Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Facial clefts and hydrocephalus in aborted horse foal
By Agerholm, J S et al.·Published in Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene·2017·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bilateral oblique facial clefts, rudimentary eyes and hydrocephalus in an aborted equine foetus.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this case, a horse fetus that was aborted at about 224 days of pregnancy had some serious birth defects. These included facial clefts (gaps in the face), underdeveloped eyes, and a condition called hydrocephalus, which means there was an abnormal buildup of fluid in the brain. The likely reason for the abortion was a problem with the umbilical cord that affected blood flow, but the exact cause of the birth defects remains unknown. The study highlights the importance of keeping careful records of any medications given to pregnant animals, as exposure to certain drugs early in pregnancy could be relevant. Overall, the treatment for the fetus was not applicable since it was aborted.
Abstract
Knowledge of congenital malformations and their causes in horses is generally sparse. Such conditions require more scientific attention to improve their diagnostics and inform prevention strategies. Here, a unique syndrome of bilateral oblique facial clefts (meloschisis), rudimentary eyes and hydrocephalus is reported in an equine foetus spontaneously aborted at gestation day 224. The cause of abortion was considered to be intrauterine death caused by umbilical cord torsions and subsequent compromised blood flow, but the aetiology of the malformation could not be determined. A detailed history, which includes exposure to a range of pharmaceutical compounds during the early stages of pregnancy, is provided and emphasizes the need for accurate recording of treatments in pregnant animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28332242/