title: Ischiopagus tripus conjoined twins in a western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla).
abstract: Conjoined twinning is rare in man and non-human primates. The current report describes a case of ischiopagus tripus conjoined Western Lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) twins. The female twins were joined at the umbilical and pelvic region, involving the liver, xiphoid, umbilicus, body wall and skin. Computed tomography revealed two complete spines. The combined pelvic space was formed by two sacra, each connected with two iliac bones. The twins were only conjoined by a common pubis. Cause of death was attributed to cardiac and circulatory collapse resulting from a large patent foramen ovale (8 mm in diameter) of one twin and neonatal asphyxia.
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zoo Duisburg AG, Muelheimer Straße 273, 47058 Duisburg, Germany. Electronic address: langers@zoo-duisburg.de.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Langer
authors: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Zoo Duisburg AG, Muelheimer Straße 273, 47058 Duisburg, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Jurczynski
authors: Pathology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gessler
authors: Institute for Veterinary Medicine, Georg August University Goettingen, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors: F-J
authors: FJ
authors: Kaup
authors: Institute for Veterinary Medicine, Georg August University Goettingen, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bleyer
authors: Institute for Veterinary Medicine, Georg August University Goettingen, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077 Goettingen, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Mätz-Rensing
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006071:Gorilla gorilla; D014428:Twins, Conjoined
keywords: gorilla; ischiopagus tripus; twinning