Congenital tremor in Holstein Friesian‐cattle

Summary

In a female family line of Holstein‐Friesian cattle a series of trembling calves was born within a period of ten years. All trembling animals were male; female calves appeared normal At necropsy of one calf severe degenerative lesions of spinal cord and brain white matter were observed Both myelin and axons were lost and some macrophages occurred within digestion chambers. Obviously degenerated neurones were not found The lesion was interpreted as a single recessive sex‐linked hereditary trait.

Notes

Veterinary Practice Z.O. Drenthe, P.O. Box 125, 7740 AC Coevorden, The Netherlands

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands

Department of Health and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands