[Congenital brachyury and vertebral malformations in a White Polled Heath].

In a female White Polled Heath a congenital shortening and abnormal bending of the tail was observed. The trunk appeared to be shortened and almost quadratic. However, further findings could not be ascertained in the general clinical, neurological and orthopaedic examination. Maceration of the trunk skeleton showed vertebral fusion in several segments of the vertebral column and a wedge-shaped vertebra of the cervical spine, causing slight scoliosis. In addition, several ribs were fused. Exogenic causes such as drugs or viral infections during pregnancy were unlikely, whereas hereditary could not be ruled out.