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.
el-Hamidi
M
M
Leipold
H W
HW
Vestweber
J G
JG
Saperstein
G
G
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009134:Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000648:ultrastructure*