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White muscle disease (WMD), also known as stiff lamb disease, is a nutritional muscular dystrophy caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. It is a degenerative disease that affects the skeletal and cardiac muscles of large animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats. While WMD is not known to be transmissible between animals or from animals to humans, it is classified as a zoonotic disease. This classification indicates that it is caused by an infectious agent and can be transmitted between animals under natural conditions. The disease is typically observed in newborn or fast-growing animals, with clinical signs including stiffness, weakness, trembling, and coughing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | White Muscle Disease (WMD) |
| Other Names | Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy, Nutritional Myopathy, Dystrophic Myodegeneration, Nutritional Myodystrophy |
| Cause | Deficiency of Selenium and/or Vitamin E |
| Affected Animals | Sheep, Goats, Cattle, Horses |
| Age of Onset | Newborns to 12 months of age |
| Clinical Signs | Stiffness, Weakness, Trembling, Hunched Back, Irregular Heart and Respiratory Rate, Sudden Death |
| Treatment | Selenium and Vitamin E Supplementation |
| Prevention | Selenium Supplementation for Pregnant Animals and Young |
| Geography | Occurs in Areas with Selenium-Deficient Soils, e.g. certain areas of the U.S. |
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What You'll Learn
- White Muscle Disease is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E
- It is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep, goats, and cattle
- Selenium deficiency is associated with selenium-deficient soils and inadequate forage uptake
- The disease can be prevented with selenium supplements and vitamin E mixtures
- Clinical signs include stiffness, weakness, trembling, coughing, and milk running out of the nose
White Muscle Disease is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E
White Muscle Disease (WMD) is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. Selenium and vitamin E act as natural antioxidants, protecting the body's cells from damage. The skeletal, cardiac, and respiratory muscles are the most vulnerable to harm.
WMD is often seen in the offspring of animals that graze on pasture or are fed crops grown in selenium-deficient soil. Selenium deficiency in the soil is associated with an inadequate uptake of selenium by forages grown on it. Certain areas, such as Michigan and the Northeast in the U.S., are known to have low selenium levels in their soil. Vitamin E deficiency, on the other hand, is independent of soil type and is more closely related to forage quality. Fresh legumes and pasture are good sources of vitamin E, while stored feeds, silage, oil seeds, root crops, cereal grains, and dry hays tend to be poor sources.
The disease is characterized by stiffness, weakness, and trembling in the legs, making it difficult for the affected animal to stand or walk. It can also lead to coughing or milk running out of the nose after drinking due to the involvement of muscles used for swallowing. Death can be sudden if the cardiac muscle is affected. If left untreated, the disease is often fatal.
WMD can be prevented by supplementing the diet of susceptible animals with selenium and vitamin E. It is important to monitor the total daily selenium consumption, as excessive or repeated injections can lead to selenium toxicity and even death. In pregnant animals, supplementation can help reduce the risk of WMD in newborns, as selenium is transferred across the placenta and is also present in colostrum.
While WMD is a serious condition that can affect a variety of animals, it can be managed and prevented through proper supplementation of selenium and vitamin E, especially in areas known to have selenium-deficient soil.
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It is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep, goats, and cattle
White muscle disease (WMD) is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep, goats, and cattle. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E, which play a protective role from lipid peroxidation. Selenium is a component of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which functions to destroy peroxides and acts as a cell membrane protectant. Vitamin E also acts as a biological antioxidant, protecting the body's cells from damage.
The disease occurs most frequently in calves, foals, and lambs, less frequently in pigs, and rarely in other large animals, dogs, and cats. It is regional, occurring primarily in areas where selenium is deficient in the soil, such as Michigan. It often occurs when animals are fed silage or old hay, or grazed on pasture with selenium-deficient soil. Certain breeds of sheep and goats are more susceptible to WMD, and it is most common in newborns or fast-growing animals.
The symptoms of WMD can vary depending on whether it affects the skeletal or cardiac muscles. Skeletal muscle symptoms can range from mild stiffness to obvious pain upon walking or an inability to stand. Affected animals may exhibit a hunched posture with a stiff gait. When WMD affects the heart, calves are usually found dead or in respiratory distress, leading to sudden heart failure. Other symptoms of WMD can include muscle stiffness after exercise, coughing, and milk running out of the nose after drinking due to the involvement of muscles used for swallowing.
WMD can be treated and prevented by supplementing selenium and vitamin E in the diet. The total daily consumption of selenium must be controlled and not exceed 0.7 mg/head/day. The ideal diet for sheep and goats should contain between 0.10 to 0.30 ppm of selenium.
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Selenium deficiency is associated with selenium-deficient soils and inadequate forage uptake
White Muscle Disease (WMD) is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep and goats. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. Selenium deficiency is often associated with selenium-deficient soils and the inadequate uptake of selenium by forages grown on these soils.
Selenium (Se) is a naturally occurring element in the soil environment and can be both hazardous and beneficial to plants, animals, and humans. It plays a critical role in regulating soil-plant-human ecosystem functions. The concentration of selenium in plants is primarily determined by its presence and availability in the soil. Selenium-deficient soils are prevalent in certain areas of the United States, such as the Northeast and Michigan. Soils with elevated levels of selenium are also found in various countries, including Australia, China, India, Ireland, and the USA.
The occurrence of WMD is closely linked to the regional availability of selenium in the soil. In areas where selenium is deficient in the soil, the forages grown on these soils may not be able to provide sufficient selenium to meet the requirements of animals. This inadequate uptake of selenium by forages contributes to the overall selenium deficiency in the ecosystem.
WMD typically affects skeletal and cardiac muscles. Skeletal muscle symptoms range from stiffness and weakness to severe pain upon walking or an inability to stand. Cardiac symptoms resemble pneumonia, including respiratory distress, frothy nasal discharge, and fever. The disease can lead to reproductive issues such as abortions, stillbirths, and miscarriages.
Preventing WMD involves supplementing the diet of susceptible animals with selenium and vitamin E, especially in regions with selenium-deficient soils. Supplementation of pregnant animals is crucial as selenium is transferred to the fetus during pregnancy and is present in colostrum, helping to reduce the disease in newborns.
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The disease can be prevented with selenium supplements and vitamin E mixtures
White Muscle Disease (WMD) is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep and goats. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E. Selenium is an essential trace nutrient for growth, and a deficiency can be caused by selenium-deficient soils and the inadequate uptake of selenium by forages grown on these soils. Vitamin E deficiency, on the other hand, is independent of soil type and more closely reflects forage quality. Fresh legumes and pasture are good sources of vitamin E, while stored feeds tend to be poor sources as they can lose up to 50% of their vitamin E content per month.
WMD is most commonly seen in the offspring of animals grazed on pasture or fed crops grown from selenium-deficient soil. It occurs primarily in areas where selenium is deficient in the soil, and it often occurs when feeding silage or old hay. The disease is characterized by stiffness, weakness, and trembling. The back legs become stiff and useless, and affected animals may cough or have milk run out of their nose after drinking due to the involvement of the muscles used for swallowing.
The good news is that WMD can be prevented by supplementing selenium and vitamin E in areas where soils are deficient. Selenium supplementation is controlled by law, with a total daily consumption limit of 0.7mg/head/day for sheep and goats. The ideal diet for these animals should contain between 0.10 to 0.30 ppm of selenium.
In addition to supplements, ensuring animals have access to fresh legumes and pasture can help prevent vitamin E deficiency. By providing selenium and vitamin E supplements and maintaining a healthy diet, farmers can effectively prevent WMD and protect their animals' health.
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Clinical signs include stiffness, weakness, trembling, coughing, and milk running out of the nose
White Muscle Disease (WMD), also known as Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy, is caused by a deficiency of vitamin E and selenium. It is regional, occurring primarily in areas where there is a deficiency of selenium in the soil. It is often observed in animals that are fed silage or old hay.
The clinical signs of WMD include stiffness, weakness, and trembling. The disease affects the back legs, rendering them stiff and useless. The involvement of muscles used for swallowing means that affected individuals may cough or have milk run out of their nose after drinking. They may also develop muscle stiffness after exercise.
WMD can affect both young and adult animals. In young animals, the disease can cause stillbirths or result in newborns being too weak to nurse. It typically affects cattle between birth and four months of age, sheep between three and eight weeks of age, and foals up to 12 months of age.
In adult animals, WMD can cause chronic infections, such as mastitis, retained placenta, reproductive disorders, abortions, and poor conception rates. If left untreated, the disease can lead to sudden death, particularly if the cardiac muscle is affected.
Treatment for WMD includes injections of selenium and vitamin E. Prevention strategies involve oral supplementation with vitamin E and selenium through trace mineral loose salt or commercial mineral mixes.
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Frequently asked questions
White muscle disease (WMD) is a degenerative muscle disease found in all large animals, including sheep, goats, and cattle. It is caused by a deficiency of selenium and/or vitamin E.
The symptoms of WMD vary depending on the animal's age. Newborns are often born weak and unable to get on their feet or nurse, while older animals may experience stiffness, weakness, trembling, and coughing. In adult animals, WMD may cause reproductive issues such as abortions, stillbirths, and miscarriages.
White muscle disease is treated with supplemental selenium and vitamin E. Animals should respond within 24 hours, but it is important to note that cardiac muscle damage caused by the disease is often permanent.
To prevent WMD, selenium and/or vitamin E supplements can be administered to pregnant cows and young calves. Soil application of selenium in fertiliser can also help prevent the disease in areas with known deficiencies.
No, white muscle disease is not zoonotic. It primarily affects large animals and is not known to be transmissible to humans.
