Which disease is associated with a deficiency in Vitamin E?

The disease associated with a deficiency in Vitamin E is white muscle disease. This condition primarily affects young lambs and is characterized by the degeneration of muscle tissue, particularly those that are striated. Vitamin E plays a critical role as an antioxidant that protects cell membranes from damage caused by free radicals. Inadequate levels of Vitamin E can lead to oxidative stress and, consequently, muscle necrosis, resulting in the symptoms commonly seen in white muscle disease, such as stiffness, weakness, and even sudden death in severe cases.

In contrast, the other diseases listed—scrapie, foot rot, and listeriosis—are not linked to Vitamin E deficiency. Scrapie is a prion disease affecting the nervous system of sheep, foot rot is caused by bacterial infection leading to inflammation and lameness, and listeriosis is associated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, typically linked to poor feed management or environmental contamination. Thus, understanding the specific nutritional deficiencies and their corresponding diseases is crucial for effective sheep management and health care practices.