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<p>Zinc (Zn) is an essential metal and a cofactor for enzymes involved in key physiological processes. Although Zn is generally non-toxic in mammals due to its wide margin of safety, studies of Zn toxicity in ruminants were associated with different sources of intoxication. This study describes the clinicopathological aspects of pancreatic fibrosis in Holstein-Friesian calves, from different farms, fed with a commercial milk replacer purposefully formulated with elevated Zn levels (1,838.36&#xa0;mg/kg). Nine affected calves were evaluated and sampled for different tests. Affected calves exhibited severe poor growth and anorexia, and mild to moderate diarrhea and anemia. Necropsy of four animals revealed marked reduction in the size of the pancreas, increase in consistency, and white discoloration. Histopathological examination revealed moderate to marked fibrosis of the exocrine pancreas, highlighted by Masson’s Trichrome staining, and reduction in zymogen granules in acinar cells, evidenced by decreased Periodic Acid-Schiff staining. Pancytokeratin immunohistochemistry showed reduced acinar cell labelling and increased ductular labelling, while neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry revealed an increase in pancreatic islets. Serum Zn levels were elevated in clinically affected calves (271.1–551.1&#xa0;µg/dL; reference value: 145 ± 11&#xa0;µg/dL), and Zn concentrations in the liver and kidney of a necropsied calf were notably high (261.7 and 171.81&#xa0;mg/kg, respectively; reference values: 88–130 and 18–25&#xa0;mg/kg, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first report of pancreatic fibrosis in cattle associated with the use of a commercial milk replacer containing excessive Zn, and the first to employ histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses to better understand and characterize its pathological changes.</p>

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Pancreatic fibrosis in calves fed a milk replacer with elevated zinc levels

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月28日

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  • Fernanda Felicetti Perosa,
  • Jean Carlo Olivo Menegatt,
  • Raphael Adenir Valeriano Tonin,
  • Teane Milagres Augusto Gomes,
  • Angela Patricia Medeiros Veiga,
  • Saulo Petinatti Pavarini,
  • David Driemeier,
  • Welden Panziera

摘要

Zinc (Zn) is an essential metal and a cofactor for enzymes involved in key physiological processes. Although Zn is generally non-toxic in mammals due to its wide margin of safety, studies of Zn toxicity in ruminants were associated with different sources of intoxication. This study describes the clinicopathological aspects of pancreatic fibrosis in Holstein-Friesian calves, from different farms, fed with a commercial milk replacer purposefully formulated with elevated Zn levels (1,838.36 mg/kg). Nine affected calves were evaluated and sampled for different tests. Affected calves exhibited severe poor growth and anorexia, and mild to moderate diarrhea and anemia. Necropsy of four animals revealed marked reduction in the size of the pancreas, increase in consistency, and white discoloration. Histopathological examination revealed moderate to marked fibrosis of the exocrine pancreas, highlighted by Masson’s Trichrome staining, and reduction in zymogen granules in acinar cells, evidenced by decreased Periodic Acid-Schiff staining. Pancytokeratin immunohistochemistry showed reduced acinar cell labelling and increased ductular labelling, while neuron-specific enolase immunohistochemistry revealed an increase in pancreatic islets. Serum Zn levels were elevated in clinically affected calves (271.1–551.1 µg/dL; reference value: 145 ± 11 µg/dL), and Zn concentrations in the liver and kidney of a necropsied calf were notably high (261.7 and 171.81 mg/kg, respectively; reference values: 88–130 and 18–25 mg/kg, respectively). To our knowledge, this is the first report of pancreatic fibrosis in cattle associated with the use of a commercial milk replacer containing excessive Zn, and the first to employ histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses to better understand and characterize its pathological changes.