Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXII, Issue 2
Written by Serkan YILDIRIM, Kivanc IRAK, Handan MERT, Inci DOGAN, Nihat MERT
White muscle disease (WMD), is an important disease also known as 'muscular dystrophy’ in the lamb and calf. White muscle disease is the result of degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles in lambs. Lambs mostly affected with the congenital form either born death or die a few day after birth. The disease is a manifestation of lack of selenium, vitamin E or both. Van and surrounding villiages were visited and lambs with WMD examined. The lambs with 3-10 days of age were used as research materials. Necropsy and gross examinations was performed to all lambs. The blood samples were analyzed for Vitamin E amount, Creatine kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. The level of Vitamin E was decreased, but the other parameters significantly increased. In heart, chest and gluteal muscle lesions in lambs were found. Tissue samples were histopathologically examined. Muscular dystrophic calcification in necrotic areas as well as hyaline degeneration and Zenker necrosis were determined. In the calcified region mononuclear cell infiltration mainly macrophages, were observed. In conclusion in lamb with white muscle disease; the activities of enzymes related to muscle health were raised drastically. In gluteal, chest and especially in heart muscle the hyalin and Zenker degeneration were noted.
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