LABORATORY EXERCISE 5: Veterinary

PATHOLOGY /DISEASES OF Systemic

Pathology
MUSCULO-SKELETAL SYSTEM Laboratory

Submitted by: Crisanto S. Coquilla, DVM3B

 Central Mindanao University
College of Veterinary Medicine
Department of Microbiology, Pathology, Parasitology and Public Health

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 3DVM, 2nd semester

VPT 62A Systemic Veterinary Pathology Laboratory

Laboratory Exercise 5: Pathology /Diseases of Musculo-Skeletal System

Name: Crisanto S. Coquilla Date: 09/03/2024

Section: DVM3B Teacher: Dr. Vingelle Bautista-Jimenez

Introduction
Objectives:
1. Recognize and describe the gross findings of musculo-skeletal diseases
2. Identify the causes and discuss the pathogenesis of Musculo-skeletal diseases
Materials:
Computer aided visual images of gross lesions of musculo-skeletal diseases and YT
links
Student activity:
1. Watch the video link on gross pathology of musculo-skeletal system in domestic animals;
list and describe the diseases mentioned in the video.
Musculoskeletal System; Nutritional
o Serous Atrophy of Fat (Starvation Marrow):
▪ Cause: Deficient energy or protein intake.
▪ Description: Characterized by atrophy of adipocytes, loss of hematopoietic
cells, and deposition of a hyaluronic acid-rich matrix in bone marrow.
▪ Notable Features: Also observed in other organs such as around the heart
and within the mesentery omentum.

o Growth Arrest Lines

▪ Cause: Malnutrition in young growing animals.
▪ Description: Parallel lines of bone deposition instead of perpendicular to
the growth plate, leading to sparse primary spongiosa.
▪ Notable Features: Each line represents a period of malnutrition during
growth.

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 o Osteopenia:
▪ Cause: Malnutrition or lack of dietary protein or energy.
▪ Description: Decreased bone production leading to transverse bone bars
and pathologic fractures, especially in the vertebrae.
▪ Notable Features: Severe cases can lead to osteoporosis.

o Disuse Osteopenia:
▪ Cause: Lack of pressure or electromagnetic forces on bone.
▪ Description: Bone loss due to lack of normal physical activity.
▪ Notable Features: Typically observed in areas of disuse.

o Steroid-Induced Osteopenia:
▪ Cause: Excessive steroid use or conditions such as hypercortisolism
(Cushing's disease).
▪ Description: Inhibition of osteoblastic differentiation and promotion of
osteoclastic bone resorption.
▪ Notable Features: Results in marked bone loss.

o Hypocalcemia:
▪ Cause: Chronic renal failure, end-stage kidney disease.
▪ Description: Reduced calcium levels due to increased parathyroid
hormone activity.
▪ Notable Features: Can lead to fibrous osteodystrophy, particularly in
horses (Bran Disease).

o Rickets:
▪ Cause: Vitamin D deficiency.
▪ Description: Failure of mineralization of primary spongiosa, leading to
irregular growth plates and skeletal deformities.
▪ Notable Features: Characterized by flaring at costochondral junctions and
irregular growth plates.

o Scurvy:
▪ Cause: Vitamin C deficiency.
▪ Description: Improper cross-linking of osteoid due to insufficient collagen
synthesis, leading to mineralization defects.
▪ Notable Features: Associated with hemorrhage, loose teeth, and gingival
bleeding.

o Vitamin E Deficiency:
▪ Cause: Exhaustion of vitamin E stores or poor diet.
▪ Description: Skeletal muscle degeneration, necrosis, and fibrosis.
▪ Notable Features: Can result in "white muscle disease" in young animals.

o Vitamin A Toxicity:
▪ Cause: Excessive vitamin A intake.

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 ▪ Description: Bone proliferation at areas of motion and articulation.
▪ Notable Features: Commonly observed in the cervical vertebrae of cats.

o Vitamin A Deficiency:
▪ Cause: Insufficient vitamin A intake.
▪ Description: Thickening of cranial bones, leading to cerebral herniation in
kittens.
▪ Notable Features: Associated with optic nerve compression and blindness
in calves.

o Lysosomal Storage Diseases:

▪ Cause: Genetic mutations affecting lysosomal enzymes.
▪ Description: Accumulation of waste products, resulting in cellular
degeneration and skeletal abnormalities.
▪ Notable Features: Various types of skeletal deformities depending on the
specific disease.

o Articular Gout:
▪ Cause: High protein diets and genetic predisposition.
▪ Description: Deposition of uric acid in joints, leading to inflammation and
granulomas.
Notable Features: Commonly seen in birds and reptiles.

Musculoskeletal System ; Bacteria

o Osteomyelitis:
▪ Description: Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone usually caused by
bacteria. It results in inflammation, necrosis, and lysis of the bone tissue.
The bacteria cause damage through the release of digestive enzymes,
leading to hemorrhage, necrosis, and lysis, especially around the growth
plates and metaphyses of long bones. Vascular thrombosis and infarction
can also occur, contributing to tissue damage.
o Joint Ill:
▪ Description: Joint Ill, also known as septic arthritis, is an infection of the
joints typically seen in young animals. It can result from systemic sepsis,
often originating from infected umbilical cords in newborns. The joints,
being privileged sites for bacterial infections, can show large areas of
infarction, hemorrhage, and bone lysis. Neutrophils cause damage around
the affected joint, leading to inflammation and necrosis.
o Actinomycosis:
▪ Description: Actinomycosis, caused by Actinomyces spp. bacteria, is
characterized by chronic, long-standing infections with fibrous connective
tissue proliferation. Actinomyces bovis is common in cattle but can affect
other species. Traumatic implantation of the bacteria into soft tissues,

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 especially in the face or jaws, can lead to chronic infections that are poorly
responsive to antibiotics.
o Blackleg:
▪ Description: Blackleg, caused by Clostridium chauvoei bacteria, is a highly
fatal disease seen primarily in ruminants. It results in necrohemorrhagic
myositis, characterized by hemorrhage, necrosis, and emphysema in
affected muscles. Trauma leading to local ischemia triggers the
proliferation of Clostridium spp., resulting in severe muscle damage.
o Malignant Edema:
▪ Description: Malignant Edema, also known as gas gangrene, is caused by
various Clostridium spp. bacteria, such as Clostridium septicum or
Clostridium sordellii. It leads to severe cellulitis and muscle necrosis,
typically following traumatic implantation of the bacteria into tissues.
Ischemia, stress, or vaccination complications can predispose animals to
this condition.
o Foot Rot:
▪ Description: Foot rot is a bacterial infection commonly seen in hooved
animals, resulting from traumatic implantation of bacteria, such as
Fusobacterium necrophorum. It causes inflammation, necrosis, and
abscess formation in the feet, leading to lameness and pain. In severe
cases, the infection can extend to deeper structures, such as the bones
and tendons.

System; Helminths and Protozoa

o Cysticercosis:
▪ Description: Cysticercosis is caused by the immature forms of tapeworms
known as cysticerci. These bladder worms can infect skeletal and cardiac
muscles, particularly in ruminants. The immature form found in skeletal
muscles of oxen is called Cysticercus bovis, while the adult form found in
humans is called Taenia saginata. In pigs, the immature form is Cysticercus
cellulosae, and the adult tapeworm is Taenia solium. Humans can become
infected by consuming undercooked infected beef or pork.
o Sparganosis:
▪ Description: Sparganosis is caused by Spirometra spp., which are unusual
cestode parasites. The definitive hosts are dogs or cats, while pigs are
often parasitized as well. People can become infected by consuming
undercooked pork or frog, or through traditional medicine practices
involving frog products.
o Trichinosis:

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 ▪ Description: Trichinosis is caused by Trichinella spp., which parasitize
carnivores and omnivores, including pigs and bears. Humans can become
infected by consuming undercooked infected meat, particularly pork. The
larvae migrate to the intestine and then to skeletal muscles, where they
form nurse cells and cause hypertrophy.
o Sarcocystosis:
▪ Description: Sarcocystosis is caused by various species of Sarcocystis
protozoa. In herbivores, especially ruminants, cysts of bradyzoites are
found in skeletal muscle. These cysts usually don't cause problems, but in
some cases, they may result in eosinophilic myositis, leading to greenish
discoloration within the muscle.
o Hemoproteosis:
▪ Description: Hemoproteosis is primarily a parasite of the blood vessels
transmitted by biting insects, especially in quail. It primarily affects
endothelial cells and erythrocytes, but can also invade skeletal muscle,
causing megacestodes and resulting in emaciation and mortality in
affected birds.
o Myxosporidiosis (Whirling Disease):
▪ Description: Myxosporidiosis, caused by Myxosporea protozoa such as
Myxobolus cerebralis, affects fish and can lead to granulomatous
inflammation and deformation of skeletal cartilage. In fish, it can cause
whirling disease, characterized by abnormal swimming behavior and
blackish discoloration.
References:
Davis-Thompson Foundation. (2019a, March 2). Gross pathology of the musculoskeletal
system 3 - bacterial [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjEPO9PGGuc
Davis-Thompson Foundation. (2019b, March 3). Gross pathology of the musculoskeletal
system 4 Helminths and protozoa [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ooj--We6H4
Davis-Thompson Foundation. (2019c, March 5). Gross pathology of the musculoskeletal
system 5 Nutritional [Video]. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uVHTOE60GY