Deficiencies of certain antioxidants (beta carotene, vitamin E) in cattle.

Question 1

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Answer 1

Ovine myopathy

Cattle myopathy

Question 2

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Ovine myopathy

Occurrence

Answer 2

• Mainly lambs (1-5 weeks of age)
• Regularly herd problem, endemic occurrence
• Seasonal appearance

Question 3

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Ovine myopathy

Cause

Answer 3

• Alimentary/intrauterine Se-deficiency→decreased glutathione peroxidase activity→lipid peroxidation

Question 4

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Ovine myopathy

Symptoms

Answer 4

• Regularly acute course
• Weakness, dog-like sitting position, kneeling, ataxia, recumbency
• Heart and respiratory muscles are also involved→heart insufficiency, dyspnoea, increased
plasma CK, decreased GSH-Px, Se
• Subacute form occurs in older lambs

Question 5

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Ovine myopathy

Therapy

Answer 5

• Se-preparations im.

* 1-2 mg/lamb (overdose may be toxic)

Question 6

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Ovine myopathy

Prevention

Answer 6

• Se-supplementation of the ewe’s diet

* Organic selenium is on the market

Question 7

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Cattle myopathy

Occurrence

Answer 7

• 4-6 weeks of age (suckling calves)

* 6-18 months of age (young cattle)

Question 8

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Cattle myopathy

Cause

Answer 8

• As in lambs
• Se, Vit E deficiency→peroxidative process
• Poor quality milk replacers (calves)
• Se-deficient soil (young cattle). Endemic

Question 9

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Cattle myopathy

Symptoms

Answer 9

• Arrhythmia
• Tachycardia, dyspnoea
• Ataxia, weakness, recumbency
• Myoglobinuria (acute form)
• Plasma CK, AST

Question 10

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Cattle myopathy

Therapy

Answer 10

• 3 mg Se (selenit)/50kg body weight im (sc)

* 1000 U vitamin E im

Question 11

Myopathies and vitamin deficiencies of ruminants

Cattle myopathy

Prevention

Answer 11

• Pregnant cows: 30 mg selenit repeatedly in two months im

* Inorganic and organic Se-compounds are available

Question 12

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Answer 12

Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency

Thiamine (aneurin, vitamin B1) deficiency: cerebrocortical necrosis

Question 13

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency

Cause

Answer 13

• Primary
o Absolute deficiency in supply of vitamin A/beta-carotene (prolonged droughts on
pasture, dried sugar beet pulp, poor quality hay and concentrate, high level of PUFA-s
in food, lack of colostrum in calves)

• Secondary
o Maldigestion, malabsorption, interfered conversion of beta-carotene to vitamin A in the intestinal epithelium or lack of storage in the damaged liver

Question 14

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency

Signs of Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency:

Answer 14

• Clinical symptoms are not common (liver store of vitamin A is high)
• Maternal deficiency
o Constriction of the optic nerve canal→necrosis of the optic nerve→blindness of the calf
o Increased intracranial pressure, susceptibility to infections (E.coli)
• Adult cattle
o Loss of reproductive functions, retained placenta, night blindness (due to the lack in regeneration of the visual purple), papillary oedema

Question 15

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency

Early diagnosis of Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency

Answer 15

• Monitoring cow’s plasma for beta-carotene (check the colour of the plasma)

Question 16

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Vitamin A and beta-carotene deficiency

Prevention, treatment

Answer 16

• Turning to green vegetation if available
• Beta-carotene supplementation
• Vitamin A 400-500 IU/kg body weight im

Question 17

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Thiamine (aneurin, vitamin B1) deficiency: cerebrocortical necrosis

Cause

Answer 17

• Primary
o Lack of vitamin in the diet (rare)
• Secondary
o Due to increased thiaminase activity (Clostridia) o Amprolium (coccidiostat): thiamine antagonist
o Due to intensive, concentrate-rich ratio
o Diets high in sulphates

Question 18

Vitamin deficiency in cattle

Thiamine (aneurin, vitamin B1) deficiency: cerebrocortical necrosis

Signs

Answer 18

• Cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN, polioencephalomalacia)
• Young beef cattle and lambs are mainly affected
• Blindness, muscle tremor, champing of the jaws, salivation
• Recumbency, opisthotonos, clonic-tonic convulsion, UMN-signs
• Menace (threatening) reflex is absent
• Nystagmus is frequent