Estimation of genetic parameters of defective appearances in Japanese Black heifer calves in Kagoshima

Defective appearances, including white spotting (WS), tongue defect (TD), and nipple defect (ND), in Japanese Black cattle potentially lead to economic losses to farmers in Japan. We estimated genetic parameters of defective appearances using 553,433 records of Japanese Black heifer calves housed in the Kagoshima Prefecture. Variance and covariance were estimated using the Gibbs sampling algorithm. The estimated heritability ranged from 0.29 for TD to 0.76 for WS. Percent breeding value (%BV) estimates indicated high variation in WS and ND among sires, reflecting higher heritability. Furthermore, there was a positive linear relationship between the %BV estimate of a sire and the mean incidence rate of each defect in his female offsprings. TD was positively associated with other defects. Therefore, genetic factors strongly affect the incidence of defective appearances in Japanese Black cattle.     

Autosomal trisomy in a heifer

A malformed Ayrshire heifer had one additional autosome in all the lymphocyte metaphases studied. Chromosome banding techniques showed the karyotype of the calf to be 2n = 61, XX, +24.Slight prognathia of the lower jaw and peculiar abbrevations in the structure of the genitals were the most apparent anomalies, in addition to heart abnormalities, a poorly-closed urachus and slow growth rate.     

Congenital melanoma in a heifer

The clinical, intra-operative and pathological findings taken from a case of melanoma in a 9-month-old female Holstein Friesian heifer are reported here. The tumor, hanging on the right side of the thorax, was present at birth and increased in size with time. Muscular invasion by tumoral tissue was detected during surgery. Histological and cytological data indicated that the neoplasia (melanocytoma) was benign but the prognosis, related to the invasiveness of this neoplasm, was considered reserved. Melanoma is a rare tumor in cattle, often congenital, although already reported in pigs and in horses.     

Premature lactation in a heifer with a sex cord-stromal tumor

A tumor of the ovary was believed to be responsible for initiating lactation in a nonpregnant heifer. The only abnormal clinical sign was milk secretion from all 4 mammary glands and a large mass in the abdomen. Concentrations of estrogen and progesterone were markedly high. The mass was removed and identified as a sex cord-stromal tumor with a granulosa cell pattern.     

Melanosis in a Holstein heifer

A case of Melanosis in a Holstein heifer is described in this report. Many of the visceral organs, diaphragm and skeletal muscles have got dark-brown to black and diffuse pigmentation in different diameters on their surfaces and cuts. Microscopically, brown to black coloured pigment containing cells were detected in the heart, lung, liver, spleen and muscle tissues. After depigmentation process, it was seen that the normal histological structure of the organ disappeared in these pigmented region. There were large, vesicular and macrophage-like cells with small nuclei. In immunohistochemical staining, HMB45 was strongly positive in many tissues.     

Herpetiform genital lesions in a heifer with mucosal disease

A 14-month-old heifer with a 17-day history of unresponsive bloody diarrhea was necropsied. There were focal, pink-red erosions of the nares and hard palate; ulcers and fissures of the tongue; and multiple ulcerative lesions of the alimentary canal. Interdigital skin of both rear limbs was ulcerated and bleeding; and the margins of the vulva contained punctiform red ulcers. The gross lesions were consistent with mucosal disease. Histopathology and laboratory testing ruled out rinderpest, foot-and-mouth disease, and vesicular stomatitis, and identified bovine virus diarrhea virus to be the cause of this disease. Lesions of the vulva similar to those seen in some stages of infectious pustular vulvovaginitis were negative for bovine herpesvirus-1 and tested positive for bovine viral diarrhea virus antigen by immunohistochemistry.     

Premature mammary development in a heifer with abdominal mesothelioma

A 13-month-old nonpregnant Holstein heifer had premature mammary gland development. A mesothelioma was found to involve the entire abdominal cavity, with 2 large tumorous masses adjacent to the right ovary and left kidney. Physiologic function of the ovary had been affected by the neoplasm.