A lower motor neuron disease in newborn Romney lambs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cause and nature of a disease in newborn New Zealand Romney lambs characterised by progressive weakness and premature death.


METHODS
Affected lambs were examined clinically, humanely killed and submitted to necropsy. Selected fonmalin-fixed tissues were examined histologically. Data on the parentage of the lambs were collected.


RESULTS
The principle lesions found were degeneration and loss of neurons in ventral horns of the spinal cord and brain stem and Wallerian degeneration of motor nerves and denervation atrophy of skeletal muscles fibres.


CONCLUSIONS
The lesions are those of a lower motor neuron disease which appeared to have a genetic cause.
Anderson
P D
PD
Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Parton
K H
KH
Collett
M G
MG
Sargison
N D
ND
Jolly
R D
RD