[Vertebral and multiple organ malformations in a black and white German Holstein calf]. / Missbildungen an der Wirbelsäule mit multiplen Organanomalien bei einem Kalb der Rasse Deutsche Holsteins.

ABSTRACT

A male black and white German Holstein calf showed a congenital, high-graded scoliosis and rotation of the thoracal spinal cord associated with shortening and fusion of multiple vertebral bodies and abnormal bending of the processus spinosus. Furthermore reduced birth weight, partial hypoplasia of the lung, excessive liver segmentation, doubled gall bladder, rectal atresia, horseshoe kidney, and uterine atresia were found. Due to the exclusion of a point mutation in exon 4 of the solute carrier family 35 (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) transporter), member A3 (SLC35A3) gene, complex vertebral malformation (CVM) was ruled out. Conclusively, it is hypothetized that the presented case resembles a new brachyspina syndrome with a still unresolved genetic etiology.