Congenital myopathy, cardiomyopathy and vitamin E and/or selenium levels in cattle

A retrospective study of 1208 abortion cases

Authors

  • Behzad Yamini Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
  • Jon S. Patterson Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
  • Thomas P. Mullaney Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
  • Howard D. Stowe Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol39no2p75-81

Keywords:

abortion, cardiomyopathy, congenital abnormalities, fetus, lesions, liver, muscular diseases, myocardium, selenium, skeletal muscle, tongue, vitamin E, vitamin deficiencies

Abstract

Congenital myopathy involving the myocardium, skeletal muscle and tongue was diagnosed in 58 of 1208 aborted bovine fetuses submitted for necropsy between February 1983 and June 1994. Microscopic characteristics of muscle lesions were consistent with segmental nutritional myopathy. Liver vitamin E and selenium (Se) concentrations in 40 of the 58 fetuses with myopathies were assayed, and 38 (95%) had either a deficiency of vitamin E (n=27), Se (n=2) or both micronutrients (n=9). Over this time period, 570 bovine fetal livers, including those from the 40 of the 58 cases with congenital myopathy, were assayed for vitamin E and Se concentrations. Vitamin E values varied from non-detectable to 57 æg/g of dry weight (DW), and Se values from 0.05-10.96 æg/g (DW), indicating placental transfer of both elements and fetal ability to sequester both nutrients in the liver. For 190 cases, deficiencies of liver vitamin E (n=119), Se (n=29), or both (n=42) were the only abnormal findings.

Cover image of Volume 39, No.2 of the Bovine Practitioner: a photo of the man, presumably Dr. Brett A. Gardner, standing by a feed trough with his hands on his hips surrounded by cattle that might be Black Baldies

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Published

2005-06-01

Issue

Vol. 39, No. 2 (2005 June)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Congenital myopathy, cardiomyopathy and vitamin E and/or selenium levels in cattle: A retrospective study of 1208 abortion cases. (2005). The Bovine Practitioner, 39(2), 75-81. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol39no2p75-81

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