| Abstract: | Rumen contents of 2 heifers with acute polioencephalomalacia (cerebrocortical necrosis) were compared with rumen contents from a healthy steer fed a fibrous diet. Also examined were (i) the quantitative nature of the predominant rumen microflora, (ii) the distribution of morphologic types of bacteria in the rumen contents, (iii) the extent that morphologic groups produced or degraded thiamine, and (iv) the cumulative effects of metabolic activities of the predominant rumen bacteria concerning the net production or degradation of thiamine. The differences in the frequency of occurrence of particular bacterial morphologic groups, the extent of growth, and the amount of thiamine metabolism in relationship to growth were also evaluated. The cumulative thiamine metabolism of the predominant bacteria associated with the rumen of polioencephalomalacia-affected heifers led to substantial net thiamine destruction, whereas metabolism associated with the rumen of a normal steer led to thiamine production. Polioencephalomalacia may occur as a consequence of alteration of the metabolic activities of the predominant resident ruminal bacteria associated with diseased cattle. |
