A Case of Diabetes Mellitus in Japanese Black Cattle

Abstract

A 3 year-old female Japanese Black cattle was diagnosed as diabetes mellitus (DM). Hyperglycemia (295 mg/dl), increase of serum fructosamine (487 μmol/l), elevated glycosylated hemoglobin A₁ (GHbA₁; 10.9%), low concentration of serum insulin (< 1.0 μU/ml), increased serum glucagon (399 pg/ml), and glucose intolerance (glucose disappearance rate; k=0.53) were noted. On the histopathologic findings in pancreas, insulitis with infiltration of mononuclear cells was found. This case suggests that serum fructosamine and GHbA₁ are available parameters for understanding of pathophysiological conditions of bovine DM.