This article was downloaded by: [UNAM Ciudad Universitaria] On: 22 December 2014, At: 10:06 Publisher: Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzv20
Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of the vitamin B12 status of grazing sheep a
K.R. Millar & P.P. Lorentz
a
a
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Research Division , Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries , Private Bag, Upper Hutt Published online: 23 Feb 2011.
To cite this article: K.R. Millar & P.P. Lorentz (1979) Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of the vitamin B12 status of grazing sheep, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 27:5, 90-92, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1979.34608 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1979.34608
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
90
VOL 27
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of the vitamin B12 status of grazing sheep K. R. Millaro and P. P. LorentzO N.z. "('/. J.27: 90·2
Downloaded by [UNAM Ciudad Universitaria] at 10:06 22 December 2014
ABSTRACT
lambs grazing cobalt-deficient pastures and injected with hydroxocobalamine gained significantly more weight and ex creted significantly less methylmalonic acid in the urine than untreated controls. lambs with liver vitamin Bil levels in the range 0.1-0.2 Itg/g excreted less than 25 Itg of methyl malonic acid per ml of urine. whereas lambs with liver vitamin Bil conce~ trations ofless than 0.1 Itg/g excreted greater amounts. lambs JO both groups had serum vitamin B. 2 concentrations less than 500 pg/ml. .. No consistent diurnal variation in urinary methylmaloOlc aCId concentrations was found for four lambs studied. There was a decrease in the methyl malonic acid levels ofurine after storage for more than 24 hours which could be prevented by acidification of the urine. A mean urinary methyl malonic acid concentration greater than 30 Itg/ml for 10 animals randomly selected from a flock would indicate a cobalt deficiency in the flock as a whole. INTRODUCTION
Vitamin B. 2 deficient sheep excrete greater amounts of methyl malonic acid (MMA) in urine than normal sheep(2I()I(SI(7,. Gawthorne ,~, reported that, for adult Merino sheep fed a dry cobalt-deficient diet. methylmalonic acid levels in 24-hour urine samples were increased significantly only when the sheep were severely vitamin Bil deficient, as judged by feed intake, body weight. haemoglobin concentrations and plasma vitamin BI2 levels. However. details of these criteria were not presented. Because the urine of most grazing sheep contains compoun0.19/ig/g") is not known. The results of this study are consistent with the observation of Gawthornet S), who used adult Merino sheep fed a semi-synthetic cobalt-deficient diet, that urinary MMA levels only increase in the more severe cases of cobalt deficiency. As no consistent pattern for the diurnal variation of MMA levels in urine was' found in the four ewe-lambs examined, it would appear that the time of collection of samples is not a critical factor. Using the microbiological method, Andrews and Stephenson reportedf4 'that, foryounglambs,serum vitamin B,2 levelsofless than 200 pg/ml indicate a definite vitamin 8 12 deficiency; between 200 and 300, a probable deficiency; between 310 and 450, indefinite; and, above 450, normal. Results from our study showed that lambs classified as mildly or moderately deficient (on the basis ofliver vitamin Bl2levels) had serum vitamin 81l concentrations of less than 500 pg/ml. When sheep urine was acidified at the time of collection. no change in MMA concentration occurred in samples stored at either4 °Cor-IO °C for up to 12 days. Subsequent experiments have shown that acidified urine can be stored at room tempe rature for over a month without loss of MMA (Millar - un published data). If acidification is not possible. urine should be analysed within 24 hours of collection. Our results show that, if 10 animals from a flock are sampled and the mean MMA level in their urine exceeds 30 /ig/ml. this value is significantly different (P
New Zealand Veterinary Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tnzv20
Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of the vitamin B12 status of grazing sheep a
K.R. Millar & P.P. Lorentz
a
a
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre, Research Division , Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries , Private Bag, Upper Hutt Published online: 23 Feb 2011.
To cite this article: K.R. Millar & P.P. Lorentz (1979) Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of the vitamin B12 status of grazing sheep, New Zealand Veterinary Journal, 27:5, 90-92, DOI: 10.1080/00480169.1979.34608 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00480169.1979.34608
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content. This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
90
VOL 27
NEW ZEALAND VETERINARY JOURNAL
Urinary methylmalonic acid as an indicator of the vitamin B12 status of grazing sheep K. R. Millaro and P. P. LorentzO N.z. "('/. J.27: 90·2
Downloaded by [UNAM Ciudad Universitaria] at 10:06 22 December 2014
ABSTRACT
lambs grazing cobalt-deficient pastures and injected with hydroxocobalamine gained significantly more weight and ex creted significantly less methylmalonic acid in the urine than untreated controls. lambs with liver vitamin Bil levels in the range 0.1-0.2 Itg/g excreted less than 25 Itg of methyl malonic acid per ml of urine. whereas lambs with liver vitamin Bil conce~ trations ofless than 0.1 Itg/g excreted greater amounts. lambs JO both groups had serum vitamin B. 2 concentrations less than 500 pg/ml. .. No consistent diurnal variation in urinary methylmaloOlc aCId concentrations was found for four lambs studied. There was a decrease in the methyl malonic acid levels ofurine after storage for more than 24 hours which could be prevented by acidification of the urine. A mean urinary methyl malonic acid concentration greater than 30 Itg/ml for 10 animals randomly selected from a flock would indicate a cobalt deficiency in the flock as a whole. INTRODUCTION
Vitamin B. 2 deficient sheep excrete greater amounts of methyl malonic acid (MMA) in urine than normal sheep(2I()I(SI(7,. Gawthorne ,~, reported that, for adult Merino sheep fed a dry cobalt-deficient diet. methylmalonic acid levels in 24-hour urine samples were increased significantly only when the sheep were severely vitamin Bil deficient, as judged by feed intake, body weight. haemoglobin concentrations and plasma vitamin BI2 levels. However. details of these criteria were not presented. Because the urine of most grazing sheep contains compoun0.19/ig/g") is not known. The results of this study are consistent with the observation of Gawthornet S), who used adult Merino sheep fed a semi-synthetic cobalt-deficient diet, that urinary MMA levels only increase in the more severe cases of cobalt deficiency. As no consistent pattern for the diurnal variation of MMA levels in urine was' found in the four ewe-lambs examined, it would appear that the time of collection of samples is not a critical factor. Using the microbiological method, Andrews and Stephenson reportedf4 'that, foryounglambs,serum vitamin B,2 levelsofless than 200 pg/ml indicate a definite vitamin 8 12 deficiency; between 200 and 300, a probable deficiency; between 310 and 450, indefinite; and, above 450, normal. Results from our study showed that lambs classified as mildly or moderately deficient (on the basis ofliver vitamin Bl2levels) had serum vitamin 81l concentrations of less than 500 pg/ml. When sheep urine was acidified at the time of collection. no change in MMA concentration occurred in samples stored at either4 °Cor-IO °C for up to 12 days. Subsequent experiments have shown that acidified urine can be stored at room tempe rature for over a month without loss of MMA (Millar - un published data). If acidification is not possible. urine should be analysed within 24 hours of collection. Our results show that, if 10 animals from a flock are sampled and the mean MMA level in their urine exceeds 30 /ig/ml. this value is significantly different (P
