Abstract
Twenty-four Aberdeen Angus and 12 Hereford calves, four to 116 days of age, were examined. These calves were kept together in four farms where white muscle disease of the cardiac type had been identified. Serum enzyme activities (GOT, GPT, CPK, LDH) in many calves increased, especially CPK over 100 IU in 50% of calves and LDH over 2, 500 WU in 47% of calves with increases of LDH1 and LDH2. Electrocardiograms showed sinus tachycardia, an elevated ST segment and a high T-wave, and a windening of the interval of each wave. Serum tocopherol, selenium and blood glutathione peroxidase were at deficient levels. After injection of tocopherol and selenium, serum LDH1 and LDH2 decreased to normal levels.
Consequently, cardiomyopathy of calves kept together in farms with white muscle disease of cardiac type was also thought to be caused by the deficiencies of tocopherol and selenium, and it was suggested that the outbreak of this disease was relevant to the breed of cattle.
