An amorphus globosus (from
Greek: αμορφή (amorphē) 'formless' and
Latin:
globus 'sphere'), also known as a globosus amorphus,[1] or an amorphus globosus monster,[1] is a
malformation occurring in
veterinary medicine, especially in
domestic cattle. Instead of a normally developed
fetus, it results in the formation of a more or less spherical structure covered with hairy skin, which contains parts of all three
germ layers; the differentiation of its contents can vary greatly. An amorphus globosus is not viable due to the lack of functional
organs.[2]
Origin
The
teratological reasons for the development of amorphus globosus are not fully understood, but it is believed that the malformation is generally associated with
twin gestation,[3] in which one
embryo does not develop normally. In two cases, the
karyotype of the amorphus was identical to its normally developing twin,[4][5] while in another case, the karyotype deviated from the normal twin,[6] so an emergence from fraternal twins also seems possible.
Distribution
Amorphus globosus is more common in
livestock than generally assumed.[2] It occurs most commonly in cattle, but there are also
case reports in
goats[2] and
horses.[7] A case of amorphus globosus has also been described in
human medicine, where it was also a twin pregnancy.[8]
^
abcM. T. Anwar, A. I. Khan, S. Balasubramanian, R. Jayaprakash, T. A. Kannan, S. Manokaran, S. A. Asokan, C. Veerapandian: A rare case of globosus amorphus in a goat. In: The Canadian veterinary journal. La revue vétérinaire canadienne. Band 50, Nummer 8, August 2009, S. 854–856,
ISSN0008-5286. PMID 19881925.
PMC2711472.
^M. Hishinuma, Y. Takahashi, H. Kanagawa: Histological and cytological observation on a bovine acardius amorphus. In: Jpn J Vet Sci. 49, 1987, S. 195–197.
^S. Kamimura, S. Enomoto, K. Goto, K. Hamana: A Globosus amorphus from an in vitro fertilized embryo transferred to a Japanese black cow. In: Theriogenology. Band 40, Nummer 4, Oktober 1993, S. 853–858,
ISSN0093-691X. PMID 16727366.
^M. Hishinuma, N. Hoshi, Y. Takahashi, H. Kanagawa: Vasculature and chromosomal composition in a bovine acardius amorphus. In: Nihon juigaku zasshi. The Japanese journal of veterinary science. Band 50, Nummer 5, Oktober 1988, S. 1139–1141,
ISSN0021-5295. PMID 3199627.
^P. J. Crossman, P. S. Dickens: Amorphus globosus in the mare. In: The Veterinary record. Band 95, Nummer 1, Juli 1974, S. 22,
ISSN0042-4900. PMID 4432366.
^T. Maggiora-Vergano, G. Gentile: [A case of amorphous twin: holocardius amorphous globosus]. In: La Clinica ostetrica e ginecologica. Band 56, Nummer 4, August 1954, S. 235–244,
ISSN0393-9227. PMID 13231331.