Magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial tissue accumulations in domestic ducks (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) with feather crests

The crested breed of domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos f. dom.) has been de scribed as a variety which has high pre- and postnatal mortalities, malform ations in skull and brain anatomy, and several central nervous deficiencies . In addition, intracranial tissue accumulations have been diagnosed in pur ebred Crested ducks. The incidence, heredity and inheritance of these accum ulations as well as their pathogenesis are still generally unknown. The aim s of this study were to examine the head of Crested ducks, plain-headed duc k breeds, and their crossbreeding relating to the incidence of intracranial alterations. These examinations were performed using magnetic resonance im aging. We found a high incidence of intracranial tissue accumulations in do mestic ducks with feather crests. Creasted ducks had more intracranial tiss ue deposits than plain-headed ducks (p < 0.001). In the present study a cor relation between the volume of the crest cushion and the volume of the intr acranial tissue deposit could not be found (r = 0.014). Some of the Crested ducks had encephaloceles in addition to the crest cushion.