Severe Jackknife-like Kyphosis Malformation in the Fetus of a Free-ranging Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

Abstract

A malformed fetus was found in the uterus of a hunted wild sika deer (Cervus nippon) in Japan. Computed tomography, gross pathological and histopathological examinations revealed multiple congenital deformities, including severe jackknife-like kyphosis, exposure of the abdominal viscera, cleft palate, cleft muzzle, excess dorsiflexion of the digits in the right forelimb, third and lateral ventriculomegaly, aberrant lobulation of the lung, and imperforate anus. No pathogens associated with congenital malformation in ruminants were detected. This case report is the first to describe a severe congenital fetal malformation in a free-ranging sika deer; however, the cause of the malformation remains unknown.