Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in a Holstein steer

A young, partially blind Holstein steer was affected by mild cerebral atrophy. Formalin-fixed cerebral gray matter was diffusely yellow brown. Microscopically, there were eosinophilic, autofluorescent granules primarily in the cytoplasm of cerebral neurons. There was also extensive retinal atrophy with complete loss of the rod and cone layers. Ultrastructural examination of affected cerebral neurons revealed a mixture of granular osmiophilic and lamellar patterns in the cytoplasmic storage bodies. This suggests the existence of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in the Holstein breed.