FURTHER STUDIES ON BOVINE LIPOMATOSIS AS ENZOOTIC HERD PROBLEM IN EGYPT

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

Bovine lipomatosis as enzootic problem was observed in cows of a native breed herd. The clinical signs were in the form of obesity, body condition score (4-6); drop in milk yield and marked deposition of subcutaneous fat at the base of the tail and at the entrance of the chest. Chronic cases were characterized by severe emaciation; loss of ap < /strong>petite; long standing diarrhea and recurrent tympany. Rectal examination revealed the presence of hard irrigular masses of variable size in the p < /strong>rerenal fat; in the intestine and in the mesentry. Biochemical essay of blood serum including K; Na; CL; Mag; Ca; P; Glucose; Amylase; Albumin; Triglycerides; Total Proteins; Total Lipids; Phosphlipids and Selenium was carried out. A marked hyperlipemia was observed in all groups of diseased animals. Phosphlipids levels were elevated in cows at the advanced stage of the disease and also in chronic cases. Triglycerides levels were only increased in chronic cases. Amylase enzyme-level was drop < /strong>ed in chronic cases of bovine lipomatosis. Both groups of advanced and chronic lipomatosis showed a marked decrease in selenium level. Fatty acids determination in necrosed fatty tissues indicated a marked increase in the concentration of stearic acid (C: 18.0) 34%; while olic acid (C: 18:1) showed decrease in its level 28.6%. Diagnostic therapy using sodium selenite-in a dose of 5 mg/cow/day-was supplied to the animals with the ration over a period of 6 months. Seventy percent of treated cows, in the early stage of the disease, were improved and no hard masses were palpated rectally, while the rest of cows-in this stage-showed variable degree of necrosis. On the other hand no detectable changes were observed in cows treated in the chronic phase (fat necrosis) of bovine lipomatosis.