spondyloarthropathies include ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and Reiter's syndrome (Vallés-Arvonen et al. 2010 ). Spondyloarthropathies are characterised by subchondral erosions with reactive bone formation (such as syndesmophytes), ossification at the sites of the tendons, synovial capsules or ligaments and the fusion of joints through the articular surfaces (Rothschild and Martin 2006; Rothschild 2013). ...
... obs.). These patterns are similar to those observed in haemolytic anaemia and haemangioma (Rothschild and Martin 2006) . Additionally, the morphology of the distal end of the anterior rib exhibits a transverse Downloaded by [ humerus. ...
Osteopathy from derived hadrosauroids has been extensively studied. However, little work has been done
in the basal members of this group. Only two brief notes have recorded three examples of osteopathy
in the basal hadrosauroids in Bactrosaurus, Gilmoreosaurus and Jeyawati. In the present manuscript, we
found in the holotype of the basal hadrosauroid Huehuecanauhtlus tiquichensis (IGM 6253) from Mexico
two dorsal ribs and a dorsal vertebra with unusual pathologic conditions. The injuries are described as
possible premortem or perimortem anterior rib fracture, associated with a singular sclerosis and costovertebral
ankyloses which probably originated by spinal and rib osteomyelitis. The vertebral lesion caused
direct damage to the nervous system and possible back pain. This study represents the first study of
palaeopathology in a Mexican hadrosauroid in which the bone abnormalities are extensively compared
with previous studies and described in detail, their origins are interpreted, and the health implications for
the individual are considered.
... Study of paleopathology in its strictest definition examines diseases or pathologic conditions. Analyzing paleopathology as a population phenomenon allows unique insights into habitat and behavior (Rothschild and Martin, 1989; Rothschild and Martin, 1993; Rothschild, 1997; Tanke and Currie, 2000; Rothschild et al., 2001; Happ, 2008; Rothschild and Martin, 2006; Rothschild and Molnar, 2008; Peterson et al., 2009; Tanke and Rothschild, 2010;). Frequent observation of hadrosaur osteopathy mostly secured from 75 million year old (Dinosaur Park Formation, Campanian) sediments in Dinosaur Provincial Park (DPP), in southern Alberta, Canada, stimulated this review. ...
... A few specimens showing advanced healing fracture then a more recent fracture also undergoing repair have been seen. A number of pseudoarthroses Rothschild, 1985; Rothschild and Berman, 1991; Rothschild and Martin, 1993; Rothschild and Martin, 2006; Tanke and Rothschild, 2010As it has not fused to the next vertebra, diagnosis cannot be confirmed. In dinosaurs, particularly sauropods (Rothschild and Berman, 1991), DISH is believed to help support the weight of the tail. ...
... If so, one might expect to find more examples in hadrosaurs than is the case although these animals do have a complex lattice-work of tendons (which sauropods lacked) to support the tail. One of the authors (BMR), has previously hypothesized that the tendon lattice served a similar function to DISH and would render the latter redundant, perhaps explaining its rarity in those groups (Rothschild and Martin, 2006). A curious case involves two proximal caudal vertebrae and their associated chevron from an unspeciated lambeosaurine (TMP 1978.004.0001; ...
Late Cretaceous hadrosaurs from southern Alberta, Canada provide the best preserved and most numerous examples of dinosaurian osteopathy globally and are ideal for invasive or non-invasive studies such as histology, X-ray, CT or MRI scanning. Enough specimens have been observed in the field and museum collections to demonstrate predictable patterns of osteopathy, not only in representative types, but in some cases, in regards to body position and relative ontogenetic stage. Hadrosaurs account for about 60% of all dinosaur paleopathology seen in Royal Tyrrell Museum collections (higher % in the field), the world's largest repository for examples of dinosaur paleopathology, likely only surpassed by that secured from the Pleistocene La Brea tar pits in California. While osteopathy was observed in animals of all ages (including neonate), most were found affecting ribs and especially the caudal vertebrae of adults. Examples often show active healing of fractures, but there are few cases of complete bone repair. Paleopathology among Alberta Hadrosauridae are reviewed and prior interpretation of an instance of caudal osteopathy in an Edmontosaurus tail as being the result of failed predation by Tyrannosaurus discussed and refuted.
... perpendicular growths referred to as osteophytes. Such overgrowths, localized to joint margins, identify spondylosis deformans (Altman et al. 1986), which can be a result of trauma (Resnick 2002; Rothschild and Martin 2006). Abbreviations: Vertebrae of all available mosasaur taxa in the collections of the Institute Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles (IRScNB), the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas (KUVP), the Red Mountain Museum, Birmingham, Alabama (RMM), and the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Hays, Kansas (FHSM) were examined. ...
... The surface of fused vertebrae was examined for irregularities, bone resorption, draining sinuses (as evidence of infection) and for the character of the osseous bridging. Macroscopically, vertebral bridging was characterized as marginal, if it smoothly bridged the endplate lateral margins and as nonmarginal if attachment to the vertebral centra was on the lateral surface, rather than the edge (Resnick 2002; Rothschild and Martin 2006; Rothschild and Woods 1991). Smooth marginal and bulky, non-marginal syndesmophytes are also recognized as spondyloarthropathy, in the absence of signs of infection (Resnick 2002; Rothschild and Woods 1991). ...
... Fusion was characterized as either posttraumatic or spondyloarthropathy, with infection considered the residual of a traumatic event (Rothschild and Martin 1987;), and has no relationship to osteoarthritis (Resnick 2002; Rothschild and Martin 2006). Phylogenetic and geological variation in prevalence of vertebral fusion and phylogenetic (systematic) relationship of vertebral fusion and derivation (trauma or non-traumatic) were assessed by Chi square and Fisher Exact tests. ...
Pathologies involving the fusion of mosasaur vertebrae have been documented in the literature since the late 1870s. Although some instances can clearly be demonstrated to be the result of an attack by another predator, usually a shark, the source of the pathology is more difficult to discern in other specimens. Here we discuss the evidence for pathologies as the result of interactions with the mosasaur's habitat and the apparent susceptibility of certain kinds of disease affecting the skeleton as preserved in the specimens.
... Specimens consisted of extant and extinct archosaur material with various pathological conditions that were identified based on external observations (Table 1). Extant taxa were included to improve palaeopathological diagnosis as medical terminology, physiology of skeletal elements, and likelihood of certain diseases can differ, even between human and mammalian companion animals (Huchzermyer & Cooper, 2000; Rothschild & Panza, 2005; Mader, 2006; Rothschild & Martin, 2006; Kranenburg, Hazewinkel & Meij, 2013; Foth et al., 2015). ...
... 4B and 4C). The diagnosis for this pathology is osteomyelitis caused by fracture complications based on the misalignment of the fractured pieces, internal necrosis and islands of 'normal' tissue (Rothschild & Martin, 2006; Stacy & Pessier, 2007; Gál, 2008; Waldron, 2009). ...
... bone growth and destroy original bone tissue (Mader, 2006; Doneley, 2011). However, as cancers are fairly rare in wild archosaurs (Effron, Griner & Benirschke, 1977; Siegfried, 1982; Garner, Hernandez-Divers & Raymond, 2004; Rothschild & Martin, 2006), we maintain the diagnosis as osteomyelitis caused by complications of a fracture. BHI 6184: Externally, the exostosis expands radially from the E. annectens rib with no distinguishable boundary between the pathological and normal tissues (Fig. 5). ...
Palaeopathology offers unique insight to the healing strategies of extinct organisms , permitting questions concerning bone physiology to be answered in greater depth. Unfortunately, most palaeopathological studies are confined to external morphological interpretations due to the destructive nature of traditional methods of study. This limits the degree of reliable diagnosis and interpretation possible. X-ray MicroTomography (micro-CT, XMT) provides a non-destructive means of analysing the internal three-dimensional structure of pathologies in both extant and extinct individuals, at higher resolutions than possible with medical scanners. In this study, we present external and internal descriptions of pathologies in extant and extinct archosaurs using XMT. This work demonstrates that the combination of external/internal diagnosis that X-ray microtomography facilitates is crucial when differentiating between pathological conditions. Furthermore, we show that the use of comparative species, both through direct analysis and from the literature, provides key information for diagnosing between vertebrate groups in the typical pathological conditions and physiological processes. Micro-CT imaging, combined with comparative observations of extant species, provides more detailed and reliable interpretation of palaeopathologies. Micro-CT is an increasingly accessible tool, which will provide key insights for correctly interpreting vertebrate pathologies in the future.
... It is quite clear that cribra orbitalia and porotic hyperostosis could not represent the same phenomenon. Therefore, the topic of cribra orbitalia, which clearly has a variety of forms and likely causes (Rothschild & Martin, 2006), is beyond the scope of the current issue. ...
... The clinical literature provides a possible explanation. Accentuated bone marrow red cell production is the source of porotic hyperostosis (Goodhart & Shils, l982;Jaffe, l972;Resnick, 2002;Rothschild & Martin, 2006). What causes increased red cell production? ...
... The former complicates some parasitic infections; the latter, caused by hemolytic anemia. Enzyme deficiencies (e.g., pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase abnormalities reducing function), abnormal red cell membranes (e.g., hereditary spherocytosis) increasing red blood cell fragility and hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia and sickle cell anemia) are the most common causes for the latter (Resnick, 2002;Rothschild & Martin, 2006). Hemoglobinopathies (though sickle cell only rarely) are characterized by ineffective ery-thropoiesis (Caffey, 1957;Resnick, 2002). ...
Diagnosing a shift to a maize-dominant diet, on the basis of recognition of high population frequencies of porotic hyperostosis, has unfortunately entered the “collective consciousness” of anthropology—because of the mythology that iron deficiency is a common cause of that phenomenon. Skull changes in patients with all forms (both primary and secondary) of iron deficiency are actually extremely rare (0.68%!). That frequency certainly does not support iron deficiency as the explanation for the high frequency of porotic hyperostosis noted (approximating 50%) in some populations. Isotopic analysis further reveals that C4 grasses (e.g., maize) actually did not become a significant part of North American human diets until the past 1000 years, long after notation of high frequency porotic hyperostosis. This further falsifies claims of earlier maize diets (predicated on frequency of porotic hyperostosis) and negates the perception that maize-induced iron deficiency is the cause of porotic hyperostosis. The latter speculation is not only con- trary to medical evidence, but that misdirection gave false impressions of ancient populations/civilizations and compromised use of a valuable observation. That mythology must be extirpated from the “collective consciousness”. Perhaps now attention can be appropriately directed to exploration of genetic hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinopathies and parasitic infestations which are known causes of porotic hyperostosis.
... The findings in red ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegatus rubra) support a different diagnosis. Examination of the character and distribution pattern of periosteal reaction in an adult female identified a phenomena well recognized in mammals, hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) [2,13,18]. Most HOA is secondary, a complication of intrathoracic pathology and liver disease [5,12,16,19,21]. ...
... Distal diaphyses were invariably affected, as has been documented in human HOA [19]. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is characterized in humans by a widespread pattern of periosteal reaction [2,5,12,13,16,18,19,21]. Although HOA is traditionally described as a disorder of distal diaphyses, more extensive disease is also noted. ...
... Although HOA is traditionally described as a disorder of distal diaphyses, more extensive disease is also noted. Periosteal reaction is found to be equally divided between distal and diffuse apposition [19]Underlying causes of secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy include pulmonary, gastrointestinal/esophageal, cardiac, or hepatic disease (usually abdominal or thoracic masses or lesions) are present [2,5,12,13,16,18,21]. None of the lemurs described in this report had radiographic evidence of a visceral neoplastic condition, nor was there evidence of non-skeletal disease based on serum liver function analysis. ...
Background: Pachydermatoperiostosis, a rare form of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy, is of unknown etiology and previously thought limited to humans. Secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is a known problem that transcends mammalian phylogeny, but has not previously been recognized in prosimians. The only periosteal reaction previously reported in prosimians is related to renal disease.
Methods: Clinical and radiological assessment was performed on lemurs with hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.
Results: Three related red ruffed lemurs ( Varecia variegates rubra ) had diaphyseal periosteal reaction classic for hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Workup was negative for known underlying causes and for the secondary hyperparathyroidism which produces bone alterations in black Eulemur macao, black and white Varecia variegatatus varigatus and ringtail Lemur catta lemurs.
Conclusions: Recognition of facial coarsening allows identification of the primary form of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. This is the first recognition of the phenomenon in the order primates, exclusive of humans, and represents a new model for this rare diseas
... The 1987 criteria do not address the nature of erosions, their specific distribution and the issue of joint ankylosis, characteristics which separate the those newly diagnosed (according to the criteria) as having rheumatoid arthritis into two groups. Such a binary approach [6][7][8][9] divides criteria-fulfilling individuals according to location of erosions on or around joints, skeletal distribution of erosions and presence or absence of reactive new bone formation and joint ankylosis. The 2010 criteria [10] address this question by the inclusion "absence of an alternative diagnosis that better explains the synovitis." ...
... ment is prominent and periarticular osteopenia, invariably present. This contrasts with other archeological sites, in which erosions, while polyarticular, are more usually limited in distribution, are predominantly subchondral in distribution, ankylosis is present, wrist and ankle involvement are prominent and periarticular osteopenia is absent in more than 50% [6,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] . The neologism "osseotropism" was introduced [23] to characterize the tendency of specific diseases to affect such specific areas of the musculoskeletal system. ...
... While it has been suggested that some dogs and pigs had rheumatoid arthritis [28][29][30][31][32] , the presence of subchondral erosions and joint fusion [16,21,23,24] are actually more characteristic of spondyloarthropathy [33,34] . Indeed, evaluation of over 30 000 non-human mammalian skeletons reveals many cases of spondyloarthropathy, but not a single instance of actual rheumatoid arthritis [6,14,[35][36][37][38][39] . There clearly are two distinct groups that fulfill the revised criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. ...
... The lumper/splitter controversy in recognition of rheumatoid arthritis has seemingly been resolved in favor of the latter by identified biomechanical, biochemical, imaging and epidemiological parameters and studies of the record of inflammatory arthritis in non-humans [23][24][25][26][27]. Characteristics (e.g., joint fusion in the absence of corticosteroid therapy) that are distinctly unusual, if occurring at all, in rheumatoid arthritis facilitate the identification of an individual as not actually having that disease [25][26][27][28][29]. So, too, it is time for reevaluation of our application of the appellation, fibromyalgia. ...
... The lumper/splitter controversy in recognition of rheumatoid arthritis has seemingly been resolved in favor of the latter by identified biomechanical, biochemical, imaging and epidemiological parameters and studies of the record of inflammatory arthritis in non-humans [23][24][25][26][27]. Characteristics (e.g., joint fusion in the absence of corticosteroid therapy) that are distinctly unusual, if occurring at all, in rheumatoid arthritis facilitate the identification of an individual as not actually having that disease [25][26][27][28][29]. So, too, it is time for reevaluation of our application of the appellation, fibromyalgia. ...
Diagnoses for which there are no pathognomonic laboratory tests are highly dependent on the opinions we call clinical judgement [...]
... Unfortunately, this term has been applied to so many forms of surface defects as to not communicate interpretable information. (Altman et al., 1986;Altman et al., 1990;Altman et al., 1991;Rothschild, 2012b;Rothschild & Martin, 2006) The term porosity has been used in anthropology, paleontology, and paleopathology to describe surface discontinuities, holes, pores, pits, foramina, apertures, vascular channels, Sharpey fiber attachments (penetrating fibers connecting tendons and bone), periodontal disease, a variety of cribra orbitalia (orbital roof phenomena), and even trabeculae visualized because the subchondral bone has been disrupted (worn away or eroded). (Botter et al., 2011;Dhainaut et al., 2011;Nathan & Haas, 1966;Pratt et al., 2018;Santaella & Tsang, 2019) The term porotic has also been used as a measure of severity. ...
... Leukemia and lymphoma produce micro-erosions, but produces a very different macroscopic appearance from that of porotic hyperostosis (Rothschild et al., 1997), Speculation, attributing such changes to scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), or osteomalacia/rickets (vitamin D deficiency) (Ortner et al., 1999;Ortner & Ericksen, 1997) has been disproven. (Rothschild & Martin, 2006;Waldron, 2009). ...
Background
Examination of parietal surface anatomy has been limited because standard techniques have insufficient resolution to identify and characterize the structures of interest. Perspectives derived thereof have not clarified their nature. Surface microscopy is pursued as a nondestructive technique to assess the character and implications of porotic pores (referred to as porotic hyperostosis), which have been subject of much speculation.
Methods
The external surface of the skulls, selected on the basis of age and gender, from the Hamann‐Todd human collection are examined by epi‐illumination microscopy for surface pores and to assess correlation with age, ethnicity, gender, anemia, infection, cancer, hypertrophic bone disorders, renal disease, and fractures.
Results
Pore‐like surface defects are present in 2.7%–5% of individuals in the third‐fifth decades of life; 7%, in the sixth‐eighth; and 25%, in the ninth‐11th, but absent in the second decade of life. They are gender and birthdate independent, but slightly more common in African Americans. Fractures are more common among individuals with parietal pores, while tuberculosis, cancer, and hypertrophic bone diseases and anemia are less common.
Discussion
This is the first study to actually examine the prevalence of parietal pores as a function of known age, race, and sex and provides a baseline for comparison with populations in which those variables are not clearly identifiable. While some porotic pores may be related to marrow hyperplasia, transcortical circulation may explain the majority.
... The second group was further divided into four subgroups: dental pathology, degenerative bone alterations, bone inflammation and Brothwell, 1980;Bartosiewicz, 2013;Rothschild & Martin, 2006) and veterinary medicine research (Craig et al., 2016). Specimens with the most pronounced changes were subjected to X-ray analysis using a Siemens Selenos 400 (55 kV, 16 mAs) X-ray apparatus and to computed tomography (CT) imaging with a Siemens Somatom AR.STAR scanner. ...
... These anomalies are often connected to aging and environmental factors (Bartosiewicz, 2013;Bulatovi c et al., 2016;Rothschild & Martin, 2006). This could also imply that, besides the focus on adult red deer (Bulatovi c, 2018), the hunting strategy might have been opportunistic and also oriented toward older (senile) individuals and those of a poor health status. ...
This paper aims to present the first evidence of animal diseases from the Central Balkan Eneolithic, a prehistoric period that lasted about two thousand years. The eponymous site of Bubanj in south‐eastern Serbia provided a diachronic perspective on animal pathologies developing during this long time period. We analysed 71 animal remains showing evidence of pathological changes. All of the remains exhibiting anomalies were subjected to macroscopic analysis, while the specimens with the most prominent alterations also underwent X‐ray and CT imaging. Anomalies were observed mostly in domestic animals. Only in caprines were all of the different types of anomalies present, with dental pathologies being the most frequent. Degenerative bone alterations were noted in around 78% of the domestic cattle specimens, while congenital anomalies were the most common type in domestic pigs. Pathological changes were also noted in dogs, aurochs, red deer, wild boars, beavers and bears. In most cases, the anomalies were caused by hereditary and environmental factors. Caprine dental pathologies were the result of ageing and poor‐quality nutrition. In domestic cattle, besides being caused by environmental factors, the degenerative alterations might also have been work‐related. The lack of palaeopathological data from other Eneolithic sites in the region, and the scarce or non‐existent evidence from the previous (Neolithic) and succeeding (Bronze Age) periods prevented comparative analyses and discussion of the results within wider temporal and spatial frames. Establishing a palaeopathological investigation of animal remains with anomalies from the prehistoric Central Balkans should be a standard, in order to provide us with a better understanding of human‐animal interactions.
... Palaeopathology, the study of ancient diseases and trauma, offers a unique snapshot into the immunology and life histories of extinct animals [4][5][6]. These studies are most prominent in vertebrates because conditions that affect bone are much more likely to be preserved than soft tissue conditions. ...
... Septic arthritis has not been previously noted in dinosaurs, though osteomyelitis has been identified in all dinosaurian groups including other hadrosauroids [4,33]. In this study, osteomyelitis was excluded due to the location around the elbow joint and reactive nature of the condition since, unlike in mammals, there is little to no periosteal reactive bone growth associated with osteomyelitis in birds and reptiles [15]. ...
Identification and interpretation of pathologies in the fossil record allows for unique insights into the life histories of extinct organisms. However, the rarity of such finds limits not only the sample size for palaeopathologic studies, but also the types of analyses that may be performed. In this study, we present the first occurrence of a palaeopathology in a vertebrate from the Mesozoic of the East Coast of North America (Appalachia), a pathologic ulna and radius of an indeterminate hadrosaur from the Navesink Formation (New Jersey). X-ray microtomography allowed for both detailed and more accurate diagnosis of the pathologic condition as well as virtual conservation of the specimen. Based on extant archosaurian comparisons, the hadrosaur was diagnosed with severe septic arthritis affecting the proximal ulna and radius. Diagnosis was based on erosion of the joint and highly reactive periosteal bone growth and fusion of the elements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first recorded account of septic arthritis in dinosaurs. The severity of the pathology suggests the animal suffered with this condition for some time before death. Unfortunately, only the ulna and radius were found. Thus, the extent to which the condition spread to other parts of the body is unknown.
... Those lapses are overcome by interdisciplinary efforts. As a student of primatology and medicine, it has been my privilege to interact with students of anatomy, behavior, physiology, biochemistry, systematics and taxonomy [14], evolutionary biology, communication and linguistics, animal husbandry, as well as veterinary and human medicine. I've learned a great deal and this knowledge has benefited my patients, independent of their species, and hopefully has proven of value and will continue to provide value to my primatology colleagues. ...
... Those lapses are overcome by interdisciplinary efforts. As a student of primatology and medicine, it has been my privilege to interact with students of anatomy, behavior, physiology, biochemistry, systematics and taxonomy[14], evolutionary biology, communication and linguistics, animal husbandry, as well as veterinary and human medicine. I've learned a great deal and this knowledge has benefited my patients, independent of their species, and hopefully has proven of value and will continue to provide value to my primatology colleagues. ...
... [1,2] have been attributed. Given past experience with the trans-phylogenetic uniformity of findings for a given disease [3,4], it seems reasonable to conduct an intensive examination of what is being referred to as meningioma. The purpose of this review of documented clinical cases and review the anthropologic literature for diagnosis accuracy by: ...
Background: The reliability of a recent review of meningiomas in the archeologic record was difficult to assess, given the inverted sex ratio of the report and other contents apparently at variance with anatomical/medical findings in scientifically identified cases. It therefore seemed appropriate to reexamine the nature of meningiomas and derive improve criteria for their recognition in the archeologic record and distinguish them from hemangiomas and bone marrow hyperplasia (recognized in the form of porotic hyperostosis). Methods: Medically documented cases of meningiomas were examined to establish a macroscopic standard distinguishing them. Alleged cases in the archeologic record were examined for conformity with those criteria. Results: An en face pattern of uniform mesh with contained whorls appears pathognomonic for meningiomas. This contrasts with the non-uniform marrow expansion displacement of trabeculae in porotic hyperostosis and non-uniform vascular displacement of trabeculae in hemangiomas. Reassessment of past attributions revealed few cases of meningiomas that could be confidently diagnosed. Those identified have sex ratios parsimonious with medical literature reports. Conclusions: Criteria suggested for identifying meningiomas permit distinguishing from hemangiomas, bone marrow hyperplasia (porotic hyperostosis) and from the macroscopically observable surface spicules characteristic of osteosarcomas. Examination for fulfillment of criteria for meningiomas and hemangiomas seems to provide a picture (including sex ratios) mirroring that of the clinical literature, concluding that Cook and Danforth’s disparate ratios were related to less fastidious case selection. Additionally, confidence in recognizing porotic hyperostosis may be compromised because of apparent similar macroscopic alterations to those seen with hemangiomas.
... Vertebral fusion is a serious and common bone disease (Rothschild 1997; Rothschild and Martin 2006) and is widely documented in modern and ancient humans (Rogers et al. 1985; Littleton 1999; Rothschild and Martin 2006), various other mammals (Rothschild and Martin 2006), non-avian dinosaurs (Blumberg and Sokoloff 1961; Rothschild and Berman 1991; Rothschild 1997; Molnar 2001; Butler et al. 2013; Farke and O'Connor 2007), reptiles (Rothschild 1997), and fishes (Britz and Johnson 2005). The most obvious causes of vertebral fusion are the ossification of the annulus fibrosus, often rugose and bulbous bone growth between the joined vertebrae, and the resulting loss of intervertebral flexibility. ...
Here we describe two instances of pathological vertebral fusion in two genera of sauropodomorph dinosaurs from the Early Jurassic Lufeng Formation in Yunnan, China. The first is a specimen, of Lufengosaurus huenei with two fused cervical vertebrae, and the other is a specimen of the Lufeng basal sauropod, with two fused caudal vertebrae. Both pathologies are consistent with spondyloarthropathy and represent the earliest known occurrence of that disease in dinosaurs. The two specimens affirm that early dinosaurs suffered from the same bone diseases as living vertebrates. Spondyloarthropathy in these dinosaurs may have been induced by long-term mechanical stress, such as weight bearing, and/or limited motion at the joint that would otherwise have inhibited such remodeling. In both cases, surface remodeling suggests that the animals survived well beyond the initiation of spondyloarthropathy.
... Osteochondritis (avascular necrosis) is recognised by sharp borders, typically with subsidence of the internal portion. Whereas osteochondritis has been considered ologic in the past (Aglietti et al. 1983), it is now generally considered to represent a fracture of the subchondral bone (Rothschild and Martin 2006 ). The relatively smooth borders of the deep pit therefore rather indicate osteochondrosis as a cause, but CT scans or histological sections of the phalanx would have to be produced in order to check for subluxation before a definitive diagnosis can be made. ...
Several types of pathological bony overgrowth are known from various dinosaur taxa but, except for stress fractures, are rarely reported from appendicular elements. Herein we describe pathological manual and pedal phalanges of a camarasaurid sauropod (SMA 0002), which show features rarely recognised in non-avian dinosaurs. They include lateral osteophytes and smoothing of phalangeal articular surfaces, a deep pit, proximal enthesophytes in pedal unguals, distal overgrowth associated with a fracture, and a knob-like overgrowth lateral to the distal condyles of a pedal phalanx. Their causes were assessed by means of visual examination, CT scans, and bone histology, where possible. The lateral osteophytes are interpreted as symptoms of osteoarthritis. The ossified tendon insertions in the unguals are most probably the result of prolonged, heavy use of the pedal claws, possibly for scratchdigging. The distal overgrowth is interpreted to have developed due to changed stress regimes, and to be the cause for the fracture. The deep pit represents most likely a case of osteochondrosis, whereas the knob-like overgrowth likely represents a post-traumatic phenomenon not previously reported in dinosaurs. The study confirms that a rigorous assessment of pathologies can yield information about behaviour in long-extinct animals.
The early centrosaurine ceratopsid, Wendiceratops pinhornensis, was discovered in Alberta, Canada in a medium density monodominant bonebed from the Oldman Formation (mid-Campanian, ~79 Ma). The bonebed contains abundant, well-preserved, adult-sized and some juvenile-sized postcranial material, allowing for the first description of a number of elements of the postcrania of this basal centrosaurine ceratopsid. The postcranial elements described are generally consistent with postcrania described for more derived centrosaurine taxa. However the rectangular-shaped distal terminus of the ischium previously considered to be an apomorphy of Wendiceratops. is shown to also be present in Medusaceratops, and thus may be a synapomorphy of basal centrsaurines. The bonebed represents a lag deposit within a mudstone-bearing overbank facies and contains individuals from multiple age classes. It contains over 95% ceratopsid remains, with all identifiable elements referable to Wendiceratops. The elements are completely disarticulated, but have undergone little weathering or abrasion (both Stage 0), although the ends of long bones and processes capped by cartilage in life frequently exhibit evidence of wet rot and breakage by hydrological reworking after decomposition. The taphonomy of the bonebed is consist with other monodominant centrosaurine bonebeds that have been interpreted as mass death assemblages preserving evidence of gregarious (herding) behavior. At approximately 79 million years old, the Wendiceratops bonebed is approximately two million years older than other ceratopsid bonebeds indicating that this bonebed is the oldest documented evidence of herding behavior in a ceratopsid.
The study of pathological bone modifications of extinct organisms of lineages, which are still living today, in combination with extant representatives, allows to infer data about population dynamics, lifestyle, and diseases they were subject to. Pathological studies in turtles are extensive; however, these contributions are mainly focused on extant representative records of survival rates or on non‐skeletonized material, and do not generally include morphological descriptions, illustrations, or data concerning their etiology and pathogenesis. As a consequence, paleopathology in turtles remains relatively poorly understood, especially considering extinct forms. In this context, we herein analyze marks of possible pathological origin recognized in two disarticulated plastral plates of the Spanish freshwater basal pan‐pleurodiran turtle Dortoka vasconica (Dortokidae), from its type locality, the Upper Cretaceous (late Campanian‐early Maastrichtian) fossil site of Laño 1 (Treviño County, Burgos, Spain). As a result, information regarding the possible etiology, pathogenesis, and stages of healing of the marks studied here are provided. A probable infectious origin is recognized as the etiology in both plates, these marks being considered as pathologies. This study contributes to our understanding of pathologies in extinct turtle taxa, specifically a stem‐pleurodiran turtle.
Given that bone microstructure is a very important source of paleobiological information, several paleohistological studies have been conducted on sauropodomorph dinosaurs, possibly making this clade the most studied histologically. Despite these paleohistological studies on sauropodomorph dinosaurs from South America are relatively scarce in comparison with other regions of the world, significant progress on this matter (i.e. paleohistology of South American sauropodomorphs) has been made during the last decade. Following an order from rather specific to more generalized issues, the most important advances are related to the origin of particular skeletal elements (i.e. osteoderms, sacral supraspinous ossifications and extremely elongated cervical ribs), the growth patterns of basal sauropodomorphs and the variation on sauropod growth dynamics and its relationship with gigantism. Regarding the origin of osteoderms and extremely elongated cervical ribs, these structures have been formed by metaplastic ossification of dermal and tendinous tissues, respectively. Their histological characterization has been helpful to discover that the alleged osteoderms of Agustinia ligabuei were actually dorsal and cervical ribs. The long bone histology of basal sauropodomorphs has revealed that the cyclical growth pattern assumed for this group actually showed some degree of variation. Finally, a clade of basal sauropods (i.e. lessemsaurids) was characterized by a cyclical growth pattern, not previously reported for other sauropods, combined with episodes of highly accelerated growth rates. The gigantic body sizes obtained by lessemsaurids were therefore reached through a growth strategy different from that developed by eusauropods (i.e. rapid and continuous growth).
Survey of transcortical channels across mammalian phylogeny exposes a previously unrecognized phenomena, localized to the most caudal third of a Sus scrofa parietal. The current study is performed to assess the nature, ontogeny and phylogenetic distribution of this phenomenon. Dissection of a fresh S. scrofa is performed to characterize the nature of these structures and assess the relationship of the phenomenon to overlying tissues. The external surface of the parietal region of the skulls of recent Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Lagomorpha, and Rodentia and Pleistocene Platygonus compressus are systematically examined by surface microscopy. Dissection of the parietal region of a S. scrofa head revealed a structure localized to the most caudal third of the parietal bone. It is composed of anastomosing blood vessels interposed between the dermis and bone. The phenomenon is present among Artiodactyla in all examined Suidae and Tayassuidae, but limited among Cervidae to Odocoileus and apparently limited among Perissodactyla to Tapiridae, both extant and extinct and independent of sex and age. A previously undescribed anatomic structure is observed during survey of transcortical parietal circulation. There is connection between the structure and parietal diploic vessels. Interpreted as a vascular plexus, the possibility of a countercurrent system for brain thermoregulation is considered.
The origin of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been controversial, with devouée committed to either New World or Old World origins. Support for the latter was predicated on observation of isolated Old World pre‐Columbian cases of inflammatory arthritis. The hypothesis is that spectral assessment of disease characteristics can determine the likelihood that pre‐Columbian Old World claims are validly attributed to RA. Do they represent spectrum outliers or do they have a different etiology (e.g., spondyloarthropathy)? The published literature was surveyed for reports alleging pre‐Columbian, Old World cases of RA. The disease characteristics in published reports claiming presence of pre‐Columbian RA were analyzed. Spectrum of disease (manifestations as population phenomenon) was utilized to assess likelihood diagnoses, when only isolated cases are recognized. None of the accessible 41 reported cases, with adequate information to allow assessment, described/illustrated individuals with the polyarticular, marginally distributed erosions in the absence of peri‐erosional sclerosis, reactive new bone formation, or ankyloses/fusion that is typical of RA. The findings in 90% of reports were actually classic for spondyloarthropathy. The probability of valid diagnosis of RA among individuals with subchondral erosions was less than 0.0001; individuals with joint fusion/ankyloses, <0.0001; and individuals with axial joint disease, 0.0002. Observation only of outliers, without other individuals (in the same sample/population) representing the spectrum of disease that characterizes RA, provided a spectral pattern incompatible with that diagnosis. The role of spectral patterns was supported as an effective tool for generating confidence in paleopathological diagnoses. Additionally, confidently identified pre‐Columbian Old World RA removes the objection to its suggested New World Origin.
El propósito de este trabajo es presentar los resultados del análisis bioarqueológico realizado sobre una muestra procedente de la Unidad Inferior del sitio Chenque I (Parque Nacional Lihué Calel, provincia de La Pampa, Argentina). El objetivo es generar conocimiento en relación con la organización de las actividades cotidianas entre los cazadores-recolectores allí inhumados. La muestra estuvo compuesta por adultos de ambos sexos (n: 16). Se relevó el esqueleto apendicular y el axial, con el fin de identificar y medir la distribución, la frecuencia y la severidad de la osteoartritis y los nódulos de Schmörl, respectivamente. Los datos sugirieron que, entre los cazadores-recolectores inhumados en este cementerio del Holoceno tardío, habrían existido usos del cuerpo diferenciales según el sexo y la edad, aunque mujeres y varones podrían haber compartido algunos de ellos. Otros factores, como el rol social de los individuos, podrían haber influido en la organización de las actividades.
The study of palaeopathology provides valuable information about injury and behaviour in extinct organisms. Appendicular pathologies are interesting as they directly affect mobility and therefore the ability of an animal to survive. Here, the injuries recorded in the left pes of the neornithischian Othnielosaurus consors are described. The implications of these injuries in its behaviour are also discussed. Othnielosaurus shows pathological features in all its pes digits, with three types of pathologies have been identified: calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), and pilon and impact fractures. Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease is visible on the articular surface of phalange II-3 as a small osseous plaque. A pilon fracture is evidenced by the growth of callus tissue on the shaft of the phalange I-1 and demonstrates healing before death. The impact fractures are identified as a focal subsidence on the articular surfaces of phalanges III-1 and IV-4, which are partially healed. Perhaps the suite of palaeopathologies encountered would generate pain and discomfort when walking, which probably resulted in a limp that would have impacted on its lifestyle. Finally, the fact that the fractures are in different stages of healing would suggest that impact fractures could have contributed to the death of the individual.
The lizard genus Yabeinosaurus is a common and relatively well-known member of Chinese Lower Cretaceous Jehol Biota, found in both the Yixian and Jiufotang formations of north-eastern China. Previous research on Yabeinosaurus has revealed information on its morphology, phylogenetic position, colouration, diet, and viviparous reproductive strategy. Herein we describe a new specimen preserving the skull and postcranial skeleton. The skull shows features characteristic of Yabeinosaurus robustus, but reveals the morphology of the vomer for the first time. In the postcranial skeleton, the most significant feature is a malformation of the fibula resulting from a fracture that occurred several months before the animal died, possibly as the result of intraspecies aggression or a predation attempt.
Congenital synostoses are defined as rare abnormal formations of primary anatomical structures. There are three major classifications: 1) skeletal anomalies, 2) soft tissue anomalies, and 3) anomalies involving both skeletal and soft tissues. Radioulnar synostosis is the most common form of upper limb abnormality. Synostoses between the humerus and either the ulna, radius, or both have been documented but are far less common. Of these cases, the most common type is humeroradial synostosis followed by humeroradioulnar and humeroulnar synostosis. This study presents a case of a late medieval (15-16th c. A.D) adult male skeleton housed at the Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy of the Polish Academy of Sciences with bilateral upper limb synostosis. Macroscopic and radiographic analyses suggest a diagnosis of congenital humeroradioulnar and humeroulnar synostosis. The right radius and ulna are hypoplastic. The left radial neck was reduced. The left radial head and the radial notch of the left ulna were absent. The radiographs demonstrate that the skeletal structures of the elbow are absent, suggesting fusion of the radius and ulna. A review of the clinical and bioarchaeological literature was conducted to assess differential diagnoses for the conjoined humerus, radius, and ulna. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case of congenital humeroradioulnar synostosis in the paleopathological literature.
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.
In humans, little is yet known about the origins of the inflammatory rheumatisms of the spondyloarthritides group, especially regarding the period of their emergence. However, a better knowledge of their history would help to clarify their aetiology. We report a paleopathological case of European origin, dated from the late Neolithic (3621-3023 cal BC), consisting of an isolated vertebral block combining erosion, ossification and severe anterior and posterior ankylosis. The lesional presentation is very suggestive of a severe form of axial spondyloarthritis. This specimen and some other rare cases from the same period found in Western Europe suggest that these diseases appeared, in this geographical region, in evolving groups of humans as part of the demographic and epidemiological transition that constituted the Neolithic period. The emergence of infectious agents and the profound dietary changes that occurred during this period of human history may have favoured the appearance of the spondyloarthritides.
Specimen-level phylogenetic approaches are widely used in molecular biology for taxonomic and systematic purposes. However, they have been largely ignored in analyses based on morphological traits, where phylogeneticists mostly resort to species-level analyses. Recently, a number of specimen-level studies have been published in vertebrate palaeontology. These studies indicate that specimen-level phylogeny may be a very useful tool for systematic reassessments at low taxonomic levels. Herein, we review the challenges when working with individual organisms as operational taxonomic units in a palaeontological context, and propose guidelines of how best to perform a specimen-level phylogenetic analysis using the maximum parsimony criterion. Given that no single methodology appears to be perfectly suited to resolve relationships among individuals, and that different taxa probably require different approaches to assess their systematics, we advocate the use of a number of methodologies. In particular, we recommend the inclusion of as many specimens and characters as feasible, and the analysis of relationships using an extended implied weighting approach with different downweighting functions. Resulting polytomies should be explored using a posteriori pruning of unstable specimens, and conflicting tree topologies between different iterations of the analysis should be evaluated by a combination of support values such as jackknifing and symmetric resampling. Species delimitation should be consistent among the ingroup and based on a reproducible approach. Although time-consuming and methodologically challenging, specimen-level phylogenetic analysis is a highly useful tool to assess intraspecific variability and provide the basis for a more informed and accurate creation of species-level operational taxonomic units in large-scale systematic studies. It also has the potential to inform us about past speciation processes, morphological trait evolution, and their potential intrinsic and extrinsic drivers in pre-eminent detail.
Osseous anomalies/pathologies in the Late Cretaceous cryptobranchid
salamander Eoscapherpeton asiaticum from the Turonian
Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan are
analyzed using gross morphological description, microCT, and histologic
analysis. These pathologies result from
trauma (fractured and subsequently healed dentary and femora; hematoma on
femur), possible infection due to trauma (prearticular with exostosis and
necrotic cavities; anterior trunk vertebra and fused vertebra with
pathological enlargements formed during reactive periosteal growth) and
congenital disorders (hemivertebra and fused vertebrae with shortened
asymmetrical centra and abnormal arrangements of transverse processes). The
origin of the pathologies of two atlantal specimens (enlargement of
transverse processes) is unclear. Our report of hemivertebra in
Eoscapherpeton is the first occurrence of this congenital pathology
in a fossil lissamphibian. The occurrence of several traumatic femoral
pathologies in Eoscapherpeton could be a result of intraspecific
aggressive behavior. Bone pathologies are described for the first time in
fossil salamanders.
Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Aldabra Atoll is home to about 100 000 giant tortoises, Aldabrachelys gigantea, whose fossil record goes back to the Late Pleistocene. New Late Pleistocene fossils (age ca. 90–125 000 years) from the atoll revealed some appendicular bones and numerous shell fragments of giant tortoises and cranial and postcranial elements of crocodylians. Several tortoise bones show circular holes, pits and scratch marks that are interpreted as bite marks of crocodylians. The presence of a Late Pleistocene crocodylian species, Aldabrachampsus dilophus, has been known for some time, but the recently found crocodylian remains presented herein are distinctly larger than those previously described. This indicates the presence of at least some larger crocodylians, either of the same or of a different species, on the atoll. These larger crocodylians, likely the apex predators in the Aldabra ecosystem at the time, were well capable of inflicting damage on even very large giant tortoises. We thus propose an extinct predator–prey interaction between crocodylians and giant tortoises during the Late Pleistocene, when both groups were living sympatrically on Aldabra, andwe discuss scenarios for the crocodylians directly attacking the tortoises or scavenging on recently deceased animals.
Fossilized soft tissues, occasionally found together with skeletal remains, provide insights to the physiology and functional morphology of extinct organisms. Herein, we present unusual fossilized structures from the cortical region of bone identified in isolated skeletal remains of Middle Triassic nothosaurs from Upper Silesia, Poland. The ribbed or annuli-shaped structures have been found in a sample of partially demineralized coracoid and are interpreted as either giant red blood cells or as blood vessel walls. The most probable function is reinforcing the blood vessels from changes of nitrogen pressure in air-breathing diving reptiles. These structures seem to have been built of extensible muscle layers which prevent the vessel damage during rapid ascent. Such suspected function presented here is parsimonious with results of previous studies, which indicate rarity of the pathological modification of bones associated with decompression syndrome in Middle Triassic nothosaurs.
An often cited statement in the medical literature is that nine Inca mummies (c.400 bc) had skin and osseous lesions from melanoma. However, a review of the pattern and type of osseous lesions exhibited by these individuals and the age of at least one of them indicate the data are inconsistent with a diagnosis of melanoma.
We performed a paleopathological and paleoepidemiological analysis for a Notiomastodon platensis population (47 individuals) from the Late Pleistocene of Brazil recovered from Quaternary sediments in Águas de Araxá (QAA), which revealed three different osseous diseases: Schmorl's node, osteomyelitis and osteoarthritis. All diagnosed injuries were observed in adult individuals, with 6.3% of crude prevalence (3/47 individuals) and 10.3% age-specific prevalence (3/29 adults individuals). The lesions suggest a more stress of diseases in adult individuals than in young ones, which can be due to the characteristic of the populational structure (declining population).
Despite documentation of various types of neoplastic pathologies encountered in the vertebrate fossil record, no ameloblastic tumours have been recognised so far. Ameloblastoma is a benign neoplasic tumour with a strong preponderance for the mandible. Here, we report for the first time the presence of an ameloblastoma neoplasm in the lower jaw of a specimen referred to the derived non-hadrosaurid hadrosauroid dinosaur Telmatosaurus transsylvanicus from the uppermost Cretaceous of the Hat. eg Basin in Romania. The location, external appearance and internal structure of the pathological outgrowth provide clear evidence for the diagnosis of ameloblastoma in Telmatosaurus. This report extends the range of pathologies encountered in hadrosauroid dinosaurs. In addition, recognition of an ameloblastoma neoplasm in a taxon lying close to the origin of 'duck-billed' hadrosaurid dinosaurs confirms the predisposition of this clade towards neoplasia pathologies already in its basal members.
To the Editor:
Takizawa, et al described alar ligament and transverse ligament calcification in patients reported as having rheumatoid arthritis1,2,3. Lack of full clinical information precludes assessment as to whether their application of the term “rheumatoid” identifies the specific disease or nonspecifically identifies generalized inflammatory arthritis4 …
Address correspondence to Dr. B. Rothschild, Department of Vertebrate Paleontology, Carnegie Museum, 4400 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 44272, USA. E-mail: spondylair{at}gmail.com
Evidence from the Pierre Shale (Late Cretaceous) of South Dakota is presented for an attack on a juvenile Hesperornis by a polycotylid plesiosaur. The wound healed and the Hesperornis grew to maturity. Evidence of survival provides our best information about predator prey interactions in the fossil record but are rare for birds where survival is an unlikely outcome.
Antiquity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains controversial, and its origins in Americas or in the Old World are disputed. Proponents of the latter frequently refer to RA in ancient Egypt, but validity of those claims has never been examined. Review of all reported RA cases from ancient Egypt revealed that none of them represent real RA, instead being either examples of changing naming conventions or of imprecise diagnostic criteria. Most cases represented osteoarthritis or spondyloarthropathies. Also review of preserved ancient Egyptian medical writings revealed many descriptions of musculoskeletal disorders, but none of them resembled RA. This suggests that RA was absent in ancient Egypt and supports the hypothesis of the New World origin of RA and its subsequent global spread in the last several centuries.
Recognition of muscle attachment sites and their modification has been an important tool in anthropologic and paleontologic research, but has been compromised by limited ability to recognise sites of tendinous attachments. We investigated bone–tendon (three sites) and bone–muscle (six sites) interfaces in six pairs of femora across a broad taxonomic spectrum of higher amniote archosaurs (both recent and fossil) by epi-illumination microscopy. Direct fleshy and indirect tendinous muscle attachments were identified by dissection of fresh specimens and examination of fossils and the surface microscopic changes identified at those locations. Examination revealed bone modifications specific to each type of muscle insertion, allowing them to be identified and distinguished. Application of a surface microscopy technique not only permits more confident localisation of tendinous attachments, but for the first time allows recognition of sites of direct fleshy muscle attachments – in a reproducible manner across phylogenetic lines.
The reactive form of spondyloarthropathy appears inducible by exposure to agents of infectious diarrhea, but do those organisms represent the tip of the iceberg, as indicated by renewed interest in gastrointestinal flora? Prevalence of spondyloarthropathy (20% of chimpanzees [Pan] and 28% of gorillas) is independent of subspecies and species, respectively. However, there are major differences in arthritis patterns, a characteristic shared with humans.
Do patterns of arthritis correlate with gastrointestinal flora? Could such associated modifications be in the form of disease induction or represent protective effectors (at least against the extent of peripheral arthritis)?
The skeletons of 2 chimpanzee subspecies (79 Pan troglodytes troglodytes and 26 Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) and 2 gorilla species (99 Gorilla gorilla and 38 Gorilla beringei) adults were examined, and arthritis pattern noted. Feces of Eastern (P. schweinfurthii and G. beringei) and Western (great apes collected in their normal ranges) apes were assessed for 16S rRNA c and its character.
Patterns of arthritis recognized on examination of skeletons showed geographic variation in skeletal distribution. East African apes (P. troglodytes schweinfurthii and G. beringei) had pauciarticular arthritis and frequent sacroiliac disease, whereas West African apes (P. troglodytes troglodytes and G. gorilla) had polyarticular peripheral joint disease with minimal sacroiliac involvement. DNA evidence revealed that Corynebactericeae were prominently represented in great apes with polyarticular disease, whereas Dietzia and Bifidobacterium exposure correlated with reduced peripheral joint arthritis distribution.
Suggestions of a protective effect (in this case, limiting extent of peripheral arthritis, but not the disease itself) offered by these organisms are well represented by documented effects in other diseases (eg, tuberculosis) in the zoologic record. Perhaps it is this disease-modifying character that reduces the extent of the peripheral erosive disease, while increasing propensity to axial (sacroiliac) disease. A potential role for probiotic organisms in management of arthritis in humans is suggested, as has been documented for tuberculosis, gastrointestinal disorders, and food allergies.
To the Editor:
When are synostoses congenital in origin and when are they secondary in origin, and the result of fracture healing or an inflammatory process? Maharaj and Chandran1 suggested the publication of the first documented case of synostosis in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a …
Adult large-bodied theropods are often found with numerous pathologies. A large, almost complete, probably adult Allosaurus specimen from the Howe Stephens Quarry, Morrison Formation (Late Kimmeridgian–Early Tithonian), Wyoming, exhibits multiple pathologies. Pathologic bones include the left dentary, two cervical vertebrae, one cervical and several dorsal ribs, the left scapula, the left humerus, the right ischium, and two left pedal phalanges. These pathologies can be classified as follows: the fifth cervical vertebra, the scapula, several ribs and the ischium are probably traumatic, and a callus on the shaft of the left pedal phalanx II-2 is probably traumatic-infectious. Traumatically fractured elements exposed to frequent movement (e.g., the scapula and the ribs) show a tendency to develop pseudarthroses instead of a callus. The pathologies in the lower jaw and a reduced extensor tubercle of the left pedal phalanx II-2 are most likely traumatic or developmental in origin. The pathologies on the fourth cervical are most likely developmental in origin or idiopathic, that on the left humerus could be traumatic, developmental, infectious or idiopathic, whereas the left pedal phalanx IV-1 is classified as idiopathic. With exception of the ischium, all as traumatic/traumatic-infectious classified pathologic elements show unambiguous evidences of healing, indicating that the respective pathologies did not cause the death of this individual. Alignment of the scapula and rib pathologies from the left side suggests that all may have been caused by a single traumatic event. The ischial fracture may have been fatal. The occurrence of multiple lesions interpreted as traumatic pathologies again underlines that large-bodied theropods experienced frequent injuries during life, indicating an active predatory lifestyle, and their survival perhaps supports a gregarious behavior for Allosaurus. Alternatively, the frequent survival of traumatic events could be also related to the
Odontochelys semitestacea, the oldest known turtle, from the Late Triassic of China, shows a pathology. Sharply defined, focal depressions were noted on the articular surfaces of both humeri, documenting avascular necrosis. Diving habits of Mesozoic marine reptiles have been characterized on the basis of this localized form of bone death attributed to decompression syndrome. Pursuit by a predator was likely the cause of dangerously rapid depth changes by swimming turtles. The prevalence of avascular necrosis decreased geometrically from the Cretaceous to the Pleistocene. This study suggests that the habit of repetitive diving in turtles was already present in the Late Triassic, but that protective physiological and behavioral adaptations had not yet evolved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.