A lower motor neuron disease in newborn Romney lambs.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the cause and nature of a disease in newborn New Zealand Romney lambs characterised by progressive weakness and premature death.

METHODS

Affected lambs were examined clinically, humanely killed and submitted to necropsy. Selected fonmalin-fixed tissues were examined histologically. Data on the parentage of the lambs were collected.

RESULTS

The principle lesions found were degeneration and loss of neurons in ventral horns of the spinal cord and brain stem and Wallerian degeneration of motor nerves and denervation atrophy of skeletal muscles fibres.

CONCLUSIONS

The lesions are those of a lower motor neuron disease which appeared to have a genetic cause.