Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ literally means crooked joint, which is a pretty accurate description of this disease! In this condition, an animal is born with joints that cannot straighten, and occasionally entire limbs that cannot straighten.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Unfortunately the cause of this condition is often unclear, but it is thought to be related to decreased limb movement while in the womb. The underlying issue is improper development of the nerves supplying muscles in the limbs, preventing normal movement and muscular development. This improper nerve development may be genetic, linked to toxin ingestion or viral infection of the mother, or it may just be a sporadic disease that pops up without any specific cause.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Unfortunately these animals are often unable to walk or stand, due to their improper nerve development and crooked joints. Thus, they cannot nurse to receive ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ, the motherโs first milk which contains high levels of antibodies that allows the baby to respond to infections.
Additionally, arthrogryposis is often associated with other severe musculoskeletal abnormalities like ๐ฌ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (sideways curving of the spine), ๐ค๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ (rounding of the spine) or ๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฌ (twisting of the neck).
These animals are often euthanized because there is no known treatment for this condition.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-5) Examples of crooked joints in pigs and calves! But remember, any species, even humans, can get this condition.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-5 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
