Polioencephalomalacia in cattle: a consequence of prolonged feeding barley malt sprouts

Journal of Veterinary Medicine. A, Physiology, Pathology, Clinical Medicine
O KulN Kabakci

Abstract

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM) in ruminants has been recognized as a consequence of excess sulphur intake. The present study describes clinical, gross and histopathological findings of PEM following an abrupt change of diet in two ranches housing 2750 dairy and 2300 beef cattle. As a result of severe PEM, 256 cattle died or were slaughtered. Clinical findings included circling, hypersensitivity, excessive salivation, hypermetria, incoordination, blindness and death. The first clinical signs occurred in beef calves (6-8 months old) at a holding facility. Clinical signs of the disorder continued intermittently during the 5-month period in both ranches and were more evident in calves and lactating dairy cows. The affected cattle did not respond to thiamine injections. Clinical signs disappeared gradually following removal of barley malt sprouts from the diet. Although macroscopic lesions were not apparent in the brain tissues of some animals, histopathology typical of PEM was found in most cases: spongiosis in the neuropil and neuronal necrosis, haemorrhage, capillary hyperplasia, fibrinoid degeneration in arterioles, multifocal liquefaction necroses in the grey matter and abundance of gitter cells with vacuolar large cytoplasm. Sulp...Continue Reading

References

Sep 19, 1997·Oncogene·V M GolubovskayaW K Kaufmann
Feb 17, 1998·Journal of Animal Science·D H Gould

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Citations

Jan 31, 2009·Australian Veterinary Journal·R A McKenzieJ D Taylor
Apr 12, 2018·Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·Kendra M AndrieCorrie C Brown

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