Abstract
In this case report, the occurrence of thoracomelia in a female sheep is reported. Thoracomelia is acongenital malformation that can affect several animal species and is characterized by the presence ofa supernumerary limb in the thoracic region. Scientific studies regarding the etiology of changes of thisnature are limited in veterinary medicine, especially concerning sheep. So far, there is no consensusregarding if the origin of this congenital malformation is genetic or environmental. Here, we provide thehistorical and photographic record of thoracomelia in a female sheep, and relate the malformation to anenvironmental cause: physical aggression suffered during embryonic development. The sheep underwenta surgical procedure for removal of the accessory limb and subsequently remained in the breeding line,giving birth to healthy descendants without thoracomelia.
Highlights
Heterotopic polymelia is characterized by the presence of supernumerary limbs, which are usually accessory and non-functional
When the accessory limb is located on the thorax, the deformity is classified as thoracomelia
Based on the criteria presented by Werner (2011), the malformation observed in this study was an instance of thoracomelia
Summary
Heterotopic polymelia is characterized by the presence of supernumerary limbs, which are usually accessory and non-functional. When the accessory limb is located on the thorax, the deformity is classified as thoracomelia. Such occurrences can be caused by embryonic cell death or injury (Werner, 2011). This type of malformation is more common in cattle, with accessory limbs tending to be small and deformed (Wammes et al, 2013). In veterinary medicine, etiological studies of these deformities are often based on archeozoological findings, which are limited by three main factors. Anatomical knowledge is often lacking and methodologies are inconsistent when such findings have occurred at random in field bone collections. Deformities of genetic origin usually affect soft tissues, and these are always absent in archeozoological findings (Paukovics, 2013)
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