Miodistrofia enzootica degli agnelli: indagini clinico-patologiche in un allevamento siciliano.

Nutritional myopathies are pathologies characterized by Vitamin E and Selenium deficiency and inducing degenerative lesions of skeletal and cardiac muscles.Aim of the paper is to describe the clinical and pathological findings of the condition occasionally observed in a Sicilian sheep flock where neonatal mortality occurred. A male and a female, 8 d.o. crossbred lambs underwent clinical examination and one of them laboratory investigation. Both lambs showed a severe clinical status and laboratory investigations revealed an important CK, AST and ALT increase. Post-mortem examination of both lambs revealed similar features characterized by malnutrition, muscular hypotrophy, pale or congested muscles, brain oedema and haemorrhages. All data suggested a nutritional myodistrophy due to Vitamin E and Selenium deficiency. Thus, a proper mineral and vitamin supplement was administered to all animals exposed to risk. The Authors discuss about the important role of a multidisciplinary diagnostic pathway.