Congenital abnormalities of internal organs and body cavities.

Many of these malformations are reported sporadically, but a few are common, and several have important clinical implications. One example is schistosomus reflexus, which is always a challenge for veteran clinicians and often baffling to inexperienced obstetricians. The recent finding that early palpation of the amniotic vesicle can cause intestinal atresia in calves is extremely significant for dairy practitioners. Finally, there is the ethical question in breeding animals--repairing defects that are thought to be genetic, such as atresia ani, scrotal hernia, and umbilical hernia.

Spinal muscular atrophy in Brown Swiss calves.

Nineteen Brown Swiss calves affected with spinal muscular atrophy were described. Weakness of the rear legs was the first sign observed at 3 to 4 weeks of age. Terminal stages were characterized by severe muscular atrophy, quadriparesis, and sternal recumbency. Bronchopneumonia was a frequent complicating disease. Microscopic changes consisted mainly of degeneration and loss of motor neurons in the ventral horns of the spinal cord. Neurogenic atrophy of muscles was a constant finding. Electron microscopy revealed accumulation of neurofilaments and mitochondria in affected neurons. The disease shares many features with Werdnig-Hoffmann disease in man and the spinal muscular atrophies of other animals.

Effect of levamisole on induced bovine viral diarrhea.

The effect of levamisole in calves experimentally infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus was evaluated in a double-blind study. The infection was mild and there was no difference in severity of infection or speed of recovery between levamisole-treated and 0.9% NaCl solution-treated (control) calves. Also, the serum antibody titers and viral recovery data of these calves were comparable. The white blood cell counts were consistently higher in the treated group than in the control group, with the difference peaking on postinoculation day 15. The detection of marked lymphopenia in control calves but not in levamisole-treated calves indicated a potential use of levamisole in bovine viral diarrhea.

Otognathia with complete pharyngeal fistulae in an Angus calif.

An Angus calf affected with bilateral otognathia and complete pharyngeal fistulae is described. The cause could not be determined.

Rectal and vaginal constriction in Jersey cattle.

Three Jersey herds had a total of 14 cows with constriction of the anorectal area and of the vagina. Maternal and paternal lines of all affected cows were traced to a common ancestor.