Spinal muscular atrophy in calves of the Red Danish dairy breed
Agerholm, J.S.; Basse, A.
Veterinary Record 134(10): 232-235
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8197680 Document Number: 426569
Pathological and genetic aspects of spinal muscular atrophy in Red Danish dairy cattle are described. 312 calves suspected of having the condition were reported in the Danish Bovine Genetic Disease Programme, 162 of them were examined PM and spinal muscular atrophy was diagnosed in 82. 75% of the affected calves had bronchopneumonia. The diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy was based on histopathological examinations of the spinal cord and musculature. The lesions were primarily characterised by degeneration of the spinal cord motor neurons with neurophagia and denervation muscular atrophy. The ages of the affected calves varied from those recumbent from birth to a 21-week-old calf. All the PM cases appeared in a clearly familial pattern and could be traced back to American Brown Swiss bulls.