Bovine Genetic Diseases – Old Syndromes in a New Perspective

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2, 19 - 20

Jørgen S Agerholm

https://doi.org/10.47115/bsagriculture.1603011

Abstract

Congenital malformations have always fascinated humans but it was not until recently that deeper knowledge on their causes have become more evident. The development within genomic analysis has until now resolved the molecular cause of almost 200 bovine genetic diseases. However, the cause of certain well-known congenital syndromes in cattle have remained unexplained. The Danish Bovine Genetic Disease Program was in its current form established in 1989 and many genetic diseases have been investigated. Lately, we have focused on some well-known congenital disorders: schistosoma reflexum, congenital syndromic Chiari-like malformation and the bulldog calf syndrome. Genetic analyses of such cases sampled as part of the bovine genetic disease surveillance in Denmark have confirmed their genetic etiology. Investigations into a fourth congenital syndrome, perosomus elumbis, are underway.

Keywords

Schistosoma reflexum, Spina bifida, Bulldog calf, Chiari malformation; Perosomus elumbis

Ethical Statement

This review does not require ethical or animal welfare approval.

Thanks

Professor Cord Drögemüller and his research group at the University of Bern is greatly acknowledge for the genetic analyses.

References

• Agerholm JS. 2007. Inherited disorders in Danish cattle. APMIS suppl. 122(115) pp: 1-76.
• Agerholm JS, Holm W, Schmidt M, Hyttel P, Fredholm M, McEvoy FJ. 2014. Perosomus elumbis in Danish Holstein cattle. BMC Vet Res, 10: 227.