Ann. Méd. Vét., 2003, 147 (4), pp 261 - 265 Spastic paresis of femoral quadriceps muscle: a new clinical form in Belgian White Blue calvesTouati K., Muller P.H., Gangl M., Grulke S., Peters F., Serteyn D.Abstract :
The spastic paresis of gastrocnemius muscles is a neuromuscular disease that may affect young cattle of every breed. Because of the appearance of atypical cases affecting the femoral quadriceps muscle, we realized a retrospective clinical study of 123 Belgian White Blue calves in order to give a differential diagnosis of spastic paresis. One hundred five of these calves presented spastic paresis of gastrocnemius muscles. There was no significant difference between the gender, their mean age was 16 ± 9 weeks, their mean weight was 127 ± 53 kg. The paresis was more frequently bilateral (74%). Spastic paresis of the femoral quadriceps muscle was observed in 18 cases with most cases affected bilaterally (17 of 18 cases). Their mean age was 4 ± 3 weeks with a mean weight of 76 ± 24 kg. The examination of the hind legs in case of affection of the femoral quadriceps muscle shows a typical swaying in anterior direction whereas in case of affection of the gastrocnemius muscle the movement is in posterior direction. The calves affected at the femoral quadriceps muscle were significantly younger than those affected at the gastrocnemius muscle and nearly always affected bilaterally. This study has shown new aspects of the differential diagnosis of spastic paresis of the hind legs. Get the PDF Contact person : kamal.touati@ulg.ac.be |