A Case Report from Congenital Abnormality in a Lamb with Brachygnathia and Cleft

A male lamb was born in mixed sheep and goat (with 650 head) flock in South- East of Tabriz (Hervy) on January 11, 2007. The breed of this lamb was Gezel and showed brachygnathia and Cleft palate. Lambing of ewe was associated with dystocia. On physical examination day, lamb was 2 days old. The dam had not anomalies in previous lambing (according to client speech). Macroscopic examination presents the case had not palate (hard and soft) and length from nostril to commissure of the lip measured 11 cm. In maxilla was an opening with 1.5 cm in width and 8 cm in length. The mandible bone had not any joint connection with temporal bones in both sides. The length of mandible was 7 cm. Analysis of urine and blood samples presented any significant variation expect a mild lymphopenia (2580/µl). Feeding of this flock was on pasture and occasionally with little wheat silage; bread and bran were given in necessary time. It is suspected that multiple genes cause congenital anomaly in skeletal system and distinguished a single gene is very difficult, especially when the clinical case is very few for study. Teratogenic factor such as toxic plant is one of major etiology in congenital anomalies that always should be considered.