Ovine and Caprine White Muscle Disease Study Guide
Overview and Clinical Importance
White muscle disease (WMD), also known as nutritional myodegeneration (NMD) or stiff lamb disease, is a degenerative muscle disease caused by dietary deficiency of selenium (Se) and/or vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol). This condition is one of the most important nutritional diseases affecting small ruminants worldwide and is a high-yield topic for the NAVLE examination.
The disease primarily affects young, rapidly growing lambs and kids, typically between 2 to 8 weeks of age, though congenital and delayed-onset forms also occur. WMD can affect both skeletal muscles (causing stiffness and weakness) and cardiac muscle (causing sudden death or heart failure). Kids are believed to be more susceptible than lambs, possibly due to higher selenium requirements.
Etiology and Pathophysiology
Role of Selenium and Vitamin E
Both selenium and vitamin E function as antioxidants that protect cell membranes from oxidative damage, but they act through different mechanisms:
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