Prolonged gestation in a Swedish Red cow due to fetal unilateral adrenal gland dysgenesis

Ebru Karakaya Bi̇len,Ahmet Akkoç,Barış Güner,Gülnaz Yilmazbaş Meci̇toğlu,Abdulkadir Keski̇n,Ahmet Gümen

doi:10.3906/vet-1811-12

Abstract

A 5-year-old Swedish Red cow, pregnant for 465 days according to the last insemination record, was presented in this case. She conceived by artificial insemination at spontaneous estrus using frozen-thawed sperm of Swedish Red sire. No abnormalities were detected during gestation and no clinical signs of parturition at the expected time of delivery were noted. She was reexamined several times to eliminate breeding records error and, once prolonged gestation was confirmed, parturition was induced. The calf survived birth but died 10 min after birth. A macroscopically giant fetus was diagnosed. Following necropsy, some congenital anomalies were noticed. While the structure of the right adrenal gland was normal, disorganized soft tissue was observed in the left one, in which cortical and medullar regions could not be distinguished. The calf?s pituitary gland was also normal. Thus, prolonged gestation was attributed to a case of unilateral adrenal gland dysgenesis.

Highlights

In cattle, prolonged gestation, defined as a gestational period exceeding 11 months, has been attributed to several syndromes, to either anatomical or functional anomalies of the fetus [1]
Prolonged gestation associated with fetal pituitary gland hypoplasia is genetically determined by an autosomal recessive gene of the fetus [1]
Postmortem findings generally reported aplasia of the pituitary and/or hypoplasia of the adrenals related with prolonged gestation [3,8]

Summary

Introduction

In cattle, prolonged gestation, defined as a gestational period exceeding 11 months, has been attributed to several syndromes, to either anatomical or functional anomalies of the fetus [1]. Pituitary gland hypoplasia is associated with fetal gigantism, hirsutism, retarded ossification, and hypoplasia of the thyroid and adrenal glands. These abnormalities have been identified in the Holstein-Friesian, Ayrshire, and Guernsey breeds, resulting from an autosomal recessive gene defect [1]. Another autosomal recessive genetic defect has been reported in Guernsey, Jersey, and Swedish Red cattle, in which the affected calves are often described as “fetal monsters” suffering from hydrocephaly, fetal growth retardation, delayed ossification, hypotrichosis, and atresia jejunalis.

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