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Objectives: This study was performed to assess osseous contributions to osteoarthritis, obviating the analysis challenges presented by confounding factors in humans and rarity of osteoarthritis in free-ranging mammals., Methods: Frequency of osteoarthritis in 21 bird species was examined and contrasted with measures of afflicted element bone stiffness and strength and compression/tension-resistant characteristics., Results: Osteoarthritis was present in the ankle of 0-16% of bird species analysed, independent of bone laminarity, cortical thickness, circularity, polarization, cross-sectional diameter, length and pneumatization., Conclusions: No correlation of frequency of osteoarthritis with parameters of bone strength and biomechanical parameters was found, suggesting that bone is only secondarily affected in osteoarthritis and that cartilage is the initial target of the disease.

The purpose of this study was to assess birds as a potential model for osteoarthritis. Compromised by confounding factors, it has not been possible to clearly delineate causation in humans. Nonhuman mammals manifest osteoarthritis in the natural state too rarely for comparative study. Artificial environments (of captive animals) are associated with higher frequencies, but are still inadequate for comparative study, and surgical and chemical models provide only limited insight. As frequency of pathology (except trauma-related) in birds has not been systematically examined across species lines, several families were selected for examination. Skeletal collections of major museums were examined for presence of osteophytes in hawks and pigeons. Three percent of 2,243 free-ranging hawks and 9.8% of 2,718 pigeons had osteoarthritis, all localized to the ankle. The bird ankle morphologically resembles the human knee. Frequency in pigeons was significantly greater than in hawks (chi (2)=86.48, p<0.00001), but was no difference in frequency between wild caught and captive birds (chi (2)=1.06). While misconceptions have plagued past perspectives, it turns out that the most common form of arthritis in humans (osteoarthritis) is actually for, or at least, is common in the class Aves (birds). The frequency of osteoarthritis and cacophony of bird morphologies and behaviors provides an opportunity to start to understand such causation.

Objectives: This study was performed to complement studies on spondyloarthropathy in rhesus macaques by quantifying and characterizing another major form of arthritis and contrasting it with osteoarthritis., Methods: Skeletons of 269 macaques of known age and troop affiliation from the free-ranging Cayo Santiago colony (Caribbean Primate Research Center) were macroscopically surveyed for the presence of articular changes of osteoarthritis, articular plate excrescences, and calcifications that project back over the joint surface in all diarthrodial joints. Statistical tests were used to establish the independence of pathological conditions, age, gender, troop membership, and specific joint involvement., Results: Subchondral articular surface excrescences or calcific plate-like articular surface overgrowth were noted in 17% and osteoarthritis in 18% of Cayo Santiago macaques. Distribution of joint involvement and sex ratio (1:1) of the former condition were independent of either troop membership or the distribution of osteoarthritis., Conclusion: Three major forms of arthritis are common in rhesus macaques: osteoarthritis, spondyloarthropathy, and a category that might be referred to as apical plate excrescences (APE). The latter is very different from spondyloarthropathy, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, and infectious arthritis. It is quite similar to what in the past has been referred to as the radiographic form of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) in humans. A new name has not been offered for the identification/categorization of this phenomenon in dry bone. Its occurrence in rhesus macaques appears to present a natural model for characterization of genetic, immunologic, and environmental aspects of this phenomenon. The acronym APE is offered for consideration in naming this category of arthritis in skeletal material.

A controlled study of the relationship of two standard clinical indicators of osteoarthritis and porosity failed to demonstrate a relationship. Porosity appears to be a curiosity that has no clinical correlation and is not a sign of an identifiable rheumatologic disorder. It should be deleted as an identifier for osteoarthritis.

As the arboreal ape, Pongo, has an unusual ground ambulation adaptation, it was of interest to assess the impact of Pongo gait on patterns of arthritis. While osteoarthritis was not identified in Pongo, 11% of individual skeletons were afflicted with an inflammatory, erosive arthritis. The presence of sacroiliac involvement and the nature and distribution of erosive lesions allowed definitive diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy. Character, distribution, and radiologic appearance revealed a picture distinguishable from spondyloarthropathy in other primates.

Devising techniques and instrumentation for early detection of knee arthritis and chondromalacia presents a challenge in the domain of biomedical engineering. The purpose of the present investigation was to characterize normal knees and knees affected by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chondromalacia using a set of noninvasive acceleration measurements. Ultraminiature accelerometers were placed on the skin over the patella in four groups of subjects, and acceleration measurements were obtained during leg rotation. Acceleration measurements were significantly different in the four groups of subjects in the time and frequency domains. Power spectral analysis revealed that the average power was significantly different for these groups over a 100-500 Hz range. Noninvasive acceleration measurements can characterize the normal, arthritis, and chondromalacia knees. However, a study on a larger group of subjects is indicated.

Recognition of sacroiliac disease has been integral to arthritis diagnostic approaches. However, intra- and inter-observer variation have been recognized as limiting factors in radiologic assessment of the sacroiliac joint. The assumption that such irregularly shaped joints can be radiologically assessed of the sacroiliac joint. The assumption that such irregularly shaped joints can be radiologically assessed has not actually been rigorously evaluated. Direct arthroscopic visualization of the joints was therefore used as a standard against which to assess the validity of routine radiologic views, stereo-radiology, tomography and computed tomography, in the analysis of a group of sacroiliac joints drawn from the Todd Collection (Cleveland Museum of Natural History). The most sensitive techniques for the recognition of erosions or fusion are 15 degree angulation and stereo, but the frequency of false positives makes the technique of questionable clinical utility. While sensitivity for joint space narrowing is high with several techniques (30 degree anterior-posterior or posterior-anterior projections and tomograms), specificity is still poor, with a high rate of false positives. Fulfillment of the New York Criteria for sacroiliac disease is especially insensitive and non-specific. Radiologic techniques therefore have major limitations for the assessment of sacroiliac disease and greater reliance on clinical acumen is required for patient categorization.

Presence of spine and sacroiliac involvement and the nature and distribution of the erosive lesions allow definitive diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy. Thus, spondyloarthropathy was identified in Theropithecus, Papio, Cercopithecus, Macaca, Colobus, Presbytis, and Hylobates. Only monarticular erosive disease was present in prosimians, precluding a diagnosis of spondyloarthropathy for that group. The distribution of erosive disease and axial joint involvement in 1,349 non-prosimian Old World primates is quite characteristic of that noted in human psoriatic arthritis. While Reiter's syndrome must also be considered, the histologic appearance of skin lesions in Macaca is characteristic of psoriasis. Evidence of spondyloarthropathy abounds in the literature of primate skeletal disease. Environmentally based contagions may be important in the pathophysiology of spondyloarthropathy. The wide geographic distribution of the phenomena in monkeys suggests a "panendemic," with limited individual susceptibility (compared to that noted in gorillas and chimpanzees). Identical occurrence of erosive arthritis/spondyloarthropathy in free-ranging and artificially restrained animals suggests that spondyloarthropathy can validly be studied in artificially restrained populations. This perspective should allow application of human therapeutic approaches to and perhaps improve the quality of life for artificially restrained, afflicted individuals.

Uncertainties as to the nature and implications of osteoarthritis and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) in primates were subject to critical review through examination of 153 prosimians and 1,250 Old World non-prosimian primates. Osteoarthritis, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and infectious arthritis/osteomyelitis were relatively rare phenomena, affecting only 1.7% and 2.5%, respectively, of free-ranging prosimians and other Old World non-prosimian primates. Frequency of infection in Indri and Presbytis appears to reflect a unique susceptibility or exposure. Papio may have a unique predisposition to CPPD. The dichotomy (frequency and joint distribution) between free-ranging and artificially restrained animals suggests caution in interpretation of osteoarthritis or CPPD in non-free-ranging animals.

Erosive changes and syndesmophyte formation, characteristics of spondyloarthropathy, were present in 79/2906 skeletons in the Todd Collection. Holistic assessment of this defined population allowed it to be distinguished from rheumatoid and other erosive forms of arthritis. Characterization of the nature and distribution of osseous alterations in a contemporary skeletal population allowed development of a standard for recognition of the disease in skeletal populations.