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This article was published in 1964
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INSTITUTE OF INSPECTORS OF STOCK OF N.S.W. YEAR BOOK.

Pseudolipidosis in an Angus Vealer

G. E. CHARLES, B.V.Sc., Veterinary Inspector, Forbes.

Whittem and Walker (1957) have described this condition, but the case described in the report revealed one feature not previously recorded.

HISTORY:

On a property near Marsden, south west of Forbes, a number of Angus calves were dropped during the period December 1961 to December 1962, and seven of these failed to develop normally. The herd was running on native pastures on black, self-mulching soil, subjected to repeated flooding over the past 14 years with consequent leaching. The subject calves were seen by a practitioner, who, after carrying out faecal examination for worm ova, with negative results, suspected a cobalt deficiency and treated the animals accordingly. There being no response to cobalt therapy, it was decided to forward the five remaining calves for slaughter, and to collect blood samples for phosphorus and copper estimations. One calf could not be loaded on to the transport, while a second broke a leg in transit and was slaughtered immediately on arrival at the Abattoir.

The three head remaining for sampling on 14/1/64 were stunted with harsh dry coats, and their ages ranged from 11 to 13 months. On post-mortem examination the only abnormal feature was that the abomasal walls of all three showed lesions of parasitic gastritis typical of Ostertagiosis, confirmed on histological examination at Glenfield. No adult worms were present, only larval forms. Blood phosphorus and copper levels were within the normal range. In these cases brain specimens were not taken. The dressed weights were 210 lbs., 236 lbs., and 302 lbs., respectively, being considerably below the weights normally seen in Angus cattle of comparable ages.

CLINICAL:

On 22/1/64 the vealer which remained on the property was seen. It was noticeably underdeveloped, being about 14 months old, standing 54 inches high and weighing approximately 450 lbs. liveweight. The coat was harsh and dry, and patches of hair were abraded from all fetlocks as a result of knuckling over. The animal was in a position of sternal decubitus and had difficult in rising.

On rising, the animal showed difficulty in maintaining balance and stood with the forelegs widespread. When forced to move, there was a marked ataxia, and when hurried the animal showed a strong tendency to move crab-wise to the right, with increasing inco-ordination, and soon went down. Temperature and respiration were normal when first seen, but both increased markedly following forced exertion. Head movements appeared stiff. The animal was destroyed.

POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION:

Head length was 18 inches from poll to muzzle, and width 9 inches at widest part. A generalised slight icterus was noted in all organs. The liver capsule was opaque and the bile ducts appeared to be slightly thickened. The gall bladder was distended with dark green bile. The omasum was impacted, and the abomasal wall exhibited numerous small white nodules from 1 mm to 3 mm in diameter. The mesenteric lymph nodes showed what appeared to be small petechiae, and were moister than usual. All other organs appeared normal.

On removing the head, the atlanto-occipital joint was found to contain about 10 ml of clear yellow synovia, and the occipital condyles were misshapen and pitted; these pits were up to 1 cm across and 1 to 2 mm deep. The corresponding articular surfaces on the atlas showed matching lesions. The axio-atlantal joint was also malformed. The right arch of the atlas was approximately ¾ inch wide ventrally and not ossified.

On dividing the skull, the meninges appeared greyish in colour, and the blood vessels were markedly injected. The brain tissue appeared brown, and this was most marked in the cerebellum and medulla oblongata. Sections of liver, kidney and abomasal wall, mesenteric lymph node, left half of brain, and the atlas were submitted for examination.

HISTOPATHOLOGY:

There were no significant findings from the sections of liver, kidney and abomasal wall. The mesenteric lymph node showed sinusoidal oedema and some pigment retention.

The brain showed "universal severe lesions of "Pseudolipidosis" — swelling and vacuolation of neurones, with extensive axonal swelling and degeneration, and ballooning of Purkinje cell dendrites in the cerebellum".

The bone lesions were not examined histologically and the comment was noted that such lesions have not been encountered in previous cases.

DISCUSSION:

The ratio of head length to head width in this case was 2:1 and the bodily development was comparable to that of dolichocephalic dwarfs recorded in Angus cattle (Julian et al. 1958) and dwarfism was first suspected.

Pseudolipidosis has also been suggested as arising from a conditioning inherited factor. However, the owner states that the sire and dam of the subject calf are from different blood lines, but this is only a superficial assessment of the genetic position, and it could be that there was a common blood line some generations back.

SUMMARY:

1. A case of Pseudolipidosis in an Angus calf is recorded.

2. Typical histopathological lesions were found.

3. Bone lesions, not previously recorded, were noted.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Thanks are due to Mr. M. G. Foote. B.V.Sc., for first bringing this condition to notice; to Mr. F. W. Maslin for his ready co-operation, and to Mr. D. G. Christie, B.V.Sc., H.D.A., for his interest and encouragement.

References:

Julian, L. M., Tyler, W. S. and Gregory, P. W. — J.A.V.M.A., 135: 104
Whittem, J. H. and Walker, D. — J. Path. Bact., 74: 281