Floppy kid syndrome caused by D-lactic acidosis in goat kids.

BACKGROUND

Goat kids with floppy kid syndrome have metabolic acidosis, muscle weakness, and depression but no dehydration.

HYPOTHESIS: D-Lactate is the major component of acidemia in goat kids with floppy kid syndrome.

ANIMALS: Fifty-five goat kids with floppy kid syndrome (group F) and 35 clinically healthy goat kids (group C).

METHODS

Clinical, biochemical, microbiologic, virologic, parasitologic, and pathologic examinations.

RESULTS

The animals in group F had a blood pH of 7.13 +/- 0.11 and a base excess of -17.8 +/- 3.8 mM, which were both lower than the values in the control animals (pH, 7.32 +/- 0.31; base excess, -0.1 +/- 2.7 mM; P < .001). Floppy kids had a significantly larger anion gap than healthy kids (31.2 +/- 3.7 versus 21.5 +/- 8.5 mM; P < .001). The concentration of L-lactate was lower in floppy kids than in healthy kids (0.67 +/- 0.49 versus 1.60 +/- 1.02 mM), but the concentration of D-lactate was higher in floppy kids (7.43 +/- 2.71 versus 0.26 +/- 0.24 mM; P < .001). Intravenous and oral administration of sodium bicarbonate in floppy kids resulted in a significant increase in blood pH and base excess and a decrease in the anion gap (P < .001). In addition, the concentration of L-lactate increased (P = .039).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL

IMPORTANCE

Metabolic acidosis in goat kids with floppy kid syndrome is caused by an increase in the plasma concentration of D-lactate.