Spontaneous Pregnancy Toxaemia (Ketosis) in Sheep and the Role of Insulin

Abstract

Klinik fur kleine kkuentim, Ambulatorische Klinik undjrensiscbe Medien, lieraqtkcbe Hocbscbuk Hannover, Biscbofsholer Damm 15, 0 -3 0 173 Hannover, Gnnan_ySummary 214 ewes suffering from pregnancy toxaemia (ketosis) were examined. Clinical signs during onset and course of disease and laboratory findings were compared between animals that survived and those which died. In the latter the onset of ketosis was earlier in pregnancy (day 143 f 7 vs. day 146 f 8) and duration of the disease was shorter (10 f 13 vs. 14 f 9 days). The animals that died showed more severe clinical signs and higher values of 3-hydroxy-butyrate (4.3 f 3.6 vs. 3.5 f 2.6mmol/l) and cortisol (72 f 98 vs. 52 f 80 nmol/l) as well as lower values of insulin (37 f 12 vs. 66 f 42 pmol/l) and potassium (4.1 f 1.0 vs. 4.4 1.0 mmol/l) at onset of the disease than those which survived (aU of differences with P < 0.05). Glucose levels did not differ between groups.Treated animals with glucose plus fructose infusions (n = 56) or with oral application of glucose precursors plus electrolytes (n = 126) had survival rates of 53.6 Yo and 62.7 Yo, respectively. Oral treatment with glucose precursors plus electrolytes and an additional subcutaneous insulin treatment (n = 15) led to an enhanced survival rate of 86.7 YO (P < 0.05).Low insulin levels in ketotic pregnant sheep and the therapeutic effect of insuhn treatment support the hypothesis that insulin plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of ovine ketosis.

Endocrine characteristics of late pregnant hyperketonaemic ewes and their reproductive performance following the induction of ovarian cyclicity out of the breeding season

“…Concerning the plasma glucose, BHB, TCH, insulin and cortisol levels, as well as the AST activity found in late pregnant normo-and hyperketonaemic ewes our results are comparable to the data of Henze et al (1998), Van Saun (2000) and Pastor et al (2001). To the best of our knowledge, however, neither the ketosis-related alterations in IGF-1, thyroid hormone and leptin levels, nor the late ovarian consequences of this disease have been examined in sheep previously.…”

“…The group mean of BHB was more than twice higher in the twin-bearing ewes than in those with single pregnancy (1.62 ± 1.37 mmol/l vs. 0.78 ± 0.36 mmol/l; P < 0.001). According to the suggested threshold (BHB: ≥ 1.60 mmol/l; Henze et al, 1998), almost half of the twin-bearing ewes (n = 27 = 47%), but none of those with single pregnancy, were considered to have hyperketonaemia-related elevation in plasma BHB. Slightly more than half of the hyperketonaemic animals (n = 15) were also hypoglycaemic (2.37-2.99 mmol/l) simultaneously.…”

“…on day 140 of pregnancy) blood samples were taken. Plasma βOH-butyrate (BHB) content was determined within 48 h. All ewes with BHB levels ≥ 1.60 mmol/l were considered to suffer from the subclinical form of ketosis (Henze et al, 1998), and on day 143 of pregnancy the animals started to receive a 3-day-long oral antiketogenic treatment (20 g propylene glycol + 16 g sodium propionate + 1 g nicotinic acid amide + 8 g choline chloride per day; Energa Veyxol solution™, Veyx-Pharma GmbH, Schwarzenborn, Germany). In addition to this, within the framework of our research program we analysed plasma samples for aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity and for the levels of certain metabolites [glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), total cholesterol (TCH)] and metabolic hormones (insulin, T 4 , T 3 , cortisol, IGF-1 and leptin).…”

“…Insufficient pancreatic β-cell function is a known factor of pathogenesis. However, only few data are available on the endocrine aspects of this disease (Harmon, 1990;Henze et al, 1998;Van Saun, 2000), and to the best of our knowledge the subsequent reproductive performance of the survivors has not been studied yet.…”

Pregnancy toxaemia of ewes. A literature review

“…Το σιτη-ρέσιο πρέπει να προσαρμόζεται στις ενεργειακές ανάγκες των ζώων. Για το λόγο αυτό είναι ιδιαιτέρως χρήσιμες η διάγνωση της εγκυμοσύνης και η εκτίμηση του αριθμού των εμβρύων, οπότε μπορεί να γίνει ομαδοποίηση των προβατίνων αναλόγως προς τη σωματική κατάσταση τους, τον αριθμό των εμβρύων και την αναμενόμενη ημερομη νία τοκετού 17 . Ιδανικώς, η επιτυχής πρόληψη της ασθένει ας εντάσσεται σε ένα σύστημα διατροφής των ζώων, το ο ποίο έχει ήδη ξεκινήσει πριν από την περίοδο των οχειών, ώστε να αποφεύγονται βεβιασμένες διορθωτικές κινήσεις την τελευταία στιγμή !…”