Congenital Vertebral Malformation in a Neonatal Elk (Cervus canadensis) in Kentucky, USA

Kathleen E Williams; Nathan D Hooven; John T Hast; Christine L Casey; Nicole M Nemeth; Alisia Weyna; Matthew T Springer; John J Cox

doi:10.7589/JWD-D-22-00126

Congenital Vertebral Malformation in a Neonatal Elk (Cervus canadensis) in Kentucky, USA

J Wildl Dis. 2023 Jul 1;59(3):532-535. doi: 10.7589/JWD-D-22-00126.

Authors

Kathleen E Williams^{1

2}, Nathan D Hooven¹, John T Hast³, Christine L Casey², Nicole M Nemeth⁴, Alisia Weyna⁴, Matthew T Springer¹, John J Cox¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Kentucky, 105 T. P. Cooper Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA.
² Wildlife Health Program, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, USA.
³ Bear and Elk Program, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, 1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, USA.
⁴ Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study and Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D. W. Brooks Drive, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.

PMID: 37170428
DOI: 10.7589/JWD-D-22-00126

Abstract

We captured a <1-d-old male elk calf (Cervus canadensis) with a shortened neck. Postmortem examination revealed trauma, meconium aspiration syndrome, and cervical vertebral malformation (partial fusion and narrowed disc spaces). This observation is novel in a wild elk calf, although the gross lesions resembled complex vertebral malformation in neonatal cattle.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Newborn
Animals, Wild*
Bone Diseases, Developmental* / diagnosis
Bone Diseases, Developmental* / veterinary
Cervical Vertebrae / abnormalities
Deer*
Kentucky
Male
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / veterinary