Evaluation of biochemical evidence of congenital nutritional myopathy in two-week prepartum fetuses from selenium-deficient ewes.

Muscle damage attributable to selenium (Se)/vitamin E deficiencies is known to develop at birth or later in lambs. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and when muscle damage develops in utero. Thirty pregnant ewes maintained on Se-deficient forages from birth were allotted to 3 equal groups. Half of each group was given a single IM injection of 0.056 mg of Se/kg of body weight, 1 month before parturition. At 3 weeks before parturition, cesarean section-derived fetuses from Se-deficient ewes did not have evidence of muscle damage. At 2 weeks before parturition, fetuses from Se-deficient ewes had biochemical evidence of congenital nutritional myopathy, as evidenced by low blood Se concentration (P less than 0.05) and by increased plasma creatinine kinase (P less than 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (P less than 0.01) activities, compared with fetuses from Se-treated ewes. Thus, for optimal protection of fetuses and newborn lambs in Se-deficient areas, Se should be administered to ewes at least 1 month before parturition.

The evaluation of selenium status of sheep from the major production areas of Morocco.

In order to evaluate the selenium status of sheep in the major raising areas of Morocco, blood selenium concentration, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and feed selenium levels were determined. A total of 843 blood samples from sheep and 118 feed samples were analyzed. Results showed that 73% of sheep sampled had blood selenium concentrations below 100 ng/ml, and were deficient or marginal. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was below 19 IU/g hemoglobin and feed selenium levels below 0.1 mg/kg on a dry matter basis. The erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity was highly correlated with blood selenium concentration over a wide range of selenium levels (r = 0.88, P less than 0.001, N = 622), indicating that the enzyme can be used as an indicator of the selenium status of grazing sheep.

Experimental fluorosis in sheep: alleviating effects of aluminum.

Five groups of 4 sheep were given for 33 mo a daily oral dose of 0, 1.9 or 4.7 mg fluoride (F)/kg body weight with or without 13.5 mg aluminum (Al)/kg. In all treated animals the general health status was disturbed and osteo-dental symptoms appeared while F levels were increased in teeth, bones and organs. In sheep given the higher F dose, pathologic lesions were observed in kidney and liver. Most disturbances were dose-related and alleviated by simultaneous administration of aluminum sulfate, mainly for the lower F dose.

Experimental acute sodium fluoride poisoning in sheep: renal, hepatic, and metabolic effects.

Sheep received a single intragastric dose of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 mmol F-/kg. Mild signs occurred at 1.5 mmol F-/kg and the animals recovered 2 days later. With the 2.0 mmol F-/kg dose all animals showed dullness, anorexia, and mild diarrhea which decreased from the third day. Dose-related congestion of duodenum, liver, kidney, and lung was observed in all animals. For the two higher doses kidney degeneration and tubular necrosis were associated with glomerular inflammation. Serum fluoride had a dose-related increase and was still significantly elevated on Day 7 for sheep given doses higher than or equal to 1.0 mmol F-/kg. Serum calcium and glucose levels were significantly lowered for all doses on the first day and the decrease was dose-related. In sheep given 2.0 mmol F-/kg total proteins and sodium were significantly lowered, whereas potassium and urea were increased (p less than 0.05); alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) were both lowered (p less than 0.01) on the first day and ALP was still lowered on Day 7. For the highest dose glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) was increased on Days 1 and 7 and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) was increased on Day 1 and lowered on Day 7. Diuresis was increased for the two higher doses in Day 3 or 4 following dosage. A dose-related increase of daily fluoride excretion occurred for all doses on Day 1 and fluoride excretion was still significantly elevated on Day 7 except for the lowest dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum biochemical effects of fluoride on cattle in the Darmous area.

The effects of chronic fluorosis on serum biochemical parameters of cattle in the Darmous area of Morocco were studied in 50 animals. Increases in potassium, urea, gamma-globulins, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase were observed, whereas calcium, total proteins and albumin were lowered. Such disturbances draw attention towards kidney, liver and mineral metabolism and have to be taken into account to improve the management of cattle herds in areas of chronic fluorosis.