602 BIOTIN 



interrelationship. The symptoms of V)i()tin defieiency induced in young rats 

 by administration of succinylsulfathiazole may be aggravated by simul- 

 taneous pantothenic acid deficiency.'* Addition of biotin to the diet not 

 only will protect the animals against specific changes of biotin deficienc}^ 

 but will also reduce the severity of the symptoms of pantothenic acid 

 deficiency. In rats receiving a highly purified diet including thiamine, ribo- 

 flavin, and pantothenic acid and supplemented with succinylsulfathiazole, 

 severe signs of pantothenic acid deficiency developed.-^ The symptoms were 

 accompanied by a marked reduction in the pantothenic acid content of the 

 liver and were relieved by administration of biotin and folic acid. Thus, the 

 utilization of pantothenic acid seems to depend on the presence of biotin 

 and folic acid, apparently synthesized in the gut by bacteria. 



B. C^HICKS AND TURKEYS 



In chicks and turkeys, dermatitis and perosis are the chief manifesta- 

 tions of biotin deficiency induced by feeding egg white or simply bj^ an 

 experimental ration low in biotin. -^'^' The lesions usually start to appear 

 at 2 to 3 weeks and become (juite severe at 4 weeks. The syndrome is 

 characterized by lesions, first appearing on the bottom of the feet, followed 

 by mandibular lesions. On a biotin-free synthetic diet not containing egg 

 white, dermatitis may be regularly produced, but the onset and appearance 

 of perosis is often erratic. The addition of raw egg white to the ration will 

 enhance the development of perosis.^- 



Hatchability of eggs is considerably reduced in biotin deficiency and may 

 l)e restored t)y feeding the hen a ration rich in biotin. ■^•'■'^•'' 



Prevention of perosis requires less biotin than prevention of dermatitis 



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^■^ W. H. Ott, ./. Hiol. (liem. 157, 131 (1945). 



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2»D. M. He^sted, H. C. Mills, (). AI. Brisg.s, C A. Idv.dijcin, and K. H. Hart, ./. 



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 29 T. H. Jukes and F. H. Hied, I'rov. Sor. Exptl. Biol. .Mai. 49, 2:^1 (1!)42). 

 '»H. Palricdx, H. W Bouclicr, R. A. Dutcdici-. and H. (". Knand«d, I'ror. Soc. Exptl. 



Med. 48, 45() (1941). 

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197 (1943). 

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Research Bull. p. 343 (1942). 

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Med. 50, 101 (1912). 

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77 (1949). 



