An Atypical Case of Polioencephalomalicia

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) is a signi­ ficant feedlot cattle problem here in the midwest. Differentiation of this disease from other diseases that produce central nervous signs such as acute lead poison­ ing (ALP), thromboembolic meningoence­ phalomyelitis, hypomagnesemia, and rabies is important to the practitioner as he has to decide on the best course of therapy for recovery. (2,3) Because the following atypi­ cal case of PEM looked so much like ALP to the group of clinicians (bovine clinici­ ans, toxicologists, and pathologists) who observed it, we feel it is worthwhile to re­ port.