[Jacob-list] Gangliodosis/Lysosomal disease

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

Another case of gangliodosis (a lysosomal storage problem) seems to have 
appeared in a small flock.  I think I noted this on the jacoblist before and 
it has been reported at the various associatiion meetings and in the JSC 
Journal (listing of congenital problems, Summer 2001).  With another likely 
case reported, I am calling it to your attention again.

This is a genetic spinal cord disease with symptoms including slow/poor 
growth, progressive locomotion disorder, prolonged recumbancy, and eventualy, 
total recumbancy and death.  The disease symptoms seem to appear as early as 
four months and may not appear for about eight months, apparently depending 
on the glycogen build up in the vacuoles and the enzyme level imbalance.  
This genetic disease, like most problems, is recessive.  The lamb exhibits 
the disease from known carriers. Spring 2001 lambs should have or might now 
be exhibiting these symptoms.

If you have a lamb exhibiting these symptoms (or exhibited these symptoms and 
died) , please contact me (email or 972-727-0900).    The problem is being 
studied by Texas A&M and I can provide a contact there.

Fred Horak