Animal: A 1-day old female goat.
Organ: Skull, eyes and brain.
History: Prior to death the animal experienced compromised nursing capacity, lethargy, and coughing episodes.
Findings: The animal had two eyes fused into one present in the middle of the forehead. There was one thick optic nerve. The brain exhibited hydrocephalus. The maxilla and nose were absent, the tongue was protruding. The mandible was C-shaped (curved). The airways contained a small amount of ingesta. The lungs were heavy, wet, and diffusely mottled. All remaining internal organs were within normal limits.
Morphological diagnoses: synophthalmia with an absence of the optic chiasm, hydrocephalus, maxillary agenesis, dental pad agenesis, and nasal agenesis (arrhinia),
Contributor: Diana Bochynska DipECVP, Assistant Professor – Veterinary Pathology Ross
Bibliography:
Nourani H, Karimi I, Rajabi Vardanjani H. Synophthalmia in a Holstein cross calf. Vet Res Forum. 2014 Fall;5(4):333-5. PMID: 25610588; PMCID: PMC4300002