Abstract

This case report describes the clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and associated (histo)pathological findings in a crossbred Belgian Blue calf with congenital complex brain anomaly. The calf was presented with non-progressive signs (including cerebellar ataxia) since it was born, suggestive of a multifocal intracranial lesion. A congenital anomaly was suspected and after hematology, biochemistry, serology, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis, a magnetic resonance imaging study was performed. The following suspected abnormalities were the principal changes identified: severe hydrocephalus, porencephaly, suspected partial corpus callosum agenesis (CCA), and increased fluid signal between the folia of the cerebellum. Post-mortem examination predominately reflected the MRI findings. The origin for these malformations could not be identified and there was no evidence of a causative infectious agent. Corpus callosum abnormalities have been reported in bovids before and have been linked to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections, as have several other central nervous system anomalies in this species. In this case, BVDV was deemed an unlikely causative agent based on serology test results and lack of typical histopathological signs. The etiology of the congenital anomaly present in this bovine calf remains unknown.

Highlights

  • Central nervous system (CNS) anomalies in cattle are commonly reported in cases of in utero viral infections such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections [1,2,3]

  • Congenital bovine CNS malformations have been described in the literature to a certain extent and congenital malformations are divided into the following categories: defects of neural tube closure; defects of forebrain induction; neuronal migration disorders and sulcation defects; disorders of proliferation or size; encephaloclastic defects; cerebellar- and spinal malformations; congenital hydrocephalus and cysts [13]

  • Rare corpus callosum agenesis has been previously described in cattle [1, 14, 15]

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Summary

BACKGROUND

Central nervous system (CNS) anomalies in cattle are commonly reported in cases of in utero viral infections such as bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections [1,2,3]. At 10 months of age the calf was euthanized by intravenous administration of 100 mL pentobarbital (Euthanimal 40%, Alfasan, the Netherlands) and a post-mortem examination was performed at the Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Center (VPDC, Utrecht, The Netherlands) This revealed revealed diffuse, moderately enlarged hemispheres most prominently on the left side, covered by diffuse moderately edematous leptomeninges (see Figure 3). The main findings on post-mortem examination were partial agenesis and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum, fornix and septum pellucidum, obstructive internal hydrocephalus and porencephaly, which morphologically reflected the MR images (see Figures 1, 3) The origin for these congenital anomalies could not be identified

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