Pathology of the Enzootic ataxia in Farmed Deer

梅花鹿(Cervus Nippon Temminck)地方性脊髓共济失调的组织病理学研究表明，在我国东北地区养殖场的梅花鹿(Cervus Nippon Temminck)养殖场中，梅花鹿(Cervus Nippon Temminck)的地方性脊髓共济失调的发病率约为10%。受影响的鹿表现出进行性的腰部无力、后部摇晃和/或步态不稳。这些情况是循序渐进和长期发展的。严重者生长迟缓，正常毛发，尤其是眼周毛发脱色、脱发。在一些病例中，观察到四肢畸形和骨折。组织学结果：13只4-9岁的梅花鹿。主要病理改变为(1)脊髓和脑干白质内海绵状空泡化和髓鞘缺乏，(2)脊髓小动脉弹力纤维纤维化和断裂，(3)脊髓蛛网膜区间皮细胞增生。血清铜值明显低于正常梅花鹿。文中还讨论了铜缺乏在该病的病因中的可能作用。

Enzootic spinal ataxia in deer has been described by workers in many parts of the world, but there have been no previous reports of this disease occurring in China.This report deal with histopathology of enzootic spinal ataxia in sika deer (Cervus nippon Temminck), encountered at stock farm in the Northeastern District of China.Clinical findings : Enzootic spinal ataxia occurred about 10% of all Sika deer on one stock farm where 1,500-2,000 deer were farmed. Affected deer showed progressive lumber weakness, posterior wobbling, and/or unsteady gait. These condition developed progressively and chronically. In severe cases, growth was retarded, and depigmentation of and alopecia of ordinary hair, especially around eyes were also observed. In some cases deformity of the extremities and bone fracture were observed.Histological findings : Thirteen sika deer aged from 4 to 9 years were examined. The principal pathologic changes were (1) spongy vacuolation and myelin deficiency in white matter of the spinal cord and brain stem, (2) fibrosis and rupture of elastic fibers of the spinal arterioles, and (3) mesothelial hyperplasia in the spinal aracroid.Serum copper values were significantly lower than those of normal Sika deer.Pathogenesis of the demyelinating change in spinal white matter are discussed in relation to the arterial lesions. The possible role of copper deficiency in the etiology of the condition is discussed.