Leukomyelopathy in ataxic calves

Seventy-three fattening calves ranging from 6 to 15 months old on a farm were affected by ataxia over a period of four months. About 10 ataxic animals recovered after the administration of various kinds of vitamins and needle puncture therapy. The principal lesions in 14 ataxic animals examined were characterized by bilateral vacuolation with axonal degeneration confined to the spinal white matter. Ultrastructurally, the vacuoles were present in the periaxonal areas and bounded by dissociated myelin lamellae. No pathogen was isolated from the visceral organs of the animals. The serum copper remained within the normal range. Possible etiological factors remain unknown in the ataxic disease.