Investigation on manifestation of vitamin E and selen deficiency in sheep and goat.

In a prospective study from 1991-1998 plasma concentrations of alpha-Tocoph erole (VitE) and Selenium (Se) were analysed in 125 sheep and 32 goats with generalised motor disturbances or elevated plasma-activities of Creatine-K inase (CK). VitE-values < 1.0 mg/l and Se-values < 0.08 mg/l were regarded as deficiency. Diagnosis of pathological manifestations was based on blood enzyme values. CK-values in plasma > 300 U/l or Aspatate-Amino-Transferase (ASAT) > 150 U/I were regarded as myopathy, Glutamat-Dehydrogenase-values > 25 U/I indicated a hepatopathy. 92 (74 %) sheep and 10 (31 %) goats showed VitE and/or Se deficiency. There were no principal differences in the frequencies of myopathies (67 %) and hepatopathies (46 %) between pure VitE deficiencies or pure Se deficiencies or combinations of both deficiencies. In VitE deficiency and in the combin ations of VitE and Se deficiency the elevations of the enzyme activities we re more pronounced than in Se deficiency. The lethality was significantly h igher in combined VitE + Se deficiencies (73 %) than in pure VitE or Se def iciencies (35 %). Combined VitE + Se deficiencies occurred more frequent in lambs (53 %) and was often accompanied by anaemia (29 %) and hypoproteinae mia (32 %). The diagnostic reliability of ASAT and GLDH for the detection o f VitE and Se deficiency was better than CK. Diagnostic and therapeutic str ategies in flock diseases are discussed.