Clinical and gross pathological findings of congenital spina bifida and sacrococcygeal agenesis in an Omani crossbred calf

The objective of this case report was to describe the gross post-mortem findings of a rare clinical case of spina bifida and congenital sacrococcygeal agenesis in an Omani cross-bred calf. A three week-old Omani female cross-bred calf was recumbent at birth. Clinical examination revealed that the calf was mentally alert, but exhibited stiff and extended pelvic limb joints. The pectoral limbs were apparently normal. The calf had a fistulated circular excrescence in the skin (three centimeter in diameter) on the dorsal midline region of sacral region. The area surrounding the excrescence was void of hair. The calf also did not have a tail. Upon clinical consideration of the prolonged recumbency and suspected congenital skeletal defect, the calf underwent euthanasia. The observed gross post-mortem findings of the present case study were spina bifida, anury, partial sacral agenesis, scoliosis, misshapen ilium and a narrow pelvic canal. No abnormalities in the caudal abdominal organs were found. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of spina bifida and sacrococcygeal agenesis in an Omani cross-bred calf. [Vet World 2013; 6(6.000): 357-359]