Doença de deposição de pirofosfato de cálcio em folivora e notoungulata do pleistoceno final do Brasil

Abstract

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is a type of crystalline arthritis characterized by the presence of calcified plates reflecting in direction to the articular surface, indentations in the radiocarpals joint surfaces, or calcified concretions over the articular surface. The CPPD can be classified as primary or secondary, depending if there is a relation or not with a pre-existing disease. CPPD has been well documented in mammals of the Brazilian Megafauna of the final Pleistocene, especially in gliptodonts and giant terrestrial sloths. The objective of this work is to present new diagnostics of the CPPD in extinct mammals of the Brazilian Megafauna in the final Pleistocene. The analysed material belongs to the collection of palaeontology of the Rural Federal University of Pernambuco which have been collected in a tank deposit, located in Serra Negra, city of Caruaru, Pernambuco (8°6.8225'S 36°6.0349'W), and include: A calcaneus (UFRPE - 4981) a rib (UFRPE - 5547) and a scapula fragment (UFRPE - 4982) of Eremotherium laurillardi (Xenarthra, Folivora) and the distal portion of a Toxodon sp. Fibula (Notoungulata) (UFRPE - 4990). Each specimen has been macroscopically examined and the presented diagnosis followed as specific literature. The Calcaneus (UFRPE - 4981) presents bone projection at the shallow end of the sustainable facet, near to the tendon insertion area. The rib (UFRPE - 5547) presents bone projection in the border of the chapter surface. The scapula fragment (UFRPE - 4982) presents bone projections next to the center of the articulation, in the glenoid cavity and are associated to minor bone erosions. In the fibula (UFRPE - 4990), it is possible to observe calcium deposition associated to the CPPD onto articular surface of the distal edge, there are also minor bone erosions, of a few millimetres, that can be related to other diseases (e.g. spondyloarthropathy). The presence of those calcified plates over articulations is an indicative of the CPPD – essentially gliptodontes and terrestrial sloths – are predominantly individuals that have great body mass and are senile. There diagnostic of CPPD in eight diferent localities, from Northest of Brazil.