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Abstract
A pair of conjoined twins (thoraco-omphalopagus) in red Sokoto goat was delivered through manual traction, after a prolong period of labor that lasted for over 18 hours, after antepartum diagnosis, some bloody discharges were seen coming out of the vulva. Upon clinical examination all vital parameters were within normal range, the animal was weak and in pain. Obstetrical examination revealed non-progressive straining, the cervix was dilated with fetus part palpable at the cervical entrance. In an effort to deliver the fetus, another fetus was noticed attached to the first fetus, which happened to be conjoined twins, and they were delivered successfully using manual traction. The conjoined fetuses were physically examined. the conjoined fetuses, weighing 2kg, were both male and fused from the thorax to the abdominal cavity, with separate heads, limbs, and genital organs. X-ray disclosed the point of fusion where the two fused at the thoracic region medially, from the first to last coastal bone, each fetus was having independent forelimb. In addition, post-mortem examination revealed fusion at the costal cartilage, shared diaphragm, independent well-developed (hearts, lungs, and genital organs), but shared abdominal cavity with independent organs, except for the liver. In conclusion, timely use of advanced diagnostic tools (X-ray or ultra sound) in the diagnosis of congenital abnormalities like conjoined twins is of great essence in managing the condition and for the survival of the dam and the fetuses, its better to proceed with elective cesarean section when the conjoined fetuses are at term, rather than manipulative delivery
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References
- Almeida, L. M. (2021). Twins, Complications and vaginal delivery: vaginal Vs. cesarean section deliveries and opportunities for improvement (Master's thesis, Harvard University).
- Ahmad, I., Chafe, U., Umar, A., and Salisu, M. (2020). Conjoined twins in Red Sokoto goat. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 70 (4), 1919-1924. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.22245
- Balamurugan, N. and Mohanapriya, T. (2020). Dystocia due to conjoined twin foetus in a non-descriptive ewe. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science. 9(1), 938-940. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.901.105
- Binanti D, Riccaboni P. (2012) Thoraco-Omphalopagus conjoined twins in chamois-coloured domestic goat kids. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 3: 159-162. https://doi/10.1111/j.1439-0264.2011.01118.x
- Bondeson, Jan (1992), "The Biddenden Maids: a curious chapter in the history of conjoined twins", Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 85 (4), 217–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107689208500413
- Bukar, M.M., Usman, B.A and Lawan, M.U. (2001) Dystocia due to conjoined twins in an Uda ewe: a case report. Agriculture Satellite Journal, 1(1): 7-15.
- Chafe, U., Umar, A. and Salisu, M. (2019). Conjoined twins in Red Sokoto goat. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 70(4), 1919-1924.https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.22245
- Chen H (2012) Atlas of genetic diagnosis and counselling. Springer-Verlag, New York: pp 495 -505.https://10.1007/978-1-60327-161-5_14
- Harma, M., Harma, M., Mil, Z., and Oksuzler, C. (2005). Vaginal delivery of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins: case report and literature review. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 205(2), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.205.179
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- Kulawik M, Pluta K, Wojnowska M, Bartyzel B, Nabzdyk M, Bukowska D (2017) Cephalothoracopagus (monocephalic dithoracic) conjoined twins in a pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica): a case report. Veterinarni Medicina 62(08): 470-477.doi: 10.17221/155/2016-VETMED
- Mota-Rojas, D., Martínez-Burnes, J., Napolitano, F., Domínguez-Muñoz, M., Guerrero-Legarreta, I., Mora-Medina, P. and González-Lozano, M. (2020). Dystocia: factors affecting parturition in domestic animals. CABI Reviews, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR202015013
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- Schrank, M., Contiero, B. and Mollo, A. (2022). Incidence and concomitant factors of cesarean sections in the bitch: A questionnaire study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 934273. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.934273
- Sharma, Gaurav; Mobin, Sheila S. Nazarian; Lypka, Michael; Urata, Mark (2010). Heteropagus (parasitic) twins: a review. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 45 (12): 2454– 2463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2010.07.002
- Welch, K. D., Provenza, F. D., and Pfister, J. A. (2011). Do plant secondary compounds induce epigenetic changes that confer resistance or susceptibility to toxicosis in animals? In Animal farming and environmental interactions in the Mediterranean region (pp. 33-44). Wageningen Academic. https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086867417_005
References
Almeida, L. M. (2021). Twins, Complications and vaginal delivery: vaginal Vs. cesarean section deliveries and opportunities for improvement (Master's thesis, Harvard University).
Ahmad, I., Chafe, U., Umar, A., and Salisu, M. (2020). Conjoined twins in Red Sokoto goat. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 70 (4), 1919-1924. https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.22245
Balamurugan, N. and Mohanapriya, T. (2020). Dystocia due to conjoined twin foetus in a non-descriptive ewe. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Science. 9(1), 938-940. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.901.105
Binanti D, Riccaboni P. (2012) Thoraco-Omphalopagus conjoined twins in chamois-coloured domestic goat kids. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 3: 159-162. https://doi/10.1111/j.1439-0264.2011.01118.x
Bondeson, Jan (1992), "The Biddenden Maids: a curious chapter in the history of conjoined twins", Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 85 (4), 217–221. https://doi.org/10.1177/014107689208500413
Bukar, M.M., Usman, B.A and Lawan, M.U. (2001) Dystocia due to conjoined twins in an Uda ewe: a case report. Agriculture Satellite Journal, 1(1): 7-15.
Chafe, U., Umar, A. and Salisu, M. (2019). Conjoined twins in Red Sokoto goat. Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society, 70(4), 1919-1924.https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.22245
Chen H (2012) Atlas of genetic diagnosis and counselling. Springer-Verlag, New York: pp 495 -505.https://10.1007/978-1-60327-161-5_14
Harma, M., Harma, M., Mil, Z., and Oksuzler, C. (2005). Vaginal delivery of dicephalic parapagus conjoined twins: case report and literature review. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 205(2), 179-185. https://doi.org/10.1620/tjem.205.179
Heydarinejad, S., Mazaheri, Y., Javidan, S. and Izadi, A. (2020). A case of monocephalus, tetrabrachious, and tetrapod in female newborn goat. In Veterinary Research Forum, 11(4), 431. https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2020.112254.2672
Kulawik M, Pluta K, Wojnowska M, Bartyzel B, Nabzdyk M, Bukowska D (2017) Cephalothoracopagus (monocephalic dithoracic) conjoined twins in a pig (Sus scrofa f. domestica): a case report. Veterinarni Medicina 62(08): 470-477.doi: 10.17221/155/2016-VETMED
Mota-Rojas, D., Martínez-Burnes, J., Napolitano, F., Domínguez-Muñoz, M., Guerrero-Legarreta, I., Mora-Medina, P. and González-Lozano, M. (2020). Dystocia: factors affecting parturition in domestic animals. CABI Reviews, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR202015013
Métneki, J. and Varjassy, P. (2022). Conjoined twins. In Twin Research for Everyone (pp. 85-112). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-821514-2.00012-X
Samuel MO, Wachida N, Abenga JH, Kisani AI, Adamu SS, Hambesha P, Gyang E, Oyedipe EO (2014) A case of omphalo-ischiopagus (dicephalic dithoracic abdominopagus tetrascelus tetrabrachius) in lambs. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 43(4):320-323 https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12070
Schiewe, Mitchel C.; Whitney, John B.; Anderson, Robert E. (2015). "Potential risk of monochorionic dizygotic twin blastocyst formation associated with early laser zona dissection of group cultured embryos". Fertility and Sterility. 103 (2): 417–421.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.11.009
Schneevoigt J, Bahramsoltani M, Gerlach K, Gericke A, Fersterra M, Brehm W, Seeger J (2014) Parapagus conjoined twin calf: a case study-focused on CT and cardiac abnormalities. Anatomia Histologia Embryologia 43: 64-70, .https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12058
Schrank, M., Contiero, B. and Mollo, A. (2022). Incidence and concomitant factors of cesarean sections in the bitch: A questionnaire study. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 9, 934273. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.934273
Sharma, Gaurav; Mobin, Sheila S. Nazarian; Lypka, Michael; Urata, Mark (2010). Heteropagus (parasitic) twins: a review. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 45 (12): 2454– 2463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2010.07.002
Welch, K. D., Provenza, F. D., and Pfister, J. A. (2011). Do plant secondary compounds induce epigenetic changes that confer resistance or susceptibility to toxicosis in animals? In Animal farming and environmental interactions in the Mediterranean region (pp. 33-44). Wageningen Academic. https://doi.org/10.3920/9789086867417_005
