Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study
Body stalk anomaly (BSA) is a rare and usually fatal congenital disorder involving severe malformations of the body wall, limbs, spine, and internal organs. This study presents the first documented cases of BSA in seven dogs, offering new insights into how the disorder manifests in animals. The affe...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| author | Nieves Martín-Alguacil José M. Cozar Luis Avedillo |
| author_facet | Nieves Martín-Alguacil José M. Cozar Luis Avedillo |
| author_sort | Nieves Martín-Alguacil |
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| description | Body stalk anomaly (BSA) is a rare and usually fatal congenital disorder involving severe malformations of the body wall, limbs, spine, and internal organs. This study presents the first documented cases of BSA in seven dogs, offering new insights into how the disorder manifests in animals. The affected fetuses consistently exhibited major anomalies, including large abdominal wall defects, structural spinal abnormalities, and a variety of limb malformations ranging from partial agenesis and meromelia to phocomelia and complete amelia. Structural urogenital anomalies and orofacial clefts were also observed, aligning with similar findings in BSA cases reported in pigs and cats. These findings support the hypothesis of a multifactorial etiology involving early embryonic disruptions, such as abnormal folding of the embryo, rupture of the amniotic membrane, and vascular compromise. The frequent occurrence of abdominal wall defects alongside umbilical cord abnormalities further suggests a shared developmental pathway. This study also highlights the value of veterinary cases in comparative embryology and the need to assess congenital anomalies as part of a broader malformation complex. By expanding the phenotypic spectrum of BSA in domestic animals, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of its pathogenesis and emphasizes the importance of further research into the genetic and environmental factors involved. Such efforts could lead to improved classification and diagnosis of complex congenital malformations, as well as facilitate cross-species comparisons. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e25d07d631b0450bb2aec06eb081d478 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-e25d07d631b0450bb2aec06eb081d4782025-08-20T02:48:19ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-07-011514203010.3390/ani15142030Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan StudyNieves Martín-Alguacil0José M. Cozar1Luis Avedillo2Departmental Section of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartmental Section of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartmental Section of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainBody stalk anomaly (BSA) is a rare and usually fatal congenital disorder involving severe malformations of the body wall, limbs, spine, and internal organs. This study presents the first documented cases of BSA in seven dogs, offering new insights into how the disorder manifests in animals. The affected fetuses consistently exhibited major anomalies, including large abdominal wall defects, structural spinal abnormalities, and a variety of limb malformations ranging from partial agenesis and meromelia to phocomelia and complete amelia. Structural urogenital anomalies and orofacial clefts were also observed, aligning with similar findings in BSA cases reported in pigs and cats. These findings support the hypothesis of a multifactorial etiology involving early embryonic disruptions, such as abnormal folding of the embryo, rupture of the amniotic membrane, and vascular compromise. The frequent occurrence of abdominal wall defects alongside umbilical cord abnormalities further suggests a shared developmental pathway. This study also highlights the value of veterinary cases in comparative embryology and the need to assess congenital anomalies as part of a broader malformation complex. By expanding the phenotypic spectrum of BSA in domestic animals, this work contributes to a deeper understanding of its pathogenesis and emphasizes the importance of further research into the genetic and environmental factors involved. Such efforts could lead to improved classification and diagnosis of complex congenital malformations, as well as facilitate cross-species comparisons.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2030body stalk anomalies (BSAs)BSA classificationcaninecraniofacial malformationsLBWCnon-structural skeletal anomalies |
| spellingShingle | Nieves Martín-Alguacil José M. Cozar Luis Avedillo Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study Animals body stalk anomalies (BSAs) BSA classification canine craniofacial malformations LBWC non-structural skeletal anomalies |
| title | Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study |
| title_full | Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study |
| title_fullStr | Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study |
| title_short | Complex Body Wall Closure Defects in Seven Dog Fetuses: An Anatomic and CT Scan Study |
| title_sort | complex body wall closure defects in seven dog fetuses an anatomic and ct scan study |
| topic | body stalk anomalies (BSAs) BSA classification canine craniofacial malformations LBWC non-structural skeletal anomalies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2030 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nievesmartinalguacil complexbodywallclosuredefectsinsevendogfetusesananatomicandctscanstudy AT josemcozar complexbodywallclosuredefectsinsevendogfetusesananatomicandctscanstudy AT luisavedillo complexbodywallclosuredefectsinsevendogfetusesananatomicandctscanstudy |