Bovine asymmetric hind limb paresis, a presumptive in-utero plant poisoning.
A new locomotory disturbance of cattle is described. The condition has occurred sporadically since the mid-1980s. Affected herds had all grazed flood plain pastures in a restricted area of north-western New South Wales. Calves were either born with clinical signs or developed them by 4 months of age. The disease was characterised by a slowly progressive, irreversible, asymmetrical, paresis of the hind limbs. Affected cattle experienced persistent hyperextension of the hip and stifle joints. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the nervous and musculoskeletal system failed to demonstrate abnormalities that would account for the clinical signs. The disorder shares many similarities with bovine spastic paresis. It is suggested that the pathogenesis of the disorder is nervous, and probably involves nigro-striatal, medulla oblongata, and spinal dysfunctional inputs. An in-utero plant poisoning was suspected but no specific plant association was determined.
New South Wales Agriculture, Agricultural Research and Veterinary Centre, Orange, New South Wales.
C A
CA
Bourke
D000818:Animals; D001772:Blood Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000473:pathology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000473:pathology; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010939:Plant Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*