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What condition is suggested in calves that are suddenly dyspneic and have pale cardiac muscle?
Copper deficiency
Sorghum toxicity
Lightning strike
Selenium deficiency
The correct answer is: Selenium deficiency
The condition indicated in calves exhibiting sudden dyspnea and pale cardiac muscle is related to selenium deficiency. Selenium plays a critical role in muscle health, particularly in the maintenance of normal cardiac function. A deficiency in selenium can lead to a variety of health issues, including a form of cardiomyopathy known as white muscle disease, which is characterized by degeneration of the cardiac and skeletal muscles. This is particularly relevant in young animals like calves who may not have adequate access to selenium through their diet or environment. In cases of selenium deficiency, the cardiac muscle can appear pale due to the degeneration and necrosis that occurs. The sudden onset of dyspnea may be attributed to impaired cardiac function, leading to insufficient oxygenation of tissues. Therefore, calves with these clinical signs are likely suffering from the effects of selenium deficiency, which can compromise muscular integrity and respiratory function, reflecting the importance of this trace mineral in livestock health. The other conditions listed, such as copper deficiency or sorghum toxicity, present different clinical signs and pathophysiology, which do not align with the specific combination of symptoms described in the question. Lightning strike typically leads to electrocution injuries, which present acutely in different ways than what is described. Hence, the correct identification of selenium