SMGr up Case Report
International Dystocia due to a Dichephalus Monster
Journal of Fetus in Egyptian Buffalo: A Case Report
Gaber Ahmed Megahed*
Animal Science Theriogenology Department, Assiut University, Egypt
Article Information Abstract
Received date: Aug 07, 2018 The dystocia in animals is an important cause of economic loss in livestock. One of the reasons for the
Accepted date: Sep 03, 2018 dystocia is fetal monosters. The present case describes the syndrome which called dichephalus monster. From
the clinical point of view the foetus was a fully developed calf with two complete heads, four eyes, four ears,
Published date: Sep 06, 2018 two oral cavities, a single thorax and abdomen, two fore and two hind limb. The incidence of dicephalus in
Egyptian buffalo-cows reported as 0.552 % from all cases of dystocia from 2007-2016 which represented into
*Corresponding author clinical veterinary hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. This case caused dystocia
in Egyptian cow which solved by cesarean section.
Gaber Ahmed Megahed, Theriogenology
Department, Faculty of Veterniery
Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt, Introduction
Tel: +20 88 2080007;
Breeding programs designs to obtain healthy animals with good morphology and high
Email: gabermegahed@yahoo.com
production, it is not uncommon for animals to be born showing congenital. The occurrence of
Distributed under Creative Commons congenital malformations, above all when due to gene variants passed down by parents, in livestock
CC-BY 4.0 production, causes the slowing of genetic progress, economic loss for the breeders due to the death
Keywords Dicephalus monster, Egyptian of animals, or damage to their reproductive and productive ability, such as milk production [1].
buffalo-cows, Congenital anomaly Anomalies occurring due to congenital defects often lead to dystocia. Economic losses associated
with dystocia have severe consequences in dairy herds due to an increased number of still birth,
maternal injury and calf mortality [2].
Fetuses with congenital defects are dead at birth. It may be difficult for monsters to pass through
the birth canal, either because of their altered shape or because of their relative size. Dystocia due
to monsters is usually relieved by cesarean section since fetotomy is of limited usefulness except
in a few monsters [3]. Dystocia due to dicephalus monostomus in a crossbred cow has been also
reported by Nakhashi et al., [4]. Duplication of cranial part of the fetus is more common than of the
caudal parts [5].
Polycephaly is a congenital malformation in which an individual with two (dicephaly) or more
heads, probably due to partial or total union of two developing embryos or to a partial duplication
of a body, or to the anteroposterior compression of the embryonic disk [6]. Major congenital
anomalies are diagnosed in 2-4% of births [7]. However, Aiello [8] reported that the incidence of
congenital defects in calves ranges from 2-3.5%.
Case history and Clinical observation
From case history and clinical observations, a pluriparus full term dairy buffalo-cow in its third
parity and full term pregnancy with history of dystocia brought to clinical veterinary hospital,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt, with history of straining since last 8
hours with fetal forelimbs were protruded from vulva. Vulva was edematous and vaginal mucus
membrane was dry and congested. On general inspection animal was active; with strong labour
pains and perineal region was swollen due to excessive traction. The case was unsuccessfully handled
by a local veterinarian.
During manual obstetrical examination, vaginal examination revealed the complete dilated
birth canal with a foetus in anterior longitudinal presentation and dorso-pubic position. The head
was found to be laterally deviated, while an extra head was palpated below the pelvic brim inside the
uterus. Palpation of the foetus revealed absence of reflexes suggestive of dead foetus with ankeloysis
in limbs (Figure 1). The condition was diagnosed as double headed fetal monster causing dystocia;
hence it was decided to perform caesarean section.
OPEN ACCESS How to cite this article Megahed GA. Dystocia due to a Dichephalus Monster
Fetus in Egyptian Buffalo: A Case Report. Int J Anim Sci. 2018; 2(4): 1031.
ISSN: 2575-7806
SMGr up Copyright Megahed GA
Treatment and Discussion
In this study, under local and high caudal epidural anaesthesia,
caesarean-section was performed on the left flank region, adopting
the standard operating procedure and the buffalo-cow was positioned
at standing condition. The calf was healthy and big in size. The fetous
had two heads (dicephalus), each head was having separate nostrils,
two eyes (tetraopthalmus) and two ears (Figure 2). The heads had
two atlas bones (biatlanticus) free from each other but fused at caudal
part and continued with single cervical vertebrae (Figure 3). Both the
limbs were stiff, with ankylosed joints. Ankylosis was mainly observed
near the hock joint of both hind limbs.
In this study, the incidence of dicephalus in Egyptian buffalo-cows
reported as 0.552 % from all cases of dystocia from 2007-2016 which
Figure 1: Double headed fetal monster with Ankylosis in lim. represented into clinical veterinary hospital, Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt. However, according to fetal
causes of these cases, this incidence became 0.906%. Congenital
defects may be defined as any defect in the foetus present at birth which
commonly diagnosed by veterinary practitioners. The incidence and
types of congenital defects are highly variable depending primarily
on the number and types of cases submitted to veterinary faculties
from those actually occurring on farms and field and observed by
veterinary practitioners, which are not submitted [9].
Similar observations were recorded by Albarella et al., [10] who
reported that a dicephalic derodymus buffalo calf which characterized
by complete duplication of cranial structures (two muzzles, four eyes,
and four ears) was born dead after a dystocia calving. The obtained
record is agreement with that reported by Sharma, et al., [11], Kumar,
et al., [12] and Mehmood, et al., [13] who reported that in buffaloes
several cases of duplication of the head with different characteristics
have been reported as well as, dicephalus monsters characterized by
two full developed heads of similar size fused at the level of atlas.
Finally, attribute this rate of dicephalus monsters in our study to
the congenital abnormalities may cause by genetic or as a possible
outcome of community exposure to environmental pollution [7] or
by interaction of both [14]. Generally, the exposure to a mixture of
environmental pollution (air, water and feeding) has become a major
cause of reproductive animal failure [15]. From the economical
points of view, a precautionary approach should be adopted at both
Figure 2: Buffalo calf dicephalus fused at caudal part and continued with community and individual level. In order to prevent congenital
single cervical vertebrae.
anomalies in animals, one must reduce exposure to potential
environmental pollution before pregnancy is recognized.
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A Case Report. Int J Anim Sci. 2018; 2(4): 1031.
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Citation: Megahed GA. Dystocia due to a Dichephalus Monster Fetus in Egyptian Buffalo:
A Case Report. Int J Anim Sci. 2018; 2(4): 1031.
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