June 2021

JUNE 2021
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Animal: Bos taurus, Holstein Friesian, 1 day, female

Organ: Brain

History: Congenital neurological signs of intermittent opisthotonos and tremor particularly when moving its head.

Autopsy findings:
The cerebellum lacked defined vermis and hemispheres and consisted of small irregular remnants on the roof of the fourth ventricle. Bilaterally, the caudal cerebral cortices were thin (1 – 5mm), lacked defined gyri and collapsed following release of the cerebrospinal fluid from the underlying dilated lateral ventricles. Bovine virus diarrhoea virus type 1 RNA was detected in a sample of spleen.

Diagnosis: Congenital cerebellar hypoplasia, bilateral occipital cerebrocortical atrophy and compensatory internal hydrocephalus, associated with in utero BVDV infection.

Comment: Porencephalic cavitation was not present in the cerebral cortices. This cerebral malformation has also been described as focal hydranencephaly.

Contributor: Sandra Scholes