Acute selenium poisoning in cattle

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Abstract
Extract Traces of selenium have been shown to be required by animals (Schwarz and Foltz, 1957 Schwarz, K. and Foltz, C. M. 1957. Selenium as a integral part of Factor 3 against dietary necrotic liver degeneration. J. Am. chem. Soc., 79: 3292–3293. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] [Google Scholar] ) and to prevent or cure several diseases (Hartley and Grant, 1961 Hartley, W. J. and Grant, A. B. 1961. A review of selenium responsive diseases of New Zealand livestock. Fedn Proc. Fedn Am. Socs. exp. Biol., 20: 679–688. [Google Scholar] ). As a result, treatment of animals with salts of selenium has become a common practice. In some districts in New Zealand, in which selenium-responsive diseases are known to occur, young cattle are given solutions of selenium salts subcutaneously at dose rates of from 10 to 20 mg of selenium, to prevent the occurrence of white muscle disease and to maintain satisfactory growth rates (Anon., 1962 Anon. Selenium-controlled diseases Diseases of Domestic Animals in New Zealand , 2nd ed Editorial Services Ltd. Wellington 1962 222 222 [Google Scholar] ). Although selenium is apparently an essential nutrient in trace quantities, excessive intake results in intoxication. Its common use for mass prophylaxis has created the risk of misuse and accidental poisoning. The following report records some features of an accidental occurrence of acute selenium poisoning in which 376 calves died.

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