Holoprosencephaly in a bovine calf

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Developmental Biology
• Comparative Pathology

Background:

• Holoprosencephaly is a severe congenital brain malformation characterized by incomplete separation of the forebrain.
• While documented in various species, holoprosencephaly has not been previously reported in domestic cattle.
• Understanding bovine brain development is crucial for animal health and disease research.

Observation:

• A female Hereford calf presented with holoprosencephaly, a condition previously undocumented in bovines.
• The malformation included fused cerebral hemispheres, a single ventricle, absent olfactory bulbs and corpus callosum, and facial abnormalities like hypotelorism and microphthalmia.
• Detailed morphological examination revealed significant deviations from typical bovine brain anatomy.

Findings:

• The bovine case exhibited key features consistent with holoprosencephaly, including arrhinencephaly and agenesis of the corpus callosum.
• Facial dysmorphism, specifically hypotelorism and microphthalmia, accompanied the severe brain malformation.
• Comparison with human holoprosencephaly cases highlighted both shared and distinct pathological characteristics.

Implications:

• This report expands the known spectrum of congenital brain malformations in livestock.
• Investigating the etiology of this bovine holoprosencephaly case may offer insights into developmental processes and genetic factors.
• Findings contribute to comparative neuropathology and may inform future research on brain development disorders in both animals and humans.