Effects of cobalt deficiency in the pregnant ewe on neonatal lamb survival

1992 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 169-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. J. Fisher ◽  
A. MacPherson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Performance ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Cobalt Deficiency ◽  
Acid Status ◽  
Pregnant Ewe ◽  
Skimmed Milk Powder

It has been suggested (Mills, 1981) that there was a lack of research on the effects of cobalt (Co) deficiency on the reproductive performance of sheep. Duncan, Morrison and Garton (1981) reported that clinically Co-deficient ewes produced fewer lambs with a higher incidence of stillbirths and neonatal mortalities than Co-sufficient animals. Garton, Duncan and Fell (1981) related these findings to the vitamin B12 and methylmalonic acid status of dams. However, their investigations used few animals and were therefore inconclusive. The objectives of this work were to investigate the effects of subclinical Co deficiency in pregnant hill sheep on reproductive performance and neonatal lamb viability.Experiment 1 (1985/86) comprised 60 Scottish Blackface × Swaledale ewes, while experiment 2 (1986/87) included 30 of these animals plus 30 pure Scottish Blackface sheep. In both experiments the ewes were housed and bedded on sawdust and a Co-deficient diet of timothy hay, micronized maize, maize gluten, dibasic calcium phosphate and sodium chloride was offered. Skimmed milk powder was introduced to the diet during lactation. The Co content of the diet was 0.06 mg Co per kg dry matter.

The Effect of Cobalt Deficiency in the Pregnant Ewe on Lamb Viability

1988 ◽  
Vol 1988 ◽  
pp. 27-27
Author(s):  
G.E.J. Fisher ◽  
A. MacPherson
Keyword(s):  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Acquired Immunity ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Turbidity Test ◽  
Term Trial ◽  
Cobalt Deficiency ◽  
Pregnant Ewe

Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of sub-clinical cobalt deficiency in pregnant hill sheep, on lamb viability. This form of the deficiency is not characterised by clinical symptoms. The disease is therefore difficult to detect, and may be of economic importance to farms on land of marginal cobalt status.In each of two trials, both with sixty Scottish Blackface x Swaledale ewes, animals were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: A. Cobalt-deficient intake throughout pregnancy; B. Initially cobalt-sufficient intake, but deficient from mid-pregnancy (Trial 1) or initially cobalt-deficient intake, but repleted from mid-term (Trial 2); C. Cobalt-sufficient intake throughout pregnancy. A cobalt-deficient ration (<0.06 mg Co/kg DM) of Timothy hay, micronised maize and maize gluten, was fed from tupping in Trial 1, and from two months before tupping in Trial 2. Treated animals received a weekly oral dose of 0.7 mg Co/head.Vitamin B12 (microbiological and radio-immuno assays) and methylmalonic acid (capillary gas chromatography) were analysed in ewe and lamb sera, as indicators of cobalt status. Levels of passively acquired immunity were measured by analysis of lamb sera, sampled at two and four weeks post-partum, for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and by the zinc sulphate turbidity test (ZSTT).

scholarly journals Effects of cobalt deficiency in pregnant and post-parturient ewes and their lambs

1981 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. H. Duncan ◽  
E. Rona Morrison ◽  
G. A. Garton
Keyword(s):  
Perinatal Mortality ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Urinary Concentration ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Cobalt Deficiency ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

1. Two groups of ewes were fed on a cobalt-deficient diet throughout pregnancy; one group (group A) was given the diet from the beginning of pregnancy, whilst the other (group B) received the diet for 16 weeks before mating. The ewes in group A continued to receive the diet for 12 weeks post-partum.2. The vitamin B12 content of serum was estimated on three occasions before parturition and, for group A ewes, at 12 weeks post partum. Urinary concentration of methylmalonic acid was also determined at intervals before the lambs were born.3. Serum values for vitamin B12 indicated that the ewes in both groups were depleted of the vitamin, though those in group B were more severely affected, as was evidenced by the high incidence of perinatal mortality among the lambs born to these ewes. Perinatal mortality appeared to be associated with abnormally-high values for urinary concentration of methylmalonic acid.4. Analysis of liver lipids and adipose tissue triacylglycerols of some of the vitamin B12-deprived lambs which died before, or within 1 d of, birth showed that, compared with the corresponding tissues of control lambs, these lipids contained unusually high proportions of odd-numbered fatty acids (mostly 15:0, 17:0 and 19:0). This observation is discussed in relation to the likelihood that, in vitmain B12-deprived lambs, propionate becomes available as a primer unit for fatty acid synthesis when the metabolism of its carboxylation product, methylmalonic acid, is impaired due to partlal lack of a vitamin B12-containing enzyme system.

scholarly journals The experimental production of vitamin B12 deficiency in the baboon (Papio cynocephalus). A 2-year study

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 219-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C Siddons
Keyword(s):  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B12 Deficiency ◽  
Vegetarian Diet ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Papio Cynocephalus ◽  
Experimental Production ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Liver Vitamin

1. The development of vitamin B12 deficiency, as indicated by the serum and liver vitamin B12 levels and the excretion of methylmalonic acid, was studied over a 2-year period in baboons (Papio cynocephalus) given a diet deficient in vitamin B12. The effects of partial hepatectomy and the inclusion of either ampicillin or sodium propionate in the diet on the rate of development of the deficiency were also studied.2. The baboons had previously been fed on a mainly vegetarian diet. Their serum vitamin B12 levels were less than 100 ng/l and the mean liver vitamin B12 concentration was 0·56 μ/g. Similar serum and liver vitamin B12 levels were found in baboons given a purified diet supplemented with 1 μg vitamin B12/d, and marked increases in the serum and liver vitamin B12 levels occurred when the daily intake was increased to 2 μg.3. The serum vitamin B12 levels decreased to less than 20 ng/l in all baboons given a vitamin B12-deficient diet.4. The liver vitamin B12 concentration also decreased in all baboons given a deficient diet. At 9 months the lowest levels (0·20 μ/g) were found in partially hepatectomized baboons but subsequently baboons given the diet containing ampicillin had the lowest levels (0·11 μ/g).5. The excretion of methylmalonic acid after a valine load was found to be inversely related to the liver vitamin B12 concentration. In the early part of the study, partially hepatectomized baboons excreted the highest amount but subsequently baboons given a diet containing ampicillin excreted the highest amount.6. Increased formiminoglutamic acid excretion after a histidine load was observed in two baboons given a vitamin B12-deficient diet and in both baboons the liver folic acid concentration was low.7. No haematological or neurological symptoms of the vitamin B12 deficiency were observed.

scholarly journals Methylmalonic acid in the diagnosis of cobalt deficiency in barley-fed lambs

1989 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 729-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.P.M. O'Harte ◽  
D. G. Kennedy ◽  
W. J. Blanchflower ◽  
D. A. Rice
Keyword(s):  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Plasma Vitamin ◽  
Elevated Plasma ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Cobalt Deficiency ◽  
Upper Level ◽  
Liquid Chromatographic

Eight lambs were fed on a cobalt-deficient whole-barley diet supplemented with urea, vitamins and minerals. Four control lambs were fed on the same diet which had been further supplemented with Co. Plasma vitamin B12 levels in the Co-depleted group declined rapidly, falling below the normal range within 5 weeks. Differences between the live weights of the animals in the two groups approached statistical significance by week 14. However, methylmalonic acid (MMA) rose above normal levels in the Co-depleted group within 7 weeks. This suggested that an elevated plasma concentration of MMA is a comparatively early indicator of functional vitamin B12 deficiency. It is recommended that 10 μmol/l be the upper level of normality for plasma MMA concentration in barley-fed animals, in contrast with the level of 5 μmol/l for grass-fed animals. Changes in the plasma concentrations of MMA and ethylmalonic acid associated with feeding the barley-based diet per se did not significantly affect the validity of the gas-liquid chromatographic assay for MMA.

Replacing skimmed milk powder by oat protein concentrate in milk replacers for piglets

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 515-521
Author(s):  
J. Delisle ◽  
J. F. Bernier ◽  
G. J. Brisson
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Milk Powder ◽  
Milk Proteins ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Protein Concentrate ◽  
Skimmed Milk ◽  
Skimmed Milk Powder

Two experiments were conducted with 24- to 72-h-old male piglets. In exp. 1, 24 piglets were assigned to three dietary treatments. In the control diet, 100% of the dietary protein originated from low-heat skimmed milk powder. In the other diets, either 25 or 50% of the milk proteins were replaced by oat protein concentrate. In exp. 2, eight piglets were assigned to each of two diets where 100% of the dietary protein originated from skimmed milk powder and 50% of the milk proteins were replaced by oat protein concentrate. In exp. 1, dry matter intake was not affected by treatments while body weight gain declined and feed to gain ratio increased significantly (P < 0.05) when oat protein concentrate replaced 50% of the milk proteins. Similar observations were made in exp. 2 regarding dry matter intake, body weight gain and feed gain ratio although digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen was the same (P > 0.05) for both the oat and milk protein treatments. Oat protein concentrate can thus replace up to 50% of milk proteins without apparent detrimental effect on dry matter intake and N digestibility; however, growth rate will be reduced. Key words: Piglets, artificial rearing, milk replacer, skimmed milk powder, oat protein concentrate, digestibility

Relationships between plasma methylmalonic acid and ruminal succinate in cobalt-deficient and -repleted sheep

2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Wiese ◽  
C. L. White ◽  
I. H. Williams ◽  
J. G. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin B12 ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Plasma Vitamin ◽  
Normal Range ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Cobalt Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin B12 Supplementation ◽  
Effective Degree

We measured methylmalonic acid (MMA) in plasma and succinate in the rumen during the depletion of sheep to a state of severe cobalt deficiency and repletion by various forms of supplementation. Groups of 10, cobalt-deficient weaners were allocated to one of 4 treatments: no supplement, 0.1 or 4.0 mg/day of cobalt as a solution of CoSO4.7H2O per os, or intramuscular vitamin B12. Plasma concentrations of MMA were elevated above the normal range (5 µmol/L) after 35 days on the cobalt-deficient diet, before a reduction in feed intake and while liveweights were still increasing. In all 3 supplemented groups of sheep, plasma vitamin B12 concentrations increased to normal levels within 10 days of supplementation (P < 0.001). Plasma MMA concentrations were reduced to normal levels within 10 days with vitamin B12 supplementation but took 31 days with oral cobalt supplementation (P < 0.001). Plasma MMA concentration in the unsupplemented group continued to rise and remain high for the duration of the experiment and did not show the peak and decline to levels indistinguishable from cobalt adequate levels as observed by others. Rumen succinate concentrations were elevated within 6 days of sheep being introduced to a cobalt-deficient diet and in the unsupplemented sheep remained elevated for the duration of measurement. This rise in rumen succinate was seen at a wider range of cobalt intakes than previously reported. In both oral cobalt treatments, vitamin B12 concentrations increased (P < 0.001) and succinate concentrations decreased (P < 0.001) in the rumen to normal levels within 6 days of supplementation. However, the vitamin B12 provided to the sheep by injection was not recycled to the rumen to any effective degree, as demonstrated by the persistence of high rumen succinate concentrations. The ability of the vitamin B12-supplemented sheep to maintain higher rates of wool growth than deficient sheep, while still exhibiting elevated succinate concentrations in the rumen, demonstrates that overcoming the blockage of the methylmalonyl CoA mutase pathway in the rumen is not essential for restoring metabolic pathways such as those responsible for wool growth. This work contributes to the knowledge of plasma MMA and rumen succinate as useful indicators of functional cobalt status and cobalt intake in sheep.

scholarly journals Dietary depletion of vitamin B12 and the excretion of methylmalonic acid in the rat

1969 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Williams ◽  
G. H. Spray ◽  
G. E. Newman ◽  
J. R. P. O'brien
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Intraperitoneal Injection ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Soya Flour ◽  
Slight Effect ◽  
Sodium Propionate ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Synthetic Vitamin ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

1. A semi-synthetic vitamin B12-deficient diet, based on soya flour, is described. When supplemented with cydnocobalamin the diet appeared to be adequate for growth and reproduction in the rat.2. Compared with their litter-mates on the supplemented diet, rats fed on the deficient diet from weaning showed reduced levels of vitamin B12 activity in the plasma and tissues, but their growth rates were unaffected unless they were bred from mothers that had been given the deficient diet since mating.3. When they were reared on the deficient diet, rats bred from mothers on the deficient diet since mating excreted much more methylmalonic acid in the urine than their litter-mates on the supplemented diet. There was wide variation in the level of excretion, both between different animals and from day to day in the same animal.4. Starvation for more than 16 h caused a marked depression in the amount of methylmalonic acid excreted by rats on the deficient diet.5. Intraperitoneal injection of sodium propionate into deficient animals after starvation for 24 h caused increased excretion of methylmalonic acid during the following 16 h of continued starvation. Isoleucine had a similar but smaller effect.6. Tested in the starved animal, sodium propionate and valine given either by intra- peritoneal injection or by mouth, and isoleucine given intraperitoneally, caused increases in the excretion of methylmalonic acid. In contrast, methionine had no effect and threonine only a slight effect.

Serum Vitamin B12 Concentrations among Mothers and Newborns and Follow-up Study to Assess Implication on the Growth Velocity and the Urinary Methylmalonic Acid Excretion

2009 ◽  
Vol 79 (56) ◽  
pp. 297-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Hussein ◽  
Sahar Abdel Aziz ◽  
Salwa Tapouzada ◽  
Boehles
Keyword(s):  
Early Diagnosis ◽  
Growth Velocity ◽  
Methylmalonic Acid ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Serum Vitamin ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Postnatal Life ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Metabolic Marker ◽  
Biochemical Measurement

Objective:Cobalamin (B12) deficiency has been reported in infants born to mothers with low cobalamin intake. Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency in infants is critical for the prevention of neurobehavioral disorders. We investigated the relationship between serum vitamin B12 level in newborns and in their healthy mothers who consumed an omnivorous diet. Anthropometry was studied longitudinally to assess the growth velocity of the infants. Urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA) excretion of 6-month old infants was compared retrospectively as the biomarker correlated with the initial serum vitamin B12 concentrations. Methods: Serum cobalamin and blood hemoglobin were determined in 84 pairs of newborns and their mothers. Urinary MMA excretion was measured in the same subjects during the first 6 months of the post partum period. Results: At birth, median serum cobalamin levels were 152.0 pmol/L in the mothers and 296.6 pmol/L in the newborns. Maternal and neonatal serum cobalamin levels had no effect on growth velocity during the first six months of postnatal life. Serum maternal and neonatal cobalamin levels were inversely associated with urinary MMA excretion. Conclusion: Early diagnosis of vitamin B12 status in neonates and infants is crucial, particularly in nutritionally deprived areas. Biochemical measurement of plasma cobalamin or its metabolic marker MMA is highly recommended. Urinary MMA measurement in cobalamin diagnostics provides an advantage in that blood sampling is not required. A vitamin B12 taskforce should be created to alleviate vitamin deficiency and its negative consequences.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1)

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aviva Fattal-Valevski
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Cerebral Metabolism ◽  
Oxidant Stress ◽  
Vitamin B1 ◽  
Vitamin B ◽  
Deficient Diet ◽  
Common Cause ◽  
Korsakoff Syndrome ◽  
Reducing Substances ◽  
B Vitamin

Thiamine (vitamin B1) was the first B vitamin to have been identified. It serves as a cofactor for several enzymes involved in energy metabolism. The thiamine-dependent enzymes are important for the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and for the production of reducing substances used in oxidant stress defenses, as well as for the synthesis of pentoses used as nucleic acid precursors. Thiamine plays a central role in cerebral metabolism. Its deficiency results in dry beriberi, a peripheral neuropathy, wet beriberi, a cardiomyopathy with edema and lactic acidosis, and Wernicke—Korsakoff syndrome, whose manifestations consist of nystagmus, ophthalmoplegia, and ataxia evolving into confusion, retrograde amnesia, cognitive impairment, and confabulation. Patients on a strict thiamine-deficient diet display a state of severe depletion within 18 days. The most common cause of thiamine deficiency in affluent countries is either alcoholism or malnutrition in nonalcoholic patients. Treatment by thiamine supplementation is beneficial for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

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