Abstract
Previous studies have shown that selenium (Se) deficiency is associated with nutritional myopathy, known as white muscle disease (WMD), in horses. However, correlations between Se deficiency and clinical findings, such as hematologic biochemical values and pathological features, have not been evaluated in captive plains zebras. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the clinical and pathologic features that may be caused by a Se deficiency in the captive plains zebra. Clinical findings, feed analyses, hematologic biochemical analyses, response to treatment, and pathologic examination were assessed in six affected plains zebras. The dietary concentration of Se in feed was also tested. Sudden death occurred in two cases during the first day of the onset of symptoms. Two zebras died at 4 days and two zebras survived after treatment. The clinical signs in affected animals were characterized by general weakness, astasia, and abnormal postural positions. The Se concentration in hay from the breeding stable was low, based on the reference value. Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was lower compared with the equine reference value. Multiple areas of subcutaneous steatitis and pale skeletal muscle and myocardium were revealed at gross necropsy. Degeneration and necrosis of myocardial and skeletal muscles, as well as congestion of the liver, lung, and kidney were found via histopathological examination. No suspected bacterial infections were found. Feed analyses, response to treatment, serum GSH-Px activity, and pathological features suggest that Se deficiency may have caused the disease in the six affected captive plains zebra.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank senior experimentalist Zhigang Han for the food analyses in this study.
Author Contributions
F.C., Y.P., and D.W. designed and performed the experiment, performed data analysis, and wrote the manuscript. J.G., W.H., D.Z., X.B., J.Z., and M.H. participated in the experiment. All the authors have given permission to be named.
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The ethics committees of Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Zoo approved the study and allowed collection of blood samples by venipuncture, from the captive plains zebras. All manipulations were conducted in compliance with the ethics committees of Chongqing Medical University and Chongqing Zoo for the humane care and use of animals in research.
Funding
This work was supported by the Scientific and Technological Innovation Special Program of Social Livelihood of Chongqing (Grant No. cstc2015shmszx120031, cstc2015shmszx120017, cstc2015shmszxsydw) and Strategic Emerging Industries Reserve Program of Chongqing Development and Reform Commission (Grant No. [2015] 1650).
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The authors declared that they have no conflict of interests.
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Chen, F., Gao, J., Wu, D. et al. Clinical and Pathologic Features of a Suspected Selenium Deficiency in Captive Plains Zebras. Biol Trace Elem Res 176, 114–119 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0820-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-016-0820-2