Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ, a type of ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
A fetal monster is a severely malformed fetus, that is either causes by an infectious disease or a congenital defect. ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ฉ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ is a unique type of fetal monster where the fetus forms a round ball of connective tissue and fat, with a haired skin covering. Sometimes, even cartilage and bone can be found within the mass. There is typically no circulatory system or heart in these specimens.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this! It has been reported primarily in ruminants, like cattle, buffalo, goats, etc. This is an extremely rare condition though, so it is very cool to find one!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Amorphous globosus is believed be caused by an abnormal twin pregnancy, as these fetal monsters are often found alongside a normal fetus.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Generally these donโt cause issues, other than perhaps the economic impacts of losing a fetus in production animals. Sometimes, they can cause ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐๐ข๐ (difficulty giving birth) for the mother, by obstructing the birth canal.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-2) An example of a bovine amorphous globosus, showing the external haired skin and the inner tissues. You can even see that this fetus started developing the palate of the mouth and other oral tissues!
3-6) More examples of amorphous globosus, primarily from cattle.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 3. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1 and 2 courtesy of University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
Photos 3-6 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
