[Pathomorphologic study of the thyroid gland in calves during the early postnatal period in the catchment area for the State Veterinary Institute in Pilsen].

Thyroid glands of 1062 calves (754 of these calves were up to four week of age) within the supply area of the State Veterinary Institute at Plzen were subjected to patho-anatomic investigation within a period of four years (1982-1985). The weight was recorded and the histological findings were evaluated in 140 thyroids. The weight standard of the thyroids was determined. The average weight of the thyroids of calves up to one week of age was 10.7 g and s = 3.04 g, the range being from 5.7 to 17.6 g. The average weight of thyroids of calves old two to four weeks was 10.9 g and s = 4.29 g, the range being from 6.1 to 21.6 g. The respective values for adult cows were 39.5 g, s = 7.72 g, range from 27.1 to 49.9 g. Congenital struma parenchymatosa hyperplastica diffusa was recorded in 13 calves; this is 1.22% of all calves examined and 1.72% of all examined calves up to the age of four weeks. The average weight of goitrous thyroids was 36.6 g, which is more than three times the average weight of the normal thyroids. Etiopathogenesis of congenital goitre under Czechoslovak conditions is discussed, along with the circumstances of the occurrence of other symptoms of iodine deficiency in cattle herds, and the possibilities of diagnosis. In the supply area of the State Veterinary Institute at Plzen, congenital goitre occurs just sporadically, though it is not a rare disease.