Clinical and pathological findings associated with congenital hypovitaminosis A in extensively grazed beef cattle

Hill, B. D.; Holroyd, R. G.; Sullivan, Mitchell J.

doi:10.1111/j.1751-0813.2009.00398.x

Cited by 30 publications

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“…According to previous studies, the minimum requirement of vitamin A in cow is about 30 IU/kg each day, and the demand should be increased by 50% during lactation and pregnancy [13]. The long-term lack of dietary vitamin A or carotene in cow can easily result in hypovitaminosis A in newborn calves [11]. The rapid growth and development of calves need enough vitamin A, through liver storage and extra implements, mainly dependent on breast milk.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypovitaminosis A coupled to secondary bacterial infection in beef cattle

et al. 2012

BMC Vet Res

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BackgroundVitamin A is essential for normal growth, development, reproduction, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, immune function and vision. Hypovitaminosis A can lead to a series of pathological damage in animals. This report describes the case of hypovitaminosis A associated with secondary complications in calves.Case presentationFrom February to March in 2011, 2-and 3-month old beef calves presented with decreased eyesight, apparent blindness and persistent diarrhea occurred in a cattle farm of Hubei province, China. Based on history inspection and clinical observation, we made a tentative diagnosis of hypovitaminosis A. The disease was confirmed as a congenital vitamin A deficiency by determination of the concentrations of vitamin A in serum and feed samples. Furthermore, pathological and microbiological examination showed that the disease was associated with pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) infection and mucosal barriers damage in intestines. The corresponding treatments were taken immediately, and the disease was finally under control for a month.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first report of hypovitaminosis A coupled to secondary infection of E. coli in beef cattle, advancing our knowledge of how vitamin A affects infection and immunity in animals. This study could also be contributed to scientific diagnosis and treatments of complex hypovitaminosis A in cattle.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypovitaminosis A coupled to secondary bacterial infection in beef cattle

et al. 2012

BMC Vet Res

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“…Similarly, compression of spinal nerves may produce paralysis. Hypersecretion of cerebrospinal fluid and impeded absorption from dural thickening can also induce hydrocephalus 4,65 …”

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confidence: 99%

Neurological diseases of ruminant livestock in Australia. II: toxic disorders and nutritional deficiencies

2011

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“…However, since other characteristic gross and histopathological findings, such as squamous metaplasia, defects in cranial bone remodelling, retinal dysplasia or thickening of the carpal joints, were not observed, vitamin A deficiency was considered unlikely (van der Lugt and Prozesky, 1989;Hill et al, 2009). Another possible cause could be copper deficiency, a well-known cause of swayback in young sheep and goats, the clinical signs of which are predominantly those of spinal cord dysfunction caused by myelin degeneration (Suttle, 1988).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Myelodysplasia has been related to genetic factors in Charolais and Hereford calves, although the mode of inheritance is unknown (Leipold et al, 1969). The origin of the disease in most cases is unknown and several causal agents have been proposed, including: vitamin A (van der Lugt and Prozesky, 1989;Hill et al, 2009) and copper deficiencies (Suttle, 1988), viral infection (Done et al, 1980;Kono et al, 2008) or toxic causes such as consumption of neuroteratogenic plants (Leipold et al, 1969(Leipold et al, , 1977Keeler, 1978;Washburn and Streeter, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Recurrent Outbreaks of Myelodysplasia in Newborn Calves

Polledo

Marı́n

Martínez-Fernández

et al. 2012

Journal of Comparative Pathology

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The present study records recurrent outbreaks of myelodysplasia of unknown origin occurring in a specific geographical location in the north of Spain, and involving up to 30% of the calves born in affected herds. The affected calves were of different breeds and displayed non-progressive signs of spinal cord dysfunction. The disease has occurred annually in February-March over a period of at least 15 years. Only calves born to cattle grazed on mountainside pastures and under high grazing pressure were affected. Seven calves were subjected to necropsy examination. Myelodysplasia was not associated with vertebral defects or arthrogryposis and involved the entire length of the spinal cord. Microscopically, there was abnormal distribution of the grey matter, aberrations of the central canal and failure of formation of the ventral median fissure. Infectious, nutritional and physical disorders were ruled out as possible aetiologies. A critical period of embryonic susceptibility to the causal agent was identified. This was during the time of secondary neurulation when cows in the early stages of gestation were grazed on mountainside pastures. Consequently, the presence of neuroteratogenic plants in these pastures is proposed as a likely cause. Two plants, Carex brevicollis and Erythronium dens-canis, which contain alkaloids, were identified on the mountainsides where affected cattle were grazed and not in other pastures, and are proposed as the possible aetiology of the disease.

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Clinical and pathological findings associated with congenital hypovitaminosis A in extensively grazed beef cattle

Cited by 30 publications

References 0 publications

Hypovitaminosis A coupled to secondary bacterial infection in beef cattle

Hypovitaminosis A coupled to secondary bacterial infection in beef cattle

Neurological diseases of ruminant livestock in Australia. II: toxic disorders and nutritional deficiencies

Recurrent Outbreaks of Myelodysplasia in Newborn Calves

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