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

Abstract

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