Zinc Deficiency-Like Syndrome in Fleckvieh Calves: Clinical and Pathological Findings and Differentiation from Bovine Hereditary Zinc Deficiency

Langenmayer, M.C.; Jung, S.; Majzoub-Altweck, M.; Trefz, F.M.; Seifert, C.; Knubben-Schweizer, G.; Fries, R.; Hermanns, W.; Gollnick, N.S.

The gold standard to distinguish ZDL from BHZD is-of course-a genetic examination. Clinicians confronted with Fleckvieh calves displaying signs of zinc deficiency should be aware of ZDL and can differentiate ZDL from BHZD through unresponsiveness to oral zinc supplementation. However, lack of improvement or advanced cases should initiate a genetic examination to quickly identify ZDL calves. On pathological examination, dermal lesions together with thymic atrophy can indicate ZDL, but atrophy must be separated from disease-or age-associated involution. Dermal histopathology is not helpful to distinguish between these 2 syndromes.