Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in a Roman-period horse from Gerulata (Bratislava-Rusovce, Slovakia): Diagnostic Considerations

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pathological changes identified in a skeleton of a horse from Roman-period Gerulata, Slovakia. MATERIALS: The remains consist of a partially preserved, articulated skeleton of an adult horse from today's southern urban district of Bratislava-Rusovce in southwestern Slovakia. METHODS: The specimen underwent macroscopic analysis to assess taxonomic identification, biological profile, and pathological changes. Thoracolumbar lesions were further evaluated using computed tomography (CT). Radiocarbon dating determined the absolute age of the remains. RESULTS: Species determination indicates that the remains, radiocarbon dated to 21-133 cal CE (90.1% probability), belonged to a male domestic horse that died between 9-10 years of age. Key pathological features include flowing ossification corresponding to the ventral longitudinal ligament, as well as signs of active bone remodeling. Complete bridging was observed between T11-T12, and near-complete bridging in the T10-T11 and T12-T14 segments. CONCLUSIONS: Recorded changes at T10-T14 are most consistent with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). The interpretation of lesions in non-contiguous segments (T16-T17, L3-L4) remains ambiguous. SIGNIFICANCE: This case highlights diagnostic challenges in distinguishing DISH from spondylosis in horses and demonstrates structural limitations of current criteria derived from human and veterinary medicine. LIMITATIONS: The skeleton was incompletely preserved due to post-depositional disturbance, and the vertebral arches in the affected segments (T10-T13, and partially T14) were not recovered. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: Future work should focus on standardizing diagnostic criteria for equine spinal pathologies, aligning them more closely with current human medicine standards.