Acase of perosomus elumbis concurrent with visceral abnormalities in a Holstein calf

Authors

1 Department of Theriogenology and Poultry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Urmia, Urmia, Iran

2 Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran

4 Department of Surgery and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Perosomus elumbis is an occasional congenital anomaly of
cattle, swine, sheep, and dogs with unknown etiology. This
congenital abnormality occurs in both sexes. A dead Holstein
calf characterized by musculoskeletal and external genitalia
abnormalities was referred to the large animal hospital of
University of Tehran. Radiographic evaluation and subsequent
dissection revealed that the vertebral column was truncated at the
level of first lumbar vertebra (L1). Moreover, L2-L5, sacrum and
coccygeal vertebrae were absent. The dorsum of the lumbosacral
region contained only soft tissues. Urogenital tract was
incomplete, and it contained agenesis of the ovaries, uterine
tubes, cervix, and vulva concurrent with unilateral umbilical
artery agenesis. Small and large intestine contained blind-ended
sacs. No testes, scrotum, and penis were found. The intact ureter
was attached to a thin-walled fluid fill sac. The laboratory finding
showed that the pH of the fluid was 6 and contained hemoglobin,
white blood cells, bacteria, a few red blood cells, oxalate
crystalline, and epithelial cells. It was concluded that the
collected fluid was urine. This is the first report of perosomus
elumbis in a Holstein calf having a lot of visceral abnormalities
in Iran.

Keywords