Todayโs path rounds are on ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
๐๐ฒ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ is the presence of a single, large eye, like a cyclops from Greek mythology. This is a problem that develops during development of the fetus, and is often associated with other ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ (present at birth) abnormalities.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Any species can get this! Today though, weโre going to talk about a specific presentation of cyclopia seen in sheep.
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Cyclopia in sheep can be caused by ingestion of the plant ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฆ, otherwise known as the corn lily. This plant contains a ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ข๐ (mutation causing) agent called ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ง๐, which can cause issues in the growing lamb when the mother ingests the plant. Cyclopamine is thought to interfere with normal patterning of the developing fetusโ brain and head, causing the abnormality. Interestingly, cyclopia only develops when pregnant ewes ingest the plant on day 14 of their pregnancy! Weird.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
Having one large eye wouldnโt be a huge problem on its own, however this malformation is often associated with malformations in the brain as well. These animals often are ๐ง๐จ๐ง-๐ฏ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ and cannot live beyond a few hours.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐?
Cyclopia can occur sporadically without any identifiable cause, so there is no method of preventing it completely. However, keeping pastures clear of corn lily plants is a big help in sheep!
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A photo of the corn lily plant, Veratrum californicum.
2-4) Photos of lambs with cyclopia.
5-6) The skull of a lamb with cyclopia, showing how the skull responds to a single large eye! So neat.
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 1. Sixth Edition.
Photos 1-6 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
