Avian riboflavin deficiency: an acquired tomaculous neuropathy.
The finding of tomacula, focal areas of sausage-shaped hypermyelination in peripheral nerves, is reported for the first time in avian riboflavin deficiency. Day-old, meat-type chickens were fed a riboflavin-deficient diet (1.8 mg/kg) and were killed on postnatal days 6, 11, 16, and 21, while control chickens were fed a conventional diet containing 5.0 mg/kg riboflavin. Tomacula were found in sciatic and brachial nerves from day 11 onward, became more frequent and prominent with increasing time, and preceded the onset of segmental demyelination.
Cai
Z
Z
Hanson Institute Centre for Neurological Diseases, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia.
Finnie
J W
JW
Blumbergs
P C
PC
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D012257:Riboflavin Deficiency / Q000662:veterinary*