Diagnosis and control of pseudolipidosis of angus calves

Abstract

Extract

Sir,—Pseudolipidosis, a nervous disease of Angus calves, characterized by head tremor, ataxia and inco-ordination was first described in Australia by Whittem and Walker (1957 Whittem, J. H. and Walker, D. 1957. “Neuronopathy” and “Pseudolipidosis” in Aberdeen Angus calves. J. Path. Bact., 74: 281–288.  Google Scholar]), and was diagnosed shortly afterwards in New Zealand (W. J. Hartley, pers. comm.). In recent years, a growing awareness by breeders and veterinarians of its widespread occurrence has stimulated interest in its control and eradication. Procedures necessary for this must be based on a knowledge of the disease's aetiology and pathogenesis. Long assumed to be an inherited disease because of circumstantial evidence and its pathological similarity to certain of the inherited storage diseases of children, it was not until recently that there was any experimental evidence to support this hypothesis. As a result of this new evidence, the New Zealand Angus Society has recommended to their members procedures that should afford some measure of control until more effective methods can be evolved. Consequently, although our studies are incomplete, it is desirable that information on clinical signs, means of diagnosis, inheritance and the breed society's recommended means of control should also be available to the veterinary profession.