Muscular dystrophy of the diaphragmatic muscles in Holstein-Friesian cows

Six Holstein-Friesian cows suffering from recurrent rumenal tympany were pathologically investigated. Macroscopical lesions associated with the clinical symptoms were confined to the diaphragmatic muscles which were pale, and stiff on palpation. Histopathological examination revealed various degenerative changes in diaphragmatic muscles as follows: variation in muscle fiber diameter, vacuolar and hyalinized degeneration of muscle fibers, fiber splitting, central core-like structures, sarcoplasmic masses and ring fibers. These characteristic features in the present cases were consistent with dystrophy of the diaphragmatic muscles in Meuse-Rhine-Yssel cattle. From these observations, it is confirmed that muscular dystrophy of the diaphragmatic muscles dose occur in Holstein-Friesian cows, although a genetic mode was not proven.