title: Evaluation of the inheritance of the complex vertebral malformation syndrome by breeding studies.
abstract: To investigate the congenital complex vertebral malformation syndrome (CVM) in Holstein calves, two breeding studies were performed including 262 and 363 cows, respectively. Cows were selected from the Danish Cattle Database based on pedigree and insemination records. Selected cows were progeny of sires with an established heterozygous CVM genotype and pregnant after insemination with semen from another sire with heterozygous CVM genotype. Following calving the breeders should state, if the calf was normal and was requested to submit dead calves for necropsy. In both studies, significantly fewer CVM affected calves than expected were obtained; a finding probably reflecting extensive intrauterine mortality in CVM affected foetuses. The findings illustrate increased intrauterine mortality as a major potential bias in observational studies of inherited disorders.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg, Denmark. jager@kvl.dk
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Agerholm
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Almskou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bendixen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnbjerg
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Aamand
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Panitz
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Petersen
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001176:Arthrogryposis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000235:genetics; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D011247:Pregnancy; D013577:Syndrome