Biomedical subjects

J Arnbjerg

Publications and source records attributed to J Arnbjerg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

X-linked spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia tarda in the Danish-Swedish farm hound.

In two litters from the same parents, three out of four males had an abnormally short leg and body length. Affected dogs showed signs of pain when moving, which could be eliminated by analgesia. On radiography, these animals had widened, radiolucent, irregularly bordered intervertebral disc spaces. When examined at seven months of age, the epiphyses appeared widened and irregular in shape and outline. General bone opacity in the vertebral column was lower in the affected male dogs than in the normal littermate. The affected dogs developed spondylosis and arthrosis of the larger limb joints. All affected dogs were euthanased on humane grounds, the eldest at the age of two years nine months. Based on the clinical and radiographic evidence, the condition seen in the male dogs described here resembles X-linked spondylo-epiphyseal dysplasia tarda caused by a collagenopathy due to malformation of COL2A1 as seen in human beings.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Evaluation of the inheritance of the complex vertebral malformation syndrome by breeding studies.

To investigate the congenital complex vertebral malformation syndrome (CVM) in Holstein calves, two breeding studies were performed including 262 and 363 cows, respectively. Cows were selected from the Danish Cattle Database based on pedigree and insemination records. Selected cows were progeny of sires with an established heterozygous CVM genotype and pregnant after insemination with semen from another sire with heterozygous CVM genotype. Following calving the breeders should state, if the calf was normal and was requested to submit dead calves for necropsy. In both studies, significantly fewer CVM affected calves than expected were obtained; a finding probably reflecting extensive intrauterine mortality in CVM affected foetuses. The findings illustrate increased intrauterine mortality as a major potential bias in observational studies of inherited disorders.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2001

Complex vertebral malformation in holstein calves.

A recently observed lethal congenital defect of purebred Holstein calves is reported. Eighteen genetically related calves were necropsied. One calf had been aborted on gestation day 159, and the others were delivered between day 250 and day 285. Birth weights were reduced. The defect was characterized by shortening of the cervical and thoracic parts of the vertebral column due to multiple hemivertebrae, fused and misshaped vertebrae, and scoliosis. Symmetrical flexures of the carpal joints and the metacarpophalangeal joint in combination with a slight lateral rotation of the phalanges also were present. Similar low-grade arthrogryposis was present in the posterior limbs. Fifty percent of the calves had heart malformation. Other malformations occurred in a few calves. Complex vertebral malformation (CVM) is proposed as the designation for this defect. A genetic etiology is indicated because cases occurred following breeding between genetically related individuals. Two common ancestors were found; both were former elite sires of US Holstein origin. Because of the widespread international use of semen from sires occurring in the pedigrees of affected calves, CVM is expected to occur in several countries.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2000

Abnormal growth plate function in pigs carrying a dominant mutation in type X collagen.

We have identified a naturally occurring, dominant mutation that causes dwarfism in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa). With a positional candidate gene approach, the dwarf phenotype was shown to be a result of a single amino acid change, G590R, in the alpha1 (X) chain of type X collagen. Type X collagen is a homotrimer of alpha1(X) chains encoded by the COL10A1 gene, which is expressed in hypertrophic chondrocytes during the process of endochondral ossification. An amino acid substitution at the equivalent position in human type X collagen, G595E, has previously been shown to cause Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (SMCD), which is a relatively mild skeletal disorder associated with dwarfism and growth plate abnormality. Consistent with the clinical phenotype of SMCD patients, radiological and histological examination of the dwarf pigs revealed metaphyseal chondrodysplasia in the long bones. Yeast-based, two-hybrid protein interaction studies and in vitro assembly experiments demonstrated that the amino acid substitution interfered with the ability of the mutated collagen molecules to engage in trimerization. This work establishes that the chondrodysplastic dwarf pigs by genetic, biochemical, radiological and histological criteria provide a valid animal model of SMCD.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Evaluation of radiology as a tool to diagnose pulmonic lesions in calves, for example prior to experimental infection studies.

The aim of the study was to evaluate radiology as a technique to visualize pulmonary lesions in young calves, e.g. as a selection criterion for research animals in order to eliminate animals with lung lesions prior to experimental studies of pneumonia. Five calves with acute clinical signs of pneumonia were included in a direct comparative study of radiological and post mortem findings. Also, a number of animals with no signs of pneumonia were included as controls. The study revealed good agreement between the radiological and post mortem findings. Thus, in conclusion, radiology should be considered as a useful objective tool to predict the presence of pulmonary lesions in young calves.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Recent information about hip dysplasia.

Dogs suffering from HD have a genetic background, but the releasing factors are many. Two of the most important are overnutrition and overexercising, especially in the young puppy. Radiography can give an estimate of the degree of secondary OA, and by evaluating the laxity in the hip joints at an early age, it seems to be possible to predict the chances for later development of OA. The eradication program has to be instituted in such a way that only the best dogs are accepted into breeding programs. It seems to be more efficient to eradicate the genetic part of the etiology by creating a breeding index by means of evaluating the offspring of the male dogs.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Immunocytochemical demonstration of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in the porcine epiphyseal cartilage canals.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), a member of the vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)/secretin/glucagon family, is known to be a powerful stimulator of adenylate cyclase. Recently, PACAP has been shown to stimulate cAMP in osteoblast-like cells and mouse calvarian bones. In the present study, PACAP immunoreactivity (IR) was demonstrated in cartilage canals from newborn and 3-4-week-old pigs. In tissues from the femoral head and the patella with and without ossification centres, PACAP-IR nerve fibres were found in the cartilage canals innervating blood vessels. The pattern of distribution was not dependent on age or the occurrence of an ossification centre. Co-localization studies showed a high degree of co-localization with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) but little co-localization with VIP. Our findings support earlier findings of CGRP, SP and VIP in bone tissue and add PACAP to the group of neuropeptides with a sensory and/or modulatory function in bone tissue.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

The sequelae of fragmented anconeal process (FAP) lesion in pigs: a radiologic, macroscopic and histopathological investigation.

The development of the anconeal process its lesions and their sequelae were scrutinized during the follow-up radiographic study (every 5 months) of porcine osteochondrosis of elbow joint bones done in 80 Danish Landrace pigs from day 42 of age to 38 months of age. The anconeal process was observed radiologically to be ossified at the age of between 6 to 7 months. Normally it ossifies by pyramidal extension from the proximal ulna. However, fragmented/ separated anconeal process lesion was demonstrated in 15 pigs (the process was "ununited' with the rest of the proximal ulna). The diagnosis was confirmed in nine pigs at gross post-mortem and microscopically when the pigs were slaughtered due to other reasons than lameness of the front leg. These cases were interpreted as "fragmented/separated anconeal process' (FAP/SAP). This lesion showed a tendency to heal with increasing age. The lesions were healed in all surviving pigs at the age of 25-26 months.

Aging↗

PubMed1996

Idiopathic dental root replacement resorption in old dogs.

The roots of the teeth of 33 large dogs aged 10 years or older were radiographed. These dogs were euthanized for reasons other than oral diseases; dogs with obvious dental or periodontal diseases were excluded. The dogs had shown no clinical signs related to the teeth and the teeth were macroscopically normal. Of the 33 dogs, six had one or more teeth that had abnormally shaped and partially resorbed roots, with replacement of root structure by radiographically normal trabecular bone. Histological examination of radiographically abnormal roots revealed mid-root resorption, without signs of inflammation or hypercementosis. These findings are similar to the condition known as idiopathic dental root replacement resorption in the human dental literature. Possible etiologies of root resorption are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Pathological and radiological investigations on osteochondrosis in pigs, associated with leg weakness.

Two-hundred and seventy-eight Danish Landrace boars were examined radiologically and pathologically for osteochondrosis and other joint lesions on the left legs at slaughter (95 kg). The joint changes were scored on a scale from 1 (normal) to 5 (very severe changes/osteochondritis dissecans). The correlations between radiological and pathological scores were highly significant in the humeral condyles (r = 0.66, P < 0.001), the distal ulna growth plate (r = 0.51, P < 0.001), the femoral condyles (r = 0.33, P < 0.001) and hock (distal tibia (r = 0.17, P < 0.01) and the medial trochlear ridge of the talus (r = 0.17, P < 0.01), indicating that radiographical examination is a useful method for diagnosing osteochondrosis in live pigs. Thickening of cartilage was strongly associated with subchondrial lesions in the three predilection sites: the humeral condyle, the femoral condyles and the distal ulna growth plate. Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in the humeral condyles was significantly associated with subchondral lesions (OR = 1.86; P < 0.001), but not with cartilage thickness when analysed simultaneously. There were no associations between lesions in the distal ulna growth plate, the humeral condyles, the femoral condyles or the anconeal process. There was no significant correlation between OCD in the humeral condyles and the anconeal process. Osteochondrosis could therefore not be stated to be a generalized disorder. Regression coefficients between joint changes and leg weakness symptoms judged before slaughter were very small and showed no clear trends. OCD in the humeral condyles was, however, significantly associated with 'legs turned out on fore (OR = 2.48; P < 0.001) and hind (OR = 1.62; P < 0.05) legs', and OCD in the anconeal process with 'stiff movement in front' (OR = 2.01; P < 0.05). Osteochondrosis is thus comparable with a threshold trait, where the threshold is the development of an OCD in an osteochondrosis injured joint.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Osteogenesis imperfecta in Holstein-Friesian calves.

Eight calves with osteogenesis imperfecta were born in a Danish Holstein-Friesian herd during a two-year period. In total 92 calves were born (84 normal), and all were sired by a clinically normal Holstein-Friesian bull. The defect was probably due to a de novo dominant mutation present as a gonadal mosaicism in the bull. Affected calves were characterised by multiple fractures, congenital bone deformations, general joint laxity, dentinogenesis imperfecta, and light blue sclerae. The skin seemed normal. Electron microscopical studies revealed slightly decreased average diameter of cutaneous collagen fibrils, while the diameter of collagen fibrils in tendons and ligaments was severely reduced. Abnormalities of collagen type I from skin and compact bone were not detected by biochemical analyses.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Radiological aspects on the course of development of porcine epiphyseal osteochondrosis (OCD) from 42 up to 147 days of age.

The articular-epiphyseal (A-E) cartilage complex of the distal humeral and femoral epiphyseal condyles of eight intact pigs (4 male & 4 female) of the same age were radiologically examined every 3 weeks, beginning at 42 days up to 147 days of age; to determine the age of onset, the course and trend of development of osteochondrosis (OCD). The earliest Dyschondroplasia (Osteochondrotic) lesions were demonstrated radiologically in the A-E complexes of the humeral condyles of 42-day-old pigs and in the femoral condyles at 63 days of age. Thus the radiographic examination of live animals to demonstrate subchondral radiolucency typical for OCD lesions in the condylar A-E complexes of pigs is not of limited value until the animals were > 100 days old as indicated in earlier reports. Also the course of further development of OCD lesions associated with A-E complexes was followed. The radiolucency was seen to develop to a certain extent, and then either to regress, and stabilize or even to progress as the animal grows. Some lesions regressed completely. Also some of the regressed lesions may become active again and become progressive. However, the course of development of femoral condyle A-E complexes OCD lesions was seen to be progressive continuously, or progressive then stable and then progressive again. The regressive course and trend of osteochondrotic lesions was not observed in the femoral condyle A-E complexes up to day 147 of age. Therefore, the course and trend of development of the A-E complexes OCD is not constantly the same.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

The sequelae of distal ulna physeal dyschondroplasia (osteochondrosis) lesions in breeding swine--a radiological investigation in Danish Landrace pigs.

A radiological follow-up study of osteochondrotic lesions in the distal ulna was carried out in 58 Danish Landrace breeding sows for a period of 15 months (October 1992 to December 1993). This was part of a major project involving the radiological investigation of articular-epiphyseal and physeal development to investigate osteochondrotic lesions in pigs. The radiological lesions were graded from 1 to 5 with increasing severity. It was observed that not all pigs passed through all grades. Only 21% of the pigs had no radiological osteochondrotic lesions (grade 1) during the first radiography series. After 5-7 months, the number of pigs without osteochondrotic radiological lesions were observed to have increased dramatically (21-69%), but the converse was true for grades 2 (mild), 3 (moderate), 4 (severe) and 5 (very severe): (33-17%), (21-9%), (19-5%) and (7-0%) respectively. This was observed with increasing age and weight. The 3rd radiography series indicated that the percentage of pigs without osteochondrotic lesions increased up to 82%, and that grades 2, 3, and 4 had fallen to 14%, 2% and 2% respectively, while grade five remained at 0%. This indicated that the distal ulna osteochondrotic lesions can be important in breeding pigs during the period of growth before first pregnancy. During the first pregnancy the osteochondral ossification fault can be corrected, and the lesions heal. The ulna growth plates were not closed at the second, but mostly closing during the third radiography series.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Distribution of feline blood types detected in the Copenhagen area of Denmark.

The purpose of the present study was to make the first survey of the distribution of feline AB blood types in the Copenhagen area of Denmark. A total of 244 cats (139 purebred cats and 105 Domestic Shorthair cats) were tested. 93% of all tested cats had blood type A. Neither an AB nor an O type cat was detected and thus, the frequency of blood type B among all tested cats was 7%. Most type B cats were purebred cats (Birman, British Shorthair and Persian cats). No association between sex and blood type could be demonstrated among British Shorthair and Persian cats. Thus, the present study indicates that cats in Denmark predominantly have blood type A, and that blood type B cats are rare, except for certain breeds such as Birman and British Shorthair cats.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Radiographic study of postnatal development of the tarsus in west African dwarf goats.

Seven goats of the West African dwarf breeds, three females and four males, from the same farm were studied by serial radiography from the first week of life and at 3, 6, 9, 16, 23, 28, 37 and 46 weeks of age. The radiological appearance of the developing tarsus as evaluated from radiographs is described. During the first week postnatally, eight loci were observed to be partially ossified. The talus, tarsi centrale (Tc), first (T1), second (T2), third (T3) and fourth (T4) tarsal bones had each a single loci. The calcaneus bone had two loci, one for the tuber calcanei and another for the calcaneus himself. Fusion of the locus for T2 and T3 was evident in radiographs taken at three weeks. The fused T2 + T3 also appeared fused with the Tc in one of the goats at 23 weeks. The Tc and T4 were observed to fuse in only three of the goats at 23 weeks while in others the bones remained separate throughout the study period. In those goats where the Tc and T4 tarsal bones were not fused, the three tarsal joints were linked by a radiolucent line between these bones. While in the goat where Tc and T2 + T3 bone fusion has occurred the distal intertarsal joint was blocked and the proximal intertarsal was communicating with the tarsometatarsal joint between the separate Tc and T4. The tarsus of the goat is variable and differs from that of sheep and cattle.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Vertebral fractures in newborn calves.

A prospective study on vertebral fractures in newborn calves is described. Vertebral fractures were found in 7.0% of necropsied calves of the Danish Holstein-Friesian (SDM) and Red Danish Dairy (RDM) breeds. Cases were not found in submitted calves of the Jersey breed or beef breeds. At least in beef breeds this was probably due to the low number necropsied. The rate of vertebral fractures in SDM and RDM breeds and between males and females were similar. Most cases occurred in calves born by heifers, and manual traction force had been applied in all cases. All fractures which in most cases consisted of a simple epiphysiolysis were located at the thoraco-lumbar area, and especially the posterior epiphysis of T13 was afflicted.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Comparative structure and morphology of the goat sternum in West African dwarf and Danish Landrace breeds.

The structure and morphology of the sternum from 33 West African dwarf (WAD) and sixteen Danish Landrace breed goats were studied radiographically. In young kids of the Danish Landrace breed (DL), the number of sternal elements (Sternebrae) was six or seven with the fifth or the last but one being double in some animals due to bilateral bodies. All the sternal elements in the WAD breed appeared to have each a single locus of ossification and the number of sternal elements varied between 5, 6 or 7 at birth. In those goats with 5 or 6 sternal segments, bilateral indentations were observed on the left and right side on either the last or the last two segments. These indentations were considered to indicate a prenatal cranial coalescence of the last segments leading to the reduced number of sternebra. The structure and morphology of the sternum in neonatal kids for the two breeds appears to be basically different. 8 sternal and 5 asternal ribs were observed in animals of both breeds. The cartilaginous attachments of the ribs on the sternal segments were variable. A floating rib was also observed in one of the WAD goats. The comparative structure and morphology of other ruminant sternum is also discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Hereditary peromelia in Mohair goats.

The occurrence of a new congenital defect of the appendicular skeleton in Mohair goats is described. The malformation is peromelia and occurs in a familiar pattern. The defect seems to have an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance with variation in the expressivity of the genotype. The pathological abnormalities were described in 8 cases, all characterized by agenesia of the phalanges and parts of the metacarpus or metatarsus affecting one or more limbs. In some cases additional skeletal defects were found. Furthermore, 5 cases were reported by the owners with a description of the limb affected and 1 case was examined clinically. Predisposition for pelvic limbs to be affected was observed. The defect, which does not seem to have been described in goats previously, is phenotypically similar to and possibly also genetically homologous to a defect described in sheep.

Animals↗