Diagnosis of white muscle disease in two goat kids: combining pathological evaluation with ICP-MS based trace element analysis

Abstract

White muscle disease, commonly observed in young ruminants, is a myopathy caused by selenium (Se)/vitamin E deficiency. In this case, white muscle disease was diagnosed in two goat kids following multiple kid mortalities in a hair goat herd in the Gördes district of Manisa province. The disease was diagnosed based on the farmer’s anamnesis, detailed pathological examination, and measurement of Se concentrations in blood and tissue samples using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition to the clinical and pathological findings, the diagnosis of white muscle disease was further supported by the detection of markedly low Se concentrations in the blood, liver, and muscle tissues of the kids. This case report highlights the importance of trace element analysis in the differential diagnosis of white muscle disease from other myopathies in small ruminants.

Keywords

• Goat kids
• Histopathology
• Nutritional myopathy
• Selenium Deficiency
• Trace element analysis

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