Muscle enzymes in the diagnosis of ovine weaner nutritional myopathy

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The diagnostic performance of plasma tests for muscle enzymes was measured in sheep from flocks affected by clinical and sub-clinical nutritional myopathy. Parallel combinations of tests for creatine kinase (CK), alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase had higher diagnostic sensitivity than CK alone. The enzymes ALT and AST showed the highest correlation with the degree of muscle damage. A parallel combination of tests for plasma CK and ALT as well as tests for plasma alpha-tocopherol and red cell glutathione peroxidase are recommended for the diagnosis of nutritional myopathy and a decision on the appropriate treatment. The number of false negative results based on a diagnosis from the microscopic examination of single muscles was higher than for the parallel combination of tests. The number of false negatives was highest for the vastus intermedius and lowest for the tensor fascia lata. Diagnosis using a panel of blood tests has the advantages of overcoming problems of inadequate muscle sampling, a larger number of sheep in the flock can be tested and a more rapid diagnosis can be obtained.