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White muscle, or skeletal muscle, is the most common type of muscle in the human body, comprising 30-40% of total body mass. These muscles are under voluntary control and are responsible for a wide range of movements. Skeletal muscle fibres are red and white, with the white fibres being less oxidative and relying on glycolytic enzymes. In the context of livestock, the term white muscle refers to a disease caused by selenium and vitamin E deficiencies, leading to oxidative damage and degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles. This condition often affects young ruminants, resulting in weakness and respiratory distress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Selenium and vitamin E deficiency |
| Affected Animals | Sheep, goats, calves, lambs, and foals |
| Symptoms | Weakness, stiffness, difficulty standing, respiratory distress, abortions, stillbirths, miscarriages, retained placenta, frothy nasal discharge, fever, elevated heart and respiratory rate |
| Treatment | Selenium and vitamin E supplementation |
| Prevention | Selenium and vitamin E supplementation in areas with selenium-deficient soils |
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What You'll Learn
White muscle disease in sheep and goats
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 associated with selenium-deficient soils and the inadequate uptake of selenium by forages grown on these soils. Certain areas, such as Michigan, are considered low in selenium levels. 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 tend to be poor sources.
All breeds of sheep and goats are susceptible to WMD, and it is most commonly found in newborns or fast-growing animals. Kids are believed to be more susceptible than lambs due to their higher requirement for selenium. The disease can affect both the skeletal and cardiac muscles. When WMD affects the skeletal muscles, symptoms can range from mild stiffness to obvious pain when walking, or even an inability to stand. When it occurs in newborns, they are often born weak and unable to rise. In older lambs and kids, sudden exercise may trigger the condition.
When WMD affects the heart, the animal may exhibit signs similar to pneumonia, including difficult breathing, a frothy nasal discharge (which may be blood-stained), and fever. The heart and respiratory rates are typically elevated and irregular. Both types of WMD can occur simultaneously. While skeletal muscle WMD can be treated with supplemental selenium and vitamin E, with animals usually responding within 24 hours, cardiac muscle damage is often permanent and treatment is generally ineffective.
To prevent WMD, the diet of susceptible animals can be supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. This is especially important for pregnant animals, as selenium is transferred from the dam to the fetus across the placenta and is also present in the colostrum. Injectable selenium compounds are available for at-risk animals, but they are not considered a good alternative to routinely providing adequate selenium and vitamin E in the diet.
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Selenium deficiency
White muscle disease, which causes weakness in sheep and goats, can be prevented and treated with selenium supplements. In humans, selenium deficiency is rare, but it can cause muscle weakness and many other disorders.
Selenium is an essential trace element and mineral that supports the function of several systems in the human body. Selenium deficiency refers to not having enough selenium in your system. This can occur due to insufficient selenium intake or impaired absorption. The amount of selenium in food sources depends on the quality of the soil used to grow them, which is affected by factors like rainfall, evaporation, and pH levels. Selenium deficiency is thus more common in certain parts of the world, with up to 1 billion people affected globally.
The first-line treatment for selenium deficiency is to increase the intake of selenium-rich foods. The National Institutes of Health recommend a daily selenium intake of 55 micrograms for individuals over 14 years, with a higher recommendation of 70 micrograms for pregnant or lactating women. Selenium supplements, in the form of selenomethionine or selenite, are also available but should be taken under the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional. It is important to note that excessive selenium intake can lead to side effects, including a garlic-like breath odor and a metallic taste in the mouth.
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Vitamin E deficiency
White muscle disease is often observed in sheep and goats in selenium-deficient areas like Michigan. It is caused by a vitamin E and selenium deficiency. Newborns with the condition are born weak and unable to stand. In adult animals, the deficiency may cause poor conception rates, abortions, stillbirths, miscarriages, retained placentas, and weak offspring.
Vitamin E is a lipid-soluble nutrient with antioxidant qualities that helps keep the immune system strong and regulates metabolic processes. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning it is best absorbed when eaten with some fat. Vegetable oils are the main source of vitamin E.
If vitamin E deficiency is suspected, a full neurological exam is recommended, in addition to a standard physical exam. Blood tests can be done to measure the level of vitamin E and confirm the diagnosis. Treatment involves addressing the underlying cause of the deficiency and providing oral vitamin E supplements. Dietary modifications are also recommended, including increasing the intake of leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, and fortified cereals.
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Skeletal muscle weakness
Voluntary muscle contractions are usually generated when the brain sends signals through the spinal cord and nerves to a muscle. If the brain, nervous system, muscles, or the connections between them are injured or affected by disease, the muscles may not contract normally, resulting in muscle weakness.
Many health conditions can cause skeletal muscle weakness, including neuromuscular diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), autoimmune diseases, such as Graves' disease, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Intensive care-induced skeletal muscle weakness, also known as "intensive care unit acquired weakness" (ICUAW), is another condition that can lead to severe muscle weakness and fatigue in critically ill patients during their treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU). The longer the stay in the ICU, the higher the chances of developing ICUAW.
Disease-induced skeletal muscle atrophy and fatigue are clinically significant as they can increase hospitalization duration, result in exercise limitations, and negatively impact a person's quality of life. Additionally, skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms responsible for skeletal muscle weakness is crucial for developing effective therapies and clinical protocols to address this problem.
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Cardiac muscle damage
Cardiac muscle, also known as the myocardium, is one of three types of muscle found in the human body, the other two being smooth and skeletal muscle. The myocardium is made up of cardiac muscle cells, also known as cardiomyocytes, which are striated, branched, and contain many mitochondria. These cells are under involuntary control and contract together to enable the heart to work as a pump.
Heart failure, a clinical syndrome with multiple causes, is a common condition affecting approximately 2% of the adult population in Europe. It is characterised by symptoms such as breathlessness, fatigue, fluid retention, and reduced cardiac output. Heart failure can be caused by various disorders of the heart's structure, mechanical function, or electrical activity, which impair the ventricles' ability to fill with or eject blood. Treatment for heart failure often involves addressing the underlying cause, such as valvular disease or coronary artery disease, through revascularisation or other therapeutic interventions.
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Frequently asked questions
White Muscle Disease (WMD) is a condition caused by a deficiency of selenium and vitamin E in dietary intake. It is also known as Nutritional Myopathy or Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy.
Soils with low levels of selenium produce forages and grains that are deficient in selenium. If the forage is of low quality or is not stored properly, it may be deficient in vitamin E. Animals that consume this type of diet without additional supplementation become susceptible to WMD.
Nutritional Muscular Dystrophy often affects young ruminants, such as calves and lambs. It also affects sheep, goats, and equids.
