Precipitation of a selenium deficiency by high dietary levels of copper and zinc.
High mortality and a high incidence of exudative diathesis and muscular dystrophy were observed in chicks fed a diet supplemented with either 800 or 1600 ppm copper. Adding 0.5 ppm selenium to a basal diet containing 0.2 ppm prevented mortality and selenium deficiency signs. Dietary zinc levels of 2100 to 4100 ppm also resulted in high mortality, exudative diathesis, and muscular dystrophy. A selenium supplement of 0.5 ppm completely prevented the deficiency signs and markedly reduced mortality. The results demonstrate that both copper and zinc can induce a selenium deficiency in chicks when a diet relatively low in this element is fed.
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002645:Chickens; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet; D009137:Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012643:Selenium / Q000172:deficiency*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc