Syringomyelia in a Calf

Syringomyelia, is the spinal cord malformation which occurs acquired or congenital at dogs, horses and camels. In general, clinical symptom is that newborn calves aren’t be able to rise or have incoordination at hind limbs. Congenital spinal cord malformations usually occur espacially in the thoracolumbar region in calves. The common reasons of congenital malformations are genetic, nutritional factors, enviromental factors such as viral infections and toxins with fertilization techniques. Akabane, bovine viral diarrhea, blue tongeu, cache valley infections and schmallenberg virus (SBV) have caused congenital anomalies.

Case History
Holstain breed, female, 1 month-year-old calf was presented with the complaint of unable to rise to feet after birth  Animal Hospital. The calf originated from a dairy type holstein farm, which had been artificially inseminated. There have been any birth calves with congenital malformation up to now. The owner reported that the calf was born normal and good condition at parturition.

In physical examination, the calf was healthy but it couldn’t rise to hind lims. When it was supported from hind limbs manually, it could move. However, it was inability  to move by itself. Because of permanent lying, hind lims espacially left side, and caudal abdomen were wet and there were some wounds on left side. It had scoliosis at thoraco lumbar region.  In palpation of vertebral column, it had disorderd several processus spinosus from T10 to L2. Muscels of hind limbs were atrophic bilaterally.

At neurological examination, cranial and peripheral nerves were normal, but at hind limbs withdrawing reflex was weak.



At radiological examination, laterolateral and ventrodorsal view of thoracolumbar region, the irregular intervertebral areas, sinostosis on the spinal process and vertebral scoliosis were remarked between T₁₀-L₂ segments.





Informing the weak prognosis to the patient owner, the calf was euthanized humanly after permission. 
On necropsy, synostosis with mild scoliosis and cavitation which placed in processus spinosus of thoracic 10-11-12 and lumbar 1-2 vertebrae were observed. After removing dorsal parts of these vertebrae, transversal enlargement and collapse, approximately 6 cm in length, were noticed on the spinal cord. In cross sections, there were  cystic cavitations, approximately 1 cm in diameter, close to dorsum and only a thin layer was covers this space.  

In the histopathological examination, a cavitation involves both grey and white matter was seen in the spinal cord. Foramen centrale was intact as separately from the cavitation. There was no lining cell layer on the internal surface of the cavity.

             As a result of clinic, radiologic and pathologic examinations, vertebral malformation and syringomyelia were diagnosed.