Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Miniature horse with severe limb deformities - what's wrong?
By Tyson, Reid et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2004·Veterinary Specialists Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Skeletal atavism in a miniature horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old miniature horse filly was brought in because she had severe limb deformities, making her legs look twisted and misaligned. X-rays showed that she had complete ulnas and fibulas, which are bones that are usually not fully developed in modern horses. This unusual condition, known as atavism, means she has traits that were seen in her ancestors but not in recent generations. The filly also had a condition called osteochondritis dissecans, which can cause joint pain. This case is the first of its kind reported in miniature horses, highlighting a rare genetic trait.
People also search for: miniature horse limb deformities · horse leg problems · atavism in horses · osteochondritis dissecans treatment · horse bone development issues
Abstract
An 8-month-old miniature horse filly was presented for evaluation of severe rotational and angular limb deformities of the thoracic and pelvic limbs. On radiographic examination, complete ulnas and fibulas were identified. These findings are consistent with a condition previously described as a form of atavism. The term atavism is used to describe the reappearance of a trait or character that was seen in all earlier evolutionary specimens of a particular species, but has not been seen in recent ancestors. The atavistic traits of complete ulnas and fibulas have previously been described in Welsh and Shetland Ponies, all of which had severe rotational and angular limb deformities. In this horse, bilateral osteochondritis dissecans of the medial trochlear ridge of the talii were also identified. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the atavistic traits of complete ulnas and fibulas seen in the miniature horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15373256/