[Diabetes mellitus caused by pancreatitis in a bull]

This paper describes a 6-year-old Simmental bull with diabetes mellitus. The animal was referred to our clinic because of severe weight loss and chronic indigestion. Clinical examination revealed markedly disturbed general condition, impaired forestomach function and polyuria. There was aciduria, glucosuria and ketonuria. The most important biochemical findings were severe hyperglycemia, markedly increased activities of hepatic enzymes and severe metabolic acidosis. Plasma concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I, thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine were lower than normal, whereas those of glucagon were higher than normal. Based on these findings, a diagnosis (secondary) diabetes mellitus was made. The bull was slaughtered and histological examination revealed mixed cell pancreatitis with severe degeneration of islet cells. Immunohistochemical examination of the pancreas showed that very few insulin-, glucagon-, somatostatin- and pancreatic polypeptide, insulin-like growth factor-I and adrenomedullin-producing islet cells were present.