A nutritional myopathy enzootic in a group of yearling beef cattle

Steers and bulls under feedlot conditions and on an apparently adequate ration developed transitory signs of diarrhea and unthriftiness. One animal became recumbent. Sick and clinically normal animals in the group had elevated serum creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme values and degenerative changes in muscle fibers on biopsy. Feed analysis was carried out and the animals were monitored over several weeks by means of muscle biopsy and serum enzyme analysis as well as by postmortem examination at slaughter. Subclinical myopathy was found in several animals and was thought to be related to low vitamin E content in the high moisture corn ration.     

Radial-intermediate Carpal Bone Fusion in a Horse

The radial carpal and intermediate carpal bones were found to be fused in a four year old Quarterhorse stallion having a subtle forelimb lameness. Clinical examination, diagnostic local anesthesia, radiography and arthroscopy were used to arrive at the diagnosis. A cause could not be established, although perinatal deformation of cartilagenous carpal bone templates is suspected. A similar case of carpal bone fusion was found among carpi collected for an anatomical study, indicating this condition may be more common than expected. Clinicians should carefully evaluate the flexed lateral view of the carpus for proximal movement of the intermediate and ulnar carpal bones in young horses presented for carpal lameness. The significance of this condition will remain uncertain until its incidence and relationship to lameness are better defined.