Clinical and pathological studies on nutritional fibrous osteodystrophy in goats


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Ozmen O., Şahinduran S., AYDOĞAN A., Sevgisunar N. S., HALIGÜR M.

ANKARA UNIVERSITESI VETERINER FAKULTESI DERGISI, vol.64, no.1, pp.55-59, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

Abstract

Fibrous osteodystrophy is a metabolic disease that characterized marked bone resorption with fibrous tissue proliferations, cysts formations and insufficient mineralization of immature bone. Nutritional fibrous osteodystrophy was developed in 37 goats from two different goat flocks in Isparta in Turkey. The aim of this study was to examine clinicopathological findings and treatment of this rare disease. Affected animals were between 2-4 months of age and were normal at birth. Clinical signs were started about 2 months of age and characterized by mandibular and maxillary enlargements, softening of the bones (especially facial bones), varying degrees of mouth opening and protruding tongue, dyspnea, leg deformities, exophthalmos, and mastication problems. Exophthalmos was seen in 13 kids due to enlargement of facial bones into the cavum orbita. Leg deformities were observed in 11 kids and they had walking problems. Blood calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, vitamin D3 and parathormone levels were examined. Affected animals had increased levels of phosphorus and parathormone, as well as higher alkaline phosphatase activity. 23 kids died from the disease and 10 of them were necropsied. At necropsy, bilateral enlargement of the maxilla and mandibula, leg deformities and incomplete rib fractures were observed in kids. Histopathologically, severe diffuse proliferation of loose connective tissue surrounded the osteoid trabeculae, many of which were partially or completely non mineralized and accompanied by numerous osteoclastic giant cells. Soil analysis of the pasture revealed marked decrease in calcium level (1%). The newly born and under the one month of age kids in the flocks (totally 527 goat kids) were treated with Ca and Vit D. No new cases were observed after treatment.