Spontaneous rickets in the wild arctic fox Alopex lagopus

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Skelet. Radiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00347171· OSTI ID:5133460

Ogden, J A; Conlogue, G J

Normal and rachitic, skeletally immature arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) were subjected to physical examination, roentgenographic studies, and in some cases histologic studies. The involved animals had active rickets coupled with antecedent normal diaphyseal bone formation. Evaluation of all the long bones showed highly variable manifestations of the disease, which undoubtedly reflect different rates of physeal endochondral transformation and metaphyseal remodeling. Histologic examination showed distinct patterns of widening of the physes and variable osteodystrophy in the trabecular and cortical bone of the metaphyses and epiphyseal ossification centers. These aforementioned factors certainly would necessitate different regional calcium needs and, therefore, different regional responses to an overall calcium deficiency. The physes involved in the most rapid growth rates in this period showed the most widening of the growth plate, and the most dystrophic changes in the metaphysis. Skeletal injuries, including metaphyseal fractures and slow-down of longitudinal growth (particularly in the ulna) were also evident. Because of apparent dietary differences in the affected and normal fox kits, this juvenile-onset disease was presumed due to calcium-deficient intake following weaning. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report of spontaneously occurring rickets in a wild animal in its natural habitat. There are several possible mechanisms for the variable widening of the physis and the loss of bone mineralization in these fox kits: calcium-deficient diet, binding of calcium in the bowel by high phosphorus intake, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and vitamin A toxicity.

• OSTI ID: 5133460
• Journal Information: Skelet. Radiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Skelet. Radiol.; (United States) Vol. 7:1; ISSN SKRAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550602* -- Medicine-- External Radiation in Diagnostics-- (1980-)
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALKALINE EARTH METALS
ANIMALS
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
CALCIUM
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
DOGS
ELEMENTS
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
HISTOLOGY
HORMONES
IMAGES
MAMMALS
MEDICINE
METABOLIC DISEASES
METALS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
ORGANS
PARATHORMONE
PATHOLOGY
PEPTIDE HORMONES
RADIOLOGY
RICKETS
SKELETAL DISEASES
SKELETON
TOXICITY
VERTEBRATES
VITAMIN A
VITAMINS