Amorphous globosus explained

An amorphus globosus (from Greek: αμορφή (amorphē) 'formless' and Latin: globus 'sphere'), also known as a globosus amorphus,^[1] or an amorphus globosus monster, 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.

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,^[2] in which one embryo does not develop normally. In two cases, the karyotype of the amorphus was identical to its normally developing twin,^{[3] [4]} while in another case, the karyotype deviated from the normal twin,^[5] so an emergence from fraternal twins also seems possible.

Distribution

Amorphus globosus is more common in livestock than generally assumed.^[6] It occurs most commonly in cattle, but there are also case reports in goats and horses.^[7] A case of amorphus globosus has also been described in human medicine, where it was also a twin pregnancy.^[8]

See also

• Birth defect
• Twin reversed arterial perfusion
• Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus

External links

• Image of an amorphus globosus in cattle on website of Cornell University

Notes and References

1. Kamimura . S. . Enomoto . S. . Goto . K. . Hamana . K. . A Globosus amorphus from an in vitro fertilized embryo transferred to a Japanese black cow . Theriogenology . 21 September 2023 . 853–858 . 10.1016/0093-691X(93)90220-Y . 1 October 1993. 40 . 4 . 16727366 .
2. Book: 503 . Hopper . Richard M. . Bovine Reproduction . 30 April 2021 . John Wiley & Sons . 978-1-119-60245-3 . 21 September 2023 . en.
3. 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.
4. 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, . PMID 16727366.
5. 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, . PMID 3199627.
6. M. 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, . PMID 19881925. .
7. P. J. Crossman, P. S. Dickens: Amorphus globosus in the mare. In: The Veterinary record. Band 95, Nummer 1, Juli 1974, S. 22, . PMID 4432366.
8. 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, . PMID 13231331.