Hydrops amnion in a Belgian blue cow combined with prolonged gestation and anencephaly of the calf

Abstract

In cattle, hydrops amnion is a rare pathological condition. In the present study, we report such a case in a Belgian blue cow suffering from prolonged gestation. A presumptive diagnosis was based on clinical examination, including transrectal ultrasonography. Management included inducing parturition with dinoprost and dexamethasone, where 36 hours later, a left flank recumbent caesarean section was performed. A live, oversized, male calf (76 kg) with a frontal cephalocele/meningocele was delivered. Postmortem examination revealed anencephaly, characterised by the absence of the cerebrum. Intravenous fluid therapy was administered during surgery to prevent hypovolemic shock, and postoperative treatment consisted of intramuscular injections of 100 IU of oxytocin and antibiotics (procaine benzylpenicillin) for 3 consecutive days. After 5 days, the patient was discharged from the clinic.