title: A Novel Inherited Cerebellar Abiotrophy in a Cohort of Related Goats.
abstract: Cerebellar abiotrophies, also known as cerebellar ataxias, are characterized by premature post-natal degeneration of cerebellar neurons. This report describes the clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), gross, histopathological and immunohistochemical features of a novel inherited cerebellar abiotrophy in a cohort of three closely related mixed-breed goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) in the southeastern USA. The animals all presented with early juvenile-onset ataxia, hypermetria, wide-based stance, head tremors and nystagmus. On MRI and at gross examination, there was moderate thinning of the cerebellar vermis and sharpening of the folia. Histologically, the vermis, paravermis and flocculonodular lobe had moderate to severe segmental loss of Purkinje cells with sparing of the hemispheres and secondary loss of granule cells and astrogliosis. Heritable cerebellar ataxias have been reported in many domestic animal species, but not, to the authors' knowledge, as a heritable condition in goats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. Electronic address: jaw0007@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
authors.forename: B W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Newcomer
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002524:Cerebellar Ataxia / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006041:Goats; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male
keywords: animal model; cerebellar abiotrophy; cerebellar ataxia; goat