title: Vitamin E and selenium concentrations in livers of pigs diagnosed with mulberry heart disease.
abstract: During a 2-year period from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2000, 77 diagnoses of mulberry heart disease (MHD) were documented at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Mean (+/- SD) liver vitamin E concentrations were lower (P < 0.05) in pigs with MHD (3.12 +/- 1.12 ppm, wet weight) than in pigs that died of causes other than MHD (4.80 +/- 3.2 ppm, wet weight). The majority of the pigs affected with MHD ranged in age from 3 to 7 weeks. Statistical influence of age was found on the concentration of vitamin E (P < 0.01) but not on concentration of selenium in liver in pigs with MHD. Concentrations of vitamin E below 2 ppm were considered deficient. Hepatic vitamin E concentrations below 2 ppm were measured in 25% of the pigs with gross and microscopic lesions of MHD. In contrast, liver selenium concentrations were adequate in all pigs.
authors.affiliation: Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ames 50011, USA.
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pallarés
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Yaeger
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Janke
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Patrick G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Halbur
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium