Objectives: Cyclopia describes the presence of a single median orbita that contains either a single eyeball (true cyclopia) or incompletely fused eyeballs (synophthalmia). The synophthalmia is a result of complex, neural plate misdevelopment syndrome involving the eye, brain, skull and face. It is well known that synophthalmia is due to heterogenous causes, most of which chromosomal imbalances. To the authors experiences, there is no report about occurrence of synophthalmia in calf from Iran and we describe macroscopic characteristics of this developmental anomaly. Materials & Methods: The head of a Holstein female calf from a 5-year-old cow was referred to Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University due to complex congenital anomalies. The calf was slaughtered immediately after birth due to severe respiratory distress. The head was examined grossly and the anomalies recorded. Results & Conclusion: The most striking malformation was the presence of a single median orbita that contained incompletely fused eyeballs. Duplication of anterior intraocular structures, such as lens and pupil were found but there was one optic nerve. The brain was primitive with no cerebral hemispheres and gray and white matters differentiation. There was no optic chiasma. Other important defects included hypoplastic maxilla, curved mandibles, arrhinia and dental pad agenesis. A normal tongue protruded from the defect and small oral cavity. To our knowledge, this particular combination of craniofacial defects has not been previously described in domestic animals.

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