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��Vit. E and Se Deficiency �

Dr. Vivek Kr. Singh

Assistant Professor

Department of Veterinary Clinical Complex

Unit 3

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Introduction

Selenium has close relationship with vitamin E
Both the nutrients are involved in protecting biological membranes from oxidative degeneration
Selenium is a constituent of glutathione peroxidase enzyme
Glutathione Peroxidase protects cell membrane from oxidative injury by destroying peroxides

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Cont…

Several diseases of farm animals are associated with deficiency of either Selenium or vit. E alone or in combination

Such diseases are known as Selenium-vitamin E – responsive diseases

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Etiology

Dietary selenium- vitamin E deficiency is the main cause
May be aggravated in the deficiency of sulphur containing amino acids
Secondary selenium deficiency may occur due to excess cobalt, zinc, vanadium, silver and tellurium in the diet
High content of unsaturated fatty acids in the diet is a predisposing factor

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Epidemiology

Incidence of selenium- vitamin E deficiency is widespread

Seasonal occurrence is recorded in most part of country

Classical incidence of selenium-vitamin E deficiency is not common

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Pathogenesis

Selenium works synergistically with vit. E as protective agents against oxidative injuries to muscular tissue and liver parenchyma .

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Important Clinical Conditions

Enzootic Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy (NMD)
Also known as White Muscle Disease in calves
Stiff lamb Disease in lambs
It can affect cardiac and skeletal muscle of young animals and occasionally of adults

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Clinical Findings

Clinically two forms of Disease have been identified

Acute Enzootic Muscular Dystrophy

Sub acute Enzootic Muscular Dystrophy

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Acute Enzootic Muscular Dystrophy

Cardiac form comes under acute muscular dystrophy
Most commonly occurs in neonates

Affected animals may collapse and die suddenly after exercise without any other premonitory signs

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Acute Enzootic Muscular Dystrophy

Under close observation some calves may show

Sudden onset of dullness
Severe respiratory distress
Frothy or blood stained nasal discharge

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Sub-Acute Enzootic Muscular Dystrophy

It is the skeletal form of NMD
Affected animal may show

Sternal recumbency
Stiff Joints
Reluctant to get up and move

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Sub-Acute Enzootic Muscular Dystrophy

If the animal is in standing condition

Stiffness of joints
Trembling of the limbs
Weakness
Inability to stand for more than a few minutes

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Mulberry Heart Disease

Also known as Nutritional cadiomyopathy of pigs

Sudden death in healthy rapidly growing piglets
Almost always the animals are found dead
Sometimes severe dyspnoea
Cyanosis
Recumbency and
Forced walking can cause immediate death

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Exudative Diathesis

Occurs in growing chicken and Pigs
At the age of 5-11 wks
Signs are

Unthriftiness
Ruffled feathers
Exudation of skin often seen on the inner surface of thighs

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Hepatosis Dietetica

In hepatosis dietetica most pigs are found dead
Very few pigs show

Dyspnea
Severe depression
Vomiting
Staggering gait
Diarrhoea and
State of collapse

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Treatment

Injectable preparations containing approx. 3mg selenium in the form of its sodium or potassium salt and 150 IU of alpha tocopherol acetate/ ml is used for treatment
The drug is injected @4.5 ml/100 kg bwt or 0.45 ml/10 kg bwt intramusular single dose
Oral supplementation is the general approach to prevent deficiency

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Quick Facts

Se deficiency can have impacts as reduced fertility, placental retentions, incidence of metritis and mastitis
The influx of Ca ions into cells results in muscular degeneration and gives the muscle a characteristic appearance of white muscle disease
Serum CK,AST and LDH activities are increased many folds in case NMD