Compressive cervical myelopathy in young Texel and Beltex sheep.
Authors: Penny Colin, Macrae Alastair, Hagen Regine, Hahn Caroline, Sargison Neil, Scott Philip, Smith Sionagh, Wilson David, Mayhew Joe
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Compressive Cervical Myelopathy in Texel and Beltex Sheep Between 2007 and the present day, veterinary professionals have encountered a distinctive neurological syndrome in young Texel and Beltex sheep—characterised by ataxia and progressive weakness mimicking the "wobbler syndrome" recognised in horses and dogs—prompting systematic investigation into its underlying cause. Colin and colleagues examined 10 affected sheep (predominantly rams aged 15–18 months) using radiographic and computed tomographic myelography alongside postmortem and histopathological analysis, which revealed a previously undescribed pathology: discrete fatty nodules prolapsing through the dorsolateral intervertebral space at C6–C7, compressing the spinal cord without any concurrent bony abnormalities. All affected animals demonstrated clinical signs consistent with cervical spinal cord compression, with postmortem examination confirming well-differentiated adipose tissue masses causing localised compression and secondary Wallerian degeneration of the spinal cord at and proximal to the lesion site. This finding represents a novel breed-specific cervical myelopathy distinct from the skeletal dysplasias associated with wobbler syndrome in equines, suggesting a primary soft tissue pathology rather than vertebral malformation. Whilst the study establishes the clinical and pathological presentation, the aetiology and potential hereditary factors remain undetermined, making further investigation essential for breeders seeking to eliminate this condition from Texel and Beltex breeding programmes.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This condition represents a novel breed-specific cervical myelopathy in Texel and Beltex sheep with a distinct pathophysiology (fatty nodule prolapse) not previously documented in these breeds
- •Young sheep presenting with ataxia and weakness should be evaluated with CT myelography at C6-C7 to differentiate this adipose-related compression from other causes
- •Further research is needed to determine hereditary risk factors and etiology in order to implement breeding strategies to reduce incidence in affected breeds
Key Findings
- •10 young Texel and Beltex sheep (aged 15-18 months) presented with clinical signs of cervical spinal cord compression
- •Myelography confirmed dorsal spinal cord compression at C6-C7 without bony abnormalities, distinguishing this from canine and equine wobbler syndrome
- •Postmortem examination revealed discrete adipose tissue nodules prolapsing through the dorsolateral intervertebral space at C6-C7 causing localized compression
- •Histopathology confirmed nodules were composed of well-differentiated fatty tissue with marked Wallerian degeneration at compression site and mild degeneration cranial and caudal to the lesion