Vitamin B1 high strength thiamine injection for treatment of CCN in calves and lambs. Can also be used as an adjunct in metabolic disorders in cattle.

Vitamin B1, otherwise known as thiamine, is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin B1 is a crucial component of the enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, a major source of energy for cattle and sheep. Vitamin B1 is normally produced in the rumen of cattle and sheep to fuel energy production.

In the case of Vitamin B1 deficiency, tissues such as the brain and heart are compromised leading to the clinical symptoms below. A Vitamin B1 deficiency may be primary, due to a deficiency in the diet; or secondary due to the destruction of the vitamin caused by thiaminases.

In the early stages of deficiency calves and lambs will show:

• Aimless wandering
• Staggering gait
• Hyper excitability
• ”Star Gaze” and appear blind

Vitamin B1 deficiency commonly advances into the nervous condition Cerebro Cortical Necrosis (CCN). CCN usually occurs in individual animals but can occur in outbreaks. Acute cerebral oedema and laminar necrosis are the typical lesions seen and treatment must be rapid to ensure complete recovery from the episode.

The principal cause of CCN is thiamine deficiency. Commonly induced by thiaminases, thiaminases can be synthesised in the rumen due to an imbalanced rumen microbiome. Often triggered by:

• A sudden change in diets
• High concentrate feeding
• Heavily sulphur-fertilised pastures
• Copper and cobalt deficiencies have all been observed to be predisposing factors to CCN.

Calves and young cattle are most commonly affected between 6-18 months of age and lambs between 2-7 months of age but occasionally the disease is diagnosed in older animals.

Untreated cases can progress to complete blindness with head pressing, recumbency & muscle tremors, progressing to convulsion and death within 2-3 days.

• Treatment requires repeated injections of Vitamin B1 administered 2-3 times daily for three days.
• 5 - 5ml per 50 kg bodyweight per injection.
• Administer by intramuscular or slow intra venous Injection.

Recovery may be slow in animals treated in the later stages of the disease.

It is useful to note that thiamine can also be effectively used as supportive treatment of metabolic disorders such as rumen acidosis and ketosis in cattle (Harmeyer and Kollenkirchen, 1989).