Final: Cobalt (Co) & B12 (Cyanocobalamin)

Question 1

What is Co an integral component of?

Answer 1

Vitamin B12

Question 2

If bacteria within ruminants and hindgut fermenters are given Co in the diet, what can they make?

Answer 2

Cobalamin

Question 3

What can happen to ruminants if dietary Co is inadequate?

Answer 3

Vit B12 deficiency

Question 4

What two major enzymes is Co a cofactor for?

Answer 4

Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase

Tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase

Question 5

Is dietary Co required by monogastrics?

Answer 5

No, only Vit B12

Question 6

is Co deficiency in ruminants due to deficiency of vit B12 or lack of Co for rumen bacterial growth?

Answer 6

Co deficiency leads to vit B12 deficiency (bc of lack of Co in diet)

If dietary Co is inadequate, rumen production of B12 declines –> deficiency of B12

Question 7

What are some early signs of Co deficiency in ruminants?

Answer 7

Failure to grow
Unthriftiness (“ADR”)
Wgt loss

Question 8

What are severe signs of Co deficiency in ruminants?

Answer 8

Fatty degeneration of the liver
Anemia
Pale MM
Reduced resistance to infection (impaired neutrophil function)

Question 9

How do hindgut fermenters compensate for lack of Co?

Answer 9

Horse = Vit B12 made in colon (do fine on pasture that is Co deficient)
Rabbits = coprophagy

Question 10

Do monogastrics develop Co deficiency?

Answer 10

No, only a vit B12 deficiency

Question 11

What are signs of B12 deficiency in general monogastrics?

Answer 11

Poor growth and productivity
Anemia
Reduced fertility

Question 12

What must be fed to monogastric herbivores to avoid B12 deficiency?

Answer 12

Supplemental cyanocobalamin

Question 13

Where is B12 stored in prey species?

Answer 13

liver

Question 14

What occurs with Co toxicity?

Answer 14

Reduced feed intake
Wgt loss
Hyperchromemia
Anemia

Question 15

What occurs in Co-deficient pigs?

Answer 15

Hyper-irritability and voice changes

Question 16

What does methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficiency cause?

Answer 16

energy insufficiency

Question 17

What does deficiency of tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase cause?

Answer 17

Anemia secondary to folate deficiency (bc no folic acid)

Question 18

What is Phalaris staggers of ruminants and what does Co do?

Answer 18

Neurological syndrome;

Prevented by supplemental Co bc it interferes with absorption of the neurotoxin

Question 19

What are dietary sources of B12?

Answer 19

Animal byproducts

Question 20

What is an intrinsic factor?

Answer 20

Protein produced in the stomach that binds B12 in the upper GI tract.

Question 21

What is most affected in ruminants with with B12/Co deficiency?

Answer 21

Gluconeogenic pathways