Bovine spastic syndrome: a review

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Introduction

Bovine spastic syndrome (BSS) and bovine spastic paresis (BSP) are two spastic conditions affecting cattle.¹ In 1970, BSP (already reviewed by De Vlamynck et al and Goeckmann et al) was reported as relatively uncommon, while spastic syndrome was quite common and increasing in frequency.^2–4 BSS was published in the literature for the first time in 1941 by Frauchiger and Hofmann in Germany and Switzerland. In this initial period, spastic syndrome was referred to as ‘Krämpfigkeit des Rindes’ (ie, crampiness of cattle). It was assumed to be a probable hereditary disease of the CNS that usually affects older cattle and that is characterised by the spastic contraction of the muscles of one or both hindlegs, the back, and eventually the entire body. These cramps last from several seconds to a few minutes or longer, and then suddenly cease.^5–7 Nowadays, there are different synonyms for spastic syndrome, including cramps, barn cramps, barn paralysis, crampy, crampiness, spasticity, (inherited) periodic spasticity, stretches, paralysis, posterior paralysis, progressive posterior paralysis, strek, neuromuscular spasticity, spastic form of lameness and paramyoclonia posterior (refs ^{5 8–16} and summarised in Neustaeter). In German-speaking regions, the terms ‘Krämpfigkeit’, ‘Gliedersucht’ and ‘Stallkrampf’ are quite commonly used as synonyms for the more internationally used terms ‘spastic syndrome’ or ‘crampy’. In 2006, Dirksen et al added to the initial description that BSS is a chronic-progressive neuromuscular disorder of older cattle that manifests itself in recurrent attacks of reversible clonic and tonic muscular cramps at the hindlimbs.¹⁶

In addition to the epidemiological and clinical aspects (clinical signs, aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment), this article aims to review all BSS studies that have been published since the first description of the disease almost 80 years ago. Special attention will be paid to the hypotheses of genetic aspects and to the parallels between BSS and human multiple sclerosis (MS).

Epidemiology

BSS was first mentioned in 1941 by Frauchiger and Hofmann in Germany and Switzerland.⁷ In 1953, Roberts⁵ reported BSS in the USA, and since then case reports have occurred in many breeds of cattle, for example Holstein-Friesian, Guernsey, Ayrshire, crossbred Brahma cattle, Shorthorn and Poll Hereford.^{1 5 6 17 18} Roberts¹ even assumed that all breeds can be affected....