Progressive bilateral (spastic) paresis, ataxia posterior and a decreased perineum tone in Dutch dairy goats: Pathophysiology

Abstract

Progressive bilateral (spastic) paresis, ataxia posterior and a decreased perineum tone in Dutch white dairy goats was an uncommon syndrome in dairy goat farming in The Netherlands. The aim of this study was to study the pathophysiological background of progressive bilateral (spastic) paresis, ataxia posterior and a decreased perineum tone in dairy goats. Therefore several methods have been used for data collection: farm visits, blood clinical chemistry, clinical and neurological examination under clinic conditions, quantitative electromyography (QEMG) and pathological examination. No significant differences were observed between cases and controls in blood clinical chemistry. Clinical-neurological observations were: kyphosis of the lumbosacral region, pelvic tilt, moderate musculature of the hind quarters, hypotension of the perirectal and perivaginal area and an atonic tail. The locomotion was characterized by paresis and ataxia posterior with extended tibio-tarsal joints. The perineal reflex was absent and the withdrawal reflex and patellar reflex were decreased. The QEMG measured spastic muscle contractions in the lateral vastus muscle of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh and the biceps femoris muscle. Pathological examination found no abnormalities at macroscopic level. The most likely diagnosis on the basis of clinical-neurological examination was a lesion in the thoracolumbar and lumbosacral segments of the spinal cord. Further research was necessary to determine a more accurate localization of the abnormality.