Prevalence of Polyglycosan (Psammoma and Buscaino Bodies) and Calcium Mineralization in the Brain of Nigerian Cattle

Microscopic evidence of brain mineralized focal polyglycosan bodies, hyalination and calcium deposition in capillaries was observed in 19/246 (7.7%) Nigerian cattle. Most mineralized focal points had concentric laminations within the neuropil, while calcium deposits in the capillary endothelia and hyalinations were also observed. The lesions were confined to medulla oblongata 2.4%, cerebellum 0.8%, midbrain 2.0%, thalamus 0.8%, and the hippocampus 0.8% with the insignificant values of p =0.016 for pineal gland and meninges (p = 0.051). In cases inwhich vascular mineralization occurred, the vessel appeared to be partially occluded. This may indicate that the Psammoma and buscaino bodies are concentric in nature and within the neuropil. The incidence was observed in older animals (7–10 years), however psammoma bodies were also seen in the 2 years old Rahaji breed of both sexes. It is probable that these incidences are stressful because this breed is the most vulnerable to the lack of forages in the country. Although no evidence of ischemic changes in the brain parenchyma was observed and none of the cattle had apparent neurologic signs prior to slaughter, they were thought to be age-related. This condition appears to be a common incidental histopathological finding in the older Nigerian cattle. Although the mechanism of mineralization is not clear, an increase in focal mineralization with advancing aging of brain tissue has been reported in some domestic animals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this incidence in Nigeria.