The relationship between selenium deficiency and the development of pulmonary and subcutaneous emphysema in bovine ephemeral fever virus-infected cattle.

Bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) was diagnosed on several commercial farms around Harare, Zimbabwe. The affected animals showed signs of fever (40-41.5 degrees C), depression, ruminal stasis, lameness and recumbency. Eight of those attended had severe respiratory distress and subcutaneous emphysema. Haematological and biochemical results indicated leukocytosis with an attending lymphopaenia. Selenium deficiency was detected only in those animals which showed respiratory embarrassment and subcutaneous emphysema.