Anné Jennifer, Hedrick Brandon P, Schein Jason P
School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL , UK.
Department of Biology , University of Massachusetts Amherst , Amherst, MA 01003 , USA.
R Soc Open Sci. 2016 Aug 3;3(8):160222. doi: 10.1098/rsos.160222. eCollection 2016 Aug.
Identification and interpretation of pathologies in the fossil record allows for unique insights into the life histories of extinct organisms. However, the rarity of such finds limits not only the sample size for palaeopathologic studies, but also the types of analyses that may be performed. In this study, we present the first occurrence of a palaeopathology in a vertebrate from the Mesozoic of the East Coast of North America (Appalachia), a pathologic ulna and radius of an indeterminate hadrosaur from the Navesink Formation (New Jersey). X-ray microtomography allowed for both detailed and more accurate diagnosis of the pathologic condition as well as virtual conservation of the specimen. Based on extant archosaurian comparisons, the hadrosaur was diagnosed with severe septic arthritis affecting the proximal ulna and radius. Diagnosis was based on erosion of the joint and highly reactive periosteal bone growth and fusion of the elements. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first recorded account of septic arthritis in dinosaurs. The severity of the pathology suggests the animal suffered with this condition for some time before death. Unfortunately, only the ulna and radius were found. Thus, the extent to which the condition spread to other parts of the body is unknown.
对化石记录中的病变进行识别和解读，能够让我们对已灭绝生物的生活史有独特的见解。然而，此类发现的稀缺性不仅限制了古病理学研究的样本量，还限制了可能进行的分析类型。在本研究中，我们展示了北美东海岸（阿巴拉契亚地区）中生代脊椎动物中首次出现的古病理学案例，即来自新泽西州纳夫辛克组的一具身份不明的鸭嘴龙的尺骨和桡骨病变。X射线显微断层扫描技术不仅能够对病变情况进行详细且更准确的诊断，还能对标本进行虚拟保存。通过与现存的主龙类进行比较，诊断该鸭嘴龙患有严重的化脓性关节炎，影响到了近端尺骨和桡骨。诊断依据是关节侵蚀以及骨膜骨高度活跃的生长和骨块融合。据我们所知，这是恐龙中化脓性关节炎的首次记录。病变的严重程度表明这只动物在死亡前已经患有这种疾病一段时间了。不幸的是，只发现了尺骨和桡骨。因此，这种疾病扩散到身体其他部位的程度尚不清楚。
