Retrospective study of congenital anomalies of cattle and goats in selected areas of Mymensingh and Netrokona districts of Bangladesh

Background: Ruminants, especially cattle and goats, are prone to a wide range of congenital anomalies influenced by dietary, genetic, or environmental factors. Understanding these anomalies is essential for improving animal health and productivity. This study aimed to identify congenital defects in calves and kids across three upazilas in Bangladesh and to analyze their occurrence concerning breed, sex, and season. Methods: Retrospective data on species, sex, breed, and season (summer, rainy, and winter) were collected from the register books of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh; Upazila Veterinary Hospital, Mymensingh Sadar, Mymensingh; and Upazila Veterinary Hospital, Kendua, Netrokona, spanning July 2013 to June 2023. Among 1159 cases, 1050 involved calves, and 109 involved kids. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test in SPSS version 20. Results: The most prevalent congenital anomaly identified was umbilical hernia (52.6%), followed by dermoid cyst (21.4%), atresia ani (15%), persistent urachus (5.8%), knuckling (3.4%), and rectovaginal fistula (1.8%). Both cattle (55.8%) and goats (57.8%) showed a higher prevalence of anomalies in males. Specifically, atresia ani, dermoid cyst, and umbilical hernia were more common in male calves, with occurrences of 62.4%, 57.35%, and 52.9%, respectively, while persistent urachus was found predominantly in males (80.3%). Knuckling was slightly more prevalent in females (52.8%), and rectovaginal fistula occurred exclusively in females. Regarding breed, persistent urachus was more frequently observed in indigenous breeds (55.7%), while atresia ani and rectovaginal fistula showed high frequencies in indigenous calves, with 65% and 63.2%, respectively. Conversely, dermoid cyst, umbilical hernia, and knuckling were more common in crossbred animals, occurring at frequencies of 55.6%, 60%, and 55.6%, respectively. Seasonal variations also played a role, with atresia ani most frequent in the rainy season (35%), while all other anomalies showed their lowest occurrences during this season. Persistent urachus was most prevalent in winter (41%), while dermoid cyst, umbilical hernia, and rectovaginal fistula were most common in summer, with frequencies of 38.2%, 39.7%, and 42.1%, respectively. Additionally, cattle exhibited a higher occurrence of congenital anomalies in crossbred calves during summer, whereas Black Bengal kids were more affected during winter. Conclusion: Calves exhibited a higher occurrence of diverse congenital anomalies, with umbilical hernia being the most common, while kids were predominantly affected by atresia ani. Anomalies were more frequently observed in male animals and during the summer season.