An Outbreak of White Muscle Disease in Calves of the Indigenous Japanese Black Breed

Abstract

White muscle disease was observed in 11 calves 31 to 77 days old of the indigenous Japanese Black breed in Shimukappu, Kamikawa, Hokkaido over a period from April to June, 1983. Dysstasia, dysbasia, palpitation, tachypnea and stiffening of the trunk muscle were main clinical signs of the disease. A decrease was seen in α-tocopherol and seleniumconcentration and a remarkable increase in GOT, GPT, LDH (especially LDH₄ and LDH₅), and CPK activity in the serum. The affected calves showed a dramatic response to the oral administration of vitamin E and antibiotics and allopathic treatment. Of them, eight recovered and three died suddenly.Degeneration of the trunk and cardiac muscles was noticed. The calves and their mothers had mainly been fed hay and silage in which the selenium content was obviously low. It was assumed that the outbreak of white muscle disease might be due to a deficiency in vitamin E and selenium.