title: [Selenium poisoning in fattening swine].
abstract: A case of selenium toxicosis was observed in fattening pigs. Intoxication was caused by high levels of selenium in a commercial mineral premix. Instead of the recommended dose of 16 ppm Se, the mineral feed contained selenium at concentrations of 657 and 1059 ppm. The ration in use was found to contain more than 14 ppm selenium. Clinical symptoms were observed 5 to 6 weeks after the pigs began consuming the contaminated feed mixture. Feed intake was markedly reduced and animals showed severe lameness due to separation and necrosis of the hoof wall at the coronary band. Some pigs were reluctant to stand. In some cases alopecia was detected. At histopathological examination one animal with paralysis of the hind limbs revealed a focal bilaterally symmetric poliomyelomalacia in the lumbar segment of the spinal cord. Diagnosis was confirmed by high selenium contents of liver, kidneys and blood. After removing the incriminated feed no further pigs developed signs of intoxication. New horn growth was present and lame animals recovered slowly.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für kleine Klauentiere, Tierärztlichen Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wendt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mühlum
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matschullat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000506:poisoning*; D000818:Animals; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005506:Food Contamination; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000139:chemically induced; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D011041:Poisoning / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium
vernacular_title: Selenintoxikation bei Mastschweinen.