Selenium deficiency in cattle associated with Heinz bodies and anemia [Santa Gertrudis, grazing St. Augustine grass growing on a peaty muck soils, Florida]

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 223; no. 4635; pp. 491 - 493
• Main Authors: Morris, J. G., Cripe, W. S., Chapman, H. L., Walker, D. F., Armstrong, J. B., Alexander, J. D., Miranda, R., Sanchez, A., Sanchez, B., Blair-West, J. R., Denton, D. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The American Association for the Advancement of Science 03.02.1984; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Anemia; Anemia, Hemolytic - drug therapy; Anemia, Hemolytic - etiology; Anemia, Hemolytic - veterinary; Animal Feed; Animal nutrition; Animals; Beef cattle; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Body Weight; Calves; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - drug therapy; Cattle Diseases - etiology; Cobalt; Heinz bodies; Heinz Bodies - ultrastructure; Hematocrit; Hemoglobins; Hemoglobins - analysis; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Other nutritional diseases (malnutrition, nutritional and vitamin deficiencies...); Physiological aspects; Ranches; Selenium; Selenium (Chemical element); Selenium (Nutrient); Selenium - administration & dosage; Selenium - blood; Selenium - deficiency; Selenium content; Selenium in animal nutrition; Soil chemistry; Soils; Veterinary medicine; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Deficient diet; Anemia; Deficiency; Body weight; Heinz body; Supplemented diet; Artiodactyla; Beef; Selenium; Ungulata
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.6691160

Cattle grazing St. Augustine grass growing on peaty muck soils in the Florida Everglades developed anemia associated with the presence of Heinz bodies and suboptimal concentrations of selenium in blood. Selenium supplementation corrected the anemia, prevented Heinz body formation, increased the body weight of cows and calves, and elevated blood selenium. This may be the first recorded example of widespread anemia in a population due to selenium deficiency.