Abstract :
Selenium and vitamin E deficiency has major and synergistic role on pathogenesis of stiff
lamb disease. In severe cases, muscle degeneration may extend to myocardium and causes
death. Due to this situation and for determining the type of arrhythmias that may result
frommyocardial degeneration in lambs, this studywas carried out on 20 affected stiff lambs
and 20 non-affected ones in Shahrekord district (Iran). The hearts of lambs were carefully
heard and electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed to determine the type of arrhythmia.
Blood samples were taken from jugular vein for measuring the serum concentration of
selenium and vitamin E by atomic absorption spectroscopy and high-performance liquid
chromatographic method (HPLC), respectively. Results showed that selenium and vitamin
E concentrations of affected lambs were significantly lower than those of non-affected
ones. In affected lambs seven numerous arrhythmias such as tachycardia, wandering pace
maker, sinus arrhythmia, advanced second degree atrio-ventricular block, atrial fibrillation,
atrial premature contraction and ventricular premature contraction were diagnosed.
These types of arrhythmias showed that themyocardial degeneration in vitamin E and selenium
deficiency was not limited to a specific region of heart and may influence the atrium,
atrio-ventricular junction and ventricles as well
