A lower motor neuron disease in newborn Romney lambs

Aim. To determine the cause and nature of a disease in newborn New Zealand Romney lambs characterised by progressive weakness and premature death. Methods. Affected lambs were examined clinically, humanely killed and submi tted to necropsy. Selected formalin-fixed tissues were examined histologica lly. Data on the parentage of the lambs were collected. Results. The principle lesions found were degeneration and loss of neurons in ventral horns of the spinal cord and brain stem and Wallerian degenerati on of motor nerves and denervation atrophy of skeletal muscles fibres. Conclusion. The lesions are those of a lower motor neuron disease which app eared to have a genetic cause.